Great Values from Bordeaux
Though it produces some of the world’s rarest and most expensive wines, there are great values to be found in Bordeaux.
Star Selection
2005 Château Maine-Gazin “Livenne” ($20)
This full-bodied, curranty red comes from Bordeaux’s up-and-coming Premières Côtes de Blaye region. Made from Merlot, it’s a good reason to revisit this out-of-vogue varietal.
Value Wines
2004 Château Reynier Bordeaux Supérieur ($11)
This château, a fortified farmhouse from the 15th century that’s encircled by vines, belongs to Bordeaux’s famous Lurton family, who are as well-known for their value wines as their expensive bottlings. This blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot shows cherry fruit and aromas of tobacco and oak.
2005 Château Pey La Tour Réserve du Château Bordeaux Supérieur ($17)
Sweet cherry liqueur flavors give this Merlot-dominated red blend a New World–style generosity, but its firm tannins offer a gentle austerity that feels classically Bordelaise.
2005 Château La Chapelle St. Jean ($12)
Sweet, juicy cherry fruit forms the center of this lively, approachable red from the Côtes de Castillon region, which, though adjacent to the more famous St-Émilion zone, is a terrific source for good value wines.
2005 Château Barrail Chevrol Fronsac ($14)
Earthy black plum flavors point toward the predominance of Merlot in this approachable wine from France’s Fronsac appellation, another source for good values. A touch of Cabernet Franc gives the wine a tea-leaf note.
2006 Château Cap de Merle Lussac-St-Émilion ($17)
Smoky plum and cherry notes and savory tannins make this Merlot-based Bordeaux a distinct pleasure to drink. It comes from a small, family-owned estate in one of the many value-oriented satellite regions of St-Émilion.
2005 Château Listran Cru Bourgeois Médoc ($18)
The royal family of Spain has been among the owners of this substantial Médoc estate. The current proprietors, the Crété family, took possession in 1984 and produce this chewy, mocha-inflected, aromatic Cabernet blend.
2005 Château Manoir du Gravoux Côtes de Castillon ($19)
Terra Burdigala, the ancient Roman name for the Bordeaux region, is a joint venture between star winemaking consultant Stéphane Derenoncourt and François Thienpont, whose family owns such fabled properties as Le Pin and Vieux Château Certan. Together, they focus on affordable, high-quality wines—like this earthy, berry-rich red—from various Bordeaux appellations.
2005 Château Duplessy Premières Côtes de Bordeaux ($20)
In the 1500s, Château Duplessy became known for scandal when a family member discovered his wife in bed with an army officer; without further ado, he killed them both with a sword. These days, there’s less excitement around the house, but very nice wine: full of red currant and black olive notes.
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