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.
jebdunnuck.com, 91 points: Mostly Merlot blended with 14% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Petit Verdot, the 2015 Arbalest was brought up 16 months in tank and 30% new oak. It offers a perfumed, gorgeous bouquet of plums, incense, spice and hints of...
jamessuckling.com, 93 points: Attractive red berries and light licorice notes with a lick of iodine lead to a palate that has plenty of red-fruit and -licorice flavors. Smoothly groomed tannins and a fresh cherry-pip finish. Try from 2020.
TheWineCellarInsider.com, 100 points: Truffle, flowers, smoke, licorice, wet earth, dark plums and black cherry aromas reach your nose as soon as the wine hits the glass. Full bodied, sensuous and silky, the wine is deeply concentrated and also effortless to...
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 92 points: (90-92 points) The 2015 Cuvee Prephylloxerique from Château Clos Saint Emilion Philippe is pure Merlot from vines that obviously predate phylloxera, planted on sand. The nose is clean and pure, quite opulent like the...
jamessuckling.com, 94 points: This has a captivating interplay of depth and elegance. On the nose, it has very pure fresh raspberry and red plums set in a smoothly arranged, plush layered bed of ripe tannins that carry long blackberry and mulberry...
jamessuckling.com, 97 points: This steps into an elite league of Pomerol class and concentration, whilst still exuding freshness and transparency. It is a great vintage for Latour à Pomerol. Smells of pristine lightly spiced blueberries and plums and...
jamessuckling.com, 95 points: The dried-fruit and wet-earth character are eye-catching with some cedar and sandalwood. Full body, tight tannins and super polish and finesse. Velvety. A great second wine of Château Pavie. Try in 2022.
Vinous, 97 points: The 2015 La Gaffelière is a wine of total finesse. Much less obvious and overt than most Saint-Émilions in this vintage, La Gaffelière makes its case on harmony and grace above all else. Bright, lifted Cabernet...
jamessuckling.com, 94 points: Beautiful aromas of plums and filtered coffee follow through to a full body. Firm and silky tannins and a flavorful finish. Bright acidity and spice character. Tight and focused. Needs two or three years to open.
jamessuckling.com, 93 points: Very attractive honeycomb and lemon-peel nose of some complexity, then there’s a stunning balance of racy acidity and delicate candied lemon fruit on the palate. The finish is very long, clean and intense. Great now but...
jebdunnuck.com, 95 points: The 2015 Château Soutard-Cadet is a beauty! From a tiny vineyard (2.1 hectares) purchased by the Lefévère family in 2015 and a blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, it offers a huge nose of crème de cassis, toasted...
jamessuckling.com, 97 points: Such a beautiful and complex nose of rose petals, dark fruit and sandalwood. Full-bodied, juicy and flavorful. A precise linear edge to this runs through the wine. Very fine tannins. Yet this is so powerful. Love it...
jamessuckling.com, 94 points: Wow. Gorgeous aromas of perfume, spices and dark fruits such as bramble berries. Full body, ultra-fine tannins and a long, flavorful finish. Shows strength with finesse. Give it three or four years to come completely...
jamessuckling.com, 93 points: Intense red-clay and blackberry aromas with brambleberries and mushrooms, too. Full-bodied, soft and round, yet the tannins pull you in with their power. Pretty depth and intensity. Needs time to mellow.
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