{"id":18881,"date":"2021-01-23T14:02:02","date_gmt":"2021-01-23T13:02:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vinispi.com\/how-to-choose-a-good-bordeaux-wine\/"},"modified":"2024-04-08T15:09:41","modified_gmt":"2024-04-08T14:09:41","slug":"how-to-choose-a-good-bordeaux-wine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vinispi.com\/en\/how-to-choose-a-good-bordeaux-wine\/","title":{"rendered":"How to choose a good Bordeaux wine?"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column width=”2\/3″][vc_single_image source=”featured_image” img_size=”full” css=”.vc_custom_1587119329817{border-radius: 5px !important;}” el_class=”border-round”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/3″ disable_custom_paddings_tablet=”true” disable_custom_paddings_mobile=”true” css=”.vc_custom_1587718178266{padding-right: 0px !important;padding-left: 80px !important;}”][vc_column_text]Contents<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text]

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\n <\/div>\n <\/div>[\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”2\/3″][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text el_class=”block-text”]Choosing a good Bordeaux<\/a> wine can be very difficult. The range of wines on offer is so vast that it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the countless names of ch\u00e2teaux, estates and appellations that lie before us. One of the best ways to be sure of your choice is to seek advice. Wine merchants, experts and guides are there to help you make the right choice for your needs. But if you’d like to see things a little more clearly for yourself, follow these simple guidelines: <\/span><\/p>\n

Bordeaux wines<\/h2>\n

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The Bordeaux vineyard is vast: nearly 120,000 hectares. These lands are home to thousands of winegrowers producing wines under 65 appellations d’origine contr\u00f4l\u00e9e. It’s enough to make you dizzy when it comes to finding the right Bordeaux wine! <\/span><\/p>\n

Fortunately, the vineyards of Bordeaux<\/a>, although rich in terroirs and soils and offering many subtleties, can be easily understood if you master certain basics. Let’s take a closer look at this vast territory. There are three main geographical areas in the Bordeaux region, defined by two major rivers, the Garonne and the Dordogne, which merge to form the Gironde estuary. <\/span><\/p>\n

The left bank vineyards stretch from the town of Saint-Vivien du M\u00e9doc, north of the Pointe du M\u00e9doc, at the entrance to the Gironde estuary, to the area around the town of Langon, south of Bordeaux. This vast tongue of vineyards stretches exclusively along the left banks of the Gironde and Garonne rivers. This is where you’ll find the wines of the M\u00e9doc, Graves and Sauternes. <\/span><\/p>\n

M\u00e9doc wines<\/b>These exclusively red wines are renowned for their strong tannic structure, power and ageing potential. This region is home to all the 1855 Grands Crus Class\u00e9s, a group of 57 ch\u00e2teaux spread across AOCs such as Pauillac, Saint-Est\u00e8phe, Margaux and Saint-Julien. <\/span><\/p>\n

In the <\/span>Graves<\/b>The profile of red wines is more refined. Elegant, the wines here can be produced in red or white, and can also be part of a classification: the classification des vins des Graves, which brings together 16 ch\u00e2teaux, all in the Pessac-L\u00e9ognan appellation. <\/span><\/p>\n

To the south <\/span>Sauternes vineyards<\/b> is renowned for the production of sweet white wines, some of which are internationally renowned. Linked to the same 1855 classification as the M\u00e9doc, the Sauternes region has a Crus Class\u00e9s classification that highlights 26 ch\u00e2teaux in the Sauternes and Barsac appellations. <\/span><\/p>\n

On the right bank of the Gironde, the wines of <\/span>Blaye<\/b> and <\/span>Bourg<\/b>. These two appellations, still a little too little known, offer wines with excellent value for money. Heading downstream, on the right bank of the Dordogne, we come to the vineyards of <\/span>Saint-Emilion<\/b>. A land of red wines, the Saint-Emilion region includes appellations such as Pomerol and Lalande-de-Pomerol alongside Saint-Emilion Grands Crus and Grands Crus Class\u00e9s.<\/span><\/p>\n

The third geographical area of the Bordeaux vineyards: the<\/span>Entre-deux-Mers<\/b>. Situated between the Dordogne and Garonne rivers, Entre-deux-Mers is famous for its dry white wines. However, red wines can be found here under the AOC Bordeaux or Bordeaux Sup\u00e9rieur. <\/span><\/p>\n

A wine for aging or for everyday drinking?<\/h2>\n

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When you’re about to buy a wine, whatever its color, you need to ask yourself what you want to do with it. Is this a wine you plan to offer as a gift, to be kept for later, or is it a wine for everyday consumption or for the next aperitif with friends? <\/span><\/p>\n

For wines destined to age and be “forgotten” in the cellar, we prefer well-structured red wines with a good balance between acidity and alcohol and a high concentration of aromas: the great wines of the M\u00e9doc can generally be aged for at least 10 years, as can those of the Graves. Grands Crus Class\u00e9s generally meet the conditions required for ageing. The sweet white wines of the Sauternes region are also great wines for laying down. Thanks to their high sugar concentration and good acidity, they often offer great tasting moments after several years of rest. <\/span><\/p>\n

If you’re looking for a wine for more immediate consumption, for an upcoming dinner party, ask yourself what you’re going to eat. Food and wine pairings are what really come into their own here. Whether you’re eating baked fish or barbecued entrec\u00f4te, the Bordeaux wine you choose won’t be the same. Basically, if you’re planning a fish-based dish, choose a <\/span>Graves white<\/b>. With seafood or oysters, opt for a <\/span>Entre-deux-Mers<\/b> crisp and dry. With strong-flavored meats such as lamb or mutton, or with game, choose full-bodied red wines that will support the aromas of the dish. <\/span>M\u00e9doc<\/b> or <\/span>Haut-M\u00e9doc<\/b> and Saint-Emilion are ideal. <\/span> [\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Which vintage?<\/h2>\n

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And yes, in addition to knowing the appellation, production area and aromatic profile, it’s (very) important to take an interest in the vintage when choosing a wine. Particularly for Bordeaux wines, where the vintage effect is very present. <\/span><\/p>\n

As a reminder, the vintage is the date on which the grapes used in the wine were harvested. The weather varies from year to year: some years are marked by extreme heat (heatwave), others by extreme cold (frost), and all these variations have an influence on the life of the grapes and therefore on the final wine. <\/span><\/p>\n

Except for specialists and enthusiasts, however, it’s very difficult to remember what the weather was like 2, 5 or 10 years ago. That’s why it’s best to try to retain the good vintages of a region directly. Here is a short guide to the great years in Bordeaux: <\/span><\/p>\n