The good news is that inexpensive, everyday Bordeaux wines are widely available in the US, ranging from under $10 to $25.  The major names to look for on the label are: 

Basic Bordeaux red, rose, white, semi-sweet and sparkling wines, from the greater Bordeaux region.  Reds predominantly merlot and whites predominantly sauvignon blanc.  Bordeaux  and Bordeaux Superieure appellations represent about half of the 60 million or so cases the region produces each year.  Bordeaux Superieure requires slightly higher minimum potential alcohol, slightly lower yields/hectare and for the red wines, longer minimum ageing of …

Today’s global wine is market is in net oversupply, but in specific markets, it is still growing.  The US is the world’s leading wine consumer by value and growing.  According to the 2009 Impact Databank, Americans are buying more of the big “brands” – the everyday, fruit-driven, easy-drinking and inexpensive wines.  In Germany, demand exceeds supply by 2 to 1, at average prices of a meager €2.00/liter primarily purchased at discount chains.  Over the past 25 years, demand has shifted from sweeter whites to red wines.  Asia is the fastest growing market and the major …

Last week I tasted through quite a lot of wine in Bordeaux!  Here are some of the whites which show the range of sauvignon blanc wines made today in Bordeaux.
2007 Chateau du Cros, Bordeaux AOC.  This chateau is also known for its sweet wines from the Loupiac appellation, just on the other side of the Garonne river on the right bank.  This dry white is typical of the modern, fruit-driven, clean and sleek wines made today.  90% sauvignon blanc, 10% semillon, some skin contact and cool 16-18 celsius ferment temperatures result …

While consumers discover the range of alternative white wines, sauvignon blanc remains truly one of the world’s greatest varietal wines and is still one of the major go-to wines in restaurants for its bright acidity, citrusy flavors and aromatic appeal.  Sauvignon blanc reflects the climates and styles where it is grown and made.  In the Loire’s Sancerre and Pouilly-Fume, the wine is lighter bodied, flinty and restrained, while in the Napa Valley, it is full-bodied and fruit-driven.  New Zealand is in a class by itself, with exaggerated aromas of kaffir limes and fresh …

The last two times I visited Sauternes, the sweet wine appellation in Bordeaux, I was treated to wine pairings with savory foods.  The conventional pairing with Sauternes and/or neighboring Barsac, or its lighter-versioned cousins across the Garonne river Cadillac, Loupiac and St. Croix du Mont, are strong cheeses or desserts.  At Chateau Guiraud, and last week at Chateau Sigalas Rabaud, we tried Sauternes with savory dishes that work.  As we approach the holiday season, you might want to include variations of the following dishes to impress your friends.  At Chateau Sigalas …

If you are travelling to Bordeaux, you probably love food and wine.  Some of the specialties of Bordeaux given its proximity to water are duck, foie gras and lamprey eel and you will find some of the best entrecote (beef) dishes anywhere.  Lest you think Bordeaux is all about heavy food, don’t worry, there is also a good choice of seafood such as salmon, sole, cod, sea bream, oysters and shrimp.  There is a great balance of foods and restaurants to choose from and plenty of wines to pair
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La Brasserie Bordelaise at 50 Rue Saint Remi serves …

Wine tourism is important in developing brand awareness for a wine region and its producers’ wines.  It also generates a lot of revenue.  Napa Valley drew about 3.5 million tourists in 2006 who spent a little over $700 million on hotels, restaurants and other leisure- and wine- related activities.  In many wine regions around the world, wineries open up their doors to hospitality including tours and various seminars on blending, wine tasting and food/cheese and wine pairing.  Bordeaux – not so much.  However, this is rapidly changing as Bordeaux competes with the New World.
In …

October 6th.  Napa, CA 71 degrees, Bordeaux, France 84 degrees.  Since arriving on Sunday, the weather has been almost uncomfortably warm.  In Bordeaux, the risk of rainy and cool weather in September typically increases.  Indian summers in the fall can save wet summers and rainy Septembers can ruin a fine summer.  This year, rain in mid-September was actually welcome.
The 2009 vintage is turning out to be one of those potentially great vintages with higher than average sunshine and temperatures and lower than average rainfall from June through September.  In August, …

Chablis, the home of the original un-oaked chardonnay, has always been near the upper limits of vine-growing at the 48th parallel.  It is the classic cool-climate region where spring and autumn frosts are the greatest viticultural risks and vintages really matter.  In addition to its northerly latitude, Chablis’ vineyards lie on both banks of the narrow and cold Sereine River and chilling winds from the Morvan Mountains in Burgundy contribute to the cold.  Vines are trained low to capture as much warmth from the ground as possible and the best sites are on south-facing slopes, up …

The chardonnay wines of Chablis are pure, precise wines, unburdened by the use of new oak.  Among the best winemakers in Chablis is William Fevre, whose wines are virtually transparent in their expression of terroir.  William Fevre makes the full range of Chablis wines, from Petit Chablis to Grand Cru, with over half of its 118 acres in Premiers and Grands Crus.  At the helm is Didier Seguier, who was brought in by the owners of William Fevre, the Henriot family of Champagne and Burgundy.  Didier’s basic philosophy is:  clean …