Bordeaux is the first place that comes to mind when we think about fine wine. The powerful reds from here are some of the longest lived and fetch some of the highest prices of any wines. Don’t forget the delicious whites and dessert wines too!
Bordeaux Grape Varieties
Reds: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec, Carmenere
Whites: Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Muscadelle
Bordeaux is a region of blends, there are varietal wines but these are the exception. The reds are largely blends of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot and the white/dessert wines are mostly Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon.
Bordeaux Sub-Regions
Bordeaux is split in half by the Gironde river (and further down the Garonne and Dordogne). This gives us the phrases ‘Left Bank’ and ‘Right Bank’. These two sides of the river craft wines of different styles with the left favouring Cabernet dominant wines and the right favouring Merlot dominant wines. However, it doesn’t stop there!
Below are the Left Bank Appellations (The Medoc)
Medoc: This covers all the wines made from the Northern tip of the left bank down to Bordeaux town. As a result, the wines can vary greatly in quality and style.
Saint Estephe: The wines here are often perfumed and elegant with firm structure and a long life.
Pauillac: This village is home to the highest number of first growths. Robust and dense wines with a pure Cabernet character.
Saint Julien: Home to the largest number of classified Chateaux and often viewed as a consistent and great value alternative to Pauillac. The wines here are full of concentrated fruit with a plush palate.
Margaux: Wines with a crisp floral aroma with a spicy and fruity palate. Some of the most elegant wines in Bordeaux are made here.
Also on the left bank, just south of Bordeaux town, you can find the Graves. Here Pessac Leognan produces wines of extreme power, poise and concentration with a hint of smokiness. The great Sauternes and Barsac dessert wine producers are also based south of the town.
Below are the Right Bank Appellations
Saint Emilion: This covers off a number of different appellations. Most wines are Merlot dominated but Cabernet Franc also features heavily, lending a herbal touch to these plummy wines.
Pomerol: Home to a number of micro-wineries, the most famous of all being Petrus. Pomerol is nearly always mostly Merlot with floral top notes and a concentrated core of fruit.
Bordeaux Classification
Bordeaux introduced the concept of classification in 1855 under Napoleon III, with a couple of amends, this rating is still alive today.
For the red wines of Medoc, the classification is as follows.
PREMIERS CRUS
Château LAFITE-ROTHSCHILD – Pauillac
Château LATOUR – Pauillac
Château MARGAUX – Margaux
Château MOUTON ROTHSCHILD – Pauillac
Château HAUT-BRION – Pessac
DEUXIÈMES CRUS
Château RAUZAN-SÉGLA – Margaux
Château RAUZAN-GASSIES – Margaux
Château LÉOVILLE LAS CASES – Saint-Julien
Château LÉOVILLE-POYFERRÉ – Saint-Julien
Château LÉOVILLE BARTON – Saint-Julien
Château DURFORT-VIVENS – Margaux
Château GRUAUD LAROSE – Saint-Julien
Château LASCOMBES – Margaux
Château BRANE-CANTENAC – Margaux
Château PICHON BARON – Pauillac
Château PICHON LONGUEVILLE COMTESSE de LALANDE – Pauillac
Château DUCRU-BEAUCAILLOU – Saint-Julien
Château COS d’ESTOURNEL – Saint-Estèphe
Château MONTROSE – Saint-Estèphe
TROISIÈMES CRUS
Château KIRWAN – Margaux
Château d’ISSAN – Margaux
Château LAGRANGE – Saint-Julien
Château LANGOA BARTON – Saint-Julien
Château GISCOURS – Margaux
Château MALESCOT SAINT-EXUPÉRY – Margaux
Château BOYD-CANTENAC – Margaux
Château CANTENAC BROWN – Margaux
Château PALMER – Margaux
Château LA LAGUNE – Haut-Médoc
Château DESMIRAIL – Margaux
Château CALON SÉGUR – Saint-Estèphe
Château FERRIÈRE – Margaux
Château MARQUIS d’ALESME BECKER – Margaux
QUATRIÈMES CRUS
Château SAINT-PIERRE – Saint-Julien
Château TALBOT – Saint-Julien
Château BRANAIRE-DUCRU – Saint-Julien
Château DUHART-MILON – Pauillac
Château POUGET – Margaux
Château LA TOUR CARNET – Haut-Médoc
Château LAFON-ROCHET – Saint-Estèphe
Château BEYCHEVELLE – Saint-Julien
Château PRIEURÉ-LICHINE – Margaux
Château MARQUIS de TERME – Margaux
CINQUIÈMES CRUS
Château PONTET-CANET – Pauillac
Château BATAILLEY – Pauillac
Château HAUT-BATAILLEY – Pauillac
Château GRAND-PUY-LACOSTE – Pauillac
Château GRAND-PUY DUCASSE – Pauillac
Château LYNCH-BAGES – Pauillac
Château LYNCH-MOUSSAS – Pauillac
Château DAUZAC – Margaux
Château d’ARMAILHAC – Pauillac
Château du TERTRE – Margaux
Château HAUT-BAGES LIBÉRAL – Pauillac
Château PÉDESCLAUX – Pauillac
Château BELGRAVE – Haut-Médoc
Château de CAMENSAC – Haut-Médoc
Château COS LABORY – Saint-Estèphe
Château CLERC MILON – Pauillac
Château CROIZET-BAGES – Pauillac
Château CANTEMERLE – Haut-Médoc
For the sweet wines of Sauternes and Barsac, the classification is as follows.
PREMIER CRU SUPÉRIEUR
Château d’Yquem, Sauternes, AOC Sauternes
PREMIERS CRUS
Château LA TOUR BLANCHE – Sauternes
Château LAFAURIE-PEYRAGUEY – Sauternes
Clos HAUT-PEYRAGUEY – Sauternes
Château de RAYNE VIGNEAU – Sauternes
Château SUDUIRAUT – Sauternes
Château COUTET – Barsac
Château CLIMENS – Barsac
Château GUIRAUD – Sauternes
Château RIEUSSEC – Sauternes
Château RABAUD-PROMIS – Sauternes
Château SIGALAS RABAUD – Sauternes
DEUXIÈMES CRUS
Château de MYRAT – Barsac
Château DOISY DAËNE – Barsac
Château DOISY-DUBROCA – Barsac
Château DOISY-VÉDRINES – Barsac
Château d’ARCHE – Sauternes
Château FILHOT – Sauternes
Château BROUSTET – Barsac
Château NAIRAC – Barsac
Château CAILLOU – Barsac
Château SUAU – Barsac
Château de MALLE – Sauternes
Château ROMER du HAYOT – Sauternes
Château ROMER – Sauternes
Château LAMOTHE – Sauternes . Château LAMOTHE-GUIGNARD – Sauternes
For the Graves, the 1953 Classification is below.
CRUS CLASSÉS DE GRAVES
Château Bouscaut, Cadaujac, rouge et blanc
Château Carbonnieux, Léognan, rouge et blanc
Domaine de Chevalier, Léognan, rouge et blanc
Château Couhins, Villenave-d’Ornon, blanc
Château Couhins-Lurton, Villenave-d’Ornon, blanc
Château de Fieuzal, Léognan, rouge
Château Haut-Bailly, Léognan, rouge
Château Haut-Brion, Pessac (également Premier Cru classé en 1855), rouge
Château Latour-Martillac, Martillac, rouge et blanc
Château Laville-Haut-Brion, Talence, blanc
Château Malartic-Lagravière, Léognan, rouge et blanc
Château La Mission-Haut-Brion, Talence, rouge
Château Olivier, Léognan, rouge et blanc
Château Pape-Clément, Pessac, rouge
Château Smith-Haut-Lafite, Martillac, rouge
Château La Tour-Haut-Brion, Talence, rouge
Reviewed more regularly than the Left Bank system, the 2012 Saint Emilion classification is below.
PREMIERS GRANDS CRUS CLASSÉS
Château Angélus (A)
Château Ausone (A)
Château Beau-Séjour (héritiers Duffau-Lagarrosse)
Château Beau-Séjour-Bécot
Château Bél Air-Monange
Château Canon
Château Canon la Gaffelière
Château Cheval Blanc (A)
Château Figeac
Clos Fourtet
Château la Gaffelière
Château Larcis Ducasse
La Mondotte
Château Pavie (A)
Château Pavie Macquin
Château Troplong Mondot
Château Trottevieille
Château Valandraud
GRANDS CRUS CLASSÉS
Château l’Arrosée
Château Balestard la Tonnelle
Château Barde-Haut
Château Bellefont-Belcier
Château Bellevue
Château Berliquet
Château Cadet-Bon
Château Cap de Mourlin
Château le Chatelet
Château Chauvin
Château Clos de Sarpe
Château la Clotte
Château la Commanderie
Château Corbin
Château Côte de Baleau
Château la Couspaude
Château Dassault
Château Destieux
Château la Dominique
Château Faugères
Château Faurie de Souchard
Château de Ferrand
Château Fleur Cardinale
Château La Fleur Morange Mathilde
Château Fombrauge
Château Fonplégade
Château Fonroque
Château Franc Mayne
Château Grand Corbin
Château Grand Corbin-Despagne
Château Grand Mayne
Château les Grandes Murailles
Château Grand-Pontet
Château Guadet
Château Haut Sarpe
Clos des Jacobins
Couvent des Jacobins
Château Jean Faure
Château Laniote
Château Larmande
Château Laroque
Château Laroze Clos la Madeleine
Château la Marzelle
Château Monbousquet
Château Moulin du Cadet
Clos de l’Oratoire
Château Pavie Decesse
Château Peby Faugères
Château Petit Faurie de Soutard
Château de Pressac
Château le Prieuré
Château Quinault l’Enclos
Château Ripeau
Château Rochebelle
Château Saint-Georges-Cote-Pavie
Clos Saint-Martin
Château Sansonnet
Château la Serre
Château Soutard
Château Tertre Daugay
Château la Tour Figeac
Château Villemaurine
Château Yon-Fig
