Difference Between Bordeaux and Cabernet
Difference Between Bordeaux and Cabernet – A Bordeaux can be a Cabernet Sauvignon but a Cabernet is often not a Bordeaux.
Bordeaux is a wine region in France, while Cabernet Sauvignon is a grape that can be used to make wine in many regions.
Bordeaux wines are typically more structured and balanced, while Cabernet Sauvignon wines can be denser, richer, and more fruit-forward.
Until the mid-1970s, red Bordeaux wines from producers like Chateau Latour, Chateau Lafite Rothschild and Chateau Margaux were universally recognized as the very best in the world.
But that all changed with the 1976 Judgment of Paris when two California winemakers (Chateau Montelena and Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars) shocked the world by outperforming their French rivals.
That single event gave birth to the modern wine industry in California and ushered in a period in which it became fun and even fashionable to compare California Cabernets and red Bordeaux.
Difference Between Bordeaux and Cabernet – Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon, for example, is a grape varietal that is grown not only in California’s Napa Valley but also in Washington State, Australia, South America and just about every notable winemaking region in the world.
It’s a full-bodied red known for its black fruit notes (cherry, currant, blackberry) and almost always ages in oak before bottling to give it some backbone.
In many places, Cab is the king of wine both due to its popularity and approachability.
For the label of the wine to say Cabernet Sauvignon, it must be made of at least 75 percent Cab.
It is not uncommon for Cabs to be blended with small percentages of other grapes at a winemaker’s discretion even if not noted on the label.
Be warned that a Cab from Napa is not the same as a Cab from Australia or Europe.
Understanding how it grows and is made in each region of the world will give insight into what to expect in each bottle.
Difference Between Bordeaux and Cabernet – Bordeaux
When the Bordeaux region appears on a label of a wine, it has legal meaning.
The French take these terms seriously, and require a producer to meet several stringent standards to use the name, which is protected from use outside the region.
The region extends around the rivers Gironde, Garonne, and Dordogne.
Bordeaux is a wine region, and the term “red Bordeaux” actually refers to a blend of the different Bordeaux grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec.
It is quite possible that a red Bordeaux is a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon varietal, but it is much more likely that it is only a 70-80% Cabernet Sauvignon blend, with the remaining 20-30% comprised of the other Bordeaux grapes.
These wines are almost always a blend of those grapes with either Cab or Merlot being the star.
There are several other standards the wine must meet to get the notoriety of the name, including farming and production practices.
About 90 percent of Bordeaux’s are red wines.
Bordeaux’s are usually medium to full bodied and feature big, bold flavors which are elevated by the dryness of the wine.
Some of the world’s most famous producers are in Bordeaux, including Chateau Haut Brion, Chateau Lafite Rothschild, Chateau Latour, Chateau Margaux. These exclusive wines can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars.
Difference Between Bordeaux and Cabernet – California vs. Bordeaux styles
In addition to differences in the grapes used to make the wines, there are also important stylistic differences in the expression of those grapes.
Generally speaking, Bordeaux wines are balanced and nuanced, with less of a fruit-forward flavor to them.
They also typically possess a stronger minerality. In contrast, California Cabernets are dense, rich, oaky and higher in alcohol content than Bordeaux wines.
They are also much more dependent on rich, ripe fruit flavors on the palate.
Another difference between California and Bordeaux styles has to do with terroir.
This is a French term that loosely refers to all the exogenous factors – soil, temperature and climate – that impact the way a wine tastes and what types of aroma it has.
California winemakers typically think of terroir in a very literal sense – the “soil” of a vineyard that produces grapes – but the French take a more nuanced view of soil.
As a result, Bordeaux vineyards can differ markedly in the types of wines they produce, simply due to subtle differences in growing conditions.
This is part of what has always created a mystique around Bordeaux wines – and what has also led to them selling for thousands of dollars per bottle.
High Scoring Bordeaux Wines >>
