5 editor-picked estates growing Muscadelle in Bordeaux.
Where to taste Muscadelle in Bordeaux: the estates that grow it, how the region expresses the grape, and how to book a visit.
Sauternes Premier Cru adjacent to d'Yquem, owned by Domaines Barons de Rothschild since 1984. 93 hectares of Semillon-dominant botrytised dessert wine production.
Tasting: Visits and tastings available by appointment.
Signature wines: chateau-rieussec-sauternes, r-de-rieussec
Scores: Wine Advocate 98 (2001), Wine Spectator 98 (2009)
Sauternes Premier Cru within a fairytale 1618 castle; 18 hectares of enclosed vineyard. Lalique luxury hotel with two-Michelin-starred restaurant and 350,000-bottle cellar.
Tasting: Lalique hotel with two Michelin-starred restaurant; open to hotel guests.
Signature wines: chateau-lafaurie-peyraguey, la-chapelle-de-lafaurie-peyraguey
Scores: Wine Advocate 98 (2017), Decanter 97 (2019)
English-owned Entre-Deux-Mers estate known for crisp whites and reliable Bordeaux reds. 40 hectares; farmhouse accommodation; award-winning wines at accessible price points.
Tasting: Farmhouse accommodation; vineyard visits; winery tours by arrangement.
Signature wines: bauduc-bordeaux-superieur, bauduc-les-trois-hectares-rouge, bauduc-les-trois-hectares-blanc, bauduc-sauvignon-blanc
Scores: Decanter 91 (2020), Wine Spectator 89 (2021)
The 8th-floor Belvedere tasting bar at the Cite du Vin offers 360-degree Garonne panorama with rotating global wine flights, including a strong Bordeaux selections by the glass.
English-owned Gavin Quinney's benchmark Entre-Deux-Mers blanc: citrussy, grassy Sauvignon Blanc-led with a Semillon mid-palate weight. Decanter 91 points 2020. Excellent value for classic Bordeaux blanc.