Opening a Clive Coates MW Bordeaux book at any page is like learning to read all over again, and those who are seriously proficient in Bordeaux may well bore you to death. If you have kept up with my previous two posts this month (click this link and scroll down), whether you’re looking for an entry point into Bordeaux, or you actually are the next Clive Coates, I really hope my attempt at making Bordeaux more interesting and user-friendly is working.

Pictured above, the boys at Chateau Bauduc getting their hands dirty. The wines made here come under ‘Appellation Contrôlée’ Premières Côtes de Bordeaux. They also make Bordeaux Supérieur red wines and Bordeaux Blancs. This might make more sense by the time you’ve read this post.

Last week we had a look at the left bank and the right bank and found out what they actually mean. Here’s the best of the rest (well, pretty much)

The Graves

Bordeaux’s great name was established in the Graves. From the 11th century onwards it exported to numerous markets gaining an unparalleled reputation, particularly with the English, and to this day they still produce wines that hold their own with the regions finest.

Graves means gravel in French, and there’s no shortage of gravel in this part of the world. We’re just south of the Médoc here, roughly following the left bank of the Garonne river, so like the Médoc, the Graves will also come under the “left bank” tag. The most notable appellation in the area is Pessac-Léognan.

The main variety is Cabernet Sauvignon, with a higher percentage of Merlot being used in their mineral scented, earthy red blends compared to that of their northern neighbours. Of all Bordeaux whites, the Graves is thought to have some of the best. Around a quarter of production is white, dominated by Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc.

The Côtes

It’s almost unfair to put the five Côtes areas under one heading. Situated on the right bank of the Garonne and Dordogne rivers lie Blaye, Bourg, Castillon, Francs and the Premières Côtes de Bordeaux – not all together of course. That would just make it too easy.

Côtes de Blaye and Côtes de Bourg lie on the right bank across the Gironde river from the Médoc. Côtes de Castillon and Côtes de Francs are located inland from Saint-Émilion, and all are producing plenty of good quality reds, and a little white.

Each area though, has very identifiable styles of wine due to soil composition and micro-climate, but that doesn’t stop them trying to market their wines together under the ‘Côtes de Bordeaux’ label. Watch out for the actual (or is it the afterthought?) regional name which will also be included on the label.

Entre-Deux-Mers (between the rivers)

This is the large, rather forgotten area of land that lies between the Dordogne and Garonne rivers. It’s an appellation in itself for the production of dry white wines, but there is quite a bit of decent red, rosé and white under ‘Bordeaux AC’, which implies regional Bordeaux. In other words if it’s not a specified white, they can’t use the Entre-Deux-Mers name on the label. This is in accordance with the specific laws of the appellation.

There are other appellations between the rivers, such as the aforementioned Premières Côtes de Bordeaux, which supposedly produces the best red wines in this relatively vast area. Good dry whites are made here too, but they will also come under ‘Bordeaux AC’.

Sweet white wines

Is this Bordeaux just showing off? I don’t think so. They actually do produce a lot of super-fine sweet wines. It possesses a number of areas, which are few and far between when you look worldwide, where the conditions are perfect for noble rot. The dominant grape is Sémillon, and it makes for some delicious dessert wine.

Sauternes and Barsac are the most well-known for these luscious wines, with the likes of Cérons producing lighter styled sweet whites.

20% off all Bordeaux wines for the month of April (prices discounted at checkout)

For some it will forever be the world’s most confusing, unfriendly and inaccessible wine producing region. For others, it’s a never-ending adventure of discovery, adventure and pleasure. If you missed part one, it’s not too late to get a quick introduction.

Right bank and left bank Bordeaux are terms you’re probably very familiar with, but then you go back to Australia for that eye-catching, easy to read and understand label. I couldn’t blame you. The New World markets itself very well, and traditionalist France is somewhat lagging behind in that department. But don’t let it scare you. Here’s your need-to-know on the difference between right and left.

Right Bank Bordeaux

The right bank appellations are situated on the right bank, or north, of the river Dorgogne. The dominant grapes varieties are Merlot and Cabernet Franc. The left bank has traditionally been more popular, but the right bank is now easily on a par and has found a huge fan-base in the USA.

Pomerol and Saint-Émilion are the most famous areas. The latter has four satellites, one being Lussac-St-Émilion, and Pomerol’s larger neighbour is Lalande-de-Pomerol. The wines from these regions tend to have great fruit concentration and softer tannins, so they’re a good place to start if you’re just getting into Bordeaux. The soil composition and climate is different to Médoc on the left bank, so this helps explain why the style can be very different.

Pay what you like here. There are plenty of good quality budget wines coming out of Saint-Émilion, but you could also pay the price of a new car for some wines. You’ll pay an arm and a leg for wines from 1990 vintage Pomerol.

Left Bank Bordeaux

You’ll hear Médoc and left bank in the same sentence. Now we’re on the other side of the river, where the terroir dictates Cabernet Sauvignon be used. With Merlot also being an important component, these wines tend to be concentrated, tannic and long-lived. Quite often they’ll need time before you can enjoy them at their best.

Wines labelled with ‘Médoc AC’ are sourced from vineyards in the northerly area of Médoc. ‘Haut-Médoc’ covers the southern region, but not some of the communal appellations – prepare for some name dropping – Margaux, St Julien, Saint-Estèphe and Pauillac. This is where the best soils are found.

If you decide to buy some young Médoc for ageing, buy right. Enjoy the thirty, ten or even just a couple of years that you have them down for and look forward to how they will have evolved. Each communal will give you an idea of what to expect, so don’t be afraid to ask for some advice, or look further into it yourself. It’s a whole world just begging to be explored, whether you’re a left banker, a right banker, or both.

20% off all Bordeaux wines for the month of April (prices discounted at checkout)

It’s to Bordeaux we turn our attention this month as we attempt to remove the la-de-da and introduce a bit of ooh-la-la to the world’s most renowned wine region.

‘There is no better introduction to the world’s most dazzling wine region’, declared Decanter magazine on Oz Clarke’s Bordeaux.

We don’t think there’s a more accessible wine writer in the world, so we thought what better place to start for our May contest. We’ve a copy of this deliciously descriptive and beautifully presented book to give away, along with two bottles of Oz-recommended Chateau Bauduc.

How to Enter: We’re changing the entry criteria slightly this month, but it’s still a cinch to enter – all you have to do is become a fan (or be one already) on our Facebook page. We’ll draw a winner at random in May and post it here and on Facebook.

Congratulations to Tony Owens, winner of our April contest, Poncho y Vino! Prizes on the way to you Tony.

It’s hardly the most consumer friendly, but if there’s one wine region in the world that you absolutely cannot go through life without giving a fair crack of the whip to, it’s Bordeaux. Think of it as a world of wine in itself, but don’t be daunted by the labels. Get your head around the basics, and you’ll be armed with the essential information. Who knows, it might even prove useful if you decide to take the more practical approach this month with 20% off all Bordeaux wines for the month of April.

Appellations

The appellation contrôlée laws govern production of wine from a specific region. The general regional Bordeaux wines simply come under “Bordeaux AC”. More than half of all red and white production come under this label. Wines of ‘Bordeaux Supérieur AC’ are from lower yields, so should see an improvement in quality.

Specific regional appellations, for which there are more than 50, are a step up again. The most renowned villages or communes will have their own appellations. Margaux and Pauillac are examples.

Geography

The rivers of Dordogne and Garonne flow through Bordeaux. The region is split into ‘left bank’ and ‘right bank’, with the familiar appellations of Medoc and Graves on the west side and St-Emilion and Pomerol on the east side. Entre-deux-mers is a large appellation dominating the centre of the region, between the two rivers.

Grapes

The vast majority of Bordeaux wine is red. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot rule in Bordeaux. These are often accompanied by Cabernet Franc, with Malbec and Petit Verdot also grown. Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc dominate the whites.

Climate

Warms summers and long mild autumns are the key, but too much rainfall can cause havoc. In good years and in the right micro-climate, the perfect ripeness and thus the perfect wines can be achieved.

The essential sub-regions

The Bordeaux wine region is divided into subregions including Saint-Émilion, Pomerol, Médoc, and Graves. The 57 Bordeaux appellations and the wine styles they represent are usually categorised into six main families, four red based on the subregions and two white based on sweetness.

Red Bordeaux and Bordeaux Supérieur: These are the “basic” red Bordeaux wines which are allowed to be produced all over the region, and represent the least expensive Bordeaux wines. These wines tend to be fruity, with less influence from oak and are for drinking young.

Red Côtes de Bordeaux: These blends are usually dominated by Merlot. They tend to be intermediate between basic red Bordeaux and the more famous appellations of the left and right bank in both style and quality.

“Right Bank” wines: Again, mainly dominated by Merlot. The two most famous are Saint-Émilion and Pomerol. These wines often have great fruit concentration, softer tannins and are long-lived.

Red Graves and Médoc or “Left Bank” wines: Blends made up primarily of Cabernet Sauvignon, with some Merlot. These wines are concentrated, tannic, long-lived and most of them meant to be cellared before drinking.

White wines: Dry white wines are made throughout the region, and in several locations and appellations, sweet white wine is made from Sémillon, Savignon Blanc and Muscadelle grapes affected by noble rot. The best-known of these appellations is Sauternes.

20% off all Bordeaux wines for the month of April (prices discounted at checkout)

April’s here, and we’ve another month of stupendously good deals from around the wine world.

It’s to the world’s greatest wine region we turn first, with a salivating 20% off Bordeaux. Forget the stuffy reputations and Chateaux La-de-da, we’ve some of the best that modern Bordeaux has to offer, from Gordon Ramsay’s house wine to classically styled Grand Crus. (Do not miss Chateau Bauduc if you want to see what this great region has to offer the modern consumer!)

Our Case of the Month is a Taste of Bordeaux, a delectable mix of classic Clarets, sumptuous whites and delicious desserts, all with a tasty €35 off the regular combined price.

From Old to New, Marlborough has been the global benchmark of Sauvignon Blanc for the last decade. We’ve a range of great buy 2 offers plus further incredible deals by the case, including established favourite The Ned from €10.33 per bottle and our stunning new find Fairhall Cliffs from only €8.33.

Finally, we like to keep the supermarkets on their toes, so the Roo is back for April. Grab a Yellow Tail for only €6.99 when you buy two or more, with the blockbuster Reserve range only €9.99. That’s case of 12 delivered from under €84!

Offers will run until 30th April or, as ever, while stocks last.