Left Bank gravels, Right Bank clay, one top-tier appellation
The world's most storied fine-wine region, from Medoc first-growths to Pomerol micro-estates and Sauternes liquid gold.
Every vineyard, tasting room, wine bar and cellar we cover in Bordeaux, pinned. Click a pin for the page.
The iconic bottles that define Bordeaux.
Producer: chateau-margaux
The sole Margaux AOC Premier Cru Classe, Chateau Margaux produces Bordeaux's most floral and ethereal grand vin. Cabernet Sauvignon dominant at roughly 90 percent, it defines the feminine pole of Medoc style.
Price: EUR 700-2000 at retail
Producer: chateau-lafite-rothschild
Pauillac Premier Cru Classe, Chateau Lafite Rothschild is the definitive expression of Pauillac restraint: pencil-mineral aromatics, an aristocratic structure; extraordinary capacity to age.
Price: USD 700-1200 at retail
Producer: chateau-latour
Pauillac Premier Cru Classe (1855), known for a firm, tannic structure within the First Growth set. The L'Enclos monopole parcel at the heart of Pauillac gives the wine its iron-and-mineral backbone.
Price: USD 600-1000 at retail
Producer: chateau-mouton-rothschild
The only Bordeaux estate to have been reclassified upward in the 1855 system, elevated from Deuxieme to Premier Cru Classe in 1973. Known for opulence, annual artist-label commissions, and the greatest 1982 vintage in Pauillac.
Price: USD 600-1100 at retail
Producer: chateau-haut-brion
The only Graves estate in the 1855 classification, with documented production records from 1533. Unusually Merlot-dominant for a First Growth, giving a rounder, earthier profile than the Medoc peers.
Price: EUR 550-900 at retail
Producer: chateau-cheval-blanc
Saint-Emilion Premier Grand Cru Classe A in the 1955 classification (until the estate's 2022 withdrawal); recognised home of Cabernet Franc on the Right Bank with a 55-45 Cabernet Franc/Merlot encepagement.
Price: EUR 600-1200 at retail
A handful of the estates we send friends to when they are in Bordeaux.
Premier Cru Classe Bordeaux at Margaux AOC, estate founded 1572, now owned by the Mentzelopoulos family. Cabernet-dominant blends with 18 to 24 months in new oak barrel ageing.
Signature: chateau-margaux-grand-vin, pavillon-rouge-du-chateau-margaux, pavillon-blanc-du-chateau-margaux
First-growth Pauillac estate with 112 hectares of Cabernet-dominant vines. Owned by the Rothschild family; fully organic since 2024 with Saskia de Rothschild at the helm.
Signature: lafite-rothschild, carruades-de-lafite
First-growth Pauillac estate with 78 hectares at the southeastern tip of Pauillac commune. Owned by Groupe Artemis since 1993; withdrew from en primeur system in 2012.
Signature: latour-grand-vin, les-forts-de-latour, pauillac-de-latour
Pauillac first-growth elevated from second in 1973, famous for its artist-label series. 83 hectares planted 81% Cabernet Sauvignon; Jean-Emmanuel Danjoy is technical director since 2020.
Signature: mouton-rothschild, le-petit-mouton, aile-dargent
The only non-Medoc first-growth in the 1855 classification, estate since 1521 in Pessac. Merlot-driven blends from iron-rich gravelly soils; Domaine Clarence Dillon owner.
Signature: chateau-haut-brion-rouge, haut-brion-blanc, le-clarence-de-haut-brion
Iconic Saint-Emilion estate on 39 hectares with an unusual 52% Cabernet Franc dominant blend. Withdrew from the Saint-Emilion classification in 2022; co-owned by LVMH.
Signature: chateau-cheval-blanc, le-petit-cheval, le-petit-cheval-blanc
Peak wine-travel season in Bordeaux is spring through autumn, with harvest the standout window.
classified-growth and grand-cru estates require booking days to weeks ahead; smaller family domaines often take walk-ins midweek.
most estates open 10:00 to 17:00 by appointment, often closed Sunday and Monday.
tipping is not expected at tastings; buying a bottle from the cellar door is the customary thank-you.
If you only open one bottle, open Chateau Margaux by chateau-margaux. It is the wine most associated with Bordeaux.