Wine is an absolutely incredible thing.  For me, wine has been present on some the most memorable nights of my life and I’ve always been intrigued by the uncanny ability for wine to take me back to past experiences.  Since studying abroad in Paris during college, French wines have been one of those memory-joggers–from picking up a bottle to drink to drink with a baguette in the bois between classes with friends to the bottle I shared one evening with my dad on a road trip through the French countryside.

When talking about French wines, it’s impossible not to bring up Bordeaux.  The Bordeaux region of France is a well-known wine-producing region famous for its reds and has been producing some of the best wines in the world for many years thanks to its rich soil and moderate temperatures.  Here are some quick facts about the region:

• 89% of the wines produced in Bordeaux are reds.
• The region is the largest wine-producing region in France covering 460 square miles and producing up to 700 million bottles of wine per year!
• While “Bordeaux” is the general name for wines from this region, there are actually 54 appellations* that are produced there.
• There are three main regions of the Bordeaux region–the Right Bank, Entre-Deux-Mers (between the oceans), and the Left Bank.
• The “Bordeaux Blend” is the typical mix of grapes in the region’s wines–70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc, 15% Merlot.

I had the pleasure of spending the evening with some of Dallas’ most talented sommeliers* to try some Bordeaux wines and explore the incredibly diverse options that come from the region.  Paired with some cheese et autres choses, we had a pretty incredible evening tasting around the region–five wines from five regions.

The wines we tasted that evening included the following, and are in order of preference:

TOP TASTING: Château Beau-Séjour Bécot – 2008 Saint-Émilion Premier Grand Cru Classé 
14% ABV
Purchased at Goody Goody for $53 (value: ~$55)

The group’s favorite wine of the evening by a landslide, its dark berry and rhubarb notes made this an incredibly complex wine that would pair nearly perfectly with lamb.  While some of the wines from Bordeaux can cost you a pretty penny, we decided to splurge on one from Saint Émilion as wines from this region age very nicely.
“In my humble opinion, Saint Émilion is one of the most underrated regions in Bordeaux because they don’t have a clear classification system” – Roxanna C. from Raven Wine Management Systems

#2: Château Cantenac Brown – 2012 Margaux Grand Cru Classé 
13.5% ABV
Purchased at Total Wine for $52 (value: ~$48)

We tasted this bottle last as we expected it to be the “biggest” of the wines.  Let’s just say that it really was “plus grand” than expected and was incredibly mouth filling.  With notes like honeysuckle, caramel, and vanilla bean and a violet nose, it was almost like dessert in a glass.  The acidity was about medium plus and the finish was incredibly long … the caramel flavors lingered until the end.

This wine was my personal favorite of the evening.

#3: Château Le Crock – 2008 Saint-Estèphe Grand Vin de Bordeaux 
49% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc, 7% Petit Verdot
13% ABV
Purchased at Spec’s for $24 (value: ~$26)

We saved this bottle for our fourth taste..  The fruity flavor had hints of dark fruits, coffee, caramel, and dark cocoa balanced with a little “barnyard” grit.  This wine paired perfectly with the Roomano cow’s milk cheese from The Netherlands on the table.  (Pick some up at Molto Formaggio in Highland Park Village.)

#4: Jean-Louis Trocard Chateau La Croix Bellevue – 2005 Pomerol
50% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon
13.5% ABV
Purchased at Spec’s for $23.99 (value: ~$17)

This Pomerol wine was another big one with a very aggressive flavor.  The flavor had fruits that changed on the tongue and an almost “barnyard” bite.  You could definitely tell that it was an older wine, but it was even bigger than expected for a 10-year wine.  This bottle wasn’t our favorite of the evening thanks to the gritty flavor.

WHITE TASTING (NOT RANKED): Clarendelle – 2011 Bordeaux (inspired by Haut-Brion)
76% Semillion Blanc, 24% Sauvignon Blanc
Dry White Wine
12.5% ABV
Purchased at Goody Goody for $18.99 (value: ~$22)

While 89% of the wines produced in Bordeaux are reds, we wanted to include a white option and we’re damn glad we did.  This while was delightful and we all would admittedly not only drink this again, but purchase it again as it was the least complex and most “approachable” of the five we tasted.

The story behind this white’s inspiration (Haut-Brion) is a sketchy legend.  Apparently the O’Brions, an Irish family and one of the original Grand Cru producing vineyards, settled in the Bordeaux region and decided to change their name to Haut-Brion so the name would be more respected in the region.

Visit Bordeaux.com to learn about more wines from the region, take a workshop or two, and even plan a trip!

*”An appellation is a legally defined and protected geographical indication used to identify where the grapes for a wine were grown; other types of food often have appellations as well.” – Wikipedia