|
The
Red Wines of Bordeaux |
| Appelations
- Grape Varieties - Quality Levels - The Great Red Wines of Bordeaux |
| Bordeaux,
red and white |
Sauvignon
Blanc, Semillion, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc |
|
| Breakdown
by Region of Bordeaux: |
|
This province of France
is rich with excitement and history and the best part is that the
wines speak for themselves. This region is much easier then Burgundy
to understand.
Some fifty seven wine
regions in Bordeaux produce high quality wines that are allowed to
carry the AOC designation on the label. Of these fifty-seven places,
four stand out in my mind for red wine. |
| |
Medoc |
40,200
acres |
| |
Pomerol |
1,850
acres |
| |
Grave/Pessac |
9,860
acres |
| |
St-Emilion |
23,400
acres |
|
|
Medoc
Region |
|
In the Medoc, there are
seven important inner appelations you should be familiar with |
| |
Haut
Medoc |
|
| |
St-Estephe |
|
| |
Pauillac |
|
| |
St-Julien |
|
| |
Margaux |
|
| |
Moulis |
|
| |
Listrac |
|
|
|
Hundred and fifty years
ago in the Medoc region of Bordeaux, a wine classification was
established. Brokers from the wine industry were asked by Napoleon III
to select the best wines to represent France in the International
Exposition of 1855. The top Medoc wines were ranked according to
price, which at that time was directly related to quality. The brokers
agreed, provided the classification would never become official. Refer
to the chart on right side of page, for the classification of 1855. |
|
|
|
Pomerol
Region |
|
Pomerol is the smallest
of the top red wine district in Bordeaux. They produce only 15 percent as much
wine as St-Emilion, as a result, Pomerol wine are relatively scarce.
And if you do find them, they'll be expensive. No Official
classification exists, here's a list of some of the finest Pomerols on
the market. |
| Chateau
Petrus |
Chateau
le Pin |
| Chateau
La Conseillante |
Chateau
Bearegard |
| Chateau
Petit Village |
Chateau
Nenin |
| Chateau
Trotanoy |
Chateau
Latour a Pomerol |
| Chateau
L'Evangile |
Chateau
Bourgneuf |
| Vieux
Chateau Certan |
Chateau
Clinet |
| Chateau
La Pointe |
Chateau
L'Eglise Clinet |
| Chateau
Lafleur |
Chateau
Plince |
| Chateau
La Fleur Petrus |
Chateau
Gazin |
|
|
|
|
Grave
/ Pessac |
|
The most famous 15
Chateau, In the 1855 classification is Chateau Haut-Brion. Other good
red Graves classified in 1959 are seen as Grands Crus Classes: |
| Chateau
Bouscaut |
Chateau
Haut Bailly |
| Chateau
Carbonnieux |
Domaine
de Chevalier |
| Chateau
de Fieuzal |
Chateau
Olivier |
| Chateau
Malartic-Lagraviere |
Chateau
La Tour-Martillac |
| Chateau
Smith-Haut-Lafitte |
Chateau
Pape-Clement |
| Chateau
La Mission Haut Brion |
Chateau
La Tour Haut Brion |
|
|
|
|
St.
Emilion |
|
This area produces about
two-thirds as much wine as the entire Medoc, and its one of the most
beautiful villages in France. One century after the Medoc
classification, the wines of St-Emilion were finally classified
officially in 1955. There are fifteen first growth comparable to the
cru classe wines of the Medoc. |
|
The 15 first growths of
St-Emilion
Premiers Grand
Crus Classes
|
| Chateau
Ausone |
Chateau
Cheval Blanc |
| Chateau
Angelus |
Chateau
Beau Sejour Becot |
| Chateau
Beausejour Duffou Lagarrosse |
Chateau
Belair |
| Chateau
Figeac |
Chateau
Canon |
| Chateau
Magdelaine |
Chateau
La Gaffeliere |
| Chateau
Troplong Mondot |
Chateau
Trottevieille |
| Chateau
Pavie |
Clos
Fourtet |
| Chateau
Pavie Marquin |
|
|
|
Grand Crus Classes
|
| Chateau
Canon La Gaffeliere |
Chateau
La Tour Figeac |
| Chateau
Trimoulet |
Chateau
Dassault |
| Chateau
Monbousquet |
Chateau
Tertre Roteboeuf |
| Chateau
Trotanoy |
Chateau
Faugeres |
| Chateau
Haut Corbin |
Chateau
Grand Mayne |
|
