Is Bordeaux red wine dry or sweet?

Taste and Flavor Profile

The red Bordeaux blend is a dry, medium to full-bodied wine high in tannins with medium acidity. Because a Bordeaux blend can be made with several different red wine grapes from different regions in differing proportions, the color, amount of acidity, texture, and exact flavors can vary.

What do Bordeaux wines taste like?

The taste of Bordeaux wine from the Left Bank delivers fruit scents and flavors of cassis, blackberry, dark cherry, vanilla, black cherry, coffee bean, spice and licorice. The wines are often concentrated, powerful, firm and tannic. Depending on the specific wine, it can appear to be austere in character in its youth.

Are Bordeaux wine sweet?

In Bordeaux, there are two categories of sweet: vins moelleux ("mellow," a semi-sweet wine) and vins liquoreux, (the sweetest wines, with considerably more residual sugar). The semi-sweet moelleux wines enjoy lighter color components than the liquoreux and are characterized by more fruit and a smooth palate texture.

Is French Bordeaux dry?

White Bordeaux is usually a blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon, and Muscadelle grapes. The resulting wine is dry and usually oak aged for a buttery, savory quality.

What kind of red wine is Bordeaux?

One of the most important things to understand about Bordeaux wines is that they are a blend of grape varieties for most of them. The red Bordeaux Blend is one of the most copied around the world and it includes Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec (with tiny amount of Carménère).

The Difference Between a Dry and Sweet Wine

Is Bordeaux wine full bodied?

In Bordeaux, wines are produced by blending varieties that are high in tannins; so they are full-bodied.

What is Bordeaux similar to?

In contrast, Bordeaux is a wine region, and the term “red Bordeaux” actually refers to a blend of the different Bordeaux grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec.

Is a Bordeaux a Merlot?

Bordeaux (“Bore-doe”) refers to a wine from Bordeaux, France. Over 90% of Bordeaux wines are red wines made with Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Is Bordeaux wine like Pinot Noir?

Bordeaux also tends to be big and bold in flavor, unlike Burgundy, which is made from the thin-skinned, finicky pinot noir grape. The stylistic differences in the wines are mirrored in the very different vibes of the two regions. Bordeaux abounds in vast estates fronted by big, showcase châteaux.

What kind of wine is Bordeaux known for?

Bordeaux wines are world-renowned blends made with a predominant proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot. Vintage variance is particularly important in Bordeaux. Cellar-worthy vintages can surge in value over generations.

Is Chianti a dry wine?

Chianti Classico is a dry, red wine made only in a specific part of Tuscany in central Italy. Here's how to make sure you're getting the real deal. Specifically in central Tuscany, in the mountain-air-cooled hills between Siena and Florence by the Monti Chianti.

When should you drink Bordeaux?

High-quality Bordeaux should be aged for at least 10 years but normally reach their peak in the 15-20 year range. More mass-produced Bordeaux wines should be drunk much sooner, after about 5 years of aging.

Why is Bordeaux wine so good?

Of course, one of the key reasons why Bordeaux is so prized around the world is due to its aging potential. All of the red wines of Bordeaux will be aged in traditional barrels before bottling, but thanks to the emphasis on the tannic Cabernet Sauvignon grape, they are perfect for aging in the bottle.

Is Bordeaux the best wine?

By far the largest, the most important, and one of the best French wine regions, both for high-end wines and for bargains, is Bordeaux. Great reds from the renowned chateaus are what make the headlines, but Bordeaux is so big, that there is plenty of choice.

What does red Bordeaux pair with?

Bordeaux red wine, known for its vivid fruit flavors and vibrant acidity, is the perfect wine to pair with a French cheese or a creamy cheese. A full-bodied red wine also pairs well with sharp or aged cheese.

What food does red Bordeaux go with?

Good general accompaniments for red bordeaux are rich potato purées (mash) and gratin dauphinoise, mushrooms and truffles and green beans with garlic.

Is Bordeaux lighter than Burgundy?

Generally, red Bordeauxs will be bigger, heavier and more tannic or drying than wines from Burgundy. I'd expect purple fruit, tobacco and anise flavors in Bordeaux, while Burgundies should show off red fruit flavors, spice and fresh earth notes.

Which wine is better Burgundy or Bordeaux?

Burgundy tends to be a bit more well-rounded, producing both reds and whites in equal quality, while Bordeaux is famous for the reds, particularly Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.

Is Bordeaux like shiraz?

Like the Rhône Valley, Burgundy and Bordeaux are both wine regions in France, but Shiraz/Syrah grapes are not grown in either of those two regions. Check out our ABCs of Bordeaux and Burgundy videos for more on those two regions!

Is Bordeaux the same as Cabernet Sauvignon?

A Bordeaux can be a Cabernet Sauvignon but a Cabernet is often not a Bordeaux. Welcome to the complex world of wine names. One of the most common mistakes wine consumers make when order or purchasing wine is not understanding the difference between these two types of popular wines.

Is Burgundy wine the same as Bordeaux?

Bordeaux wine comes from the eastern part of Bordeaux. Burgundy wine is from the southwest regions of Burgundy. Bordeaux grapes thrive in warm temperatures, whereas Burgundy grapes do well in cooler climates. Bordeaux wine has layered dark fruit and dry notes.

What wine is closest to a Bordeaux?

The Cabernet-led Petra Toscana Rosso, the Bindi Sergardi Simbiosi Rosso Toscana, and the Tenute Rossetti Linda Bolgheri DOC are all more affordable alternative Bordeaux blends to consider. The Bindi Sergardi Simbiosi Rosso Toscana, and the Tenute Rossetti Linda Bolgheri DOC.

What does Bordeaux wine pair with?

Red wines from Bordeaux have long enjoyed their share of classic pairings: roast lamb, venison, duck breast or beef-based dishes.

Is Bordeaux wine overrated?

The red wines of Bordeaux are among the most famous wines on earth. They present an odd paradox, though. The region's top wines are overrated by the critics and snapped up by the collector class.