Wines of Bordeaux, France

East of the Bay of Biscay, Bordeaux is a leading French seaport on the banks of the Garonne River, near the point where the Garonne and Dordogne rivers meet to form the Gironde River. The city administers five deepwater ports downstream were the large quantities of the famous Bordeaux wines are exported.

As far back as the time of the Roman Empire, Bordeaux was a flourishing city, called Burdigala. In 1154, when the husband of Eleanor of Aquitaine became Henry II of England, the Bordeaux region passed under English control. It became French again at the end of the Hundred Years’ War in 1453. During the Franco-Prussian War, and briefly in each world war, the French government moved to Bordeaux.


Bordeaux is a region of such tremendous diversity in geography, soil, weather, and winemaking tradition that it produces a myriad of wines, each with a unique character. But no need to worry. It is easy to become familiar with the basics of Bordeaux. The 57 Bordeaux appellations are commonly divided into six families of wine, four red and two white. Each family shares characteristics which result from similar growing conditions and from the regulated blends used in production.

The style of Bordeaux reds that are produced range from medium light and fruity to full bodied and powerful with a wide array of flavors in-between. Bordeaux produces two styles of white, dry and sweet. The dry whites are aromatic, fruity and fresh. The sweet whites are rich, full flavored, round and concentrated. Compared to California reds, Bordeaux wines are structurally different in taste and aroma with generous amounts of fruit without being overly fruity. They are generally lower in alcohol, and are uniquely expressive of the terroir or the natural elements from where they come.

The range of Bordeaux wines is so large, that they can adapt perfectly to every day eating habits and to the foods of America, Asia, Caribbean, Europe, India, and Mexico just to name a few. Starting with the ultra-traditional to the most innovative cuisines, Bordeaux wines whether good or great, young or old, have something to offer for every taste, every occasion, and every budget. From little nibbles to full meals to cheese and dessert the scope for trying Bordeaux dry whites, rosés, reds, and sweet whites is limitless. Many Bordeaux red wines have a reputation for long aging. The average Bordeaux red wine produced will normally have an aging potential of 5-15 years. And there are certain wines with the potential to age 20-50 years or more. Also, the sweet Bordeaux white wines have a good aging potential.

RED WINE FAMILIES

Bordeaux and Bordeaux Supérieur

These can offer the best value and are no less drinkable than the most distinguished Bordeaux wines. They are balanced and bracing but light with a delicate nose and are meant to be drunk young. Rosé and clairet wines also fall into this family, but only receive the most general appellation, Bordeaux.

Côtes de Bordeaux

The various côtes appellations of the Bordeaux region are light- to medium-bodied wines with a fine bouquet and color. These fresh wines mature quickly. Some of the Côtes are Premières Côtes de Bordeaux, Premières Côtes de Blaye, Côtes de Bourg, Côtes de Castillon, and Côtes de Francs.

Libournais

The Libournais vineyards include the prestigious Saint-Emilion and Pomerol wine-producing districts. Situated on the eastern, or right, bank of the Gironde River, the soil is particularly suited for growing grapes from which the popular Merlot wines are produced. Libournais wines are softer and fruitier than Mèdoc and Graves wines. They are medium- to full-bodied and can be enjoyed young, but the best appellations should be aged to bring out their full complexity and distinct qualities. Other appellations include Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, and the satelite appellations of Montagne-Saint-Emilion, Lussac-Saint-Emilion, Puisseguin-Saint-Emilion, Saint-Georges-Saint-Emilion, Lalande-de-Pomerol, Fronsac, and Canon-Fronsac.

Mèdoc and Graves

Mèdoc (on the western, or left, bank of the Gironde estuary) and Graves (south of the city of Bordeaux) are renowned for the most prestigious châteaux where some of the best and most age-worthy wines in the world are produced. The dominant grape here is Cabernet Sauvignon and in general the wines merit long aging to enhance the rich and complex flavors. Other appellations include Haut-Mèdoc, Saint-Estèphe, Pauillac, Saint-Julien, Listrac, Moulis, Margaux, and Pessac-Léognan.

WHITE WINE FAMILIES

Dry White Wines

Elegance best defines the dry white wines of Bordeaux. They basically fall into two styles, light and delicate with a crisp bouquet, or fuller bodied and aged in oak. Other appellations include Bordeaux, Graves, Entre-Deux-Mers, Côtes de Blaye, Premières Côtes de Blaye, Côtes de Bourg, Côtes de Francs, and Pessac-Lèognan.

Sweet White Wines

Sweet white wines come with both medium and full bodied and are produced with a majority of the Sèmillon grape, a variety particularly susceptible to noble rot. The most famous of Bordeaux’s sweet white wine producing regions is Sauternes whose classified châteaux produce luscious wines worthy of aging to bring out their intense flavor. Other appellations include Barsac, Loupiac, Sainte-Croix-du-Mont, Cadillac, and Cèrons.

There is no single comprehensive classification system that ranks Bordeaux’s 57 appellations and thousands of wines. But Médoc, Sauternes and Barsac, Graves, and Saint-Emilion districts do have their own official internal classification systems.

THE CLASSIFICATION OF 1855

For the 1855 Exposition Universelle de Paris, the World’s Fair of the day, Napoléon III requested a classification system for Bordeaux wines, France’s best, which were to be on display. It was established by brokers in the wine industry who ranked the wines according to a château’s reputation and trading price, which at that time was directly related to quality. The result was the Bordeaux Wine Official Classification of 1855. Red wines that made the list all came from the Médoc region with the exception of the Château Haut-Brion from Graves which was famous enough to be included. The wines were ranked descending from first to fifth growths called “crus.” For white wines, only sweet whites from Sauternes and Barsac were ranked from first great growth to second growth. Within each category, châteaux are ranked in order of quality. In the more than 100 years since the 1855 classification, there has been only one change, when Château Mouton-Rothschild was elevated from a second growth to a first growth vineyard in 1973. Today, many people critique the 1855 classification for numerous reasons-some because the great châteaux of Pomerol and Saint-Emilion, among others, are not included; others because châteaux ownership and vineyard holdings are always changing.