Red Bordeaux Wines Under $30 – Part 1

Some of the best red wine in the world has been made for hundreds of years in the Bordeaux region of France.  But there are over 10,000 different vineyards there with prices ranging from under $10 to over $1,000 for a bottle.  How do you find the best wines that fit your price range?

This will be the first of three blog posts about red Bordeaux wines that cost less than $30/bottle, and that Beth and I really like.  In each of these posts I will recommend 6 to 10 bottles and provide a little background on them (generally cut and pasted from different web sites).  And there is a list of these wines that you can download and take to the store with you.  I will also have another download that I hope helps you decipher the complexity of Bordeaux wines so you can try other ones that are similar to the ones from my list that you like that may be more available to you and give you more choices.

The thing that makes Bordeaux wines so complicated is that they have multiple levels of certifications.  The download on this first blog will talk about the Bordeaux geography and how that defines the first levels of classification.  Any wine that is made in the geographic region defined as Bordeaux that only uses grapes grown in Bordeaux can have the first and simplest designation Bordeaux on their label.  Four of my recommended wines have just the Bordeaux designation.  The other four have the next step up, Bordeaux Superior.

 In the second post I will recommend 10 wines from the Left Bank.  My download there will talk about how the Left Bank is different from the Right Bank and the unique classifications that Left Bank wines can have.  In the third post I will recommend 6 Right Bank wines and talk about the unique Right Bank Classifications.  If you sip these 24 wines while you read the different downloads, I am very confident that you will become a big fan of at least some Bordeaux red wines, if you are not already.  And you will have the knowledge to look at a label of a Bordeaux wine that you have not seen before and make a pretty good decision if the price on that bottle is reasonable, and if you want to try it.

Just a reminder that last year I did a post on My Favorite 11 White Bordeaux Wines For under $30 so I am not playing favorites when I talk about red wines in the next several posts.  You can find that post at https://billwinetravelfood.com/2024/01/04/my-favorite-11-white-bordeaux-wines-for-under-30/.  And if you do not have a wine store that has a good selection of Bordeaux wines, and want to get a good price on these recommended wines, check out my post on Where Do I Find the Wines That Are Being Recommended – https://billwinetravelfood.com/2023/07/29/where-do-i-find-the-wines-that-are-being-recommended/.

The wines I will talk about below have a single classification, either Bordeaux or Bordeaux Superior.  But probably the most famous wine in the world, Chateau Lafite Rothschild is entitled to all of the following designations:

• Bordeaux
• Medoc
• Haut Medoc
• Pauillac
• 1855 Grand Cru Classe First Growth

Each of those classifications is more restrictive, and usually lets that wine command a more premium price.  The Grand Cru Classe 1^st Growth is held by only 5 Chateau and a bottle of the 2022 vintage of Lafite will cost you $760.  That bottle will not be available to you until mid year 2025, so to get that price you are buying a future.  You will pay that full price today, even before the wine has been taken from the casks where it is aging and put into a bottle.  By the time that that wine is on the shelf next year and experts have had a chance to taste the bottled wines and not just from the barrel, it will have a price tag of close to $1,000.  And it will only start to show why it is worth that kind of money if it is aged in a proper cellar until at least 2032 and it will start to hit its flavor peak around 2062, 40 years after the grapes were harvested.  Understanding the different classifications will help you understand why different wines command the price that they do and what to look for on a label to find wines like the ones that you really enjoy. 

The prices shown are typical or average prices for that estate.  There will be some variation for year to year but there has not been a really bad year in Bordeaux for some time and in this price range you need a pretty sophisticated palate to prefer one year over another.  As the wines age, they will increase in price.  Most guidelines say wines of this class really benefit from at least five years of aging, so the 2019 vintage is now in that window.  Most of them will hit their peak of flavor around 5-10 years and start to get old and lose some flavor at 12-15 years. 

This download has recommendations of serving good red wine, from any region of the world, to get the best flavor it has to offer. 

Recommended Wines

Chateau de Blaignac: Complex aromas of red fruits and bouquets of more evolved aromas of candied fruit and prunes. The palate has a supple attack and rich mid-palate, with an already evolved tannic structure that gives this wine a nice suppleness. The finish remains balanced and contributes to good length in the mouth.  Significantly better than most red wines at this price point.  Also highly regarded for their Sauvignon Blanc white wine which I have not tried. Classification – Bordeaux.  Varietal: Blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, specific percentages not made available.  Typical Price: $14.

Chateau Nicot: Owned by the Dubourg family, whose history dates back to the 1800’s, Château Nicot is located in the heart of the Entre-deux-Mers. With generous black currant fruit and plum aromas, this blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot is opulent with a hint of smokiness. It has medium tannins and mouthwatering acidity making it delicious with a holiday roast or a savory winter stew.  Dominated by 70% Merlot, this is obviously a wood-aged wine. But the toastiness is balanced with ripe black fruits and fine concentrated tannins to give a wine that will age well.  Rated 89 by Wine Enthusiast.  Classification – Bordeaux.  Typical Price – $14.

Cap Royal: Cap Royal is a unique project of the head winemaker of the esteemed Pauillac second growth Pichon Baron, the brilliant Jean-René Matignon. It is made from grapes personally selected by Jean-René from vineyards across the Médoc and other areas of Bordeaux. Luminous deep red with purple reflections, it offers classic Bordeaux aromas and flavors of cassis and blackberry/blueberry, gently seasoned with oak aging. The polish of Jean-René’s hands-on winemaking shines through.  Very few wines at $15 have this much character and flavor.  Classification: Bordeaux Superieur. Varietal; 70% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon.  Typical Price $15.

Chateau De la Cour d’Argent: Cour d’Argent has a deep purple-black color and notes of crushed blackberries, warm plums and boysenberries with wafts of Sichuan pepper and dried Provence herbs. The medium-bodied palate has lovely harmony and freshness with a soft texture and a lifted finish. Aged 14 months in one year old barrels.  Wine Advocate gave the 2020 vintage 88 points.   Appellation: Bordeaux Supérieur.  Varietals: 95% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon.  Typical Price – $17

Virginie Thunevin: In 2006, Jean-Luc Thunevin, dubbed the “bad boy” of Bordeaux (a title he relishes) bought this property located in Fronsac for his daughter Virginia Thunevin. The maintenance of the vineyard, the grape harvest and the winemaking are supervised by the same team that is in charge of Château Valandraud, one of the top St. Emilion Grand Cru Classe wines.  We visited Valandraud last year and loved every wine that Jean-Luc poured for us.  The 2019 needs several hours of decanting and aeration to fully open up, but when it does, it does not taste like a $17 wine. The 2018 Domaine Virginie Thunevin is racy and silky to the core. Raspberry jam, freshly cut flowers, mint, spice and blood orange all open in the glass. This is an especially ripe style, but there is a good bit of freshness too. All the elements are impeccably balanced in this budget-friendly offering.  Ratings of 89-92 points form 4 major reviewers. Classification: Bordeaux.  Varietal: 100% Merlot.  Typical Price: $17.

Chateau Marjosse: Built in 1782, Château Marjosse is a property located in Entre-deux-Mers on the right bank of Bordeaux. Although located in Entre-deux-Mers, its terroir closely resembles that of Saint-Emilion.  The property had been owned and operated by Pierre Lurton, director of iconic estates Château d’Yquem and Château Cheval Blanc since 1997. Château Marjosse produces traditional Bordeaux, often viewed as one of the region’s best value wines.  Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate – “Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2020 Marjosse comes barreling out of the glass with rambunctious scents of cassis, crushed blackberries and black plum preserves, followed by hints of dark chocolate, anise and tar, plus a fragrant waft of lavender. The medium-bodied palate is soft, juicy and wonderfully refreshing, delivering wonderful poise and expression with a fun burst of pure black fruit on the finish. Delicious! (91-93pts)“.  Classification: Bordeaux.  Varietals: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec with percentages not identified.  Typical Price: $19.

D’Issan “Moulin d’Issan”: This is the third wine from Chateau d’Issan, a Grand Cru Class 3^rd Growth that sells for $90.  Their excellent second wine, Blason d’Issan Margaux sells for $39 and this third wine is a great value at only $20. The Moulin d’Issan 2021 expresses the richness, the suppleness and the fruit character of its origins in a perfect balanced way. Charming in its youth, it has a beautiful ageing potential. Hand-picked, this wine aged in barrels which 25% are new oak for 14 months.  Classification: Bordeaux Superieur.  Varietals: A blend of 90% of Merlot and 10% of Cabernet Sauvignon.  Typical Price: $20.

Chateau Bruignac Premium: Located 15 kms south-east of Saint-Émilion, on a hill overlooking the Gamage river valley, winemaking has been carried out at Bruignac since at least the year 1000, for sure, and possibly since the gallo-roman ages. The wine is aged for 12 months for 100% of vintage in French oak casks (30% new), and 5 months in thermoregulated stainless wine-keepers. Densely compacted. Very expressive, dark fruit-driven character. So easy to pop and drink on its own or with a big burger. Remarkable value in the world of fine wine.  Classification: Bordeaux Superieur, Varietals: a blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc.  Typical Price: $29. 

Here are the three downloads for this blog post: