Bordeaux is the most famous fine wine region in France, and also one of the most misunderstood.
Caroline and Emily sit down with Bordeaux expert and author Jane Anson to explain Bordeaux wine, from the en primeur futures system to the Left Bank and Right Bank divide. They also dig into climate change, the Robert Parker era, white Bordeaux, and what the Bordelais actually drink.
Podcast Show Notes
In this episode:
• What en primeur means and how Bordeaux futures are sold
• What it is like to taste 800 young wines in one April
• The Left Bank, the Right Bank, and Entre-Deux-Mers explained
• Why many Médoc châteaux are younger and showier than they look
• How Saint-Émilion and Pauillac work for wine tourism
• Why Bordeaux has always been a port and an export region
• How small estates are turning to direct sales and wine tourism
• The comeback of white Bordeaux and Sauvignon Blanc’s roots
• New grape varieties and climate experiments in Bordeaux vineyards
• Why a flat Médoc makes wines that age so well
• Bordeaux Mentor Week and the next generation of wine professionals
• How Robert Parker reshaped Bordeaux style and the backlash since
• What the Bordelais really drink
Key Takeaways
• En primeur is a wine futures system where wine is sold before it is bottled, and it applies to only about 5 to 10 percent of Bordeaux wines.
• The Left Bank, centered on the Médoc, is mainly Cabernet Sauvignon on gravel, while the Right Bank is mainly Merlot on clay and limestone.
• Bordeaux is not all expensive, and prices run from about five euros to thousands of euros a bottle.
• Bordeaux has shrunk from about 120,000 hectares of vines to about 80,000 as growers balance supply and demand.
• White Bordeaux is making a comeback and is likely to keep gaining share as the market asks for it.
• Experimental grape varieties are being tested in Bordeaux, with results due around 2030.
• Robert Parker’s influence pushed many Bordeaux wines toward riper, oakier, bigger styles, and the region is now moving back toward freshness.
• Bordeaux is for everyone, and the Bordelais themselves enjoy wines from around the world.
JANE ANSON’S BORDEAUX LINKS
Jane’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jane.anson
Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (subscription site): https://janeanson.com
Bordeaux Chronicle: https://www.vendomepress.com/products/bordeaux-chronicle
Inside Bordeaux: https://janeanson.com/book/inside-bordeaux
Bordeaux Mentor Week: https://janeanson.com/meet-our-scholars-for-the-2025-bordeaux-mentor-week
PLANNING A TRIP TO PARIS OR LYON?
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https://cart.winedinecaroline.com/lyon-restaurant-guide/
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ABOUT THE HOSTS
Caroline Fazeli
Caroline is a French food and wine expert, WSET Diploma holder, former chef, and founder of Lyon Wine Tastings. She has spent nearly a decade helping visitors discover French food, wine, and culture.
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/winedinecaroline
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Emily Monaco
Emily is a culinary journalist, author, and longtime Paris resident whose work focuses on French food culture, history, and tradition.
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/emily_in_france
Substack:
https://emilyinfrance.substack.com/
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ABOUT FISHWIVES OF PARIS
Fishwives of Paris is a podcast about French food, wine, history, and gastronomy. Every episode uncovers the stories, myths, and surprising truths behind the foods and drinks that define France.
Filmed in Paris, Lyon, and Bordeaux
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https://www.instagram.com/fishwivesofparis