what is a good bordeaux

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What are the best Bordeaux vintage years?

Without any doubt among the best vintages of Bordeaux red wines we can find at the top the legendary vintages of 1990, 2005 and 2009, 1945 and 1961. Other sensational vintages of Bordeaux follow such as 1985, 1986, 1989, 1996, 1998, 2000. Finally, , great Bordeaux vintages such as 1975, 1978, 1983, 1988, 1995, 2001, 2010.

How to find the best Bordeaux wine?

“If you are a fan of Bordeaux, I recommend looking to Southwest France for value wines. Buzet, a small appellation known for its Merlot and Cabernet blends, offers really great wine for a fraction of the cost that you would pay for great Bordeaux. [The] 2016 Mary Taylor Wines Buzet punches above its weight.

What does Bordeaux wine taste like?

The taste of Bordeaux wine from the Left Bank delivers fruit scents and flavors of cassis, blackberry, dark cherry, vanilla, black cherry, coffee bean, spice and licorice. The wines are often concentrated, powerful, firm and tannic. Depending on the specific wine, it can appear to be austere in character in its youth.

Is Bordeaux good with steak?

Thus, it will typically contain more rugged tannins, red fruit, and earth. Left Bank Bordeaux red blends pair nicely with heavy, fattier, saltier, and spicier steaks and lamb. Right Bank Bordeaux (think Merlot) pair nicely with leaner or more savory meats, like pork or duck.

How much is Château du Retout 2017?

Château du Retout 2017 Cru Bourgeois (Haut-Médoc); $25, 91 points. This is a dense blend, with more than 80% Cabernet Sauvignon. It is full of tannins as well as bold black fruits. The balance that is already in place assures aging potential. Drink from 2022. –R.V.

What is Château Vernous 2017?

Château Vernous 2017 Cru Bourgeois (Médoc); $25, 90 points. A blend with 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, this ripe, structured wine is full of satisfying black fruits and acidity. They go with the dryness of tannins to give a wine that has a promising future. Drink from 2022. –R.V.

How much is Château Côtes de Blaignan 2016?

Château Côtes de Blaignan 2016 Cru Bourgeois (Médoc); $15, 91 points. The 30-acre estate, owned by the same family since the 19th century, is on one of the gravel outcrops that indicate quality in the Médoc. This wine has ripe berry fruits, rich tannins and a juicy, smoky character that makes it a classic. Drink from 2021. Best Buy. –Roger Voss

What is the price of Château La Fleur Peyrabon 2017?

Château La Fleur Peyrabon 2017 Cru Bourgeois (Pauillac); $29, 92 points. A 17-acre portion of the Peyrabon vineyard lies in Pauillac and is made into a separate wine. This latest release with 61% Cabernet Sauvignon is smooth, sumptuous with big tannins and black-currant flavors. With its concentration and great fruits, it will age well. Drink from 2023. Cellar Selection. –R.V.

How many points is Petit Bocq 2017?

Château Petit Bocq 2017 Cru Bourgeois (Saint-Estèphe); $27, 92 points. With all the impressive Saint-Estèphe tannins to the fore, this is a seriously structured wine. It also has density and solid black fruits that are ready to develop into a rich, full wine. Drink from 2023. –R.V.

How many points is Château Castera 2017?

Château Castera 2017 Cru Bourgeois (Médoc); $28, 90 points. This 155-acre estate dates back to the Middle Ages. Today, the modernization of the vineyard has resulted in an accessible wine that combines fine tannins and ripe black fruits. This wine has some of the freshness of the vintage although it does need to age. Drink from 2022. –R.V.

Where is Château Maucamps 2017?

Château Maucamps 2017 Cru Bourgeois (Haut-Médoc); $27, 91 points. Situated in the village of Macau just south of Margaux , the 47-acre vineyard has produced this wood-aged wine that shows plenty of ripe fruits. A touch of licorice goes with juicy blackberry fruits and acidity to balance the wine.

A Note On Grape Varieties

When you look at a wine label of French wine, you usually will not see the grape varieties listed. If you are in Canada or the United States, this type of wine label may be confusing. It is simply a cultural difference. The wine label tells you geographical details like the “Left Bank” of the chateau in France and other countries.

The Most Common Bordeaux Grape Varieties

The Bordeaux wine region typically uses a few different grape varieties. In terms of the region’s best red blend wine, Bordeaux typically focuses on Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc. In contrast, white Bordeaux is typically made from Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and Muscadelle.

What About Other Styles of Wine?

Now that you know a dozen examples of the best Bordeaux wine, you might wonder what else the French wine region has to offer. Entire books have been written about Bordeaux for a good reason. It is one of the best wine regions in Europe if not the world. To fully explore the region, plan a wine trip to France and work with a wine tour guide.

What is the wine of Bordeaux?

As one of the world’s premier wine regions, Bordeaux’s main focus is Cabernet Sauvignon- and Merlot-driven blends. While Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and Petit Verdot make regular appearances, the region is also known for producing small amounts of white Bordeaux, as well as the lusciously sweet wine known as Sauternes.

Does Bordeaux have to break the bank?

However, a great bottle of Bordeaux doesn’t have to break the bank. To ensure that approachable Bordeaux is on the radar for every drinker, VinePair asked wine professionals around the country which bottles of Bordeaux present the very best value.

Is Bordeaux divided into three regions?

Bordeaux is divided into three regions — the rival Left Bank and Right Bank, and Entre-Deux-Mers — each with its own distinct terroir. As a result, deciphering Bordeaux’s many variations can be tricky. Add Bordeaux’s often intimidating prices, and it’s not hard to understand why oenophiles on a budget often shy away from its wines. However, a great bottle of Bordeaux doesn’t have to break the bank.

What grapes are grown in Bordeaux?

A number of grapes are grown, including cabernet sauvignon, merlot, malbec, cabernet franc, and petit verdot. Any of these grapes can be used in a Bordeaux-style red wine blend. White wine grapes like sauvignon blanc are also grown but in significantly lower numbers.

What wine to buy if you can't find Bordeaux?

If you can't find Bordeaux, look for a cabernet or merlot red wine blend.

What is a Bordeaux wine?

The red Bordeaux blend is a dry, medium to full-bodied wine high in tannins with medium acidity. Because a Bordeaux blend can be made with several different red wine grapes from different regions in differing proportions, the color, amount of acidity, texture, and exact flavors can vary. Overall, Bordeaux blends are full ...

What is the largest wine region in France?

Bordeaux is the largest wine-growing region in France with thousands of vineyards producing a rainbow of wines, including the area's signature reds. The expansive region is divided into the Left Bank, dominated by cabernet sauvignon, and the Right Bank, ruled by merlot. White and dessert wines are also made, but red wines are what ...

What is red wine?

White and dessert wines are also made, but red wines are what the region's vineyards are known for. The most famous of all is the red Bordeaux blend, a mixture of two or more of the region's grapes that boasts flavors of plum, black currant, and cedar with fresh floral notes. The medium to full-bodied wine is dry with a standard alcohol level ...

What is the best wine to pair with food?

The ample body and tannins of a Bordeaux blend make it especially good for pairing with food. Meats and foods rich in umami are especially good with this bold red wine, and it can hold its own against rich and fatty dishes.

How much is Bordeaux wine?

Bottles can be found ranging from $15 on up, with high-quality bottles available at about $30. Certain years are known for better quality vintages than others, with 2009, 2010, and 2016 producing especially excellent grapes.

Where is the best Bordeaux wine from 2009?

Big, bold and luscious from the get-go, the best Bordeaux wines of 2009 are from the Médoc subregions of Saint-Julien, Pauillac and Saint-Estèphe, with some standouts farther south in Pessac-Léognan. In Bordeaux, some producers had mixed feelings about the softness of the tannins and many purists wanted more structure.

What year did Tannins come back?

Tannins came back with a vengeance in the powerful 2010 vintage, along with elevated alcohol levels and higher prices. But overall, the wines are uniformly great. What is so special about these wines is their balance, always an important element in the finest Bordeaux years.

What is the alcohol level of Bordeaux?

Alcohol levels are still modest, traditional Bordeaux, at around 13% or 13.5% alcohol by volume (abv), compared with the much higher figures for many vintages since then.

Is 2010 a good wine?

Out of the trio, 2010 is the least ready to drink. It’s also the best. While the beginning of the growing season was problematic, summer and autumn brought just the right conditions to create grapes that were concentrated while still having enough acidity.

What is Château Le Moulin?

A spicy blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, Château Le Moulin is named after the 19th-century windmill that adorns the Pomerol property. At close to a decade old, this bottle offers a great opportunity to experience the dried fruit and roasted nut notes that develop with age.

What is Pomerol known for?

The smallest appellation in Bordeaux, Pomerol is renowned for producing some of the world’s finest Merlot blends. Until 1935, the 15-acre plot that provides the Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc grapes for Clos Beauregard was attached to a larger, still-operating property called Château Beauregard.

What is the second wine from Château Rauzan-Ségla?

Ségla, Margaux (2012) The second wine from Château Rauzan-Ségla, a famed second-growth Margaux property, this bottle is really starting to hit its stride. Its tannins are well incorporated, while its wild berry flavors are ripe but refreshingly juicy.

What is Château Batailley?

In 1452, during the Hundred Years’ war, the site that now houses Château Batailley’s winery and vineyards was the site of a massive battle between the French and English. One of the oldest estates in the Médoc, the fifth-growth Pauillac producer’s first vines were planted not long after the conflict ended. The 2015 vintage serves concentrated aromas of dark fruits and cassis, which are typical of the appellation. On the palate, it is simply luxurious — a drinkable perfume. For luxury, nuance, and complexity anyone can appreciate, this is your bottle. Average price: $100.

What is Château Gloria?

Château Gloria is one of just two unclassified properties in the Saint-Julien appellation. This is not an indication of quality, and instead comes because the Château didn’t exist in 1855.

How many acres are there in Château Biac?

Founded in the 17th century, Château Biac has nearly 40 acres of sloping vineyards that tumble down toward the banks of the Garonne River. An outlier within the greater Bordeaux region, this producer is notable for changing the composition of its blends considerably from vintage to vintage.

How much does La Dame 2011 cost?

Well-balanced and rich in savory notes, the 2011 vintage has a seemingly endless finish that suggests it will become even better with more age. Average price: $55.

Which appellations have the best late autumn weather?

Summary: Some excellent wines, particularly in that northern Médoc triumvirate of St-Julien, Pauillac and St-Estèphe. Those three appellations, that had the best of the glorious late Autumn weather and most crucially suffered less from rain in August and October. However, clear differences between first and second wines suggest careful selection was needed. Jane Anson, 2017.

When will Jane Anson's vintage report be available?

Jane Anson’s en primeur ratings and a full vintage report will be available to Premium subscribers in June 2020.

Is Château Margaux 100 points?

Predominantly a victory for the Right Bank , although Château Margaux’s 100-point effort would beg to differ. No doubt at all that the Pessac-Léognan and Margaux appellations produced some spectacular wines, but for consistency of achievement you have to go to St-Emilion and Pomerol. There are plenty of good options at Cru Bourgeois level in this vintage. Jane Anson.

Is Bordeaux 2010 a good wine?

Bordeaux 2010 is a powerful vintage with high tannin and acidity, although alcohols were considered controversially high in some cases. The best wines should age for many years and will require patience. Look out for value among smaller estates and lesser known appellations.

Is 2012 Merlot better than 2011?

Summary: Not an easy year but generally viewed as better than 2011; albeit there was talk of reappraisal for the 11s in 2018. The 2012 weather conditions got off to a terrible start in spring, so flowering was uneven and drawn out. At en primeur, a hot summer was deemed to have helped earlier-ripening Merlot, while late September rains hampered some Cabernet Sauvignon. Top wines have lovely fruit structure, real definition and excellent balance, but the warning is for consistency. In general, it’s a vintage to enjoy relatively young. Release prices led to criticism from merchants at the time.

Does Cabernet Sauvignon ripen in the fall?

There was a record start to flowering, after hot conditions early in the year, yet a cool, rainy summer, with better-but-patchy weather in the autumn, hindered ripening for both Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.

A Note on Grape Varieties

The Most Common Bordeaux Grape Varieties

• The Bordeaux wine region typically uses a few different grape varieties. In terms of the region’s best red blend wine, Bordeaux typically focuses on Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc. In contrast, white Bordeaux is typically made from Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and Muscadelle. These six grapes are the most popular, but wine lovers occas...

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What About Other Styles of Wine?