Bordeaux. The name says it all. This whisper of a word conjures up images of luxury, gorgeous chateaux, elegantly dressed aristocrats, and lavish, sophisticated living.
We won’t even get into all the centuries of romance novel-style drama that must have included arranged marriages for the sake of building a family dynasty and all that, yet for millions of people around the world the word Bordeaux is almost a synonym for the very best life has to offer.
And yes, Bordeaux is all that and deserves its excellent reputation. Recently, delegates from Bordeaux’s L’Ecole Du Vin wine school (associated with the Bordeaux Wine Council, or CIVB), with a campaign financed with the support of the European Union, came to New York to update wine educators on Bordeaux’s history and future.
We will get to its history and terroir in a moment, yet from previous meetings with Bordeaux officials, the key message the region wants to convey is that the classified growths make up only 5% of Bordeaux’s exports. Yes, these wines are expensive – unaffordable to most of the world’s population. So if you are interested in trying Bordeaux wines, it is important to realize there are thousands of excellent wines from this region that retails for under $20 a bottle.
So why Bordeaux? Why now? Last night at the trendy NYC Waverly Inn celebrity hotspot I ordered a Bordeaux – Chateau La Rame (2007) that was fresh, spicy, and delicious. You can find it on wine store shelves for about $17.
The alcohol, approaching 13%, was just right. It paired perfectly with the steak my friend ordered, and because I always try to adjust the seasoning of my fish to better match the wine, it went well with my charred whole branzino as well.
As Bordeaux wine provides so much value for the money, are food friendly, and lower in alcohol than most new world wines, it is a region well worth exploring.
Now you might have heard people talk about the “right bank” and “left bank.” This relates to how the two key bodies of land are positioned in relation to the Dordogne and Garonne rivers. The “right bank” includes the quality appellations of Saint Emilion and the “left bank” the classified growths of the Medoc.
Article comments
1 - Vin VinoWine
Another good wine commentary! I luxuriate in reading these reviews.
2 - marisa d'vari
This is so kind! Thanks!