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.

Saint-Estèphe AOC 3ème Cru Classé 2020 Château Calon-Segur

Bolgheri DOC Rosso di Marte 2022 Ruffino

Margaux AOC 2ème Cru Classé 2021 Château Rauzan-Segla

Saint-Émilion AOC Grand Cru Classé 2022 Château Monbousquet

Margaux AOC 3ème Cru Classé 2018 Château Palmer

Bolgheri DOC Varvàra 2023 Castello di Bolgheri

Haut-Médoc AOC 5ème Cru Classé 2022 Château de Camensac

Bolgheri Superiore DOC Bell'Aja 2022 San Felice

Saint-Émilion AOC 1er Grand Cru Classé B 2021 Clos Fourtet

Pauillac AOC Fleur de Pédesclaux 2022 Château Pedesclaux

Margaux AOC Cru Bourgeois 2022 Château de Labegorce

Bolgheri Superiore DOC Magari Ca' Marcanda 2023 Gaja

Graves AOC Cuvée Beausoleil 2021 Château Petit Mouta

Bolgheri Superiore DOC Vendemmia d'Artista La Generosità 2021 Ornellaia

Bolgheri Superiore DOC Maestro di Cava 2018 Tenuta Meraviglia

Bolgheri Rosso DOC 2023 Campo al Pero

Pessac-Léognan AOC Grand Cru Classé de Graves 2023 Château Carbonnieux

Pessac-Léognan AOC Rouge Grand Cru Classé 2022 Château de Fieuzal