Bordeaux Wines
By far the largest, the most important, and one of the best French wine regions, both for high-end wines and for bargains, is Bordeaux. Great reds from the renowned chateaus are what make the headlines, but Bordeaux is so big, that there is plenty of choice. Our Bordeaux wine guide features hundreds of Bordeaux wine ratings.
Within the Bordeaux wine region are numerous appellations, including the famous Left-Bank Médoc communes of St-Estephe, Pauillac, St-Julien Reviews and Margaux, among others. The most famous Right-Bank regions are St-Emilion and Pomerol. The general level of quality has improved dramatically over the past two decades. The reds are fruity, but never overly alcoholic, always with a layer of tannin that makes them superb food wines. The whites are fresh, the best with wood flavors to give complexity. Check the individual Bordeaux wine reviews for specific details regarding style and quality.
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc are the main red grapes; Malbec and Petit Verdot are also used, while Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon predominate among the whites. But most Bordeaux are not single-varietal wines — they are more often Bordeaux-style blends, which make these wines more than the sum of their individual parts.
Château Climens 2007 White (Barsac)
- Cellar Selection
- $200
A big, rich wine, showing its gorgeous fruit easily. But with a core of dryness, the ripest apricots touched by caramel, it should age well over many years. There is intense power here, still hidden by the youth of the wine, but with final concentration.
— R.V.
(6/1/2010)
Château Haut-Brion 2007 White (Pessac-Léognan)
- Cellar Selection
- Online Exclusive
- $800
The palate opens slowly, offering an initial citrus character, followed by wood and then, finally, wonderfully rich, but taut fruit. There is still a toast character here, with apricots and pear on top of the citrus, but it is still only just developing. In 10–15 years, it will be a magnificent wine.
— R.V.
(12/15/2010)
Château Climens 2009 Barrel sample White (Barsac)
- Online Exclusive
97-99 Barrel sample. A tasting from several barrels, because the chateau has not made the final blend, so the rating is provisional. But the wine is so rich, with an almost perfect balance of acidity and ripeness, allied to a complete purity of honeyed botrytis. However the final wine turns out, it will be magnificent.
— R.V.
(8/9/2010)
Château Ausone 2009 Barrel sample Red (Saint-Émilion)
- Online Exclusive
97-99 Barrel sample. It may be 14.5 percent alcohol, but, with its huge freshness, the wine almost sings with elegance. The texture is opulent, with intense black fruits and a core of solid tannins. Impressive balance.
— R.V.
(8/9/2010)
Château Mouton Rothschild 2009 Barrel sample Red (Pauillac)
- Online Exclusive
97-99 Barrel sample. A wonderfully structured wine,it combines impressive purity of fruit with delicious, mouth-watering acidity, The dry structure holds this elegant structure perfectly in place. A great success.
— R.V.
(8/9/2010)
Château Pétrus 2009 Barrel sample Red (Pomerol)
- Online Exclusive
97-99 Barrel sample. Rich, sweet and concentrated, with a definite spicy character and sweet, soft tannins. This is richer than many Pétrus in the past, textured like velvet, but with final acidity.
— R.V.
(8/9/2010)
Château Lafite Rothschild 2010 Barrel sample Red (Pauillac)
- Online Exclusive
97-99 An enormous structure, the wine is filled with tannins as well as dark berry fruit. It is so powerful, so concentrated, yet a great finesse brings together all the elements into a superb wine.
— R.V.
(6/25/2011)
Château Latour 2010 Barrel sample Red (Pauillac)
- Online Exclusive
97-99. This has great beauty, with delicious fruits at the beginning. The structure comes from behind, with such sweet fruit tannins, then chocolate, an edge of wood and finally acidity reigns supreme.
— R.V.
(6/25/2011)
Most Reviewed Sub Regions
Most Reviewed Varietals
advertisement
What We're Tasting
2010 Center of Effort
A big, strong Pinot with pure, focused flavors of raspberry cream…
Facebook Activity
advertisement
Twitter Activity