Bordeaux is for life, not just showing off. 

September is Bordeaux Wine Month, the perfect chance to toast one of France’s most famous regions. Bordeaux isn’t just about fancy châteaux and pricey vintages. From everyday bottles to age worthy classics, there’s something for every taste (and budget).

On the Left Bank, Cabernet Sauvignon leads the charge with bold, structured reds. On the Right Bank, Merlot takes over, giving us softer, rounder wines that are easy to love right away.

Bordeaux’s wine roots go back to the Roman Empire, and. by the Middle Ages, exports boomed thanks to Eleanor of Aquitaine’s marriage to England’s Henry II. Later, the Dutch reshaped the Médoc, creating prime vineyard land. And in 1855, Napoleon III’s famous classification cemented Bordeaux’s prestige, a hierarchy that still drives perceptions today.

Bordeaux actually produces a huge range of wines - Whites, Rosé, Sweet, Sparkling, and of course, Red. Only 5% of the wine that we conjure up in our mind is actually that expensive wine that can’t be drunk for 15 years, and there are producers in the region that don’t even really follow any appellation rules (enter Chateau Picoron, an Ozzie duo who focus only focus on Merlot, and make pretty much anything you can think of out of it).

If you had asked me a few years back about my thoughts on Bordeaux, I probably would have steered you to an alternative wine region, offering more interesting wines and better value for money, but then I met Jacques Lurton, President of Famille Andre Lurton. Jacques believes in a modern, ready to drink approach to Bordeaux, and agrees that the region is in a bit of disarray. The modern wine drinker often opts for a lighter, easier drinking style. They aren’t buying wine to lay down, nor do they care as much about having the famous villages emblazoned on their bottles. They prefer lower alcohol, and they want good value - most people don’t see this as Bordeaux. 

Despite Famille Andre Lurton being one of Bordeaux’s most influential wine dynasties (Andre Lurton was a key figure in the official classification of Pessac-Leognan in 1987), they are a very modern and forward thinking estate. Their commitment to quality, sustainability, and accessibility has been instrumental in opening Bordeaux to a wider audience. It’s the little things, like stating grapes on the front label on their bottles; producing wines without any use of oak; recycled labels; and experimenting in new, lighter styles. It may not seem like a lot, but it engages a new generation of drinkers. 

If you were to ask me now about Bordeaux, I would get excited about what is coming. A new wave, modern ideas, and an understanding that they need to change to sell more of their wine.  Don’t get me wrong, the classics are a classic for a reason, and Famille Andre Lurton won’t be forgetting where they came from (they produce a lot of utterly stunning, cru Classe wines), but just the idea that something is rumbling, and revolution is coming is enough to get me talking Bordeaux the whole month long. 

My top picks for Bordeaux month

Chateau Bonnet Rosé - My all time, number 1 favourite Rosé. Put your Provence down. This will do all of it, and more. Pale pink, and layers of fruit will have you drinking this year round. 

Chateau Bonnet Rouge - Fresh, fruity, spicy, and ready to go straight from the bottle without faffing around with decanters. No oak in this and the tannins are soft, so your mouth won’t feel like you’ve chewed on a boot, and it will be very, very happy going into the cooler season. 

Chateau Bonnet Blanc - I don’t even really like Sauvignon Blanc, but I do like this. Crisp, fresh, and very moreish. This is levels up on your Marlborough Savvy B, so if that is your bag, I recon you will love this!