Bordeaux on a Budget

France is the land of vine and wine! Whether it’s sabering a bottle of champagne or sipping classic Bordeaux, once you start to explore wine you can’t get away from France’s influence. Bordeaux – possibly the most famous red wine region in the world - features red wines made from blends of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet France, Malbec and Petit Verdot.

Classic blends from Bordeaux are coveted the world over. Vintage releases are tracked and line ups gather on release day. Bottle prices are astronomical. For many of us, Lafite, Latour and Le Pins are out of reach. The question remains, “how do you find value in Bordeaux?”.  In this blog post and in our session, we provide the answer to this persistent question.

Bordeaux is a port city located in the Garonne Department. It is the fifth largest center in France and a recognized gastronomic center. It is also the epicenter of wine in the world – the city of arts and culture and a UNESCO world heritage site. Today Bordeaux produces the largest amount of table wine and some of the most expensive wines in the world.

Five things to know about Bordeaux

1. The region is divided by the river Gironde which results in a division referred to as left bank and right bank.
2. The left bank is predominantly gravelly rocks soils growing Cabernet Sauvignon. Blends on the left bank are usually Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.
3. The right bank has predominantly more clay like soils where Merlot likes live. Blends here are usually Merlot and Cabernet Franc.
4. A classic Bordeaux blend has five grape varieties in it: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot.
5. Without exception, red wines from Bordeaux are blends

But that’s not all! There is so much to learn about Bordeaux and how to find good wine. That’s why we created Bordeaux on a Budget. Join us Thursday as Mark Shipway takes us on a journey exploring the grapes, vineyards and quality producers of Bordeaux as we search for the keys to finding value.

Recommended Wines
Here is a list of the wine and cheese that play a role in our session on Bordeaux with some useful links to further your enjoyment of the region. All of the wines mentioned are available in the BC market although many are only available in selected private wine stores.

Where know the agent information is included against each selection. Agents are usually eager to assist potential customers in where to source their wines.

Côtes de Bordeaux
Château Suau 2010 – Cadillac                              $39.99 (BC Liquor Stores)
Château Rousselle 2015 - Cotes de Bourg         (https://www.libertywinemerchants.com/)
Château d'Aiguilhe 2010 – Castillon                    (agent not known)

Médoc & Haut- Médoc
Château La Gorce 2015                                          $26.99 (BC Liquor Stores)
Château de Mallert 2009                                      $45.99 (BC Liquor Stores)
Château La Lauzette Declerq 2009                    $38.99 (https://www.libertywinemerchants.com/)
Château Lanessan 2016                                         $47.74 (Marquis Wine Cellars)
Chateau Fourcas Dupre 2016 Listrac-Medoc    $47.74 (Marquis Wine Cellars)
Château Potensac 2000 Medoc                          $121.65 (Marquis Wine Cellars)

Pessac-Leognan & Graves
Clarence Dillon Wines - Clarendelle 2015          $29.99 (BC Liquor Stores)
Clos Floridenne 2016                                              $39.00 (BC Liquor Stores)

Recommended Cheeses
Mimolette – aged, hard, unpasteurized cow's milk cheese.

Check out these links for more info on Bordeaux wines: 
-> https://www.bordeaux.com/us
-> https://youtu.be/jmd_VI1Y7v8