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Bordeaux is one of the largest wine growing regions in the world, and still produces more wine than the whole of Australia. It has a great reputation for producing some of the best wines in the world from top chateaux names, some of which fetch hundreds of pounds for one bottle.
However, as there are over 15,000 producers in the region, thankfully there are plenty of really good wines at more affordable prices, including wines known as 'Claret' or 'Bordeaux'.
The vineyards of Bordeaux are situated in the south west of France around the beautiful city of Bordeaux, on the Garonne River. The main producing region is the Medoc, north of the city running along the river to where it reaches the sea. Here is where you’ll find some of the top chateaux producers, including the likes of Chateau Margaux, that create famed long-lived Grand Crus (Bordeaux’s best classified wines).
St Emilion and Pomerol to the east of the Garonne river are home to the well-known properties of Chateau Cheval Blanc and Chateau Petrus. Here, the Merlot grape is widely used, together with Cabernet Franc.
To the south is Entre-Deux-Mers ‘between two seas’, though it should really be ‘between two rivers', because this region lies between the Garonne and the Dordogne. It is the major white wine region and the gentle valleys and plains are ideal for growing the Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon varieties. These white wines make a refreshing change from Chardonnay.
Sauternes and Barsac might be familiar names. These regions are embedded within the region of Graves and are positioned along the banks of the Garonne. This is where the world-famous dessert wines such as Chateau d’ Yquem are created, one of the most sought-after examples of sweet wine. The climate is warm and humid, with early morning fogs allowing the ‘noble’ rot or botrytis to develop which shrivels the grapes and concentrates the sugars.
Finally, the Graves region, that extends some 40 miles south of Bordeaux, is made up of gravelly soil, which is why the region gets its name. These soils produce a different style of wine - elegant reds and classy crisp, top quality whites are made here.
The key grapes used in Bordeaux’s white wines are the highly regarded Sauvignon Blanc that produces crisp, zingy grassy whites with gooseberry freshness. This is often blended with Semillon which complements by adding a rich and peachy flavour and body to the lighter Sauvignon. Muscadelle completes the trio and is used in some blends to add fragrance and floral notes.
Cabernet Sauvignon is the king of red Bordeaux wines. Predominantly grown in the Medoc, these small berries produce deeply coloured wines with typical flavours of blackcurrant and green pepper and an unmistakable whiff of mint.
Merlot creates more supple, soft and velvety wines that are the lynchpin of the Pomerol and St Emilion areas. Its softer character complements Cabernet Sauvignon’s more tannic qualities brilliantly so is often used in blends along with Cabernet Franc and sometimes Petit Verdot, less commonly used, but adding colour and violet aromas to wines.
There is such a huge range of styles available from across the Bordeaux region, to suit all tastes.