Pop open a bottle of Bordeaux, and you’re almost guaranteed to be in for something special. The famous wine region is well-known for its elite pours and historic vineyards. But a great Bordeaux is so much more than pricey, high-end bottles.
Last year, Wine Enthusiast’s intrepid tasters sipped their way through more than 23,000 bottles. Each one was evaluated via a rigorous blind-tasting process, through which the best and most interesting pours were ascertained. These were not always the most expensive or exclusive, but wines that excited our tasters’ palates and roused their senses of wonder. The best of the bunch made the cut for the Enthusiast 100: The Best Wines of 2023.
In the mix are an exceptional group of Bordeaux wines. They include an offering made from 100-year-old Cabernet Franc vines and aged in amphoras; a juicy Cabernet Sauvignon-forward blend and a perfumed red blend from an estate whose history stretches back to the 4th century. The list goes on and on.
“Currently Bordeaux is making some of the best wines in its history,” says Writer-at-Large Roger Voss, who reviews wines from France and Portugal. “The wines here are from two of the great recent vintages—2019 and 2020—and the fresher, lighter 2021, all showing the wide range of approaches to style and winemaking and values. They also point to a positive future with more and more fine wines coming on to the market at all price points.”
A word of warning: Most of these bottles are meant to be carefully stashed in a cellar. Some will drink lovely as early as this year or next, while others will benefit from a cellaring through 2028. Trust us, good things come to those who wait.
Château Ausone 2020 Chapelle d’Ausone (Saint-Émilion)
The second wine of Château Ausone is beautiful, with great tannins and fine dark fruits. Produced from a selection of wines, it has a succulent character and perfume from the Cabernet Franc in the blend. It will age with great panache. Drink from 2028. 95 Points — Roger Voss
$ Varies Wine-Searcher
Château la Clotte 2020 Saint-Émilion
A firm and structured wine, this is fine and powerful. It has good potential with richness, structure and a succulent aftertaste. Drink this serious wine from 2027. Cellar Selection. 94 Points — R.V.
$ Varies Wine-Searcher
Château Gazin Rocquencourt 2019 Pessac-Léognan
A fine wine, this is rich with layers of wood aging and ripe acidity. Owned by the Bonnie family of Malartic-Lagravière, the estate is one of the oldest in the region. The wine is impressive and should age further. Drink now or age until 2024. Cellar Selection. 93 Points — R.V.
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Château des Landes 2021 Luccianus Amphore (Lussac Saint-Émilion)
This is a rich, generous wine. Matured in amphoras, the wine comes from 100-year-old Cabernet Franc vines. It is ripe, juicy with acidity and structure, still young and will display its full glory from 2026. Cellar Selection. 93 Points — R.V.
$ Varies Wine-Searcher
Château Moulin Saint-Georges 2020 Saint-Émilion
This firmly structured wine with powerful tannins is set against the blackberry fruits and acidity. It is a powerful wine, full of richness and potential. Drink from 2026. Cellar Selection. 93 Points — R.V.
$ Varies Wine-Searcher
Château Grand Corbin Manuel 2019 Saint-Émilion
The blend of mainly Merlot with Cabernet Franc is impressively rich and ripe. Acidity and fine black fruits come through strongly as the wine ages. Drink this wine from 2026. Cellar Selection. 93 Points — R.V.
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Château Bellegrave 2021 Pauillac
This small estate in the heart of Pauillac has produced a perfumed, polished wine. Wood aging and black fruits are still prominent and need to soften. It is a fine wine from this major appellation. Drink from 2026. Cellar Selection. 92 Points — R.V.
$42 Wine.com
Château Latour-Martillac 2019 Lacroix Martillac (Pessac-Léognan)
Almost mature, this wine from the Latour-Martillac estate is dense and powerful. The wine’s concentration is impressive with spice and full tannins. The wine should be ready from 2025. Cellar Selection. 92 Points — R.V.
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Château Tour de Pez 2020 Cru Bourgeois (Saint-Estèphe)
This rich, structured wine is impressive. It has a juicy black-currant character alongside the tannins and ripe fruit. It is still young and needs time to age. Drink from 2026. 92 Points — R.V.
$52 Millesima USA
Château Lalande 2021 Saint-Julien
The wine has a juicy character of black-currant fruits from the Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend. It is ripe and balanced, its fruit shot through with acidity and supported by tannins that are still young. Drink from 2026. Cellar Selection. 92 Points — R.V.
$41 Wine.com
Château Rocher Corbin 2020 Montagne-Saint-Émilion
Rich, dense and maturing well, this fine wine is full of black fruits with a jammy character that gives it an openness. The wine is full of potential with fine tannins and a spicy, smoky aftertaste. Drink from 2025. 91 Points — R.V.
$ Varies Wine-Searcher
Château Bois Redon 2020 Bordeaux Supérieur
A small proportion of this rounded wine has been wood aged. That has produced some fine tannins aligned with the berry flavors. It is a fruity and ripe Merlot-dominated wine, full of juicy acidity at the end. Drink from 2025. Best Buy. 91 Points — R.V.
$12 Total Wine & More
Château Saint-André-Corbin 2021 Saint-Georges-Saint-Émilion
This estate claims a lineage dating back to the fourth century. The latest manifestation is rich, full and powerful. Dark in color and in bold tannins, it’s rich with black-plum fruits and perfumed acidity. Drink this fine wine from 2026. Cellar Selection. 91 Points — R.V.
$24 Wine.comWhy You Should Trust Us
All products featured here are independently selected by our team, which is comprised of experienced writers and wine tasters and overseen by editorial professionals at Wine Enthusiast headquarters. All ratings and reviews are performed blind in a controlled setting and reflect the parameters of our 100-point scale. Wine Enthusiast does not accept payment to conduct any product review, though we may earn a commission on purchases made through links on this site. Prices were accurate at the time of publication.
FAQ
What Is Bordeaux Wine?
Like many European wines, Bordeaux wines are named after the region in which they are produced. Bordeaux is a wine region in France about three hours south of Paris and is well known for its world-class winemaking.
The area has a mild ocean climate courtesy of the Atlantic Ocean and is home to over 6,000 winemakers producing in mainly family-run estates. Bordeaux can refer to red or white wines. But red Bordeaux wines make up about 85 percent of wine production—they are often moderately alcoholic, have strong tannins and pair beautifully with food.
In contrast, depending on which grapes are present and in what amounts, a white Bordeaux, or Bordeaux Blanc, tends to be fresh and can have notes of citrus, grass and apples. Dry white Bordeaux wines make up just about nine percent of the region’s wine production; Bordeaux also produces small amounts of rosé, sweet white and crémant.
What Are the Common Bordeaux Grapes?
Most Bordeaux wines are not single-varietal, but a blend that contains multiple grape varieties. Red Bordeaux wine often contains the grape varieties Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot, but can also be blended with Malbec, Carménère and Petit Verdot. A Bordeaux Blanc typically contains a mix of Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon, but can also include a mix of other grapes like Sauvignon Gris, Muscadelle, Colombard, Ugni Blanc, Merlot Blanc and Mauzac.
Which Bordeaux Wine Region Is the Best?
Hate to break it to you, but “best” is in the eye—or wine glass?—of the beholder. There are approximately 65 appellations within the Bordeaux wine region, divided into the Left Bank and Right Bank by the Gironde Estuary, where the Dordogne River and the Garonne River meet. The Left-Bank Médoc region is most famous for Saint-Estèphe, Pauillac, Saint-Julien and Margaux. This bank also includes Sauternes and Graves. The most famous Right-Bank regions are Saint- Émilion and Pomerol.
What Is Bordeaux’s Most Famous Wine?
Approximately 85% of the wine produced in the Bordeaux region are red wines made primarily with a blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Wines labeled Bordeaux AOC and Bordeaux Supérieur AOC can be grown anywhere within the region, while bottles labeled for the specific appellations (like Pessac-Lèognan AOC or Saint-Émilion AOC) tend to be of higher quality and hold a more prestigious reputation. This is especially true when they hold titles referencing a specific chateau or are classified as Grand Cru Classé, Cru Classé or Cru Bourgeois.
Why Is Bordeaux Wine So Expensive?
Bordeaux wine is famously expensive; some of the higher-end wines come from renowned chateaus and produce quality pours, making them a pricier pick. But affordable and great-value bottlings are certainly available.
Last Updated: January 12, 2024
