An Introduction to Bordeaux Red Wines

Wine is all about exploration, pushing the boundaries and experiencing new and unique culture through taste. It’s an easy and remarkable way to enjoy the past, present and future all in one little sip. Transport your senses and take your taste profile to new heights with every new wine you experience. Begin your wine journey with this detailed introduction to French wines.

Bordeaux

The Red wines from Bordeaux are primarily blends of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc. White wines from the region are usually blends of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon. French wine, unlike the wines of other places are named for the places they are grown/made. Bordeaux is always and only from Bordeaux.

Saint-Emilion

Saint-Emilion is one of the most beautiful wine-producing villages in France. Famous wines are produced in this distinguished world heritage site where Merlot achieves its maximum quality. The medieval village of Saint-Emilion was accepted by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site both for its historical value and its importance as an exceptional wine-growing terroir. Saint-Emilion’s weather is oceanic and temperate, due to the nearby Dordogne, which cools the summers and helps to avoid spring frosts. Autumns are sunny which encourages perfect ripening of the grapes, especially Merlot.

There are 4 types of soils here. In the centre is a limestone plateau, surrounded by chalky soils with clay and silt (also called “molasse”). In the northwest of the AOC, a sandy layer covers mostly clay soils. Finally, in the Dordogne Valley to the south, lighter soils contain alluvial stones and sand. 

Saint-Emilion wines thus have a variety of profiles, from very powerful and concentrated like those grown on the limestone plateau, to refined and delicate, like those from the terroirs to the south. Very little Cabernet-Sauvignon is to be found here, since it ripens too slowly. However, Merlot (60% of vines planted) and Cabernet Franc (30%) attain heights of quality in Saint-Emilion.

The wines from this AOC are generous, warm, full-bodied and intensely crimson-coloured. Their strawberry and red-current nose, is followed up by notes of soft spices, vanilla, leather and smoke that develop with age.

In the mouth, they have solid but velvety tannins, which give these wines a flavourful and fleshy body. The only thing that can match the refinement of the tannins is their strength, which is witness to their potential for longevity. 

We recommend you try these Bordeaux red wines:

Chateau Teyssier Grand Cru St.Emilion

Chateau Fontenil Fronsac

Chateau Angludet Margaux

Chateau La Grange Clinet Premieres Cotes de Bordeaux