Bordeaux wine

The French have a tiered system at AOC level, starting with regional AOCs like Bordeaux and Burgundy.

Bordeaux is classified in more detail than any other wine region, with its 57 appellations covered by five different classifications:

• 1855 Classification
• Saint-Emilion Classification
• Graves Classification
• Cru Bourgeois Classification
• Médoc Cru Artisans Classification

The most important of the five is the 1855 Classification in the left bank is probably the most famous and influential wine classification in the world.But the Crus Classés de Graves, Cru Bourgeois and the latest Crus Artisans classifications are all worth investigating as e a good way to find a quality focused producer.

In Bordeaux, additional classifications outside the appellation can be used. Here the term ‘Grand Cru [Classé]’ is usually applied to the producer, rather than the land like in other regions.

Cabernet Sauvignon blends dominate on the Bordeaux’s Left Bank, offering notes of blackcurrant, liquorice, mint, cedar and graphite. Due to their fine-grained tannins and firm structure, they have superb ageing potential – and will develop more complex flavours over time.   

Médoc: Located on Bordeaux’s Left Bank, Médoc is famous for its Cabernet Sauvignon wines with pronounced blackberry notes. The area is further divided into smaller appellations, such as Saint-Estèphe and Margaux. 

Graves: A Left Bank region that gets its name from its gravel-rich soils. Many châteaux in Graves create both red and white wines. Reds are typically blends of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot, while the whites are made from Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon.

Saint-Émilion: Situated in the Right Bank, Saint-Émilion’s limestone, clay and gravel soils make it an excellent home to Merlot. Merlot blends dominate Bordeaux’s Right Bank, offering delicious flavours of fig, plum and juicy cherry. These wines are prized for their finesse and boast plush, silky tannins. The best examples have great ageing potential.

Pomerol: Next to Saint-Émilion, Pomerol is smaller but equally significant. The area’s iron-rich soils make standout Merlots known for their depth and potential to age well.

While Bordeaux is more famous for its red wines, the region also creates remarkable white wines.   

White Bordeaux, or Bordeaux Blanc, is typically a blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon and Muscadelle grapes. These grape varieties are used to craft both dry and sweet wines.

Dry white Bordeaux wines are typically crisp, vibrant and aromatic, with flavours of citrus fruits, green apples, and sometimes a flinty or mineral quality. When aged in oak, additional flavours of vanilla and toasted coconut may develop.  

The region’s sweet wines – Sauternes – are also made from Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon grapes, which have been affected by ‘noble rot’. These wines are typically rich, luscious and highly prizes, offering flavours of honey, ripe apricots and other succulent fruits.

The day of your delivery will depend on which option you’ve chosen at checkout.  

• For a standard delivery, we will deliver your order in three to five working days. Delivery to the Scottish Highlands, some other areas of Scotland, Northern Ireland and offshore islands can take an extra few days.
• Usual delivery times are between 07.00 and 21.00.
• You can select Next-day or Named-day delivery at checkout – but do bear in mind we don’t deliver on Sundays or Bank Holidays.

For the best experience we recommend you subscribe to our Unlimited service. A one-off payment of £29.99 entitles you to free delivery for a year – including free Next-day delivery. There’s no minimum order – you’ll get free delivery even on a single bottle. And you can get delivery to multiple addresses, so it’s perfect for gifting!

The cut-off for Christmas delivery varies by our different delivery methods.

Standard Delivery:
Order by midnight  Sunday 21st December.

Next Day Delivery:
Order by 4pm Monday 22nd December

Scottish Highlands & Northern Ireland:
Order by Wednesday 17th December

Bulk Delivery:
Order by Monday 15th December

Please note that these dates are subject to change.

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