Ah, the wines of Bordeaux! A common sight in stores and wine boutiques, Bordeaux wine is a popular choice but isn’t always understood. Starting with the basics, Bordeaux is pronounced bore-doh and is a port city in southwestern France. It’s been known that vines have been growing in Bordeaux for over two thousand years, probably having started their roots before the Romans in year 56 or well, before J.C!

The thing about Bordeaux is that unlike many of the other French wine regions, the wine business in Bordeaux was developed by merchants, rather than simply coming directly from the wineries. At the beginning of the second millennium, the Bordeaux region was under English domination and hundreds of boats loaded with barrels of ‘Claret’ were leaving yearly for England. The ‘Claret’ was a light red wine which Englishmen loved; the word is still used to refer to Red Bordeaux. By the 14th century, half of the wine production was boarded on ships mainly to England.

Bordeaux is probably the most well-known wine region in France. It counts for one third of the quality French wine (AOC, crus bourgeois, Crus Classés), and host about 7,000 ‘Chateaux’, not all of those being fancy proper castles, but it must represent an estate which produces wines solely with estate-grown grapes.  Wines bottled using more generic names are mostly made from grapes coming from across the region, generally purchased for growers. The region is spread out across different appellations, depending of the location of the vineyards.  The higher the classification is, the higher the requirements are (volume of grapes produces per hectares, work in vineyards, etc). 

Here’s a quick lesson based on regions and grapes to fatten up your wine knowledge palette. Are you ready? Let’s go!

First, there’s Bordeaux. Bordeaux AOC wines can come from anywhere within the Bordeaux wine region, which covers most of the Gironde department. The quality of both red and white wine depends very much on the wine makers talent and on the quality of the grapes. This means that the quality goes from very disappointing wines to excellent bargain chateaux.

Then comes Bordeaux Superieur. The Bordeaux Supérieur appellation grows on the same part within the larger area which has similar characteristics than classic Bordeaux, but has better soil quality and tends to offer wines better quality wine which ages better..

Are you still with me? Moving on there are the Sub-region appellation. These appellations represent a great introduction to the area, showcasing the different characteristics of each zone, due to different soil types. They produce wines that are more affordable than say, villages wines. Some examples of these would be Medoc, Haut-Medoc, Graves and Entre-Deux-Mers.

And finally, Villages Appellations. These are the most covered wines, with drastic restrictions on volume, winemaking and ageing methods.  The wines would be much more complex than regular Bordeaux, and have very good ageing potential – the more premium ones would actually require 10-15 years of ageing before reaching a good enjoyment level. Examples of villages appellations are St Julien, Margaux, Pauillac, St Estèphe, Listrac, Moulis (all in Medoc); Pessac-Leognan, Sauternes (Graves); Pomerol, St Emilion, Bourg (Right-bank);  Loupiac, Cadillac (Entre-Deux-Mers)

Now let’s take a look at grapes!

Red wines: There are 6 varietals which are allowed within the region, with the top 2 being the most popularly planted and used, creating a classic Bordeaux blend. These 6 are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Carmenère & Petit Verdot. Due to soil specificity, the left banks are dominated by Cabernets, while the right banks have a majority of Merlot.

White wines: Sauvignon Blanc & Semillon are the large dominants for both ‘classic’ and sweet wines but there are a handful of others that are allowed within the region. These are Sauvignon gris, Ugni blanc, Colombard, Merlot blanc, Ondenc and Mauzac.

My recommendations? Check out the following wines:

• White Bordeaux: Cheval Quancard 'Cuvee Clemence' Entre-Deux-Mers
• Sweet Bordeaux: Chateau Les Arroucats, St Croix Du Mont
• Bordeaux Superieur: Chateau De Terrefort-Quancard
• St Estephe: Chateau Bel-Air Ortet
• Lussac St Emilion: Chateau Moulin de Lussac
• St Emilion Grand Cru: Chateau Franc-Pipeau

‘Noble’ grapes encompass the varietals which supposedly produce wines of the highest quality and are spread out across the world. With a long history of winemaking across centuries and international trends, 18 varietals are considered as ‘Classic’, and recognized across the world

Most of them are of French origin, which have always had a strong influence on the wine world, while the remaining are European.

Reds

• Cabernet Sauvignon
• Merlot
• Syrah
• Grenache
• Pinot Noir
• Malbec
• Tempranillo
• Sangiovese
• Nebbiolo

Whites

• Chardonnay
• Sauvignon Blanc
• Pinot Gris
• Chenin Blanc
• Muscat
• Viognier
• Semillon
• Riesling
• Gewürztraminer 

As the quality of these grapes are not put in question, it is often decried that in many wine regions (like the Languedoc in Southern France for example amongst others, but also in Spain or Italy), local growers prefer to plant ‘Noble’ grapes rather than local varietals. This causes a slow decrease of tradition and an increased uniformity of taste across the world. A great documentary to learn about the impact of globalization of wines is the 2004 ‘Mondovino’ by Jonathan Nossiter which I recommend you to watch.

Most of you may have heard of Malbec. Mostly coming from Argentina, this is a single varietal like Shiraz or Pinot Noir, and not a blend like I have often been asked.

The Malbec originally comes from France, where it is one of the 6 grapes authorized in the Bordeaux ‘blend’ (along with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot & Carmenère). It was imported in to the South Americas in the mid-19th Century by French agronomist Miguel Pouget. In Bordeaux, it was widely planted up until 1956, when a freak frost killed about 75% of the Malbec vines (they are more sensitive than the other 5). Winemakers decided then to replant using the Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot, which now makes up over 70% of the appellation plantings.

Malbec is still the grape of reference in the some other areas, like in the South-West with the most famous ones coming from the village-appellation of Cahors which makes great, deeply dark color robust wines. It is also called Auxerrois or Pressac in the region, or Côt Noir in the Loire Valley, where they produce lighter fruitful wines.

The Malbec adapted very well to the dry environment of the Mendoza Valley in Argentina, where it was used to make very simple wines. Now, however, winemakers can have access to very old vines (some of over 100 years old) and can produce stunning premium wines!

If you like Malbec, you may also like: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese, Tempranillo

Contrary to popular belief, most wines available on the market are made primarily for immediate consumption, and will not benefit from additional ageing. If you clean your house and find a 10 year old bottle of nice but simple wine (I don’t want to say cheap wine, but yes, one of those), there is a big chance that it is not good to drink anymore – but you will have to try it to be sure.

Whether or not wines require ageing depend on the fermentation and time spent in oak barrels. Most wines in the entry-level range spend time in stainless steel containers before bottling, and depending the varietals, have to be drunk within a few years (approximately 1 to 2 years for Sauvignon Blancs and other crisp whites, 2 to 4 years for reds and some drier whites).

Oak barrels are used to concentrate the tannins and aromas which help most wines to age longer. Barrels can few used a few times, but newer barrels will add much more complexity and oak flavors. older barrels will give off less complexity and oak flavors, while still helping on the development of aromas. However, using only new barrels is very costly, which is why wines aged in new barrels will be on a much more premium level (few hundreds or thousands of RM).

So to make it simple (not strictly the case 100% of the time, but most likely), the more expensive a wine is, the older it can age. To give you a ballpark, a few years for a RM100 bottle and up to 50 years for the most premium wines, like Bordeaux Grand Crus.

You may have seen that term every now and then but cannot pinpoint exactly what it means.

A ‘balanced’ wine is used to describe a wine with good harmony between the acidity, fruitiness and level of tannins. Tannins are molecules present in many fruits, vegetables and leaves, and are a component which bring color and astringency. In wines, they are contained in the skin of the grapes, and are extracted during the maceration & fermentation .

As white grapes spend no or very little time in contact with the skin, red wines have more tannins, especially depending on the varietals (Shiraz contains more than Pinot Noir).

In terms of acidity, white wines tend to have higher levels of acidity compared to red wines.

Wines with a dominance of either acidity, fruitiness and tannins can be called as slightly un-balanced.

With hundreds of labels in the market, choosing one can be a daunting task. Here at Wine Talk we’ve narrowed it down to help you out by listing 8 great red wines to enjoy for your reunion dinner and festivities! There’s something for every budget.

1. Mancura Cabernet Sauvignon (2011)

Central Valley, Chile
100% Cabernet Sauvignon
RM39.90
Boasts a bright ruby-red colour, with pronounced blackberry aromas on the nose mingling with touches of leather and chocolate. In the mouth the wine is soft and fruity, perfectly balanced with fine, smooth tannins. Ideal to combine with grilled red meats

2. Bodegas Muñoz ‘Legado’ Garnacha (2010)

La Mancha, Spain
100% Garnacha
RM47.90
Aged for 3 months in American oak barrels. It showcases soft aromas of strawberries and raspberries, with a hint of spices (nutmeg, pepper…), and smooth creamy notes from the oak, combining vanilla and coffee, with refined tannins. Perfect by itself, served slightly cool, or paired with a selection of tapas, grilled meats and pasta dishes.
Exclusively available through Wine Talk

3.Chanson Moulin-à-Vent, Beaujolais (2008)

Burgundy, France
100% Gamay
RM62.50
Moulin-À-Vent is one of the most famous crus of the Beaujolais. It has a bright red colour with purple nuances, intense aromas of raspberry and violet mixed with spices; Very pure fruit aromas and well-shaped tannins, with a long and generous aftertaste. Great match for roasted chicken or grilled duck or mild cheeses.

4. Altos de Rioja Reserva (2006)

Rioja, Spain
100% Tempranillo
RM89.90
Aged in new oak barrels for 24 months, before resting in the bottle for over a year in the winery to complete its maturity. This is a refined and elegant wine, a nice mix of aromas of beeswax, fine spices and leather, over a layer of black cherry. It shows elegance and complexity with toasty oak. This will go well with char-grilled steaks, grilled lamb and cured cheeses. Decant for a few minutes.
Exclusively available through Wine Talk

5. Veramonte ’Primus The Blend’

Colchagua Valley, Chile
29% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Syrah, 25% Carmenère, 18% Merlot
RM89.10
Primus is the Estate top-cuvee, using the best parcels, with extensive oak-ageing. This wine delivers world-class quality in the glass featuring rich, dense fruit, exotic spice and a long textured finish. Red and black berry fruit flavors with hints of dried plums, fresh acidity and a long finish with fine, elegant tannins. Perfect match with a grilled prime-ribs and béarnaise sauce.

6. Delheim Pinotage (2010/11)

Stellenbosch, South-Africa
100% Pinotage
RM95
Sourced from carefully selected old Bush vines and aged in French barrels for 12 months, this is an amazingly rich with bold black cherry, plum and redberry fruit, backed by dark chocolate and floral notes. The palate shows red and black berries, with fine soft tannins that linger on the palate. A great match to a range of BBQ dishes, like lamb chops.

7. Penfolds 'Bin 128' Coonawarra Shiraz (2010)

Coonawara, Australia
100% Shiraz
RM129.90
Offers a solid and refined Shiraz bouquet of violets, blackberry, black cherry, and plum, with accents of pepper, chalky minerals, and oak toast. A smooth attack is followed by a medium-bodied mouth feel, with very nice acidity, moderate and supple tannins, and an underpinning of minerality. Match with braised beef with wild mushroom.

8. Frescobaldi 'Nipozzano' Chianti Rufina Riserva (2009)

Tuscany, Italy
90% Sangiovese, 10% Malvasia Nera, Colorino, Merlot & Cabernet Sauvignno
RM102.50
Nipozzano Riserva Chianti Rufina DOCG is one of the historic wines produced at the Castello di Nipozzano. Oak-aged for 24 months, the nose opens with dark wild berries and cherry, hints of candy floss and pleasant floral notes of lilac and chocolate. The spicy component emerges with nuances of clove and green peppercorn. Enjoy with Barbecued meat and beef stews, aged cheeses.

This Chinese New Year, buy your wine from Wine Talk and we’ll deliver your wines for free if your order is more than RM300. Be sure to use voucher code, ‘NODELCNY’.

If that isn’t enough incentive, we’ll even throw in (not literally, of course) a free decanter if you spend more than RM500 on regular priced red wines! Use voucher code ‘FREEDEC’ to redeem!