Best Bordeaux Wine Under $20

Since its inception, Claret has been the crown jewel of the Diamond Collection. Crafted as a Bordeaux-style blend, this wine reflects a diversity of vineyards whose soils contribute to the wine's complexity. It is distinguished with gold netting. A tribute to the way Europe's finest wines were once presented. it is memorably lush with a tapestry of smooth tannins and succulent flavors of wild berries, plum and anise.

This well-known Bordeaux Superieur, which has a fabulous reputation for aging 20-30 years in certain vintages, comes from proprietor Xavier Milhad. The 2012, a blend of 78% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, has a dense ruby/plum color and attractive, juicy blackcurrant fruit. Supple, round and generous, this is an over-achiever and a sleeper of the vintage. Drink it over the next 5-10 years, although I wouldn’t be surprised if it lasts longer, given the fact that I’ve had the 1953 and 1955 in the last five years and both were still in great shape.

"Among my many passions, two have a particular place in my heart – wine and horses. The moment I first saw Cru La Maqueline in 2006, I fell in love. The huge fields surrounding the buildings make this the perfect spot both for growing vines and breeding horses; that’s why I was happy to invest – and to come and live here." - Philippe Castel It’s quite normal to see wine classified as a ‘cru’; it’s somewhat more unusual to see the name applied to a property, particularly in Bordeaux. This is a French blend of Cabernet, Merlot, and Petite Verdot. This was a soft and young Bordeaux with firm tannins and a robust backbone. Choke cherries, crab apples, blueberries, and mulberries made this come alive. Have this with a sour cream crab dip, pasta puttanesca, or bruschetta.

The meticulously tended vineyards of Bordeaux flank the Gironde Estuary which empties into the sea along France’s Atlantic coast. This is the home of some of the world’s most renown red grape varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. For centuries the blending of these varieties has evolved into a skilled art form where both man and nature play a part in the creation in elegant, full bodied wines with spicy dark fruit aromas and a rich, silky texture. Clove and dried fruits on the nose. Blackcurrant with notes of cherry lead way to toasty smoky layers that last. Pair with roast lamb with garlic and rosemary or a spread of hard sheep cheeses.

Merlot: 87%, Cabernet Franc: 8%, Cabernet Sauvignon: 5% Fruit and roundness, refinement and elegance, power and structured 16 months with oak aging for 8 to 10 months Aromas of mild spice and ripe red and black fruit aromas such as cherry, bilberry and blackberry, followed with airing by delicate oaky notes of roasted coffee-bean and vanilla. On palate, it shows smooth and succulent on forward fruit, especially cherry and bilberry. Fine tannic structure, delicate oak notes on the finish along with notes of spice, such as cinnamon and white pepper, and roasted coffeebean.

2017 Red Blend

Discover Chateau La Maroutine Bordeaux Rouge

Bright nose of red and dark fruits; soft, well-rounded texture on the palate with a touch of Bordeaux “grip.” Fresh and satisfying finish. Outstanding value in an everyday Bordeaux.

Chateau Le Conseiller is one of the best examples of how good low priced, value Bordeaux wine can be. Jean Philippe Jannoueix is making some of the best Bordeaux Superieur wines.

Château de Pitray is acknowledged as the leading property in Castillon and is the equal of many St-Emilion estates. Its Merlot-dominated wine is dry, medium-bodied and rich in ripe supple fruit which is balanced by sufficent tannic backbone to ensure good medium-term ageing potential.

Discover Chateau Andriet Bordeaux Superieur

A worthy, everyday Bordeaux at the right price! No, this wine isn’t one of the region’s fancy crus classés that require a decade or more of cellar aging to be at their best. Château Saintongey is a simple Bordeaux rouge for everyday drinking from the vast area south of the city of Bordeaux called Entre Deux Mers. It’s the kind of attractive inexpensive Bordeaux red that the French enjoyed with Sunday dinner a couple of decades ago and that turned up on wine lists at French bistros in the U.S. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a California Cabernet or Merlot or an Argentine Malbec that’s as balanced and pleasurable to drink for the same price as this Château Saintongey. A classic Bordeaux blend of 60% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 10% Cabernet Franc, it is full of fruit with a nice rich palate capable of accompanying most meat dishes. A Bordeaux blend, at its most basic, is any combination of those grape varieties typically used to make the red wines of Bordeaux. The phrase, which seems to have originated with British wine merchants in the 19th Century, relates as much to wines made from the blend as to the grape-variety combination itself. Red Bordeaux blends are known for their beautiful structure and deep flavors. This wine is filled with fruit and offers plenty of dark cherry in its Merlot character, soft tannins, medium body, and excellent purity. Enjoy this wine over the next year with burgers, roasts and even a nice rib-eye steak.

Nice structure, bodied, dense, very representative of the asserted character of the typicity of the reds from this appellation with a stunning quality-price-pleasure combination. This wine starts to really develop after two or three years in bottle, suitable with grilled meat, roast beef, stews, poultry and cheese.

La Sélection Prestige Bordeaux Rouge est une cuvée sélectionnée par l’équipe technique pour sa fraîcheur, sa souplesse et son fruité.

Crafted with polished style, offers classic Bordeaux aromatics of plums, figs, graphite, black currant and a touch of oak. Cabernet adds structure and firmness to otherwise silky tannins, finishes moderately long and leafy fresh. Pair with a rosemary and thyme braised lamb shoulder or short rib burgers topped in Gruyere.

Rich ruby red color. On the palate, well balanced ripe berry flavor and black currant, with a complex licorice finish. French red from 60% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes.

Discover Château Subilaux Bordeaux

Grapes are destemmed and soft-crushed before fermented in stainless steel tanks for two weeks on the skins, with frequent pumping over the cap. After malolactic fermentation the wine is matured for 18 months in older French oak barrels. The Rouge shows a deep ruby colour with garnet highlights on the rim. The generous bouquet suggests blackcurrant, cedar with scents reminiscent of red berries, spices and vanilla. The wine is amply structured; full, round and smooth on the palate with rich fruit and length of flavour. An elegant wine that will mature with time in the bottle.

Its ruby red color reflects the purple notes of its youth. The freshness of its flavor comes from the red and wild berries. The attack on the palate is direct and fruity with cherry notes, typical of the Merlot. With time, it gives way to blended tannins. This wine can be enjoyed right now but will improve over time (1 to 2 years...)

The elegant 2009 Croix des Bardes red captures the senses by its dark, saturated ruby-red color, aromas of blackberries, black currant and spice, ripe tannins, freshness and long lasting finish. This classic Saint-Emilion Grand Cru could be enjoyed now after an hour decanting or laid down for extended aging. Anticipated maturity 2017-2020.