What wine is Bordeaux famous for?

It is important to note that while Bordeaux is of course famous for its red wines, because 90% of the region is devoted to producing red Bordeaux wine, Bordeaux is also capable of producing great white Bordeaux wine, made from Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and Sauvignon Gris.

What is Bordeaux wine known for?

Bordeaux reds are medium- to full-bodied with bold aromas of black currant, plums and an earthiness like smelling wet soil or pencil lead. Depending on the quality, vintage and what region within Bordeaux the wine is from, fruit flavors range from more tart fruit to sweeter ripe fruit.

Is Bordeaux famous for red or white wine?

Over 90% of Bordeaux wines are red wines made with Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.

What is Bordeaux style wine?

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.

Is Bordeaux a pinot noir?

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.

Wine 101: The ABCs 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.

Is Merlot a Bordeaux wine?

Along with Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, Merlot is one of the primary grapes used in Bordeaux wine, and it is the most widely planted grape in the Bordeaux wine regions. Merlot is also one of the most popular red wine varietals in many markets.

Is Bordeaux a sweet or dry wine?

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.

Is Sauvignon Blanc a Bordeaux?

Sauvignon blanc is a green-skinned grape variety that originates from the Bordeaux region of France.

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 is the name of Bordeaux wine?

The five main red grape varieties in the Bordeaux region are: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Malbec, with Cabernet the dominant grape on the west side of the Gironde, Merlot to the east.

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 Bordeaux a grape?

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. Descriptions of each wine are shown below.

Which is better Malbec or Merlot?

They both go very well with beef and cheese, although Merlot has a slightly larger range than that of Malbec. Malbec is also lower in acidity than Merlot, and has softer tannins than Merlot, even as a young wine.

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.

Why is Malbec so popular?

Malbec Global Popularity

One reason why Malbec is so popular, is because it is produced in 7 different countries: Malbec is most commonly grown in Argentina, due to the declining growth in France, with 76,000 hectares of vineyards. France has the second largest coverage of Malbec vines, with 15,000 hectares.

What wine did Olivia Pope drink?

According to Washington—who, for the record, says she doesn't actually drink alcohol herself—Shiraz is an Olivia Pope favorite.

Is Bordeaux wine full bodied?

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

What type of wine is Pinot Noir?

What is Pinot Noir? Pinot Noir is a black wine grape variety of the species Vitis vinifera that hails from France. It's one of France's oldest grapes, cultivated more than a century ago by the Cistercian monks in Burgundy.

Are Bordeaux wines expensive?

The vast majority of Bordeaux wines are affordable.

What does Bordeaux pair with?

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

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 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!