Bolgheri vs Bordeaux

Are Bolgheri and Bordeaux really two related worlds? Let us try to compare them in order to understand their similarities and differences.

Bordeaux's 60 appellations can generally be divided into six main families, four of which relate to red wines: the wines of the left bank of the Gironde, those of the right bank of the Dordogne, the Côtes de Bordeaux and the wines of the Bordeaux AOC appellation. On the left bank we find the Médoc, which includes the best known and highly vocated sub-areas of Pauillac, Margaux, Saint-Estèphe and the lesser-known Moulis and Listrac; and the Graves, which includes the sub-area of Pessac-Léognan. This area produces wines made from Cabernet Sauvignon, often blended with Merlot. These wines are concentrated, tannic and suitable for long ageing. It is here that the Grand Cru Classé of the 1855 classification and that of Graves are to be found.

On the other bank, around the city of Libourne, there are ten other appellations, the most important of which are Saint-Émilion and Pomerol, where very concentrated wines with velvety tannins are produced, made from Merlot.

In the Bordeaux AOC appellation, which covers the entire wine-growing region, fruity, good-drinking wines are produced mainly from Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grapes, but Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec and Carmenère are also used to a lesser extent. These wines are more suited to everyday consumption than to long ageing, while Bordeaux Supérieur, produced in the same area but with more bounding requirements, including a minimum ageing period of 12 months, are richer and more complex wines than the basic Bordeaux.

It was 1944 when Marquis Mario Incisa della Rocchetta planted the first Cabernet vineyard in Bolgheri, brought directly from Bordeaux in what was then still an area unknown to most. But the Marquis had recognised the similarities between Bolgheri and Bordeaux, thus realising the great potential of this Tuscany bordered by sea and hills. And it is interesting to note how the name Sassicaia, assigned to the wine, recalls 'stones' in Italian, just like Graves in Bordeaux, in relation to the type of terrain.Soon the first vineyard was followed by new plantings of Merlot and the production of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon intensified. Producers from various parts of Italy and the world arrived, making the Bolgheri area one of the jewels in the crown of Italian wine production today.

French varieties thrive very well in Bolgheri thanks to the soil of stones and clay, which is the same as in their birthplace, Bordeaux. The same grapes and soil might lead one to believe that Bolgheri DOC is like an identical expression of Bordeaux, but the Tuscan terroir really makes the difference. Firstly, Bolgheri's climate is obviously Mediterranean, with hot summers and mild winters. The extra warmth and sunlight, compared to a maritime climate, lead to fuller-bodied wines with riper tannins and a higher alcohol content. Wines that nevertheless maintain a good verticality, thanks to the refreshing sea breezes.

Our sommeliers have decided to compare these two worlds, selecting the most representative wines and, as always, the best prices: all that remains for you to do is to enjoy the similarities and differences.

Pessac-Léognan AOC Rouge 2ème Vin Le Petit 2022 Château Smith Haut Lafitte

Saint-Émilion AOC 1er Grand Cru Classé B 2021 Château Figeac

Bolgheri DOC Vermentino Caccia al Palazzo 2025 Tenuta di Vaira

Bolgheri DOC Rosso 2023 Viticcio

Pessac-Léognan AOC Le Dauphin d’Olivier Grand Vin de Graves 2021 Chateau Olivier

Sauternes AOC Château Fontebride 2022 Château Haut-Bergeron

Bolgheri DOC Zephyro 2024 Campo al Pero

Saint-Émilion AOC Légende R 2022 Domaines Barons de Rothschild

Sauternes AOC Grand Cru Classé 2016 Château Doisy-Védrines

Bolgheri DOC Rosato Caccia al Palazzo 2025 Tenuta di Vaira

Haut-Médoc AOC Cru Bourgeois 2021 Château Malescasse

Bolgheri DOC Vermentino 2023 Grattamacco

Pessac-Léognan AOC Rouge 2021 Château Larrivet Haut-Brion

Margaux AOC Baron de Brane 2023 Château Brane-Cantenac

Bolgheri DOC Bell'Aja 2024 San Felice

Bolgheri DOC Bianco Borgeri 2025 Giorgio Meletti Cavallari

Bolgheri DOC Rosso 2024 I Luoghi

Bolgheri DOC Passi 2023 Orma

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