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.
View From The Cellar, 96 points: Christian Moueix explained that 2011 was the first vintage where the harvesting was organized here to target old vines of a similar age to be picked together, as he went along with the harvesters pointing out which...
jamessuckling.com, 90 points: This shows a frankness and beauty for a 2011 from the third wine of Latour. Bright and fresh with firm tannins and a currant and berry character. A little lean. Better in 2016
Neal Martin's Wine Journal, 92 points: (NM90-92 points) Tasted at JP Moueix. The Latour-a-Pomerol has a more backward nose compared to its peers. Natural blackberry and raspberry fruit, wild hedgerow with subtle dried herb notes emerging with time in the...
Wine Enthusiast, 96 points: So smooth, this is a rich, grandiose wine. Although it is full of black currant fruits and spice flavors, the texture is most impressive. Dusty tannins are integrated with juicy fruits seamlessly. The purest fruit flavors...
Wine Enthusiast, 94 points: Power and ripeness walk hand-in-hand with this major player. The wine is opulent and extracted with flavors of rich blackberry fruits, but shows a firmness in tannins and dense texture. Drink from 2018 and it's sure to be...
View From The Cellar, 96 points: The 2011 Trotanoy is one of the wines of the vintage and an absolute classic in the making. The deep, pure and utterly brilliant nose soars from the glass in a blaze of red and black plums, black cherries, woodsmoke...
jamessuckling.com, 91 points: A dense and creamy white showing lots of apple pie cream and honey. Full body with masses of new wood but I like the character. Dried pineapple and apple too. Vanilla aftertaste. Drink now or hold.
Wine Enthusiast, 91 points: This is a blend of grapes from different growers in Pomerol rather than a second wine of Château Clinet. It is made to be drunk young with its smooth tannins, generous texture and ripe Merlot fruits. It feels rich and...
Wine Spectator, 92 points: Still primal with sappy kirsch and plum notes. There's also lots of sweet toast to be soaked up but this has a fleshy edge that belies the vintage's profile.-J.M.
View From The Cellar, 94 points: The 2011 Château Canon is a stellar example of the vintage. The deep, pure and utterly refined nose offers up a pure and sappy mélange of black cherries, dark berries, woodsmoke, dark soil tones, coffee bean and a...
Wine Enthusiast, 97 points: This is a rich, complex wine, full of dry botrytis that is surrounded by ripe honey. Spice, white peach and green plum jelly give complexity and variety. The acidity at the end is beautiful. The wine is already enticing...
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 94 points: Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2011 Clos de Sarpe gives up notions of roasted coffee beans, smoked meats and chocolate-covered cherries over a core of blackberry tart and preserved plums with wafts of garrigue and dried...
Wine Enthusiast, 94 points: Cellar Selection. As so often with Montrose, this is a powerful, concentrated and very structured wine. Dense tannins are paired with rich black fruits, although at this stage the wine also has a sense of austerity...
jamessuckling.com, 92 points: A gorgeous wine with blueberry and cassis. Full-bodied with chewy yet polished tannins. Beautiful. This is really impressive. Almost as good as 2009.
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