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, 89 points: Seductive notes of honeysuckle and pineapples follow through in the flavors of this medium to full-bodied, unctuously textured, chunky, fleshy, appealing 2000. Enjoy it over the next 10-15 years. - Robert Parker
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 91 points: The proprietors are extremely happy with what they were able to produce in 2000. Even though this vintage has a poor reputation producers who only included the early-picked grapes in their final blends have often turned...
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 95 points: Pale gold in color, the 2009 Doisy Daëne features expressive notes of honeyed lemons, dried mango slices, apricot tart and Seville orange marmalade with a touch of shaved almonds. The palate delivers mouth-filling stone...
jebdunnuck.com, 96 points: One of the top Sauternes in this report is the 2016 Château Guiraud, a brilliant wine from a more challenging vintage for the Sauternes region. Beautiful, powerful notes of sugared peach, blood orange, caramelized...
Neal Martin's Wine Journal, 90 points: The de Fargues ’95 has a ripe, generous, quintessential de Fargues nose with tangy marmalade, Seville orange and quince jus, though it does not quite have the razor-sharp delineation of a top-flight wine from the estate...
Wine Enthusiast, 97 points: (95–97) Barrel Sample. This wine's ripeness is intense, just hinting at an impressive future. The dry core of botrytis balances the honey and the spice, along with fresh lemon curd. This is likely to be a very fine wine.
Decanter, 97 points: Poised and focussed, this gentle golden wine is easily one of the most successful of the vintage here. It has the beautiful pull between sweetness and acidity that not everyone has achieved in this late-harvest year. The...
jamessuckling.com, 93 points: Very balsamic with slightly chewy tannins, this is a rustic expression of the vintage that needs substantial food to give its best. Plenty of freshness at the finish though. Drink now.
jamessuckling.com, 91 points: (90-91 points) A pretty second wine of Rieussec with creamy, cooked pear and apple character. Some soufflé character, too. Medium body, medium sweet and a fresh finish.
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 96 points: Pale to medium lemon-gold in color, the 2010 de Fargues charges out of the gate with super-intense green mango, lemon Meringue pie and baked pineapple notes with underlying hints of toasted almonds, clover honey...
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