With more than 7,000 chateaux, France’s Bordeaux region is the most important wine producing region in the world. As well as being the basis for Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot-based wines everywhere, Bordeaux wines are acknowledged to be among the world’s best reds—according to experts and amateurs alike.
The wine region of Bordeaux is comprised of many smaller areas and encompasses both banks of the Gironde estuary in southwest France, as well as the land bordering the Garonne and Dordogne Rivers, which split off from the Gironde in the southern Medoc area. Generally, Bordeaux's best red wines are from seven major (and well-known) appellations: Pauillac, Saint-Estephe, Saint-Julien, and Margaux in the greater Medoc region, Graves to the south of the city of Bordeaux—in the region’s center, and Saint-Emilion and Pomerol toward the east. The large Graves region, as well as being the birthplace of claret, is home to many of the best dry whites. Premium sweet wines are made in Sauternes and Barsac, which are also within the Graves appellation but toward the south.
In understanding the multitude of Bordeaux wines, experts tend to talk about the right and left banks of the Gironde River. Generally, red wines from the river’s left bank, especially from Bordeaux’s Medoc region, are based on Cabernet Sauvignon, mixed with varying amounts of Merlot and Cabernet Franc and, occasionally, a spot of Petit Verdot and Malbec. These reds are known to be firm and dry, with a substantial tannic spine, and are frequently austere in their youth. They are also among the world’s longest-lived. The Graves’ gravel and sand soil content contribute to more texture early and roasted accents of hot stones, smoke and tobacco.
The softer Merlot grape is the foundation for right bank wines, mostly to the town of Libourne’s eastern side. These wines are fleshier in general than wines from the left bank and are more pliant. They are also accessible at an earlier age—though the best of them can improve in bottle for decades.
jamessuckling.com, 95 points: (JS94-95 points) This is really amazing. Superb concentration of fruit and velvety tannins. Such polish and sexiness. Wow.
jamessuckling.com, 100 points: (JS99-100 points) This shows the purity of Angelus. I have never tasted a wine from here with such incredible clarity. Full body, full fruit and full beauty. Super silky tannins. A joy to taste. Makes you want to drink...
Wine Enthusiast, 97 points: (WE95-97 points) Structured, tight and firm this wine is focused around dominant tannins, yet shows the potential of black fruit flavors. Destined for long-term aging.
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 94 points: (WA92-94 points) The 2015 Badette is a blend of 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc that was picked between 10 October and 11 October (i.e. one day.) Matured in 100% new oak, it has a complex bouquet, powerful and you might...
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 93 points: (WA91-93 points) The 2015 Bastor-Lamontagne has a pure, honeyed, acacia-tinged bouquet that soars from the glass. The palate is well balanced with a sensual, honeyed texture, well-judged acidity and a smooth, quite...
jamessuckling.com, 99 points: (JS98-99 points) I don’t know what to say here other than it’s better than any BDL I drank since 1989 including the 1990. There’s a transparency and beauty like a rainbow. Full body, extremely long and bright. Super fine...
Antonio Galloni's Vinous, 96 points: (AG93-96 points) A spectacularly rich, hedonistic wine, the 2015 Beau-Séjour-Bécot exudes richness and intensity, with silky, polished tannins that wrap around a huge core of fruit. Dark cherry, plum, mocha, licorice and...
jamessuckling.com, 99 points: (JS98-99 points) Incredible depth of fruit to this wine with ultra-powerful tannins that remain agile and soft. So much intensity. It’s layered with ripe fruit and caressing mouthfeel. Neoclassical in style. Mostly merlot...
jamessuckling.com, 95 points: (JS94-95 points) The quality of tannin here is really exceptional with ultra-fine tannins and beautiful length. Blackberry and blueberry. Love it.
jamessuckling.com, 97 points: (JS96-97 points) A sexy and beautiful wine with incredible blackberry, dark chocolate and salt character. Full body, chewy and powerful. Great length. 100% merlot.
jamessuckling.com, 99 points: (JS98-99 points) This has a focus and intensity that I haven’t seen before. I goes wide in the palate and then compresses with great precision and beauty. Full and excellent. So great. Best I ever had from here.
jamessuckling.com, 97 points: (JS96-97 points) Here is a wine with great pedigree near Ausone. Full body, yet fast and agile. The finish lasts for minutes. You see the chalky soil in the wine.
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 94 points: (WA92-94 points) The 2015 Beychevelle was picked between 22 September and 8 October, a blend of 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, 47% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot that will be matured in 50% new oak. It has quite a...
Antonio Galloni's Vinous, 94 points: (AG92-94 points) Understated and nuanced, the 2015 Beychevelle is a wine of lovely finesse. Graphite, smoke, plum, violet and lavender are some of the many notes that are found in this delicate, super-expressive...
Wine Enthusiast, 94 points: (WE92-94 points) Dense tannins mark this wine, partnered with black fruit flavors and woody tones. The palate exhibits a good balance between the excellent acidity and a ripe, full structure, finishing fresh.
Wine Enthusiast, 95 points: (WE93-95 points) Concentrated tannins meet seamless line of juicy black currant on the palate. The structure is firm and tight, finishing with a lift of acidity.
TheWineCellarInsider.com, 97 points: (JL95-97 points) Truffle, forest floor, cocoa and ripe, dark, red fruits enliven the perfume. On the palate, this wine is silky, subtle and focused on freshness and purity of ready fruit. Elegance and weight enhance a...
Wine Enthusiast, 96 points: (WE94-96 points) With 82% of Cabernet Sauvignon (more than usual), this is a classic juicy, black currant-flavored Bordeaux. It has great style, its juicy, crisp character shining through. The tannins are right there...
jamessuckling.com, 94 points: (JS93-94 points) A 2015 with ripe and beautiful fruit and velvety tannins. Full body. Juicy fruit. Goes on for minutes. Extremely impressive.
Wine Spectator, 97 points: (WS94-97 points) Dark and winey, with currant paste and fig notes backed by slightly briary grip and an ample dose of toast. There's good energy here and nice vivacity, despite the darker profile today, and this should...
Wine Spectator, 97 points: (WS94-97 points) Dark and winey, with currant paste and fig notes backed by slightly briary grip and an ample dose of toast. There’s good energy here and nice vivacity, despite the darker profile today, and this should...
jamessuckling.com, 96 points: (JS95-96 points) Wow. Real Cantemerle with stupendous power and depth. Mineral, stone and violet character. Full and structure. It starts slowly and then goes on for minutes. Perhaps best ever?
TheWineCellarInsider.com, 96 points: (JL94-96 points) Deep, rich violet-ruby in color with a complex array of scents ranging from espresso, violets, truffle, boysenberry, cassis and black cherry, this wine is sensuous, concentrated, opulent and balanced with...
jamessuckling.com, 93 points: (JS92-93 points) Refined and very pretty with blue fruit and dried berry. Full and tight. Cool fruit.
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 94 points: (WA92-94 points) The 2015 Mouleyre from Cap de Faugeres is a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc picked October 6-10 at 32 hectoliters per hectare, and it comes from a 2.5-hectare block. The nose is intense, well...
Wine Enthusiast, 95 points: (WE93-95 points) There is a beautiful straight line of crispness in this wine. It cuts right through the wood and ripe yellow fruits to leave a wine with great clarity.
jamessuckling.com, 94 points: (JS93-94 points) A very tannic young wine with lots of extract. Full body, chewy and rich. Needs careful barrel maturation. Could be the best red ever from here. Traditional style.
jamessuckling.com, 96 points: (JS95-96 points) This is really intense and powerful with fantastic energy and character. So much dark berry and walnut character. Full and chewy. Yet polished. Second wine of Ausone.
jamessuckling.com, 95 points: (JS94-95 points) Very powerful and tannic yet salty and savory. Full body, dense and chewy yet polished and bright. Great second wine from La Mission. Only 30% merlot.
jamessuckling.com, 95 points: (JS94-95 points) This is a very solid 2015 with lots of tannin and fruit at the finish. Full body. Long finish. Impressive. One of the best ever from here.
94 points: (JL92-94 points) Purity with silky tannins and incredibly sweet, ripe, dark, red fruits to begin, you'll find licorice and just a hint of dark chocolate on the back end. This wine has concentration and energy and gives us...
jamessuckling.com, 100 points: (JS99-100 points) This is an incredible young Yquem that is so vinous like a great vintage of Montrachet but then on the palate it turns to Yquem with spice, dried fruit and mushroom as well as sweet fruit. Last for...
jamessuckling.com, 93 points: (JS92-93 points) Pretty Gloria with plenty of tension and energy. Full body yet silky textured and extremely long. Exciting.
jamessuckling.com, 93 points: (JS92-93 points) A solid and chewy red with walnut shell, ripe berry and chocolate aromas and flavors. Lots of tannins. Full body. Coming together nicely.
95 points: (JL93-95 points) With a nose packed with flowers, dark, red fruits, espresso, thyme and earth, this wine is sensuous, silky, ripe and lush, exuding freshness, polished tannins and a beautiful sense of purity and balance...
jamessuckling.com, 100 points: (JS99-100 points) A wine with incredible character and style with black ink and blueberry aromas and flavors. Full body, extremely fresh and structured with riffing tannins. It is muscular and powerful. White pepper, sea...
jamessuckling.com, 98 points: (JS97-98 points) A phenomenal white with dried fruits such as apricots and mangos. Masses of bortrytis spice. Full body yet agile and bright with incredible lightness and delicacy. So much cherry blossom too. Small white...
jamessuckling.com, 94 points: (JS93-94 points) A very minerally red with blueberry, chalk and berry aromas and flavors. Full body, salty, chalky and stony character. Impressive.
TheWineCellarInsider.com, 100 points: (JL98-100 points) The nose pops with spice, flowers, smoke, plums and cherries. Open your mind to beauty, desire and a bite-your-bottom-lip eroticism. This is what elegant hedonism is all about. This wine is sensuous...
jamessuckling.com, 97 points: (JS96-97 points) This shows class and finesse with ultra-fine tannins and succulent fruit. Full body yet elegant and long. Gorgeous wine. Such length. Vibrant and focused.
Wine Enthusiast, 95 points: (WE93-95 points) This is a velvety wine with its beautiful tannins and generous fruit. Its acidity shows through in its bright character that is both approachable and structured.
jamessuckling.com, 95 points: (JS94-95 points) This is super fine textured with ultra-polished tannins. Full body, blackberry, blueberry and dark chocolate. Long and refined.
jamessuckling.com, 96 points: (JS95-96 points) A depth and texture that is very unique for this estate with blackberry, stone and mineral undertones. Full and tight. Wonderful length and style. Precise.
jamessuckling.com, 96 points: (JS95-96 points) This is massive with so much ripe fruit and velvety tannins, yet it manages to remain fresh and balanced. Full body, round texture and a long finish. Best ever from here.
Wine Spectator, 94 points: (WS91-94 points) Gorgeous, with anise, plum, blackberry and sweet tobacco notes already melded together seamlessly. Fleshy and inviting through the finish, with long, velvety tannins that are the hallmark of 2015. This is...
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