Choose The Best Argentinian Malbec
An introduction to Bordeaux Wine
Bordeaux is arguably the most important, undoubtedly the most often imitated, wine region in the world. These famous wines range from some of the most exclusive, most famous wines of the world to common everyday wines that sell within the $10 range.
Red Bordeaux is created from 5 accepte varieties and even they are among probably the most planted grapes in the world. The 3 foremost grapes are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Malbec, a blending variety in Bordeaux, is most well known 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. Normally, the blend is 2/3 Sauvignon Blanc and 1/3 Semillon, with some sporadic use of Muscadelle.
Bordeaux is divided into 3 main subregions - Graves, the Médoc, along with the "Right Bank".
The Gironde estuary, formed through the convergence 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 are part of the Haut-Médoc, the more celebrated part of the Médoc. The Médoc consists of 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 of the Pessac-Leognan appellation and Chateau Haut-Brion. Much like the Médoc, the wines of the Graves commonly feature Cabernet Sauvignon.
On the east of the Gironde and the Dordogne are the "Right Bank" appellations, most famously St. Emilion and Pomerol. This comprises the biggest section Bordeaux, and the wines traditionally include Merlot, with Cabernet Franc as the foremost support grape.
In 1855, the wines of the Médoc and the Graves were rated by the most important wine merchants of the time. 61 modern Chateaux are featured in the so-called "1855 Classification," the Grandes Crus, the top wines of their day and often, ours. The 61 Chateaux were divided into 5 groups, known in English as "Growths".
The First Growths, the best of the best, were initially restricted to 4 wines - Chateau Latour, Chateau Lafite-Rothschild, Chateau Margaux, and Chateau Haut-Brion. In the only change to the classification indirectly brought on by mergers or by properties being divided, Chateau Mouton-Rothschild was elevated from 2nd Growth to 1st Growth status in 1973. Amongst these First Growths, 3 are from Pauillac (Lafite, Latour and Mouton), one is from Margaux (fittingly, Chateau Margaux) and one is from Pessac-Leognan (Haut Brion).
From the Right Bank, Chateau Ausone and Chateau Cheval-Blanc (St. Emilion) and Chateau Petrus (Pomerol) are attributed with status equal to the First Growths, even though the wines of the Right Bank were not included into the 1855 Classification.
Bordeaux is arguably the most important, undoubtedly the most often imitated, wine region in the world. These famous wines range from some of the most exclusive, most famous wines of the world to common everyday wines that sell within the $10 range.
Red Bordeaux is created from 5 accepte varieties and even they are among probably the most planted grapes in the world. The 3 foremost grapes are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Malbec, a blending variety in Bordeaux, is most well known 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. Normally, the blend is 2/3 Sauvignon Blanc and 1/3 Semillon, with some sporadic use of Muscadelle.
Bordeaux is divided into 3 main subregions - Graves, the Médoc, along with the "Right Bank".
The Gironde estuary, formed through the convergence 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 are part of the Haut-Médoc, the more celebrated part of the Médoc. The Médoc consists of 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 of the Pessac-Leognan appellation and Chateau Haut-Brion. Much like the Médoc, the wines of the Graves commonly feature Cabernet Sauvignon.
On the east of the Gironde and the Dordogne are the "Right Bank" appellations, most famously St. Emilion and Pomerol. This comprises the biggest section Bordeaux, and the wines traditionally include Merlot, with Cabernet Franc as the foremost support grape.
In 1855, the wines of the Médoc and the Graves were rated by the most important wine merchants of the time. 61 modern Chateaux are featured in the so-called "1855 Classification," the Grandes Crus, the top wines of their day and often, ours. The 61 Chateaux were divided into 5 groups, known in English as "Growths".
The First Growths, the best of the best, were initially restricted to 4 wines - Chateau Latour, Chateau Lafite-Rothschild, Chateau Margaux, and Chateau Haut-Brion. In the only change to the classification indirectly brought on by mergers or by properties being divided, Chateau Mouton-Rothschild was elevated from 2nd Growth to 1st Growth status in 1973. Amongst these First Growths, 3 are from Pauillac (Lafite, Latour and Mouton), one is from Margaux (fittingly, Chateau Margaux) and one is from Pessac-Leognan (Haut Brion).
From the Right Bank, Chateau Ausone and Chateau Cheval-Blanc (St. Emilion) and Chateau Petrus (Pomerol) are attributed with status equal to the First Growths, even though the wines of the Right Bank were not included into the 1855 Classification.
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