Bordeaux

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)

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+