Argentinian Malbec
An introduction to Bordeaux Wine
Bordeaux is without doubt the most important, unquestionably the most widely imitated, wine region in the world. The wines themselves range from some of the costliest, most prominent wines of the world to common everyday wines that retail in the $10 range.
Red Bordeaux is produced from five permitted varieties and they are among probably the most planted grapes in the world. The three main grapes are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Malbec, a blending variety in Bordeaux, is most renowned as “the grape” of Argentina.
White Bordeaux, though not nearly as popular as the red, is made out of three permitted varieties: Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and Muscadelle. Typically, the blend is 2/3 Sauvignon Blanc and 1/3 Semillon, with some sporadic use of Muscadelle.
Bordeaux is divided into 3 major subregions - Graves, the Médoc, as well as the “Right Bank”.
The Gironde estuary, formed by the meeting of the Garonne and Dordogne Rivers, divides the Médoc peninsula from the mainland of France. The Médoc holds the appellations of Pauillac, St. Estephe, St. Julien and Margaux. Those appellations form a part of the Haut-Médoc, known as the most prestigious part of the Médoc. The Médoc features Cabernet Sauvignon, with Merlot and the rest of the grapes usually playing a supporting role.
South of the Gironde, west of the Garonne, lies Graves, home to the Pessac-Leognan appellation and Chateau Haut-Brion. Much like the Médoc, the wines of the Graves usually include Cabernet Sauvignon.
To the east of the Gironde and the Dordogne are the “Right Bank” appellations, most notably St. Emilion and Pomerol. This is the most important part of Bordeaux, and these wines commonly include Merlot, with Cabernet Franc being the foremost support grape.
In 1855, the wines of the Médoc and the Graves were rated by the main wine merchants of the time. 61 modern Chateaux are featured in the so-called “1855 Classification,” the Grandes Crus, the very best wines of their day and still at times, ours. The 61 Chateaux were divided into 5 groups, known in English as “Growths”.
The First Growths, the very best of the best, were at first limited to 4 wines - Chateau Latour, Chateau Lafite-Rothschild, Chateau Margaux, and Chateau Haut-Brion. In the only modification to the classification indirectly caused by mergers or by properties being divided, Chateau Mouton-Rothschild was elevated from 2nd Growth to 1st Growth status in 1973. Of the First Growths, three are from Pauillac (Lafite, Latour and Mouton), one is from Margaux (fittingly, Chateau Margaux) and one is from Pessac-Leognan (Haut Brion).
Belonging to the Right Bank, Chateau Ausone and Chateau Cheval-Blanc (St. Emilion) and Chateau Petrus (Pomerol) are attributed with grade equal to the First Growths, although the wines of the Right Bank weren't included in the 1855 Classification.
About the Author
Napa Cabernet, Argentinian Malbec
Rating: Not yet rated