BORDEAUX THE WINES
Bordeaux Wines
The Bordeaux region produces such a diversity of wines that there is certain to be a wine to suit most drinkers. The majority of Bordeaux wine is red, with red wine production outnumbering white wine production six to one.
The 60 Bordeaux appellations and their wine styles can be divided into six principal categories:
- The Red Bordeaux and Bordeaux Suepérieur are produced all over the region and are the cheapest Bordeaux wines. These basic wines tend to be fruity and are produced in a style that allows them to be drunk young.
- Eight appellations in the hilly outskirts of the region produce Red Côtes de Bordeaux wines, whose blends are usually dominated by Merlot. These wines are an intermediate in both style and quality between the basic reds and the more famous appellations of the left and right banks.
- Based around Libourne, ten appellations produce Red Libourne or Right Bank wines. St Emilion and Pomerol are the best known of these appellations, whose wines are dominated by Merlot with very little Cabernet Sauvignon. These long-lived wines have a large fruit concentration with softer tannins.
- On the polar end of the scale to Right Bank wines, Red Graves and Médoc, or Left Bank wines are dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon, but often with a large portion of Merlot. The five First Growths are situated here. These wines are concentrated, tannic and long-lived, usually cellared before drinking.
- Dry white wines are produced throughout the region, Graves being the most well-known. Graves is also the only sub-region with a classification for dry white wines. The blend is generally dominated by Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon, and the better versions tend to have a significant oak influence.
- In several appellations, sweet white wine is made from Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle grapes affected by noble rot. Sauternes is the best known of these appellations, and also has an official classification. It is in Sauternes that some of the world’s most famous sweet wines are produced.
The main reason for the success of wine making in the Bordeaux region is its excellent environment for growing vines. The limestone foundation of the region leads to a soil structure that is heavy in calcium. The soil of Bordeaux is composed of gravel, sandy stone and clay. The concept of terroir plays a crucial role in the production of wine, especially within the premium estates, who strive to produce terroir driven wines, which reflect the place that they are from. They generally use grapes from a single vineyard.
We have a reputation for providing excellent and memorable Bordeaux wine tasting tours, and many of our guests return to us again and again.