Bordeaux-style Red Blend
Bordeaux-style Blends are a style of wine rather than an individual variety. The five classic red grapes used are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot. Typically, Cabernet Sauvignon and/or Merlot are the main components in the blend, with smaller percentages of the other three varieties. Bordeaux-style blends may also be labeled Meritage or Claret. Though there is a regional name attached to this listing, not all wines categorized as Bordeaux-style Blends are from Bordeaux; in fact, Bordeaux-style Blends are produced all over the world. You can use Wine Enthusiast’s online Buying Guide to find the top-rated Bordeaux-style Blends among our extensive Bordeaux-style Blend wine reviews and easy-to-use database. Our Bordeaux-style Blend reviews will give you a general idea what to expect from wines made in the Bordeaux style, and will help you find one that best suits your needs.
Château le Grand Paroissien 2003 Red (Haut-Médoc)
- $25
and fruity, this packs good, ripe flavors of blackberries, leather, herbs and sweet acidity. The tannins remain firmly dry, structured, leaving fine, black fruits and acidity.
— R.V.
(4/1/2008)
Leeuwin Estate 2003 Prelude Vineyards Cabernet Merlot (Margaret River)
- Online Exclusive
- $29
There’s a tobacco and tomato leaf character that gives this an almost floral aroma, but also simpler cassis and cherry fruit. Some herbal notes persist on the palate, but this medium-bodied wine avoids the vegetal side of things, finishing fresh and clean.
— J.C.
(2/1/2008)
Pellegrini 2005 Milestone Red Wine (Sonoma County)
- $45
This Bordeaux blend is showing its youth with a rawly acidic scour that frames jammy, fairly sweet cherry and cassis flavors, and feels disjointed. But it may just need some time in the bottle. Try after 2008. No guarantees.
— S.H.
(3/1/2008)
Château la Bretonnière 2005 Red (Premieres Côtes de Blaye)
- $20
Soft and fruity, with tobacco and smoke aromas, and fresh, vibrant red fruits, topped with fruit tannins and fresh acidity. There’s the possibility of aging for 2–3 years.
— R.V.
(6/1/2008)
Château Lalande Balestard 2003 Red
- $20
This is the second wine of Château Balestard, and there are suggestions of high extraction and very ripe fruit. It does have balance, however, the black fruits need time to calm down. The acidity is all here, offering freshness to this rich wine.
— R.V.
(4/1/2008)
Château Lamothe-Vincent 2005 Heritage Red (Bordeaux Supérieur)
- Best Buy
- $10
Big, powerful, dominated by dark tannins and dense fruit. The alcohol is apparent in the burnt rubber edge, although the richness of the fruit, with its bitter chocolate edge, does help to mask it. The acidity at the end gives freshness.
— R.V.
(6/1/2008)
Château Fougas 2005 Maldoror Red (Côtes de Bourg)
Mint and toast aromas suggest—and the palate confirms—that this is all about new wood, polished black plum fruits and dense, dusty tannins. A New World style of wine, the finish is dominated by cinnamon and wood tannins.
— R.V.
(6/1/2008)
Estampa 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot (Colchagua Valley)
- Best Buy
- $9
Smooth and fruity on the nose, with ample lushness and fairly ripe berry and cassis flavors. This is basically a Cabernet Sauvignon (with 20% Merlot), and it offers comfortable, medium-intensity flavors of raspberry, strawberry and currants. It’s what you can drink with pizza or a grilled skirt steak.
— M.S.
(5/1/2008)
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2009 W.H. Smith Purple Label Piedra Hill Vineyard
This is a gigantic Cabernet, deeply concentrated and enormously tannic…
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