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Bordeaux Wine
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Buying Guide: Red BordeauxIn terms of output, Bordeaux is certainly focused on red wine. Accounting for around 80% of total wine production, red Bordeaux is used as a prototype for red wine blends in virtually every serious wine making region in the world. But this is not solely because winemakers feel they can market a product by simply attaching the Bordeaux name to their wines—the much copied Bordeaux blend happens to be a classic recipe that works. Made from one or more of five red grapes: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Malbec, if done correctly it allows a winemaker incredible flexibility in creating balanced wines of unequaled longevity and complexity.
Bordeaux's most well known and widely adopted grape variety is the same that plays the dominant role in the red blends of Graves and the Medoc, Cabernet Sauvignon. But in terms of overall acreage, Merlot is far more common, taking nearly 50% of all vineyard land. In Entre-Deux-Mers, where many growers have difficulty fully ripening Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot dominates the blend. St. Emilion and Pomerol are probably the two most famous right bank appellations that also rely heavily upon it.
Often referred to as Bouchet within France, what is known in the rest of the world as Cabernet Franc is the third most common grape variety. The other two allowed grapes, Petit Verdot and Malbec, generally play a relatively minor role in red Bordeaux.
To make a quick comparison between the difference of red Bordeaux from the Medoc and red Bordeaux from the right bank, within the Medoc one will find that the typical proportions of grapes in the blend will be about 70-75% Cabernet Sauvingon, 10-15% Cabernet Franc, and 10-15% Merlot, and in St. Emilion the recipe will usually be about 60% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc, and only 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. This range of variety in blends demonstrates two of the great benefits that red Bordeaux winemakers enjoy: not only are they encouraged to experiment and create their own proprietary versions of the blend, but they are also allowed the flexibility to mitigate unfavorable climatological conditions when they arise. From vintage to vintage, these facts will always make a red Bordeaux more reliable than, say, a red Burgundy, where growers may only use one grape variety for their wines.
Buying Giude: 10 Red Bordeaux Picks Under $20
 Château la Gurgue Bordeaux
Blend Margaux $17
Grapes: 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot Tasting notes: Rich purple color, ripe, with medium body, and earthy. This wine can be loaded with cherry and mint fragrance, and a subtle dollop of toasty oak. Comment: The 25 year old vines of this estate are sitatuted right next to those of one of Bordeux's most famed wine houses, Chateaux Margaux. They are harvested by hand and then given around 12 months maturation in oak. Food pairing: red meats | duck | earthy entrees When to drink: Between 3 and 5 years after release Service temperature: 15°C | 59°F
 Château Cambon La Pelouse
Haut-Medoc Cru Bourgeois Supérieur $20
Tasting notes: Intense, deep purple in color, slightly smoky, with hints of vanilla and caramel. In certain releases a nice licorice note is also present. Comment: From 30 year old vines, the grapes are given 12 to 15 months in 50% new oak barrels and then bottled at the chateau. This is always a great starter Bordeaux for someone not familiar with the wines of the region. Food pairing: rich poultry | earthy entrees | beef | tiramisu When to drink: Best at 5 to 7 years after release, keep up to 10 Service temperature: 15°C | 59°F
 Château Saint- Robert Bordeaux
Blend Graves $20
Tasting notes: A bright, fruity wine with power but not owhelmingly astringent. Spicy, fleshy, and pleasingly full in the mouth. Comment: From parcels of old vines, the harvest is done by hand and then recives 12 to 13 months of new oak. Food pairing: rich poultry | earthy entrees | beef When to drink: Best at 2 to 3 years after release, keep up to 7 Service temperature: 15°C | 59°F
On the Market: Red Bordeaux90 Ch Meuliere Prem Cotes de Bordeaux '05 $10 88 Lafite Bordeaux Rouge $10 88 Ch La Rauze Lafargue 1er Cotes Bord $10 86 Christian Moueix Bordeaux Blend Bordeaux Supérieur $9 86 Château la Tour de Pin Figeac Moueix Bordeaux Blend Saint- Emilion $9 82 Mouton-Cadet Bordeaux Rouge $10
92 Château la Gurgue Bordeaux Blend Margaux $17 91 Château Cambon La Pelouse Haut-Medoc Cru Supérieur $20 90 Château Thieuley Réserve Francis Courselle Bordeaux Blend Bordeaux Supérieur $16 90 Château Segonzac Vieilles Vignes Bordeaux Blend Premieres Côtes de Blaye $18 90 Château Patache d'Aux Bordeaux Blend Médoc $20 90 Château Mont-Pérat Bordeaux Blend Premieres Côtes de Bordeaux $20 90 Ch Brandey Bordeaux $20 89 Vincent Merlot Merlot Bordeaux $10 89 Château Plaisance Bordeaux Blend Côtes de Bourg $20 89 Château Liversan Bordeaux Blend Haut-Médoc $20 89 Château du Courlat Cuvée Jean-Baptiste Bordeaux Blend Lussac Saint-Emilion $17 89 Château Croix de Rambeau Bordeaux Blend Lussac Saint-Emilion $20 89 Ch. Coufran Haut-Medoc $18 89 Ch Segunier '05 1er Cotes de Blaye $12 89 Ch Haut Blagnac Bordeaux '06 $13 88 Lafite '05 Medoc $17 88 Château Treytins Bordeaux Blend Montagne- St. Emilion Bordeaux Blend Bordeaux $18 88 Château Saint- Robert Bordeaux Blend Graves $20 88 Château Rauzan Despagne Bordeaux Blend Bordeaux $20 88 Château Labat Bordeaux Blend Haut-Médoc $20 88 Château de Portets Finesse de Portets Bordeaux Blend Graves $15 88 Château Cardonne Bordeaux Blend Médoc $18 88 Ch Ballan-Larquette Bordeaux $20 87 Reignac Rouge $15
93 Château Poujeaux Bordeaux Blend Moulis-en-Médoc $30 93 Château de Reignac Cuvee Speciale $30 92 Château Poujeaux Bordeaux Blend Moulis-en-Médoc $25 92 Château Le Crock Bordeaux Blend Saint-Estèphe $24 91 Château Sénéjac Bordeaux Blend Haut-Médoc $25 91 Château Poujeaux Bordeaux Blend Moulis-en-Médoc $30 91 Château Monregard la Croix Bordeaux Blend Pomerol $30 91 Château Fonréaud Bordeaux Blend Listrac-Médoc $21 90 Domaines Arnaud deRaignac Château de Launay Blend Bordeaux $27 90 Château Valandraud Kosher Bordeaux Blend Saint-Emilion $25 90 Château Preuillac Bordeaux Blend Médoc $21 90 Château deChantegrive Bordeaux Blend Graves $24 90 Château Couhins- Lurton Bordeaux Pessac-Léognan $25-40 90 Château Clarke Bordeaux Blend Listrac-Médoc $30 90 Château Anthonic Bordeaux Blend Moulis-en-Médoc $30 89 Château Monbrison Bordeaux Blend Margaux $25 89 Château Haut-Beausejour Saint-Estephe $25 89 Château Coufran Bordeaux Blend Haut-Médoc $23 89 Ch Segonzac $25 89 Ch Les Ormes de Pez '04 St Estephe $25 88 Christian Moueix Bordeaux Blend Saint-Emilion $24 88 Christian Moueix Bordeaux Blend Pomerol $23 88 Chateau la Goulée Bordeaux Blend Médoc $30 88 Château Brown Bordeaux Blend Pessac-Léognan $25 87 Clarendelle Bordeaux Blend Bordeaux $22
94 Château Rauzan-Ségla Bordeaux Blend Margaux $47 94 Ch Suduiraut '05 Sauternes $45 93 Château Phélan-Ségur Bordeaux Blend Saint-Estèphe $38 93 Château La Lagune Bordeaux Blend Haut-Médoc $50 93 Château Haut Bailly Bordeaux Blend Pessac-Léognan $50 92 Ch Marquis-d'Alesme-Becker Margaux $50 93 Ch Clerc Milon '03 Pauillac $46 93 Ch Barde Haut '05 Saint-Emilion $40 92 Lassègue Bordeaux Blend Saint-Emilion $50 92 Château Marbuzet Bordeaux Blend Saint-Estèphe $30-72 92 Château la Pointe Bordeaux Blend Pomerol $42 92 Chateau de Pez Saint-Estephe $50 92 Château Chasse-Spleen Bordeaux Moulis-en-Médoc $45-75 92 Château Brillette Bordeaux Blend Moulis-en-Médoc $32 92 Ch Prieure-Lichine Margaux $35 92 Ch Dassault St Emilion $44 91 Clos de lé Oratoire Bordeaux Blend Saint-Emilion $35 91 Château Vignot Bordeaux Blend Saint-Emilion $35 91 Château Phélan-Ségur Bordeaux Blend Saint-Estèphe $32 91 Chateau Palmer Alter Ego de Palmer Bordeaux Blend Margaux $40-70 91 Château Monbrison Bordeaux Blend Margaux $50 91 Chateau Lassegue Saint-Emilion Grand Cru $50 91 Château Grand-Puy Ducasse Pauillac $50 91 Château Franc-Mayne Bordeaux Blend Saint-Emilion $43 91 Chateau Fonbadet Bordeaux Blend Pauillac $35
95 Château Monbousquet Saint-Emilion $85 95 Château Beychevelle Bordeaux Blend Saint-Julien $80 95 Château Belair Bordeaux Blend Saint-Emilion $70 94 Château Giscours Bordeaux Blend
Margaux $75 94 Montrose Saint-Estephe (375 ml) $80 94 Clos Fourtet Bordeaux Blend Saint-Emilion $60-120 94 Château Pontet-Canet Bordeaux Blend Pauillac $50-150 94 Château Pichon-Longueville-Lalande Pauillac $90 94 Château Calon-Ségur Bordeaux Blend Saint-Estèphe $85 93 Château Brane-Cantenac Bordeaux Blend Margaux $70 94 Ch Lagrange '05 St Julien $70 93 Clos Fourtet Bordeaux Blend Saint-Emilion $60-120 93 Château Nenin Bordeaux Blend Pomerol $50-75 93 Château Magdelaine Bordeaux Blend Saint-Emilion $80-100 93 Chateau Kirwan Margaux $70 93 Château Faugeres Bordeaux Blend Saint-Emilion $50-80 91 Ch d'issan Margaux $70 92 L'eglise Clinet $100 92 Clos du Marquis '05 Saint-Julien $65 92 Château Trottevieille Bordeaux Blend Saint-Emilion $60 92 Château Lascombes Bordeaux Blend Margaux $59 92 Château Fombrauge Bordeaux Blend Saint-Emilion $66 92 Château Belair Bordeaux Blend Saint-Emilion $78 92 Ch Sociando-Mallet Haut-Medoc $55 98 Château Angelus Saint-Emilion $150-300 97 Château Léoville- Barton Bordeaux Blend Saint-Julien $150 97 Ch Cos d'Estournel St Estephe $240 97 Château Leoville Las Cases $220 96 Vieux Château Certan Bordeaux Blend Pomerol $200-250 96 Château Trotanoy Bordeaux Blend Pomerol $250 94 Château Rauzan-Ségla Bordeaux Blend Margaux $130 96 Ch Lynch-Bages '05 Pauillac $100 95 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande Bordeaux Blend Pauillac $150-180 95 Château Hosanna Bordeaux Blend Pomerol $200 95 Ch Leoville-poyferre '03 Sauternes $170 95 Ch Grand-Puy-Lacoste '05 Pauillac $140 95 Ch Clos Fourtet '05 St Emilion $130 95 Ch Canon-La-Gaffeliere '05 St Emilion $105 95 Ch Branaire-Ducru '05 Saint-Julien $140 94 Les Astéries Bordeaux Blend Saint-Emilion $189 94 Château Trotanoy Bordeaux Blend Pomerol $100-150 94 Château Pontet-Canet Bordeaux Blend Pauillac $100-150 94 Château Pichon-Longueville-Baron Pauillac $200 94 Château Pavie Macquin Bordeaux Blend Saint-Emilion $150-250 94 Château Léoville- Poyferré Bordeaux Blend Saint-Julien $100-150 94 Château Hosanna Bordeaux Blend Pomerol $150-200 94 Château Canon Bordeaux Blend Saint-Emilion $100-130 94 Ch Calon-Segur '05 St Estephe $130 93 Le Carré Bordeaux Blend Saint-Emilion $138
100 Château Pétrus Bordeaux Blend Pomerol $900-6000 100 Château Latour Bordeaux Blend Pauillac $1000-3500 98 Château Pavie Saint-Emilion $150-500 95 Château Margaux Bordeaux Blend Margaux $450-3500 98 Château Haut-Brion Bordeaux Blend Pessac-Léognan $400-900 98 Château Ausone Bordeaux Blend Saint-Emilion $500-1000 97 Château Lafite Rothschild Bordeaux Blend Pauillac $500-1500 94 Château Palmer Bordeaux Blend Margaux $200-350 95 Le Dôme Bordeaux Blend Saint-Emilion $276 95 Château Mouton Rothschild Pauillac $250-1000 94 Château La Mission Haut-Brion Bordeaux Blend Pessac- Léognan $150-1200 94 Château Cheval Blanc Saint-Emilion $260-600
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Grapes: 50% Merlot, 30% Cabernet
Sauvignon, 18% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot
Grapes: 50% Merlot, 30% Cabernet
Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet Franc
