BORDEAUX STARS
EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED

Here at Goedhuis & Co we are well known for working with the grandest chateaux throughout Bordeaux, but this autumn we want to focus on four wines which show off the delectable drinkability and brilliant value to be found looking outside the big names. With thanks to the CIVB for their support.

BUY THE WINES

Semillon & sauvignon

A match made in heaven! Bordeaux's white wines are fresh, elegant and very well priced. Masters of blending, the Bordelais combine the fresh zesty fruit of Sauvignon Blanc with the gentle, suave roundness of Semillon to make the perfect drop for any occasion. The best quality whites are found in Pessac Leognan, directly south of the city of Bordeaux along the Garonne River. Here chateaux big and small make some of the most elegant yet accessible whites in France, at extremely competitive prices. Our pick for a delicious, top value white is Château Ferran, in the town of Martillac in south east Pessac Leognan.

getting to know the neighbours

Bordeaux is rightly famed for its legendary chateaux, however, there are gems to be found at every level of this totemic region. Vieux Chateau Saint Andre in Montagne-Saint Emilion sits next to the Saint Emilion itself, on the same clay and limestone soils of its famous neighbour. Its wines are summed up by Bordeaux expert Jane Anson: "expect finesse, perfectly ripe fruit, aromatic intensity." Over in Blaye, downstream from Saint-Emilion and across the Gironde from Margaux, Jane notes that the commune of Plassac "has some excellent terroir", where we have found a superb value Bordeaux Rouge from Ch. Maine Gazin.

DISCOVER THE HIDDEN CRUS

The 'Cru Classé' system ranks some of the most prestigious châteaux in Bordeaux, lining the Left Bank of the Gironde up and down the Medoc. This ranking was decided back in 1855, and many chateaux simply didn't enter, meaning they missed out on the now well established stamp of approval that comes from being a 1st-5th Classified Growth (Cru Classé). One such château is Lanessan, sitting between famous neighbours Gruaud Larose and Beychevelle, and below Branaire-Ducru. Ch. Lanessan is widely agreed to be of at least 4th Growth quality, but, happily, has remained at less lofty prices!

More than Claret

Today’s Bordeaux wines are far more than the traditional Cabernet and Merlot based reds: their white wines are vibrant, versatile and super delicious. Look no further than Château Ferran Blanc 2019 (£18.00 per bottle) for a gloriously refreshing dry white. By the beach, in the garden, at a picnic, with oysters, roast chicken or cheese, this is a go-to white for any occasion.

BUY CH. FERRAN BLANC 2019

Sustainability

A new generation of winemakers is bringing a fresh environmentally aware approach to the region. In 2015 Geoff and Marion Cook left their Australian smallholding near Sydney and sought a new life as vineyard owners and wine makers. Since 2018 they have used their agricultural knowhow to start the conversion to organic viticulture. The result is a genuinely delicious, juicy and oh-so-quaffable claret at under £12.00 a bottle.

BUY CH. MAINE GAZIN 2019

The Perfect Match

Bordeaux wines aren't just for rich, meat-heavy dishes. Fruit forward, fresher characters dominate in the 'entry level' categories of both white and red Bordeaux, making them brilliantly flexible and a perfect pairing for many dishes and occasions. From fresh bruschetta with a glass of Merlot led Château Maine Gazin, to chargrilled aubergine with a glass of subtly oaked Château Lanessan (£18.75 per bottle), there are so many ways to bring some Bordelais flair to your table.

BUY CH. LANESSAN 2015

THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT

Few winemakers better represent the continuous evolution of Bordeaux than Jean Claude Berrouet and his son Jeff at Vieux Château Saint André in Montagne Saint Emilion. Jacques is the former winemaker of iconic Pomerol estate Ch. Pétrus, and took on this new estate to start an exciting, fresh project. Jeff is now at the forefront of the operation and, with his dad's decades of experience informing his innovation, delivers pure, precise deliciousness in every sip of this 2018 (£23.00 per bottle).

BUY VIEUX CH. SAINT ANDRE 2018

YOUR BORDEAUX CHEAT SHEET

CIVB | The Bordeaux Wine Council (Conseil Interprofessionnel du Vin de Bordeaux) is a professional body representing the three key branches of the Bordeaux wine trade: wine makers, wine merchants and wine brokers.

CLARET | An unoffical term for red Bordeaux, derived from 'clairet', the term for the paler red wines that were exported from Bordeaux to England in early medieval times. Confusingly, the term clairet itself is still in use, but now refers to a richer, darker style of rosé produced in Bordeaux.

CRU BOURGEOIS | An evolving classification designed to single out producers from 8 AOCs in Bordeaux's Left Bank who have demonstrated the quality, consistency and value expected of a great "Citizen's Growth".

EN PRIMEUR | Buying wine “en primeur” refers to the process of buying wine before it is bottled and released to the market. This principally applies to the best wines from Bordeaux, Burgundy and the Rhône. The wine is generally shipped to the UK in the year or two after purchase. Duty and VAT only become payable when the wine is taken out of bond and delivered.

GRAND CRU CLASSE | Literally, "a Great Classified Growth". In Bordeaux, this term applies to a specific producer rather than a specific vineyard area. There are two key classifications in Bordeaux: the 1855 Classification, a fixed list which ranks 5 levels of the top producers from the Medoc and Graves, and the Saint Emilion Grand Cru Classe system, which ranks the top Saint Emilion producers in 3 levels and is reviewed every 10 years.

LEFT & RIGHT BANK | Simply put, on which side of the Gironde River (and its tributaries, the Dordogne and Garonne) the vineyards are found. On the left, home to the Medoc, there tend to be more gravelly soils and more Cabernet Sauvignon, and on the right, home to Saint Emilion more clay, limestone soils and a larger proportion of Merlot.

SATELLITE APPELLATIONS | These are sources of some top value wines, thanks to their proximity to some of Bordeaux's most esteemed vineyard sites. Offically the term refers specifically to the appellations around Saint Emilion, such as Montagne Saint Emilion.

SEMILLON | Sauvignon Blanc's best friend, Semillon is the traditional blending partner in Bordeaux whites. The green, fresh kick of Sauvignon Blanc is given a smooth, mellow foundation by this supple and versatile white grape.