Bordeaux Wine, Explained Simply
Bordeaux is the world's benchmark red — structured, layered, built for the long game. Here's what the map, the labels, and the classifications actually mean.
· 7 min read
Key takeaways
- Left Bank (Médoc, Graves) is Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant — firmer tannin, darker fruit, built to age decades. Right Bank (Pomerol, Saint-Émilion) is Merlot-dominant — rounder, more approachable earlier.
- The 1855 Classification ranks châteaux from First to Fifth Growth. It's useful context, but Cru Bourgeois and unclassified estates regularly deliver more value per franc than mid-table classified growths.
- Most serious Bordeaux needs at least 8–12 years in bottle before it opens up. The best vintages from top estates can age for 30–40 years and improve throughout.
- Second wines of classed-growth châteaux — Carruades de Lafite, Pavillon Rouge, Les Forts de Latour — give 70–80% of the grand vin's character at 15–25% of the price.
Frequently asked questions
- Is all Bordeaux red?
- No. About 88% of Bordeaux production is red (or rosé), but the region also makes some of France's greatest dry whites from Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon in Pessac-Léognan and the Graves, as well as the famous sweet wines of Sauternes and Barsac.
- How do I know which vintage to buy?
- For current drinking: 2014 is widely open now and underrated. 2015 is round and generous. 2016 is the best vintage of the decade — starting to show but still evolving. For older bottles: 2009 and 2010 are at or near their peak. Avoid 2013 for anything serious. 2017 and 2018 are variable — buy producer-by-producer rather than vintage-wide.
- Do I need to decant Bordeaux?
- Young Bordeaux (under 10 years, especially Left Bank) benefits from 1–2 hours of decanting. It helps open the tannin and release the aromatics. Older Bordeaux (15 years+) should be decanted carefully — slowly, over a candle or bright light to catch any sediment — but only for 30–45 minutes.
- What's a good Bordeaux to start with under CHF 50?
- A Cru Bourgeois from a serious estate. Look for Sociando-Mallet, Phélan Ségur, d'Angludet, or Château Lagrange's second wine (Les Fiefs de Lagrange). A second wine of a classed growth — Réserve de la Comtesse or La Dame de Montrose — is another reliable entry point. Aim for a wine with at least 8 years of age on it.
Not sure which wine to pick? Tell our sommelier what you are eating or the occasion and we will find the right bottle — or browse the full sommelia.ch collection.