France

Bordeaux

Southwest France, around the city of Bordeaux and the Garonne and Dordogne rivers.

Maritime, moderated by the Atlantic; wet springs, warm summers and long autumns make vintage variation a defining feature.

Bordeaux is the world's most famous wine region and the template for 'Cabernet-blend' culture everywhere. Its classification (1836-1855) created the First Growth hierarchy that still dominates fine-wine auction rooms, and its châteaux are the great industrial-scale wonders of the wine world.

The region divides into the left bank (Médoc, Graves - Cabernet-led blends), the right bank (Saint-Émilion, Pomerol - Merlot-led), and the sweet-wine heartland of Sauternes and Barsac.

For the buyer, Bordeaux spans from affordable generic 'Bordeaux' reds to the estates whose wines sell for hundreds per bottle. The key is knowing that appellation, château reputation and vintage matter enormously.

Terroir & Soil

Gravel in the Médoc (drains fast and stores heat for Cabernet), clay-limestone in Saint-Émilion and Pomerol (ideal for Merlot), and sandy soils in Graves.

What to Expect from the Wines

  • · Red Bordeaux is a blend led by Cabernet Sauvignon (left bank) or Merlot (right bank), with structure, cedar and graphite notes.
  • · Fine reds demand cellaring and reward it with aromas of cassis, tobacco, pencil lead and cigar box.
  • · Sauternes is the world's benchmark botrytised sweet wine; dry whites from Graves are elegant and age-worthy.

Remarkable Bottles from Bordeaux

All wines →
red

Château Margaux

Bordeaux · 2024 (representative vintage)

Château Margaux is an red wine from France, in the Bordeaux region (Southwest France, around the city of Bordeaux and the Garonne and Dordogne rivers.), made principally from Cabernet Sauvignon. The grand vin of the First Growth estate — a benchmark of Bordeaux elegance.

$700–$1200 est. retail

red

Pavillon Rouge du Château Margaux

Bordeaux · 2024 (representative vintage)

Pavillon Rouge du Château Margaux is an red wine from France, in the Bordeaux region (Southwest France, around the city of Bordeaux and the Garonne and Dordogne rivers.), made principally from Cabernet Sauvignon. The second wine of Château Margaux — early-drinking Bordeaux elegance at a fraction of the grand vin.

$180–$320 est. retail

red

Château Lafite Rothschild

Bordeaux · 2024 (representative vintage)

Château Lafite Rothschild is an red wine from France, in the Bordeaux region (Southwest France, around the city of Bordeaux and the Garonne and Dordogne rivers.), made principally from Cabernet Sauvignon. The grand vin of a First Growth Pauillac — one of the most famous and collected wines in the world.

$650–$1400 est. retail

red

Château Pétrus

Bordeaux · 2024 (representative vintage)

Château Pétrus is an red wine from France, in the Bordeaux region (Southwest France, around the city of Bordeaux and the Garonne and Dordogne rivers.), made principally from Merlot. The world's most revered Merlot, from the blue-clay plateau of Pomerol.

$2500–$4000 est. retail

red

Château Latour

Bordeaux · 2024 (representative vintage)

Château Latour is an red wine from France, in the Bordeaux region (Southwest France, around the city of Bordeaux and the Garonne and Dordogne rivers.), made principally from Cabernet Sauvignon. The monumental Pauillac First Growth, long famed for its dense, age-defying Cabernet power.

$800–$1500 est. retail

red

Château Haut-Brion

Bordeaux · 2024 (representative vintage)

Château Haut-Brion is an red wine from France, in the Bordeaux region (Southwest France, around the city of Bordeaux and the Garonne and Dordogne rivers.), made principally from Cabernet Sauvignon. The oldest and smallest First Growth, from the gravel slopes of Pessac-Léognan — the only First Growth outside Pauillac.

$750–$1400 est. retail

Food Pairing

  • · Classic leg of lamb, roast beef, steak au poivre and hard cheeses complement the cedar and cassis character of fine red Bordeaux.
  • · Crusted lamb and game dishes suit aged bottles; young Bordeaux with grilled steak is a superb everyday match.
  • · Chocolate desserts clash subtly with Cabernet tannins; go instead with cheese or lamb.

Buying from Bordeaux

  • › Understand the hierarchy: regional 'Bordeaux' is entry, then village appellations (MĂ©doc, Saint-Émilion), then classified growths.
  • › Vintage is critical - recent great years include 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020 and the superb 2022 - while 2013 and 2021 were cool and difficult.
  • › The best value often lies with second wines of top châteaux and with less-famous communes on the right bank.