Bordeaux is one of the most famous wine regions in the world, and many consider it to be the greatest region in the world for producing fine wines. Bordeaux is located in the southwest of France, and produces over 900 million bottles of wine per year. Both red and white wines are produced in this famed region.
Bordeaux has produced some of the greatest wines in the history of winemaking. The wines of Bordeaux are also seen as ‘benchmark wines’ for Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. The wines of the Sauternes appellation are also considered to be among the greatest sweet white wines in the world. And finally, Bordeaux has also gained global exposure due to its popularity with a number of historic figures, like Thomas Jefferson, who had a particular fondness for the wines of Bordeaux.
To many, Bordeaux wines are a mystery; much of this can be attributed to the sometimes confusing wine labels. While wines from other regions, especially so-called New World wines, have the grape varietal listed on the label (like Cabernet Sauvignon or Pinot Noir), the labels in Bordeaux rarely list the grape varietals that make up the wines. It is important to know that the vast majority of Bordeaux wines are actually blends of multiple grape varietals. So how do you know what varietals are in the wine? The reality is that you often don’t know; what is most important is to know the predominant grape varietal in the wine. Here’s the simple general guideline: If the wine is from the ‘Left Bank,’ it’s most likely predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon. If it’s from the ‘Right Bank,’ it’s likely mostly Merlot. It’s that simple. But to learn more about it, check out our page ‘About Bordeaux Wine’ and ‘How to Interpret a Bordeaux Wine Label.’
While this will not help you interpret every bottle from the vast Bordeaux region, there are a few simple things to look for on the label. If the label says Médoc, Haut-Médoc, Margaux, St. Julien, Pauillac, or St. Estèphe, the wine is from the Left Bank. If the appellation listed on the label contains the words ‘Fronsac,’ ‘St.-Émilion,’ or ‘Pomerol’ in it, then it is from the Right Bank. And finally, if the label states Pessac-Léognan or Graves, then the wine is from an area south of the city of Bordeaux, which is still technically considered Left Bank.
There are different levels of quality of Bordeaux wine, even before getting into the classification systems (which is an even higher level of quality that we won’t discuss here). The first level of quality is the least expensive and is not associated with any particular region of château; these wines often have a brand name (like the well-known Mouton-Cadet) or simply say ‘Grand Vin de Bordeaux.’ The next level of quality are the regional wines, which can come from one of 57 regions. They are not the product of an individual château, but rather just a region (like Saint-Émilion or Pauillac). The highest level of quality are châteaux wines. These wines are produced from specific vineyards and are produced by a single château within a given appellation (like Château Mouton-Rothschild within the Pauillac appellation). And as mentioned previously, these châteaux wines have been further classified to recognize even higher quality.
Definitely not. While many of the ‘cru classé’ (classed growth) wines can be quite expensive, the prices of the majority of wines produced in Bordeaux are similar to those in other wine producing regions. Keep in mind that there are over 8,000 châteaux in Bordeaux, and only a small percentage of these are classed growths. Do not be intimidated by prices of Pétrus or Lafite Rothschild; most people cannot afford to drink these wines, but fortunately, there are thousands of other excellent wines to choose from.
This is probably one of the mysteries in the wine world; is it really worth paying extra money for a wine? First, let’s discuss why some wines are more expensive. In the world of Bordeaux, price has always been an important topic. In fact, the hierarchy of the 1855 Classification was mostly based on the cost per bottle at the time. So much of the cost of Bordeaux wine is based on this 19th century classification. Obviously, there have been numerous changes occurring among all of the châteaux, so prices have changed to where some fifth growth wines are more expensive than some second growth wines. Another important concept in wine is that higher cost is not proportional with higher quality. Many wines are more expensive due to rarity, low production, higher consumer demand, tradition, prestige, and countless other factors. It is also important to understand that wine is all about the overall experience; just because you spend twice as much on a bottle of wine does not mean that you are getting twice the quality or even twice the enjoyment. Thinking in these terms will lead to continual disappointment when drinking more expensive wines. It is certainly true that with many of the more expensive wines in Bordeaux, you are most likely getting an excellent wine. The final thing to discuss is longevity. Many of the ‘top’ well-made wines in Bordeaux have the ability to age for several decades, generally improving during this evolution. For obvious reasons, these wines are desirable and thus often cost more than wines that do not possess the same ability to age. But the one thing to always remember is that wine enjoyment is very subjective, and there are great wines to be found in Bordeaux at all price points.
Since even before the official 1855 Classification system of its Left Bank wines, people inside and outside of Bordeaux have tried to classify its wines. In fact, even Thomas Jefferson came up with his own classification when he visited the region. At its core, any classification system is an attempt to differentiate wines based on quality; unfortunately, without any further updates, any classification system can easily become outdated and not useful. Many argue that the 1855 Classification should not changed, since there have been so many changes among the châteaux since then. Since it is unlikely to change in the foreseeable future, it is good to at least understand its design if one wants to know Bordeaux and its wines. And while this classification assigned châteaux into different rankings (first growth, second growth, and up to fifth growth), one should also be aware that there are numerous exceptions to these rankings in the current understanding of Bordeaux wines. And finally, there are other classification systems, that are not quite as famous, in other regions of Bordeaux. In order to teach others about these classification systems, and simplify them, we have a dedicated page on our website about this very topic.
Not really. Any glass vessel, such as a pitcher, could serve as a decanter. The quality of the glass does not affect the wine at all. Many people like to buy decanters with artistic designs, but the function is still the same -- to allow the wine to ‘breathe’ and interact with oxygen in the air. It is not necessary to buy a decanter with a fancy design, unless you want to impress your guests! Wine glasses, on the other hand, can certainly affect the aromas and overall wine drinking experience. This is why you may see that there is a variety of shapes available for different types of wine. Various studies have also been done that have shown that the quality of glass also affects the overall wine drinking experience, but there are certainly critics who doubt the findings in these studies.
Tannins are often difficult to describe, because they are a texture in the wine, rather than a flavor or aroma. Tannins are small molecules found in wine that create a sensation of fullness that can sometimes appear to dry out the mouth. Some even describe tannic wines are being ‘chewy.’ The tannins come from the skins and seeds of the grape, but also can come from the wood of oak barrels used the aging. Tannins are also found in tea leaves and walnuts, both of which also create the drying sensation in the mouth. So why do winemakers want tannins in their wines? First of all, tannins add to the complexity of the wine, while also giving it desirable texture and ‘mouthfeel.’ Tannins also help wines to age for longer periods, by giving wine the necessary structure.
One of the biggest debates in the wine world is the influence (or lack thereof) of terroir. The word ‘terroir’ is a French term that refers to the influences of the land and environment on the wine that is produced. When most think of ‘terroir,’ they immediately think of the soil; however, soil is only one component of terroir (though it is an important one). It is well-known that Bordeaux is one of the most desirable wine-producing regions in the world, but it is also a very challenging location to produce wine, largely due to unpredictable weather changes that can occur every year. Despite, this, the terroir in Bordeaux is capable of producing some of the world’s best wines. So how much does wine depend on the terroir, as opposed to the winemaking practices following the harvest of the grapes? A number of studies have been done that both support and refute that influence of terroir. There are certainly a few examples in Bordeaux that seem to indicate that terroir may have a significant influence. The wines at Château Langoa Barton and Léoville Barton are both vinified in the same facility, so the only difference between the two wines is the land and soil (though they are obviously very close to each other). Anyone who tastes these two wines every vintage knows just how different in style they actually are. So while this is just one example, the terroir debate will likely continue on for years to come.
While many believe that Bordeaux only produces red wines, Bordeaux also produces excellent dry and sweet white wines as well. In fact, a few decades ago, there were more white grape vines planted than red in Bordeaux! The most famous white wine producing appellations in Bordeaux are Pessac-Léognan (dry white wines) and Sauternes (sweet white wines). Sauternes is actually the most famous sweet white wine producing region in the world, headed by the famed Château d’Yquem.
One of the most wonderful things about Bordeaux wines is their variability. A number of different styles of wine can be found in Bordeaux. For instance, many of the Right Bank wines (like Pomerol and St.-Émilion) can be very fruit-forward and almost ‘New World’ in style. Others on the Left Bank often have more Cabernet Sauvignon character. One of the biggest draws to Bordeaux wines is their complexity, offering a number of different aromas and flavors. Many wine drinkers are attracted to the earthy character found in many of their wines, particularly the ones that have aged, which often have aromas of leather and tobacco.
If you have any other questions about Bordeaux wine or traveling to the region, feel free to email us your questions about Bordeaux wine at DrinkBordeaux@gmail.com.
