Top 100 red wines of Bordeaux

Discover the top 100 best red wines of Bordeaux as well as the best winemakers in the region. Explore the varietals of the red wines that are popular of Bordeaux and the best vintages to taste in this region.

Discovering the wine region of Bordeaux

Bordeaux, in southwestern France, is one of the most famous, prestigious and prolific wine regions in the world. The majority of Bordeaux wines (nearly 90% of the production Volume) are the Dry, medium and Full-bodied red Bordeaux blends for which it is famous. The finest (and most expensive) are the wines of the great châteaux of Haut-Médoc and the right bank appellations of Saint-Émilion and Pomerol. The former focuses (at the highest level) on Cabernet Sauvignon, the latter on Merlot.

The legendary reds are complemented by high-quality white wines made from Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc. These range from dry whites that challenge the best of Burgundy (Pessac-Léognan is particularly renowned) to the Sweet, botrytised nectars of Sauternes. Although Bordeaux is most famous for its wines produced in specific districts or communes, many of its wines fall under other, broader appellations. These include AOC Bordeaux, Bordeaux Supérieur and Crémant de Bordeaux.

The Bordeaux Red appellation represents more than a third of the total production. The official Bordeaux wine region extends 130 kilometres inland from the Atlantic coast. 111,000 hectares of vineyards were registered in 2018, a figure that has remained largely constant over the previous decade. However, the number of winegrowers has consolidated; in 2018 there were around 6,000, compared to 9,000 a decade earlier.

Discover the grape variety: Malbec

Malbec, a high-yielding red grape variety, produces tannic and colourful wines. It is produced in different wine-growing regions and changes its name according to the grape variety. Called Auxerrois in Cahors, Malbec in Bordeaux, it is also known as Côt. 6,000 hectares of the Malbec grape are grown in France (in decline since the 1950s). Malbec is also very successful in Argentina. The country has become the world's leading producer of Malbec and offers wines with great potential.

Food and wine pairing with a red wine of Bordeaux

red wines from the region of Bordeaux go well with generally quite well with dishes of beef, lamb or game (deer, venison) such as recipes of beef with mustard, lamb biryani or rabbit with mustard in foil.

Organoleptic analysis of red wine of Bordeaux

On the nose in the region of Bordeaux often reveals types of flavors of cherry, aniseed or raspberry sauce and sometimes also flavors of dried blackberry, juniper or tangerine. In the mouth in the region of Bordeaux is a powerful with a nice balance between acidity and tannins.

News from the vineyard of Bordeaux

Chateau St. Jean in Sonoma sold to Foley Family Wines

Foley Family Wines has returned to the acquisition trail in California by announcing its acquisition of Sonoma’s Chateau St. Jean from the Americas division of Treasury Wine Estates, owner of Penfolds in Australia. Foley said it ‘plans to restore the winery to its former glory’. A fee for the deal was not disclosed, but the purchase includes the historic 1920s chateau building, a 6,000-square-foot visitor centre, a winery facility and almost 32 hectares (79 acres) of estate vineyards. Fole ...

Decanter magazine latest issue: October 2022

Inside the October 2022 issue of Decanter Magazine: FEATURES French influence in Argentina Tim Atkin MW traces a long and mutually beneficial relationship California Cabernet Franc It’s a red on the rise, says Karen MacNeil Willamette Valley Pinot Gris Advantage Oregon? By Clive Pursehouse & Michael Alberty País in Chile By Darren Smith Uruguay’s coastal whites A fresh look, with Amanda Barnes Chianti Classico & Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Michaela Morris on the Tuscan new-vintage rele ...

Fires near Bordeaux: Liber Pater vineyard evacuated

Police ordered the evacuation of more local residents in the Landiras area yesterday (Monday 18 July), with Liber Pater’s vineyard in Graves also evacuated as firefighters continued to try to contain a large forest fire that has been burning for the past week. A ‘fog’ of fire smoke behind Liber Pater vines on Tuesday morning (19 July), said owner Loïc Pasquet, who was briefly able to return to the site. Smoke hasn’t been a problem so far, he said. Credit: Loïc Pasquet. ‘The pol ...