The Cradle of Fine Red Wine
Bordeaux is not just a wine region – it is a myth. With over 110,000 hectares of vineyard area and 6,000 estates, it is the largest contiguous quality wine region in the world.
Geography: Two Banks, Two Worlds
The Garonne and the Dordogne divide Bordeaux into two fundamentally different areas:
Left Bank (Rive Gauche)
- Soils: Gravel and pebbles
- Main Grape Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
- Character: Structured, tannic, long-lived
- Regions: Médoc, Graves, Sauternes
Right Bank (Rive Droite)
- Soils: Clay and limestone
- Main Grape Variety: Merlot
- Character: Soft, fruit-forward, more approachable
- Regions: Saint-Émilion, Pomerol
The 1855 Classification
The most famous wine classification in history divides the Châteaux of the Médoc into five classes:
| Class | Examples | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Premier Cru | Lafite, Latour, Margaux, Haut-Brion, Mouton | The pinnacle |
| Deuxième Cru | Léoville-Las Cases, Pichon | Excellent |
| Troisième Cru | Palmer, Giscours | Very good |
| Quatrième Cru | Talbot, Beychevelle | High quality |
| Cinquième Cru | Lynch-Bages, Pontet-Canet | Quality wines |
"The 1855 Classification is set in stone – with a single exception: Mouton Rothschild was elevated to Premier Cru in 1973."
The Bordeaux Blend
The secret of great Bordeaux wines lies in the assemblage:
Left Bank (typical):
- 60-70% Cabernet Sauvignon
- 20-30% Merlot
- 5-10% Cabernet Franc
- Petit Verdot, Malbec (accents)
Right Bank (typical):
- 70-90% Merlot
- 10-30% Cabernet Franc
- Possibly Cabernet Sauvignon
The Key Appellations
Médoc (Left Bank)
- Pauillac: Powerful, blackcurrant, cedarwood (Lafite, Latour, Mouton)
- Saint-Julien: Elegant, balanced (Léoville, Ducru)
- Margaux: Refined, perfumed (Château Margaux, Palmer)
- Saint-Estèphe: Robust, earthy (Cos d'Estournel, Montrose)
Right Bank
- Pomerol: Velvety, opulent (Pétrus, Le Pin)
- Saint-Émilion: Diverse, charming (Cheval Blanc, Ausone)
Sweet Wines
- Sauternes: Legendary noble sweetness (Château d'Yquem)
Top Wineries
Château Margaux
- Website: chateau-margaux.com
- Speciality: Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant Margaux (1855 Premier Grand Cru Classé) An 1855 First Growth in the Margaux appellation, celebrated for its elegant and perfumed Cabernet Sauvignon-based red wines.
Château Lafite Rothschild
- Website: lafite.com
- Speciality: Cabernet Sauvignon-led Pauillac (1855 Premier Grand Cru Classé) An 1855 First Growth in Pauillac owned by Domaines Barons de Rothschild, renowned for its refined, age-worthy Cabernet Sauvignon-based reds.
Château Latour
- Website: chateau-latour.com
- Speciality: Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant Pauillac (1855 Premier Grand Cru Classé) An 1855 First Growth in Pauillac known for its powerful, structured and exceptionally long-lived Cabernet Sauvignon-based wines.
Château Mouton Rothschild
- Website: chateau-mouton-rothschild.com
- Speciality: Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant Pauillac (1855 Premier Grand Cru Classé) A Pauillac estate elevated to First Growth status in 1973, famous for its rich Cabernet Sauvignon wines and artist-designed labels.
Château Haut-Brion
- Website: haut-brion.com
- Speciality: Pessac-Léognan (Graves) red blend, the only non-Médoc 1855 First Growth The oldest of the 1855 First Growths and the only one outside the Médoc, producing distinguished red wines in Pessac-Léognan in the Graves.
Château Cheval Blanc
- Website: chateau-cheval-blanc.com
- Speciality: Cabernet Franc-Merlot blend, Saint-Émilion Premier Grand Cru Classé A leading Right Bank estate in Saint-Émilion celebrated for its singular Cabernet Franc and Merlot blends.
Vintages
In Bordeaux, quality varies significantly from year to year:
Legendary Vintages: 1961, 1982, 2000, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020
Food Pairing
Bordeaux and fine dining belong together:
- Entrecôte Bordelaise
- Roast lamb
- Duck with porcini mushrooms
- Aged Comté or Cantal
Price Structure
Bordeaux offers wines for every budget:
- Bordeaux Supérieur: €8-15
- Cru Bourgeois: €15-30
- Classified Growths: €30-100+
- Premier Crus: €200-2,000+