The Taste-Way to Heaven: Bordeaux’ divine red wine

Ask any of my friends and they will wholeheartedly confirm: I just love myself a good glass of robust, red wine. So much so that I first got ‘drunkish’ at the age of 12 after  secretly sippin’ from my dad’s glass in a French restaurant. *Hic*! 🥴 If that particular glass was a Bordeaux, I don’t recall, but today the vin rouges of this prestigious wine region in the South West of France rank steadily amongst my favorites.

But what is so characteristic about a ‘Bordeaux-style red blend and why is there a reference to Led Zeppelin in the tile? Let’s find out.

L’Intendant 

I visited the city of Bordeaux in the year of 2017 to celebrate my father’s birthday. Though the main purpose of our trip was to visit the then recently opened ‘cité du vin (a museum & exhibition center dedicated to wine)’, it surprisingly was another building that tugged harder at our wine strings: ‘L’Intendant’ wine shop, located in the historic city center. Mon dieu! 

This store, owned by the noticeable wine trader DUCLOT, features a sensational, 12-meter high, spiral staircase that brings customers, literally and figuratively, to higher levels in the world of Bordeaux winery. On the lower floors you can find the more affordable 0.375- 0.75 L bottles, after which the price and exclusivity levels quickly go up the higher you climb. The selection includes classified growths from reputable regions such as Medoc and Saint-Emilion, old vintages and large format bottles (magnums, double magnums, imperials etc.!), whose romantic burgundy hues color beautifully with the warm oak of the wooden stairs. 

“Oui. This is what I imagine the ‘Stairway to Heaven’ to be like.”

Full & Bold

But then, what does heaven taste like? Although there are many different producers and sub-regions, Bordeaux reds generally have a medium to full body with bold aromas of black (i.e. blackcurrant, blackberry, black cherry) and red (i.e. raspberry, red cherry) fruits. In addition, they frequently exhibit earthy and herbal notes (think of cedar, tobacco, forest floor and dried herb aromas) and are created with artful blends of various grape types. Cabernet Sauvignon dominates the blanks on the Left Bank of the Gironde River (including Haute-Medoc & Graves region), which results in powerful wines with a more tannic structure that will feel drier in the mouth. On the right bank (including the Saint-Emilion and Pomerol region), the grape Merlot plays a more prominent role, producing softer, rounder wines with less tannins and approachability at a younger age.

Importantly, many Bordeaux wines – especially the top-tiers from the Left Bank – possess excellent aging potential. Stored in oak barrels, they improve significantly over time, developing those nuanced secondary and tertiary aromas that earn them a top-spot in shops like L’Intendant. In fact, Bordeaux has a well-established appellation system, founded in 1855 (!), known as the ‘Grands Crus classes’ . Which classifies wines from several of its regions in order of status and quality. 

Retronasal Smell 

So, have you run to your corkscrew yet to pop a bottle – Bordeaux or not? Wine tasting, like the making, is an art, a skill you can learn and refine in order to gain a deeper understanding of wines like the ones described above. To me, it’s not about the alcohol, but rather the development of flavors, from first sniff to aftertaste!

In case you have, let me advise you to not immediately swallow your first sip. Retronasal olfaction (the detection of smells in the oral cavity when eating and drinking) , in comparison to orthonasal olfaction (the detection of smells in the front of the nose when sniffing) is très important in wine tasting . Mmm, this calls for many more articles on this heavenly liquid! Oh, and… Intend not to ‘oh là lá’ at L’Intendant. C’est impossible!