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Historically, Bordeaux has been the most important winemaking area in the world. Many of the five main Bordeaux grapes (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Malbec) are also grown all throughout the world as “newer” regions try their hand at the grapes and blends that made Bordeaux famous.

You can see this pride in winemaking in the opulence of the Chateaux in Bordeaux but you also see it throughout the world in the prices that the finest Bordeaux command. And you see it in the interest that Bordeaux generates in wine consumers. Bordeaux has a mystique that no other region can match.

While we lived in Hong Kong, Angela worked for the well-known wine critic James Suckling, and she would often host wine events in Asia (see photo of Angela in action). At these events the goal was to introduce the wines of the world to Asian clientele and in these settings you plainly see the magnetism of Bordeaux.

This legendary reputation is also reflected in the investment market for the best-known (aka “first growth”) Bordeaux (and increasing Asian interest has driven prices even higher).

Years ago when we lived in Singapore and decided to relocate to Australia, we recall learning that our finest bottles could not make the journey. The high taxes we would have been forced to pay simply made it impractical to transport these bottles. We had a few (only a few) prized bottles of Bordeaux (Petrus, Cheval Blanc) and we decided the solution was to drink them all. We held an unforgettable wine tasting and Sean is seen pouring some of the wines in the image below in 2012. We can tell you that first growth Bordeaux are as good as you might expect! We have since then had a few opportunities to try some of these wines but nothing matched the opulence of this evening triggered by the threat of an unacceptable import tax.

Now, in 2021, Angela is the head of a wine club in Zurich and we now focus on lesser known Bordeaux winemakers and many are also excellent. From high-end to more affordable bottles, Bordeaux deserves it reputation.

For more on Bordeaux, scroll down for the “Bordeaux Essentials” video at the bottom.

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