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.
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 96 points: A candidate for the "wine of the vintage" Pontet Canet's 2008 boasts an opaque purple color as well as copious aromas of sweet blueberries blackberries and black currant fruit intertwined with lead pencil shavings subtle...
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 92 points: This La Fleur Morange Mathilde is also 100% Merlot, but with the alcohol hitting 13.5% in the 2008 vintage. It is a fabulous effort. Exuberant, hedonistic quantities of white chocolate, black currants, sweet cherries and...
Wine Spectator, 90 points: Racy and fresh with a delicious core of mulled plum and fig fruit liberally laced with bright cassis violet and chalk notes. The long mouthwatering finish has nice cut. Merlot Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink...
View From The Cellar, 92 points: The 2008 Gruaud-Larose is a classic vintage of this fine St. Julien estate. The bouquet is deep, nascently complex and fairly reserved, as it offers up scents of cassis, dark berries, cigar ash, gravelly soil tones, herbs...
Wine Enthusiast, 95 points: Rich wonderfully concentrated wine with ripe apricots green plums touches of toast riding over a structure that is just beginning a long aging process. Give this wine 10 years. This is the last vintage under this name...
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 92 points: Good acids along with hints of earth, buttered citrus and exotic melons are found in this cuvee. - Robert Parker
Wine Spectator, 90 points: Juicy, with kirsch, raspberry and linzer torte notes that pump along nicely, with velvety tannins and a spice box and black tealoaded finish. Delicious. Drink now through 2015. 700 cases made. –JM
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 96 points: A candidate for the -wine of the vintage- the 2008 Haut-Bailly possesses incredible complexity. Tell-tale notes of lead pencil shavings charcoal damp earth black cherries and black currants intermixed with a hint of...
Wine Spectator, 90 points: Rock-solid with mocha and fruitcake notes nicely melded into the core of dark fig and black currant paste. Graphite and spice linger through the fleshy finish. Merlot. Best from 2012 through 2016. -JM
jamessuckling.com, 90 points: Love the nose of crushed berries and slice plums. Full and chewy, with velvety tannins and a long finish. Needs time to open and soften. This is an estate that is improving all the time.
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 96 points: This is profound! 2008 Haut-Brion: The extraordinary 2008 Haut-Brion is a candidate for -wine of the vintage.- Composed of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon 41% Merlot and 9% Cabernet Franc it reveals more evolution and complexity...
Wine Enthusiast, 98 points: (WE96-98 points) Impressively balanced, with the fruit rich, intense with a golden glow. The acidity is as important as the freshness, giving a delicious lift to the core of dry, concentrated botrytis. Obviously a great...
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 95 points: The beautiful 2008 exhibits a dark plum/ruby/purple color as well as jammy red and black fruit, crushed rock and floral notes. If this were a Burgundy, one might think of it as a grand cru Musigny. With excellent texture...
Wine Enthusiast, 90 points: Dark tannins provide the structured for the Cabernet Sauvignon black currant flavors. It has power-this is a big and solid wine given tension by tannins that will take several years to soften out. R.V.
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