It’s hard to deny the importance of the Bordeaux wine region in beverage history because many of the world’s top wines originate here.
So, which wines should you taste to better understand Bordeaux? Let’s dive into the 4 main styles of Bordeaux wine and what you need to know to find great quality.
Bordeaux is one of those regions that is difficult to understand because of its complexity. Fortunately, it’s not hard to start enjoying Bordeaux by tasting its four main wine styles.
- Cabernet Sauvignon Blend: A blend based on Cabernet Sauvignon from Médoc.
- Merlot Blend: A Merlot-based blend from Libournais.
- White Bordeaux: A dry white wine of Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc.
- Sweet Bordeaux: A rich, golden sweet wine.
Cabernet Sauvignon Blends
Cabernet Sauvignon originated in Bordeaux around the 1700s. So this is the first wine you should look for when visiting the Bordeaux wine region!
Of course, Bordeaux makes many different blends and is labeled with different wines, so you can’t just pick a bottle of wine with the name “Cabernet”. You need to find a wine from the appellation that specializes in blending based on the original Cabernet Sauvignon appellation.
Find wines from 8 Médoc . appellations
In Bordeaux, the Médoc (also known as the “Left Bank”) is a specialty brewery for Cabernet Sauvignon. These 8 appellations are famous for their bold and savory Cabernet Sauvignon style often blended with a hint of Merlot and Petit Verdot.
Blends based on Cabernet Sauvignon from this region make great wines for your cellar because they have higher tannins and acidity. Here are some tips for finding your own bottle:
- Check out vintage wines: Check vintage charts for red wine purchases in Bordeaux.
- Search for “Grand Vin de Bordeaux”: If you are looking for value wines, look for the words “Grand Vin de Bordeaux” – the winery’s flagship wine.
- Determining grading: Bordeaux has several classifications in the Médoc that define quality. Learn how to classify them to find the Bordeaux wine for you.
Merlot Blends
Merlot is the most planted grape throughout Bordeaux, which means that almost all red wines use Merlot in the blending process.
Two main regions produce Merlot-based red wines in Bordeaux: Libournais and Entre-Deux-Mers. These areas are often referred to as the “Right Bank” because of their location east of the Garonne River.
In the tasting video, we source a Merlot and Cabernet Franc blend from Cadillac Côtes de Bordeaux, a red wine appellation in Entre-Deux-Mers. It’s fun to taste
It’s a stark contrast between this wine and Cabernet. The Merlot blend is more luxurious and smoother with lower tannins and more fruit flavors.
Here are some clues to finding your own Bordeaux wine:
- Look for the Bordeaux Supérieur and the Côtes de Bordeaux for its benefits: These appellations offer some of the great benefits of Bordeaux’s best red wines.
- Classic Wine Test: Check the vintage chart for any red wines in Bordeaux.
- Looking for high end ?: Saint-Émilion and Pomerol are home to Right Bank’s most prized Merlot-sourced wines. These are the two areas that need to be explored in order to have top quality on par with the best Médoc.
White Bordeaux
- Dry White Bordeaux wines make up less than 10% of Bordeaux wine production. However, White Bordeaux has a huge fan base because it is so delicious!
- These wines mainly use Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc grapes. Taken together, these wines make for a richer and better tasting wine, with the lingering, intense flavors of Sauvignon Blanc.
- In Bordeaux, the name White Bordeaux is used only in Graves and Entre-Deux-Mers. As a result, most wineries simply label the wine as “Bordeaux”.
- For this tasting, we chose a wine with 70% Sémillon and 30% Sauvignon Blanc. It comes from Sauternes’ proprietary sweet wine appellation, but since it’s a dry white, it’s imperative that it be declassified into a base Bordeaux. Great quality for under $20 a bottle!
- Find in Graves and Entre-Deux-Mers: Most White Bordeaux comes from these two regions.
Sweet Bordeaux
The final wine to taste to complete your Bordeaux knowledge is a sweet white wine from the Sauternais region. These wines are golden and sweet with flavors of honey and apricot!
The region that specializes in the production of these sweet wines includes Sauternes (“may-quay”) which is the most famous sweet wine in Bordeaux.
For this tasting, we source the wine from Barsac, right next to Sauternes. And, because it doesn’t have the same name recognition as Sauternes, it provides better values. Typically, these wines sell for hundreds of dollars a half bottle, so finding value is a must if you’re on a budget.
If you want to learn more about Bordeaux, definitely check out the complete Bordeaux guide. Regional guides include knowledge bases, wineries and wineries, all in one place.
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