Bordeaux Pairings

Wines created in Bordeaux are some of the world's most widely consumed styles—and are also among the more expensive. To help you make the most of your beautiful bottle of Bordeaux, here are ten recommended dishes to pair with the nuanced wines.

Start Slideshow

1 of 10

Braised Lamb with Giant White Beans

Photo © Theo Morrison

Go to Recipe

Pairing: 2008 Château de Pez

De Pez's wines—like this firm, blackberry-inflected 2008—typically sell for about half the price of the neighboring third-growth Château Calon-Ségur. But they're often of similar quality.

F&W's Ultimate Guide to Wine Pairings

2 of 10

Sauvignon Blanc-Steamed Mussels with Garlic Toasts

Photo © Stephanie Foley

Go to Recipe

Pairing: 2009 Château Haut Rian Bordeaux Sec

Michel Dietrich left his native Alsace to become the owner of Haut Rian, where he specializes in Sémillon-dominated wines like this white. Notes of honey infuse a core of bright lemon flavors and add a lush, viscous quality.

F&W's Ultimate Guide to Champagne

3 of 10

Bacon-and-Leek Quiche

Photo © Quentin Bacon

Go to Recipe

Pairing: 2009 Château Lamothe de Haux

An insane value, this Bordeaux white seamlessly blends Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon and Muscadelle. An ideal aperitif.

How to Open a Bottle of Wine

4 of 10

Sautéed Bass with Lemongrass

Tina Rupp

Go to Recipe

Pairing: 2009 Château Les Maines Cuvée Soleil d'Or

The range of citrus notes in this Asian-influenced dish will be brought into focus by the blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon characteristic of a white Bordeaux.

150 Best Wines for $15 or Less

5 of 10

Scottish Beef Stew

Photo © John Kernick

Go to Recipe

Pairing: 2008 Château de Pez St-Estèphe

While most St-Estèphe estates rely primarily on Cabernet Sauvignon, this bottling is nearly half Merlot, which gives its fresh black cherry layers a silky roundness.

Wine 101

6 of 10

Red Chile-Chicken Enchiladas

Go to Recipe

Pairing: 2008 Michel Lynch Merlot

Blackberry and plum notes define the palate of this bright, juicy red. While simple, it's highly enjoyable, proving that it's still possible to find great value in Bordeaux.

F&W's Ultimate Guide to Mexican Recipes

7 of 10

Pot-Roasted Lamb Shanks with Cannellini Beans

Go to Recipe

Pairing: 2008 Château Trotanoy Pomerol

Christian Moueix claims that of all the wines he has produced, this vintage is the most enjoyable in its youth.

Sommeliers of the Year 2013

8 of 10

Silky Leek and Red Wine Soup

Go to Recipe

Hand-sorting, manual destemming and small-batch fermentation result in La Tour’s New World-styled red, uncommonly fruit-driven for Bordeaux. Its lush black fruit is augmented by vanilla-tinged oak.

Pairing: 2008 Château La Tour Carnet Grand Cru Classé Haut-Médoc

F&W's Ultimate Guide to Soup Recipes

9 of 10

Mazzio's Smoked Duck with Tangerine-Rosemary Salad

Go to Recipe

Pairing: 2008 Chateau Mayne Vieil

The hilly Fronsac region is a great source for lush but structured Merlot-based Bordeaux like this one.

F&W's Ultimate Guide to Wine Pairings

10 of 10

Smoked Salmon Panini

Go to Recipe

Pairing: 2008 Château Pape Clément Grand Cru de Graves Pessac-Léognan

Lovely peach-and-melon fruit reveals the strength of the 2008 vintage for Bordeaux whites.

Wine 101

Replay gallery

F&W Cooks

Our 22 Best Crock Pot and Slow-Cooker Recipes

50 Affordable Wines You Can Always Trust

Bordeaux Pairings

1 of 10

Braised Lamb with Giant White Beans

1 of 10

2 of 10

Sauvignon Blanc-Steamed Mussels with Garlic Toasts

2 of 10

3 of 10

Bacon-and-Leek Quiche

3 of 10

4 of 10

Sautéed Bass with Lemongrass

4 of 10

5 of 10

Scottish Beef Stew

5 of 10

6 of 10

Red Chile-Chicken Enchiladas

6 of 10

7 of 10

Pot-Roasted Lamb Shanks with Cannellini Beans

7 of 10

8 of 10

Silky Leek and Red Wine Soup

8 of 10

9 of 10

Mazzio's Smoked Duck with Tangerine-Rosemary Salad

9 of 10

10 of 10

Smoked Salmon Panini

10 of 10

Up Next

Everything in This Slideshow

Your Profile

Bordeaux Pairings

1 of 10

Braised Lamb with Giant White Beans

1 of 10

2 of 10

Sauvignon Blanc-Steamed Mussels with Garlic Toasts

2 of 10

3 of 10

Bacon-and-Leek Quiche

3 of 10

4 of 10

Sautéed Bass with Lemongrass

4 of 10

5 of 10

Scottish Beef Stew

5 of 10

6 of 10

Red Chile-Chicken Enchiladas

6 of 10

7 of 10

Pot-Roasted Lamb Shanks with Cannellini Beans

7 of 10

8 of 10

Silky Leek and Red Wine Soup

8 of 10

9 of 10

Mazzio's Smoked Duck with Tangerine-Rosemary Salad

9 of 10

10 of 10

Smoked Salmon Panini

10 of 10

Share the Gallery

Up Next

Share the Gallery