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About Bordeaux Varietals

Bordeaux varietals is a term used to describe wines exclusively produced of the Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Merlot and Petit Verdot grapes. These wines can either be produced from 100% of a single varietal or a blend of 2 or even all 5 varietals. Carménère is sometimes also considered amongst the Bordeaux varietals, but most often this group is limited to just the 5 previously mentioned varietals. These varietals were original cultivars of the Bordeaux region of France where they thrived and were later transplanted around the world as far as the US, Argentina, Chile, Australia and New Zealand.

Top Picks for Bordeaux Varietals

Mira Winery 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon
97 points
$95
Mira Winery
2019 Cabernet Sauvignon
A plush, seamless Napa Cabernet Sauvignon of the highest hedonic order.
Awards: 2025 Top 2 Cabernet Sauvignon
97 points $95
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Mira Winery 2021 Estate Petit Verdot
96 points
$95
Mira Winery
2021 Estate Petit Verdot
Dark fruit galore with the right amount of oak and a touch of violets, well built for a steak house dinner.
96 points $95
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Date Tasted:
Pend d’Oreille 2022 LOeuvre Reserve Red Blend Columbia Valley
95 points
$36
Pend d’Oreille
2022 L'Oeuvre Reserve Red Blend Columbia Valley
Beautifully balanced, you taste why Bordeaux is the king of blends, voluptuous Merlot, stately Cab Sauv, the dried herbs of Cab Franc, Malbec's dark juiciness and the ping of violets from Petit Verdot.
95 points $36
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Date Tasted:
AvinoDos 2021 Single Vineyard Founders Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
95 points
$120
AvinoDos
2021 Single Vineyard Founder's Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
A decadent, yet delicate Diamond Mountain Cabernet with deep wells of fruit, judicious spicy oak, and pitch perfect minerality to tie it all together; the total package.
95 points $120
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Date Tasted:
Greyscale 2021 Merlot
95 points
$54
Greyscale
2021 Merlot
A seamless and stylish Napa Merlot with juicy ripe fruit and well balanced creamy, chocolate-y oak; sure to please as a sipper or with a fine well-aged steak.
95 points $54
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Date Tasted:
Jacob Franklin 2011 Single Barrel Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
95 points
$150
Jacob Franklin
2011 Single Barrel Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
A complex and layered savory Cabernet with Napa ripeness and Old World style and swagger with all four grapes playing their proper symphonic role.
95 points $150
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Date Tasted:
Art Of Earth 2024 Malbec
94 points
$12
Best Buy
Art Of Earth
2024 Malbec
Juicy, jammy, dry and fruity with sessionable tannins and explosive dark fruit-chocolate flavors that manage to stay in balance.
94 points $12 Best Buy
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Date Tasted:
Pend d’Oreille 2022 Merlot
94 points
$26
Pend d’Oreille
2022 Merlot
Think new world Pomerol - all the dark, toothsome fruit, vanilla bean and richness one expects from a Cabernet, wrapped up with silky Merlot tannins; try with everything from mushrooms to red meat and even chocolate.
94 points $26
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Date Tasted:
Mira Winery 2019 Schweizer Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
94 points
$150
Mira Winery
2019 Schweizer Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
An alluring, seamless and sensuous Stags Leap District Cabernet that hits all of the high notes in a classy and captivating way.
94 points $150
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Date Tasted:
Taylors Estate 2024 Merlot
94 points
$18
Best Buy
Taylors Estate
2024 Merlot
A delightfully bright, spicy and herbal Merlot that livens the palate and will be great with a spicy meat dishes.
94 points $18 Best Buy
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Date Tasted: