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Home to some of the most exquisite and expensive wines in the world.
Bordeaux has 57 recognized appelations and over 7,000 chateaus. Bordeaux produces one third of the good quality french wine (AOC, crus bourgeois, crus classés) and this region produces a large percentage of France's total wine production. The Bordeaux region is certainly one of the most complicated yet distinguised wine producing regions of the world. We will break down the basics to make it simple and hopefully you can experience some Bordeaux wines to see what the buzz is all about.
Bordeaux is built on the La Gironde river and it divided into two parts by this river. You will often here that a particular wine is from the left bank or the right bank. Left bank wines are typically predominatly cabernet based blends and right bank are dominated by merlot. So...what is the typical Bordeaux blend you ask??
Red wines are generally made of a blend of grapes, and may be made from Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec, and, less commonly Carmenere. White Bordeaux is made from Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, and Muscadelle. Sauternes is a subregion of Graves known for its intensely sweet, white, dessert wines which are called Sauternes. You see...the French don't always put the grape or varietal on the label. Instead they use the appelation or region and expect you to know the varietal...confusing huh?
Some of the most famous chateaus are located in the Medoc appelation in Bordeaux. The Medoc is located on the left bank so these wines are typically predominatly cabernet as well. Within Bordeaux there are five 'premier cru' (first growth) chateaus (four from Médoc and one, Chateau Haut-Brion, from Graves). These were established by the Bordeaux Wine Official Classification of 1855: The first growths are:
- Château Lafite-Rothschild
- Château Margaux
- Château Latour
- Château Haut-Brion
- Château Mouton-Rothschild
In case you have one of these bottles laying around please bring it in as I will gladly take it off your hands.
Anyway, to learn more about Bordeaux take a look at the The Wine Doctor website. |
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