Bordeaux is legendary, and Légende wines, brought to you by Barons de Rothschild (Lafite) stems from one of the oldest Bordeaux wine families in the region.
Bordeaux can be a struggle for both the novice or new wine lover. With both the high price point of entry, and the longer aging requirements to get to it’s peak performance, it’s rare to find ready to drink wines of this quality for a reasonable price. Here, Légende has created some wonderfully affordable Bordeaux.
I first found my passion for Bordeaux when I became a serious and dedicated student of wine and was able to attend several focused tastings, where I found my favorite regions (not Pauillac!).
However, while I was in grad school, which seems so long ago now, I had the opportunity to go to Bordeaux for the first time as a part of our thesis research. As a student of wine, I never quite got the vibe of these great wines, until I was actually there.
One of the key insights that I found was that my favorite regions are Saint-Emilion, known for Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Being a Cab Franc freak, this made sense. It was also an underdog, not being recognized int he original 1855 classification, but rather joining the club late – in 1955.
Enter the Barons de Rothschild family, who has owned vineyards in Bordeaux for generations. As we traipsed to and fro around Bordeaux, learning about the history of the great houses and visiting some new ones, we were able visit some of the Rothschild properties.
Returning from my adventure, I was offered samples of the Légende Wines, which were created to offer outstanding quality at a sustainable price point.
Focusing on five larger and key appellations, Légende offers a high level view of the region and the quality that you can find in this region of France. These wines reach the neophyte wine drinkers as a more approachable, and affordable, entry point to the world of Bordeaux. Given that the best producers can be hundreds, if not more, of dollars, for a single bottle. The run of the mill producer scan be upwards of $60 at release. Expecting buyers to age these wines for years, is difficult to swallow. Butthese wines are a treat for the wallet and the senses, and are ready to drink.
Bordeaux Blanc – Bordeaux makes some outstanding white wine. Usually made form Sav Blanc and Semillon, this one has a hint of Sauvignon Gris. Unlike it’s cousins in New Zealand, this is zippy without being searing, and is rounded out by tropical fruit, but just a bit. Just plain refreshing. $12
Saint-Emilion – My favorite of the appellations within Bordeaux, this 85% Merlot 15% Cab Franc blend isn’t’ overly heavy, and shows aged plum, dark blue fruit and all the cigar boo you would expect. Immediately drinkable, but with a backbone of leather and tobacco. $30
My final pick is the Bordeaux Rouge, an intriguing blend of Cab Sav and Merlot, which basically means the Left Bank and the Right Bank are fighting in your glass. An unlikely partnership in Bordeaux but very common in the New World, I love the rose petals, deep cherry and blackberry and anise finish. $15
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Can’t wait to try these wines! Thanks. Keep up the informative pieces. As a somm, I am always up for reading more. Next time you are in Sonoma CA look me and my Jeep wine touring business up! https://www.vinesofsonoma.com
They really are one of the great values of Bordeaux! And I actually live in Sonoma but I’d love to chat about how I can refer people to you. I’m always looking for great off the beaten path tours that I can reccomend.