Matt's Big Match
Matt Dawson teams up with our very own Bordeaux wine expert Ewan Lacey to create a food and wine match made in heaven!
STAR RECIPES
9 Michelin-starred Chefs share their favourite kitchen supper recipes to enjoy with Bordeaux Wines.
Please click here to browse the complete guide, or click on your favourite Michelin-starred recipes pictured.
JAMIE'S RECIPES
'Bordeaux teamed up with Jamie Oliver to produce a selection of exclusive recipes which beautifully complement Bordeaux wines. Simply click here to browse the complete guide, or simply click on the picture of your favourite dish for the full recipe.
Bordeaux is the largest quality wine-making region in the world, as well as the most legendary. It is dominated by the city of Bordeaux (UNESCO World Heritage Site) and two rivers, the Garonne and the Dordogne, which merge to form the Gironde which flows out into the Atlantic ocean.
It's a land of varying landscapes and differing soils, of mild winters and gentle summers, perfect for bringing grapes to full ripeness. And, of course, it has centuries of experience in producing wine.
The vineyards can be divided into six key areas, roughly corresponding to geographical areas and styles of wine.
Médoc and Graves:
on the left bank of the Garonne River and the Gironde estuary. The Médoc is synonymous with red wines dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon grapes whose vines thrive in the gravelly soil. In addition to reds, Pessac-Léognan and Graves also produce famed white wines.
Saint-Émilion:
and its surrounding villages, Pomerol and Fronsac, are on the right bank of the Dordogne river near the town of Libourne. This region produces mainly Merlot-based red wines.
The Côtes de Bordeaux:
vineyards (their name comes from the hillsides along the right banks of the Garonne and the Dordogne rivers) are spread across the entire region, producing red and white wines.
Bordeaux and Bordeaux Supérieur:
can be red, white or even rosé and are produced throughout the Bordeaux region. This is the largest of the families and the diverse personality of these wines depends on the different soils and growing conditions.
Entre-deux-Mers:
elegant dry whites are produced in the rolling Entre-deux-Mers, literally "between the two seas." This area is also a source of good regional (Bordeaux and Bordeaux Supérieur) reds.
Sauternes and Barsac:
golden sweet white wines, famous throughout the world, are only produced in a very small part of the southern Bordeaux region, mainly in Sauternes and Barsac.
Red Wines of Bordeaux
The red wines of Bordeaux are a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc grape varieties.
- Cabernet Sauvignon – has a deep red colour and a strong tannic structure. Its flavours take more time to mature but develop into blackcurrant and black cherry, with hints of cedar wood, cigars and mint.
- Merlot – gives colour and richness to the alcohol. It’s a softer grape producing succulent, juicy wines with aromas of ripe, red fruit.
- Cabernet Franc – is lighter bodied adding soft gentleness and fresh summer pudding aromas of red fruits.
White Wines of Bordeaux
The white wines of Bordeaux are a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon grape varieties.
- Sauvignon Blanc – provides good acidity and sugar. It has huge aromatic potential ranging from grassy notes to citrus and exotic fruits.
- Sémillon – is identifiable by aromas of apricots and peaches. It produces rich, soft and slightly oily wines, ideal for making dessert wines.
Contrary to popular thought, not every bottle of Bordeaux needs to be stored for 15 or 20 years in a cool damp cellar. The vast majority of all Bordeaux wines, red or white, are meant to be enjoyed young, straight from the shop, when the unique qualities of freshness, liveliness and digestibility are most evident.