Bordeaux

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. Our Bordeaux wine guide features hundreds of Bordeaux wine ratings. Within the Bordeaux wine region are numerous appellations, including the famous Left-Bank Médoc communes of St-Estephe, Pauillac, St-Julien Reviews and Margaux, among others. The most famous Right-Bank regions are St-Emilion and Pomerol. The general level of quality has improved dramatically over the past two decades. The reds are fruity, but never overly alcoholic, always with a layer of tannin that makes them superb food wines. The whites are fresh, the best with wood flavors to give complexity. Check the individual Bordeaux wine reviews for specific details regarding style and quality. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc are the main red grapes; Malbec and Petit Verdot are also used, while Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon predominate among the whites. But most Bordeaux are not single-varietal wines — they are more often Bordeaux-style blends, which make these wines more than the sum of their individual parts.