What classifies a Bordeaux?

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

What makes a wine Bordeaux?

The term “Bordeaux style” is typically used to refer to a wine, not directly to grapes, but it implies something about the grapes used to make the wine. In the actual Bordeaux region of France, red wines are blended from the Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petite Verdot grapes.

Which wine is a type of Bordeaux?

What are the Bordeaux Varietals? The six Bordeaux Varietals include Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec, and occasionally Carménère. Bordeaux blends are made up of differing combinations of these grapes, all of which bring unique characteristics to their wines.

What are the 3 main sections of Bordeaux?

Is Cabernet Sauvignon a Bordeaux?

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.

Bordeaux, the Region and its Wines

Is Merlot a Bordeaux wine?

Bordeaux refers to a wine from Bordeaux, France. Over 86% of Bordeaux wines are red wines made with Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Both grapes are originated from Bordeaux.

Is St Emilion a Bordeaux wine?

First officially classified in 1954, St Emilion is one of Bordeaux's largest winemaking appellations, producing more wine than Listrac, Moulis, St Estèphe, Pauillac, St Julien and Margaux combined.

Is Saint-Émilion classified?

The official classification of Saint-Emilion wines was first conducted in 1955. It was updated in 1996, 2006, and most recently in late 2012. The classification has two principal tiers: Grand Cru Classe and the higher level Premier Grand Cru Classe.

What makes a Bordeaux blend?

Quick Answer. A red Bordeaux blend is primarily composed of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc, with smaller portions of Malbec and Petit Verdot (and very occasionally, Carménère).

Is Beaujolais a Bordeaux?

Bordeaux whites are usually blends of Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon. Meanwhile, Burgundy's red wines are made from Pinot Noir (the Beaujolais region is technically considered part of Burgundy as well, and the red wines there are made from Gamay), while white Burgundies are made from the Chardonnay grape.

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.

Is Médoc a Bordeaux wine?

The Médoc is arguably the most famous red wine district in the world, home to many of the greatest and most renowned names of Bordeaux. It stretches north-west from the city of Bordeaux with the Gironde estuary to the east. The vineyards extend up to eight miles from the river and run for about 50 miles northwards.

Is Bordeaux always a blend?

Let's say that nearly all Bordeaux wines are blended, and for the most part, you can be certain that if you're drinking a red Bordeaux or Bordeaux-style wine, the implication is that it is blended from a selection of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and/or Petit Verdot grapes (while Bordeaux whites ...

What's the difference between Cabernet and Bordeaux?

Generally speaking, Bordeaux wines are balanced and nuanced, with less of a fruit-forward flavour to them. They also typically possess a stronger minerality. In contrast, California Cabernets are dense, rich, oaky and higher in alcohol content than Bordeaux wines.

Is Pauillac a Bordeaux?

Pauillac, a commune located between Saint-Estèphe and Saint-Julien on Bordeaux's Médoc peninsula, is home to some of the world's most famous and expensive red wines wines, made predominantly from the Cabernet Sauvignon grape variety.

Is St Emilion a claret?

Two areas especially worth looking out for, if you like the earthier, juicier style of claret associated with a highish percentage of Merlot, are the Montagne Saint-Emilion and Lalande de Pomerol.

What is Grand Cru Classe A St Emilion?

St- Emilion Premier Grand Cru Classé A

Also known as First Great Growths A, the Premiers Grands Crus Classes A is the highest classification of St-Emilion wines. This rank is given to 4 chateaux: Chateau Angelus. Chateau Ausone.

What is Margaux wine?

Margaux Wine

Margaux is an important appellation in the Haut-Médoc district of Bordeaux, southwestern France. Located 25 kilometers (15 miles) north of the city of Bordeaux, the appellation is famous for producing supple, perfumed wines, predominantly from Cabernet Sauvignon.

What is Pomerol wine?

Pomerol (French pronunciation: ​[pɔmʁɔl]) is a French wine-growing commune and Appellation d'origine contrôlée (AOC) within the Libournais ("Right Bank") in Bordeaux. The wine produced here is predominately from Merlot with Cabernet Franc playing a supporting role.

What grape is Saint-Émilion?

The dominant grapes that make Saint-Émilion wine are Merlot and Cabernet Franc. However, some producers also use Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Petit Verdot. Merlot: Merlot is a very popular grape in Saint-Émilion, which gives the wine approachability.

Is Bordeaux similar to 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 type of wine is Pinot Noir?

Pinot Noir is one of the world's most popular red wines. It's made from black-skinned grapes that thrive in a narrow spectrum of cooler climates. It's also notoriously difficult to grow. When done right, it produces lighter-bodied wines of elegance, complexity and longevity.

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 is a tempranillo wine?

Tempranillo is a black grape variety widely grown to make full-bodied red wines in its native Spain. Its name is the diminutive of the Spanish temprano, meaning "early". This is a reference to the fact that this grape ripens several weeks earlier than most Spanish red grapes.