Second Wines: Great Estates, Smaller Price
Bordeaux's classed-growth châteaux make a 'grand vin' and, almost always, a second wine. The second wine costs a fraction and delivers more than its share of the experience.
· 7 min read
Key takeaways
- A 'second wine' is the second bottling of a classed-growth Bordeaux estate — made from younger vines or plots that didn't make the grand vin.
- Same winemaker, same cellar, same style, much lower price. The famous ones: Carruades de Lafite, Pavillon Rouge, Les Forts de Latour, Petit Mouton, Clos du Marquis.
- Expect roughly 60 to 80% of the grand vin's character at 15 to 30% of the price — sometimes less.
- Second wines drink earlier than grand vins (5 to 12 years vs. 20+) which makes them more useful for actual dinner-table drinking.
Frequently asked questions
- Is a second wine just an inferior version of the grand vin?
- Not exactly. It's made from the same vineyard and by the same team but uses younger vines and lots that didn't make the final grand-vin cut. The style is the same; the concentration, structure, and ageing potential are lower. A better way to think of it: the grand vin is the estate's most ambitious statement, the second is the estate's everyday face — both genuine, just for different evenings.
- How long do second wines age?
- Most classed-growth second wines drink well from 5 to 15 years after the vintage. The very top seconds (Carruades, Pavillon Rouge, Les Forts) can age 20+ years in great vintages. The grand vins, by contrast, are often still improving at 30 years. For most home drinkers, the second wine's shorter window is more useful — you can actually open it.
- Are there second wines outside Bordeaux?
- The formal 'second wine' concept is Bordeaux-specific, but the idea exists everywhere. In Tuscany, Guidalberto sits beneath Sassicaia, Le Serre Nuove beneath Ornellaia. In Burgundy, a serious grower's village-level wine plays a similar role next to their premier crus. The principle — same hand, same vineyard, less concentration, much lower price — travels.
- What's a good second wine to start with?
- Réserve de la Comtesse (the second wine of Pichon-Comtesse de Lalande) at CHF 60 to 90 is one of the most rewarding entry points — properly classical Pauillac, drinking well at 8 to 12 years, with the polish you'd expect from a serious Second Growth. La Dame de Montrose and Clos du Marquis are equally reliable in the same price band.
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.