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, 98 points: Made of 98% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc, the 2017 Belair Monange is medium to deep garnet-purple in color. With a little swirling, this baby comes bounding out of the glass with energetic notes of wild blueberries...
jebdunnuck.com, 100 points: (97-100) The grand vin of this terrific estate, the 2018 Château Ducru-Beaucaillou is based on 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Merlot that will spend 18 months in new barrels. It’s as classy as they come, boasting a deep...
Wine Spectator, 93 points: Offers both guts and charm with a very solid core of plum cake fig and cassis laced with hints of ganache and roasted spice notes. There's a nice mouthfilling feel through the finish with more oomph and drive than most...
Wine Spectator, 92 points: Exotically perfumed violet and rose petals burst on your palate accompanied by dried apricot lemon and honey flavors. Gorgeous and subtle glowing on the finish.
jamessuckling.com, 94 points: Very ripe blueberries here, married to delicate, smoky-oak and baking-spice character. Concentrated and succulent with a wonderful, mineral freshness at the long, energetic finish. A very flexible food-wine. Drink or hold.
Vinous, 94 points: The 2017 Latour à Pomerol is a gorgeous wine that is at once deep and yet also super-expressive in its bouquet. Sweet tobacco, dried herbs, mint, pepper and spice give the 2017 striking aromatic presence to play off a...
Vinous, 97 points: An utterly spellbinding wine, the 2014 Beauséjour Héritiers Duffau-Lagarrosse is also one of the unqualified successes of the vintage. Beams of tannin give the 2014 its ample, broad feel. Inky red cherry, blueberry...
Decanter, 91 points: Reserved but serious levels of fruit concentration, boasting quince, yellow pear, apricot and blossom, then vanilla pod nuances shining through.
jamessuckling.com, 93 points: A wine with blueberry and chocolate with hints of hazelnut. Full body, with velvety tannins and a polished finish. This is intense yet very fine. Very pretty young Bordeaux. Try after 2016.
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 87 points: The second wine of this outstanding Fronsac estate, the 2009 La Sacristie de la Vieille Cure is virtually all Merlot. It possesses wonderfully sweet black cherry fruit, medium body, a lovely perfume, a supple, silky...
Vinous, 92 points: The 2014 Les Cruzelles has a simple bouquet, tertiary in style, woodland scents intermixed and perhaps dominating the fruit underneath. The palate is medium-bodied with dry tannin, chewy in the mouth at first although it...
Decanter, 99 points: A longer, slower harvest than 2009, with cooler nights giving a resultantly fresher acidity. Highlighting the serious side of Angélus, at 10 years old you get to fully appreciate the tension, energy and purity that is...
TheWineCellarInsider.com, 99 points: Truffle, Cuban cigar wrapper, exotic spice, licorice and lilacs create the complex set of aromatics. Powerful yet poised, rich and fresh, dense and velvety, the finish remains with you for close to 60 seconds. The end...
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