When asked "where does the best wine in the world come from", if you can only choose one, most people will definitely answer, "Bordeaux".
The world-famous wineries – Lafite, Latour, Margaux... And the long history that gives Bordeaux an unparalleled brilliance. But Bordeaux also produces a lot of cheap wines of average quality.
The difficulty of buying Bordeaux wines is to know exactly what you are going to buy and avoid spending a lot of money and buying inferior wines. With this in mind, the answer to the question at the beginning of the article should be "depending on the situation". Producers, appellations, blends and vintages all affect the price and quality of Bordeaux wines. The three words "Bordeaux" as a brand, like "Champagne" and "Burgundy", although famous, are not a guarantee of quality.
So, in order to give everyone a clearer understanding of Bordeaux, we have summarized 9 things that every wine lover should know about Bordeaux, and an article takes you from the beginning to the master level.
The article is longer, and the directories are listed here:
1. The year of Bordeaux is very important
2. Bordeaux grape varieties
3. The sub-production area of Bordeaux
4. Read the Bordeaux wine label
5. The grading system in the history of Bordeaux
6. Main and sub cards
7. How to choose the best Bordeaux wine according to your budget
8. The top ten famous bordeaux villages that must be known
9. What is Bordeaux wine
To produce good grape fruit, the vine needs some growing pressure, so the best grape growing areas are not too suitable for plant growth, but let the vines struggle on their own. Bordeaux is no exception.
Bordeaux's climate is mild oceanic and heavily influenced by the Atlantic Ocean and rivers. The main factors affecting the quality of Bordeaux in each vintage are the weather: rainfall, temperature, sunshine, etc., the most important of which is the amount of rainfall and whether it is affected by hail and cold waves.
For example, in 1945, 1991 and 2017, too much rain and too much humidity caused 3 problems for viticulture:
(1) Humidity will affect flowering, so it is impossible to form fruits normally;
(2) Extremely susceptible to fungal diseases, except for the Sauternes appellation of sweet white wine, Botrytis is a disaster for other vineyards;
(3) A large amount of water diluted the grape fruit, and the winery had to pick the grapes in advance, which affected the quality of the harvest.
Top producers take special measures to protect their grapes. Notable examples include Petrus, which used helicopters to dry the vines during the 1987 harvest, and Chateau Figeac, which in the spring of 2017 used an air circulation system to send hot air above the vines to prevent frost.
So for Bordeaux, the year is crucial, with good years mostly occurring once every 5 years, and sometimes the adjacent 2 years being good. The outstanding vintages across regions are not very consistent, but there are a few years that Bordeaux as a whole have excelled, including so far: 1990, 2000, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2015, 2016.
Although the quality or yield of bad years will be reduced, bad years will not be catastrophic due to the advancement of technology now.
Before we start talking about Bordeaux varieties, there are 3 things you need to know:
Bordeaux mainly produces red wines, with less than 10% of white wines (25% of which are dessert wines);
There is a clear difference between the Bordeaux "Left Bank" and the "Right Bank";
Most Bordeaux wines are blends of several grapes.
Bordeaux has 5 main grape varieties (3 red and 2 white):
(1) Merlot
Merlot
Merlot is the most common grape variety in Bordeaux, accounting for 60% of the total planting area. Compared to Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot grows more easily and matures earlier. In fact, Merlot is also the most widely grown variety in the world.
In Bordeaux, Merlot has plums, raspberries, fruitcakes and spices and smoky notes from oak barrels that, upon age, produce aromas of humidors, chocolate and leather.
Usually Merlot wines are softer and rounder, so they are easier to drink when they are younger. The key to growing Merlot is to control the yield and concentration of the flavor of the grapes, otherwise the wine will become very dull and unrecognizable.
On the right bank of Bordeaux, there are some fine wines with Merlot accounting for 80%-100% and high aging potential. For example, Château Bertus, which produces almost all 100% Merlot, has an ageing potential of more than 20 years and is currently the second most expensive wine in Bordeaux.
But to spend tens of thousands of yuan to buy a bottle of wine, and then put it in the cellar for more than ten years to open the bottle, which requires a lot of courage. Fortunately, Bordeaux is not all for the rich and the speculators, and there are many excellent wines that are ready to drink, and the prices are not as prohibitive as the top wineries.
(2) Cabernet Sauvignon
Known as the king of grapes, Cabernet Sauvignon is the second most grown variety in Bordeaux. In Bordeaux, Cabernet Sauvignon is not usually used to make a single variety of wine, but is blended with Merlot, Petit Verdot and others.
Cabernet Sauvignon has aromas of blackcurrant, green pepper, cedar and smoky, spices from oak barrels, and tobacco, leather and flesh from aging. Premium Cabernet Sauvignon blends have great ageing potential, and wines aged 30 to 50 can remain vibrant.
(3) Cabernet Franc
Cabernet Franc
In Bordeaux, Cabernet Franc is blended with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot to add aroma and structure to the wine, which itself has aromas of raspberry, plum, violet and blackcurrant leaves.
Cabernet Franc typically accounts for less than 10% of the blends on the left bank of Bordeaux. On the right bank it accounts for about 30%, but there are exceptions, such as Chateau Ausone, which uses 50% Cabernet Franc, and Chateau Cheval Blanc, which uses 60%.
(4) Sauvignon Blanc
Sauvignon Blanc
When it comes to Sauvignon Blanc, you may be more familiar with the Loire Valley and New Zealand, and think less about Bordeaux, but Sauvignon Blanc is actually the most important white grape variety in Bordeaux.
Winemakers can mix Sauvignon Blanc with Semillon and age them in oak barrels to produce a full-bodied, full-bodied wine. Classic Bordeaux Sauvignon Blanc with aromas of elderflowers, currants, grapefruit and peaches.
Bordeaux white wines have been gradually neglected in recent years, and many wineries have removed white vines and planted red grapes instead. But the quality of the remaining white vineyards is high, so perhaps it's time to reacquaint yourself with Bordeaux's white wines.
(5) Semillon
Semillon
Semillon infected with noble rot bacteria
Semillon is the main variety of dry white and sweet white wines fermented in oak barrels, which have a waxy flavor in itself and produce nutty, honey flavors when aged. Mixing a certain amount of Sauvignon Blanc can make the wine more vibrant.
The most iconic winery is Chateau Haut-Brion, where the proportion of Semirone can reach more than 60%.
In addition, Semillon is easily infected with noble rot bacteria, is the main variety of sweet white wine in the Sollean region on the left bank of Bordeaux, where a little bit of Sauvignon Blanc is usually added to Seminyone, while maintaining the dominance and sweetness of Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc can bring some acidity to the final wine, to achieve a sweet and sour balance.
In addition to these 5 varieties, there are also the red grape variety Petit Verdot and the white grape variety Muscadelle, which are used to blend with the above varieties.
Map of bordeaux appellations
Bordeaux has 3 important rivers, the Garonne and Dordogne rivers merge to form the Gironde River flowing into the Atlantic Ocean.
Bounded by these three rivers, Bordeaux is divided into 3 main regions:
Left bank: south of the Girond and Gallen rivers, dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon;
Right bank: north of the Gironte and Dordogne rivers, dominated by Merlot;
Between the two rivers: the middle part of the Galen and Dordogne rivers.
(1) Left Bank
The left bank can be divided into 3 zones: Medoc (in turn) upper Medoc and lower Medoc, Graves and Suri tortoise. Sub-appellations are subdivided into these regions, each with its own unique style.
Margaux: Located in Haute Médoc, the style is exquisite and charming, the floral fragrance is rich, the texture is silky, and it is known as the female version of the left bank of Bordeaux.
Pauillac: Located in the Upper Médoc, the taste is concentrated, with aromas of blackcurrant, cedar and tobacco, known as the male version of the left bank.
St-Estephe: Located in Haute Médoc, he was young and dark in color, with strong tannins, and has great ageing potential.
St-Julien: Located in Obermédoc, the style is somewhere in between.
Pessac-Leognan: Located in Graves, red and white wines are produced, while several of the above appellations produce only red wines. Pessac-Léolian's red wines have a unique mineral, earthy aroma and smoky notes.
Suturgy: Located in the south of Graf, which also includes the small appellation of Barsac. Sue tortoise is famous for its abundant blends of Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc sweet white wines, and the top ones can even be stored for more than 100 years.
(2) Right bank
The right bank is simpler, with 2 well-known appellations:
Pomerol: A small but special appellation that produces top-notch Merlot.
Saint Emilion: Mainly Merlot, mixed with a certain proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, the taste is soft and rich, with aromas of red berries and plums.
If you don't know much about bordeaux, be sure to look at the label when buying wine. The following figure is an example to see if there are these words on the wine label, which can help you choose a good wine:
(1) "Margaux" – the name of the top sub-appellation
See if there are any names of the top sub-appellations on the label (e.g. the ones mentioned above). If it is only written "Medoc", "Graves" or "Bordeaux", it means that the wine is a relatively low-grade blend in the region, which is not enough to be called a premium appellation.
(2) "Cru Classe" – a class winery
The word represents the winery's place in one of Bordeaux's grading systems. These include the famous 1855 Médoc and Surree classifications, the 1959 Graff and Saint-Emilion classifications. The prices of these wines are relatively high.
It should also be noted that Pomerol does not have a grading system, but the top wineries there, such as Château Bertus and Le Pin, produce wines that can reach tens of thousands of yuan at a young age.
(3) "Grand Vin" - genuine wine
Indicates the best wine of a winery, if it appears on the label with "Cru Classe", it means that the wine is the top wine of the listed winery, usually called "genuine wine".
(4) "Bottled at the castle"——酒庄装瓶
"Mis en bouteille au chateau" means "winery bottling", i.e. the growers themselves bottle the wine. It usually means that the winery has its own vineyard, and its vinification, maturation and bottling are also done in its own vineyard, which is generally of high quality, and only the authentic wines of the winery in Bordeaux use this word. The word "chateau" doesn't necessarily refer to an ornate building like a castle, and even a shabby-looking farm can be used on wine labels.
Winery bottling began in the 1920s at chateau Mouton Rothschild, where Baron Philippe de Rothschild persuaded all other top producers to promote the practice with the aim of controlling all the factors that affect the quality of the wine, from the land to the bottling.
If it is written "Mis en bouteille a la propriete", it means "vintner bottling", which may be produced and bottled by some wine trading company that buys grapes from elsewhere or bulk wines themselves, and the quality and style are more stable and reliable; it may also be that the winery sells the property rights to the holding company (i.e. the winer), which essentially belongs to the company. In Bordeaux, some sub-label wines often have similar words on their labels. In short, the wine bottled by the vintner may be a wine of average quality, or it may be a good quality sub-brand wine produced by a famous estate.
If there are no above two sentences, it means that the origin and flavor of this wine are not subject to the relevant laws and regulations of the wine, and may be relatively low-end.
Bordeaux currently has the following 4 main grading systems, all of which cover only specific areas. (Click here for the full list of Bordeaux classification systems)
(1) 1855 Medoc and Sue classification
In 1855, the World's Fair was held in Paris. At that time, King Napoleon III of France wanted to promote French wine, so he ordered the Bordeaux Chamber of Commerce to draw up a list of the best wines in France, which is what we now know as the 1855 classification.
At that time, there was no concept of blind goods, and the selection was mainly based on price. At that time, people thought that by the second year everyone would forget about this classification, but in the next two hundred years, the grading system of 1855 became more and more popular.
The Médoc classification now includes 61 wineries divided into 5 levels, of which 5 are first-class, 14 are second-class, 14 are third-class, 10 are fourth-class and 18 are fifth-class. The well-known Château de Lafite, Latour, Margaux, Haube and Mouton are these 5 first-class estates.
However, given the historical selection method, more than a hundred years later, the grade to which these wineries belong is not absolutely representative of quality.
This grading also includes the Su tortoisen production area, which includes a total of 26 wineries, divided into 3 grades: super first-class zhuang (1), first-class zhuang (11) and second-class zhuang (14).
(2) Saint-Emilion grading
Saint-Emilion grading is based on blindness and quality assessments and is revised on average every 10 years. The latest version is the latest version of the classification introduced in 2012, which includes a total of 82 ranked villages. Saint-Emilion is divided into 3 levels:
Premiers Grands Crus Classe A
Premiers Grands Crus Classe B
Grands Crus Classes
It should be noted here that the difference between "Saint Emilion Grands Crus Classe" and "Saint Emilion Grands Crus", although only the word "Classe" is different, the latter is only a geographical indication, more than half of the wineries in Saint-Emilion can be called "Grand Cru", and "Classe" stands for "rank", and those who have this word are really the wineries that have entered the classification list.
(3) Graff Grading in 1959
There is only one level of the Graff classification, the Grand Cru Classe, and the selected wineries are no longer subdivided. There are now 16 wineries.
(4) Médoc Intermediate Estate
Cru Bourgeois is another grading system in the Médoc appellation, because the 1855 classification of the ranked estates had a great influence, and some of the excellent wineries outside the ranks were buried, and the emergence of the intermediate estates just compensated for this defect. Since 2008, Zhongzhuang has conducted a quality audit once a year. However, starting in 2020, it will be reviewed every 5 years.
Few appellations are as complex as Bordeaux, and we need to understand not only the grading system, the name of the famous wine, the appellation, the vintage, etc., but also the difference between Grand Vin (also called First Wine) and Second Wine.
Genuine wines are the finest wines of a winery, mostly named after the winery, using the best grapes, from the best land, hand-picked and sorted grapes, ripened in expensive new oak barrels. Genuine wines are usually full-bodied and take years to reach drinkable maturity, and are expensive.
The sub-brand wine usually comes from younger vines, the quality of the grapes is not as high as the main brand, and the price is about 1/3 of the main brand. It is worth mentioning that when the vintage is not good, some wineries will directly brew the sub-brand without producing the genuine brand; in addition, if the genuine wine reaches the predetermined production, the extra grapes will also be made into the sub-brand.
7. How to choose the best Bordeaux wine according to your budget?
Life is short, such as morning dew, and going to the day is more painful. How to relieve worries? Only Dukham! If conditions permit, of course, you should try your best to chase good wine. Fortunately, not all good Bordeaux wines are very expensive.
Here's the secret to picking a good bottle of Bordeaux:
For fine wines to drink on special occasions, try to choose a price of not less than 650 yuan.
Remember the last good vintages: 2000, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2015, 2016 (click here for more outstanding vintages in bordeaux)
When you are not familiar with the style differences of the various sub-regions and wineries of Bordeaux, first understand some theoretical knowledge and then try, reduce the cost of trial and error, and slowly find your favorite production area and style after you can purposefully choose. You can start with the lower ranked or sub-brand wines of the ranked houses, and gradually increase the budget.
The two regional levels of "Bordeaux AOC" and "Bordeaux Superior AOC" are generally among the lowest in Bordeaux, although there are some exceptions. Therefore, if you do not understand the producer, it is likely to step on the thunder by buying blindly; but if it is a more reliable producer that you have known, then this kind of wine is also cost-effective.
(The average price mentioned below is from the average pre-tax price on Wine Searcher, shown in RMB, data as of before the publication of the article)
(1) Rafi Castle
Chateau Lafite Rothschild
Rafi Castle is one of the Médoc-class estates in Pojac and is owned by the Baron Rothschild family. Lafite in China should be the most famous Bordo Zhuang, even people who do not know wine have mostly heard the name "Lafite", in view of the fame is too big, cottages are rampant, it is still necessary to remember Rafi's original French name.
Château la fe del Lafite has the same name as the winery, with cabernet sauvignon accounting for 80% to 90% and an average price of 6,556 yuan. The sub-card is the Carruades de Lafite, also known as "Little Rafi", with an average price of $2,297.
(2) Château Latour
Chateau Latour
Château Latour is also a Médoc-class estate, based in Pojac, owned by Francois Pinault, founder of French luxury giant Kering. Latour's authentic wine style is very stable, with Cabernet Sauvignon accounting for about 90%, and in the 2010 vintage it received Robert Parker 100 points, and the average price is now 5,784 yuan.
The sub-brand liquor is called Les Forts de Latour and has an average price of $1,762. In addition, Latour Winery also has three brands of wine (Third Wine), Pauillac de Chateau Latour, with an average price of 627 yuan.
(3) Château Margaux
Chateau Margaux
One of the Médoc first-class estates, located in the Margaux appellation, owned by the Mentzelopoulos family. Margaux's style is the most elegant in the first class, with an average price of 5,067 yuan. The sub-brand is Pavillon Rouge du Chateau Margaux, with an average price of 1,589 yuan. Château Margaux also produces white wine, Pavillon Blanc du Chateau Margaux, but because Margaux AOC is limited to red wines, the title of origin of this wine is only Bordeaux AOC, with an average price of 1,780 yuan.
(4) Hou Bo Wang Manor
Chateau Haut-Brion
The Haupert Manor is also a Médoc estate, but Pessac-Léolians on the left bank is the only winery in the 1855 classification that is not in Médoc. The dry red of The Houber king winery is different from the Medoc style, merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon account for the same proportion, and there are many vintages merlot that even account for more than 50%. The average price of the genuine brand is 4,349 yuan. The sub-card was Le Clarence de Haut-Brion, with an average price of 990.
Chateau Houberon also produces a blend of Semmelon + Sauvignon Blanc, with a variety ratio depending on the vintage.
(5) Mouton Winery
Chateau Mouton Rothschild
The Médoc I Estate, located on the left bank of Pojac (originally classified as a second class in 1855, and was upgraded to the first class in 1973 at the insistence of the owner), is also owned by the Rothschild baron family. Every year, Château Mouton invites renowned artists to design art labels for new vintages (click here to view the latest art labels for the Mouton vintage 2017). Authentic classic blends are also based on Cabernet Sauvignon, with an average price of 4,594 yuan.
Château Mouton also makes white wines, Aile d'Argent Blanc du Chateau Mouton Rothschild, which, like Margaux White Pavilion, belongs to bordeaux AO, with an average price of 599 yuan. The sub-brand is Le Petit Mouton, with an average price of 1,861 yuan.
(6) Ausson Winery
Chateau Ausone
A Grade A winery in Saint-Emilion, Château Ausson is arguably the oldest winery in Bordeaux, with viticulture dating back almost 2,000 years. The classic genuine wine is a blend of Cabernet Franc and Merlot, with an average price of 5,285 yuan. The sub-brand is called "Chapelle d'Ausone" and has an average price of $1,453.
(7) Hakuba Winery
Chateau Cheval Blanc
Chateau Les Bairès is also a Class A winery in Saint-Emilion and is owned by the LVMH Group. The vineyard landscape of the winery is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Château Hakuba's authentic brand is also a blend of Cabernet Franc and Merlot, with an average price of 4,876 yuan. The sub-brand is Le Petit Cheval, with an average price of $1,326.
(8) Lipeng Winery
Chateau Le Pin
Château Lipeng is located on the right bank of Pomerol and does not belong to any grading. It was the originator of the "vin de garage", which was originally only 1 hectare of vineyards; now there are 2 hectares, but the yield is still very small. Château Lippon uses 100% Merlot and has an average price of 23,426 yuan (currently the third most expensive in Bordeaux). The winery does not have a sub-brand, but note that another of Château Lipeng's wines, Trilogie de Le Pin, is a blend of 3 different vintages, not a sub-brand of the winery.
(9) Château Bertus
Chateau Petrus
Château Bertus is also located on the right bank of Pomerol and does not belong to any classification, owned by the Moueix family. Beginning with the legendary 1945 and 1947 vintages, Château Bertus is now the most famous winery on the right bank of Bordeaux. The wine produced here is also 100% Merlot, with an average price of 23,899 yuan (currently the second most expensive bordeaux price). There are also no sub-branded liquors.
(10) Dijin Winery
Castle of Yquem
Château D'Ore is the only super-first-class winery in the 1855 Suturean classification, producing the finest sweet and white wines in the entire Bordeaux region, and now the average price is $3,169.
When it comes to Bordeaux, En Primeur is an unavoidable topic. "Vintage" is a French wine trade term meaning wine sold as futures before being bottled. Wineries increase cash flow by selling expiry wines, which are purchased by consumers and stored in cellars for several years until the drinking period is approaching.
The scene of the wine tasting
Why buy a vintage?
Some wines are only sold as expiry wines;
Vintage wine is the earliest wine that can be purchased, and the price is much lower than the price after the listing;
Vintage wine can add value.
What are the risks of buying a vintage wine?
Usually consumers have not tasted the wine themselves when they buy the wine, and can only rely on the score of the wine critic;
The wine is not guaranteed to be of the same quality as the wine after the final bottling;
In the event of a financial crisis or market turmoil, the price of promissory wine may fall;
You have to wait a year or two after buying a wine, so you must find a trustworthy middleman.
In recent years, the boom in importing Bordeaux wine in the Chinese market has gradually receded, and it has to be said that in previous years, various importers have invested in a large number of futures wines, and the current domestic inventory is more serious, and there is a state of oversupply.
At the same time, with the popularization of wine knowledge, and more and more excellent wineries from other countries and appellations entering the Chinese market, consumers' views on Bordeaux are more comprehensive and rational, and they are no longer like many years ago, the whole people only know 82 years of Lafite. Of course, as a "brother" in the wine industry, Bordeaux is still transcendent.