An introduction to Bordeaux Wine Bordeaux is arguably the most important, if not the most often imitated, wine region in the world. The wines themselves range from some of the most exclusive, most famous wines around the world to common everyday wines that retail within the $10 range. Red Bordeaux is made out of five permitted varieties and they are among by far the most planted grapes found anywhere in the world. The 3 main grapes are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Malbec, a blending variety in Bordeaux, is most recognized as â€the grape†of Argentina. White Bordeaux, no where near as recognized as the red, is created from three permitted varieties: Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and Muscadelle. Commonly, the blend is 2/3 Sauvignon Blanc and 1/3 Semillon, with some occasional use of Muscadelle. Bordeaux is divided into three main subregions - Graves, the Mdoc, and the â€Right Bankâ€. The Gironde estuary, formed from the convergence of the Garonne and Dordogne Rivers, divides the Mdoc peninsula from the mainland of France. The Mdoc holds the appellations of Pauillac, St. Estephe, St. Julien and Margaux. Those appellations are part of the Haut-Mdoc, known as the most prominent part of the Mdoc. The Mdoc features Cabernet Sauvignon, with Merlot and the other grapes usually playing a supporting role. South of the Gironde, west of the Garonne, lies Graves, home of the Pessac-Leognan appellation and Chateau Haut-Brion. Much like the Mdoc, the wines of the Graves commonly feature Cabernet Sauvignon. On the east of the Gironde and the Dordogne are the â€Right Bank†appellations, most notably St. Emilion and Pomerol. This comprises the most important part of Bordeaux, and these wines typically feature Merlot, with Cabernet Franc being the most important support grape. In 1855, the wines of the Mdoc as well as the Graves were rated by the most important wine merchants of the time. 61 modern Chateaux are featured in the so-called â€1855 Classification,†the Grandes Crus, the top wines of their day and still at times, ours. The 61 Chateaux were divided into five groups, known in English as â€Growthsâ€. The First Growths, the very best of the best, were firstly limited to four wines - Chateau Latour, Chateau Lafite-Rothschild, Chateau Margaux, and Chateau Haut-Brion. In the only alteration to the classification indirectly brought on by mergers or by properties being divided, Chateau Mouton-Rothschild was elevated from 2nd Growth to 1st Growth status in 1973. Amongst these First Growths, 3 are from Pauillac (Lafite, Latour and Mouton), one is from Margaux (fittingly, Chateau Margaux) and one is from Pessac-Leognan (Haut Brion). Belonging to the Right Bank, Chateau Ausone and Chateau Cheval-Blanc (St. Emilion) and Chateau Petrus (Pomerol) are attributed with rank equal to the First Growths, even if the wines of the Right Bank were not included into the 1855 Classification. An introduction to Bordeaux Wine Bordeaux is arguably the most important, if not the most often imitated, wine region in the world. The wines themselves range from some of the most exclusive, most famous wines around the world to common everyday wines that retail within the $10 range. Red Bordeaux is made out of five permitted varieties and they are among by far the most planted grapes found anywhere in the world. The 3 main grapes are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Malbec, a blending variety in Bordeaux, is most recognized as â€the grape†of Argentina. White Bordeaux, no where near as recognized as the red, is created from three permitted varieties: Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and Muscadelle. Commonly, the blend is 2/3 Sauvignon Blanc and 1/3 Semillon, with some occasional use of Muscadelle. Bordeaux is divided into three main subregions - Graves, the Mdoc, and the â€Right Bankâ€. The Gironde estuary, formed from the convergence of the Garonne and Dordogne Rivers, divides the Mdoc peninsula from the mainland of France. The Mdoc holds the appellations of Pauillac, St. Estephe, St. Julien and Margaux. Those appellations are part of the Haut-Mdoc, known as the most prominent part of the Mdoc. The Mdoc features Cabernet Sauvignon, with Merlot and the other grapes usually playing a supporting role. South of the Gironde, west of the Garonne, lies Graves, home of the Pessac-Leognan appellation and Chateau Haut-Brion. Much like the Mdoc, the wines of the Graves commonly feature Cabernet Sauvignon. On the east of the Gironde and the Dordogne are the â€Right Bank†appellations, most notably St. Emilion and Pomerol. This comprises the most important part of Bordeaux, and these wines typically feature Merlot, with Cabernet Franc being the most important support grape. In 1855, the wines of the Mdoc as well as the Graves were rated by the most important wine merchants of the time. 61 modern Chateaux are featured in the so-called â€1855 Classification,†the Grandes Crus, the top wines of their day and still at times, ours. The 61 Chateaux were divided into five groups, known in English as â€Growthsâ€. The First Growths, the very best of the best, were firstly limited to four wines - Chateau Latour, Chateau Lafite-Rothschild, Chateau Margaux, and Chateau Haut-Brion. In the only alteration to the classification indirectly brought on by mergers or by properties being divided, Chateau Mouton-Rothschild was elevated from 2nd Growth to 1st Growth status in 1973. Amongst these First Growths, 3 are from Pauillac (Lafite, Latour and Mouton), one is from Margaux (fittingly, Chateau Margaux) and one is from Pessac-Leognan (Haut Brion). Belonging to the Right Bank, Chateau Ausone and Chateau Cheval-Blanc (St. Emilion) and Chateau Petrus (Pomerol) are attributed with rank equal to the First Growths, even if the wines of the Right Bank were not included into the 1855 Classification.
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