Bordeaux wines are regularly ranked among those with the greatest ageing potential. But what is it really? There is a wide variety of wines in the Bordeaux region, and it would be simplistic to lump them all together under a single label. Wines from the Right Bank and Left Bank have completely different profiles, and will therefore not have the same propensity to age in barrel or cellar.

Bordeaux wines, wines for laying down

What are the characteristics of a vin de garde and why are Bordeaux wines often associated with it? A vin de garde is above all a wine from a good vintage, i.e. a “good” year in terms of climatic conditions. Quality vintages are often characterized by years with fairly cold winters, to eliminate parasites, followed by sunny periods regularly punctuated by rainy episodes to achieve a certain balance. Ideally, the months of July and August should be warm, sunny and very slightly wet before the harvest. These are conditions that are found fairly regularly in the Bordeaux region, as winters are often quite cool thanks to the influence of the Atlantic Ocean, which cools the land, and summers are relatively hot and reasonably humid. The Bordeaux region therefore combines a number of elements conducive to the production of great vintages. These vintages determine the characteristics of the berries harvested, which are more or less suited to ageing.

The primary qualities that enable wines to keep and improve over time are, first and foremost, concentration. The more concentrated a wine, with the “solid” structure often associated with tannins, the greater its ageing potential. Acidity also plays a major role in the wine’s ability to age, as it “holds” the wine and gives it its tension. These characteristics are also found in Bordeaux wines, which are generally made from Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grapes. The first generally brings body and structure to the wine. It’s a concentrated grape variety that ages well. Merlot, on the other hand, is a more acidic grape variety; the blending of these two emblematic Bordeaux varieties therefore contributes to the reputation of Bordeaux wines as wines for laying down.

Red and white: different aging potential

Bordeaux reds and whites do not have the same ageing potential, largely due to their concentration. In fact, it comes mainly from the polyphenols found in grape skins. However, the skins are not kept in the vinification of white wines, giving them less concentration and therefore less ageing potential. The most classic white wines from the Bordeaux region can be kept for 2 to 5 years for optimum enjoyment, with the exception of great white wines such as the finest Sauternes. Bordeaux red wines, on the other hand, can be kept longer. Entry-level wines such as Bordeaux and Bordeaux Supérieur can be aged for 3 to 5 years, while wines from the Médoc, Pomerol or Saint-Émilion can be aged for around 15 years. Last but not least, the greatest Grands Crus are breaking records: they can be kept for up to 30 years, and even 50 years for great wines such as Margaux, Saint-Estèphe, Pauillac or Saint-Julien.

Photo : Adobe Stock – Chlorophylle