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.

Bolgheri DOC Superiore Podere Ritorti 2022 I Luoghi

0,75 ℓ
30.70 
per bottle  (0,75 ℓ)  40.93 €/ℓ
 incl. VAT and taxes
Only 4 left

Saint-Estèphe AOC 2021 Château Phélan-Ségur

0,75 ℓ
93
52.50 
per bottle  (0,75 ℓ)  70 €/ℓ
 incl. VAT and taxes
Only 2 left

Bolgheri DOC Rosso 2023 I Luoghi

0,75 ℓ
24.70 
per bottle  (0,75 ℓ)  32.93 €/ℓ
 incl. VAT and taxes
Only 5 left

Saint-Émilion AOC Grand Cru Classé 2021 Château Fombrauge

0,75 ℓ
91
91
Discount 10%
32.10 
per bottle  (0,75 ℓ)  42.80 €/ℓ
 incl. VAT and taxes
Lowest price: 35.70 € 
Only 3 left

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

0,75 ℓ
95
95
101 
per bottle  (0,75 ℓ)  134.67 €/ℓ
 incl. VAT and taxes
Free shipping

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

0,75 ℓ
94
95
Discount 8%
86 
per bottle  (0,75 ℓ)  114.67 €/ℓ
 incl. VAT and taxes
Lowest price: 93.90 € 
Free shipping

Pessac-Léognan AOC Grand Cru Classé de Graves 2022 Château Carbonnieux

0,75 ℓ
Discount 5%
43.20 
per bottle  (0,75 ℓ)  57.60 €/ℓ
 incl. VAT and taxes
Lowest price: 45.50 € 
Only 2 left

Bolgheri DOC Rosso 2022 Viticcio

0,75 ℓ
90
92
90
Discount 15%
24.20 
per bottle  (0,75 ℓ)  32.27 €/ℓ
 incl. VAT and taxes
Lowest price: 28.50 € 

Bordeaux AOC Simone de Malescasse 2023 Château Malescasse

0,75 ℓ
Discount 25%
11.40 
per bottle  (0,75 ℓ)  15.20 €/ℓ
 incl. VAT and taxes
Lowest price: 15.30 € 
Only 6 left

Bordeaux AOC Blanc Confidence 2023 Château Bastor Lamontagne

0,75 ℓ
18.90 
per bottle  (0,75 ℓ)  25.20 €/ℓ
 incl. VAT and taxes
Only 4 left

Bolgheri DOC Vermentino Caccia al Palazzo 2024 Tenuta di Vaira

0,75 ℓ
Sale
15.30 
per bottle  (0,75 ℓ)  20.40 €/ℓ
 incl. VAT and taxes
Lowest price: 16.10 € 

Bolgheri Vermentino DOC Botro dei Fichi 2023 Tenuta Meraviglia

0,75 ℓ
90
91
19.10 
per bottle  (0,75 ℓ)  25.47 €/ℓ
 incl. VAT and taxes
Only 2 left

Bordeaux AOP Sauvignon 2024 Château Mezain

0,75 ℓ
9.30 
per bottle  (0,75 ℓ)  12.40 €/ℓ
 incl. VAT and taxes
Only 4 left

Bordeaux Supérieur AOC 2023 Château Le Bocage

0,75 ℓ
Discount 41%
9.90 
per bottle  (0,75 ℓ)  13.20 €/ℓ
 incl. VAT and taxes
Lowest price: 16.90 € 
Only 1 left

Sauternes AOC 1er Cru Classé 2021 Château Rieussec

0,75 ℓ
94
96
Discount 5%
111 
per bottle  (0,75 ℓ)  148 €/ℓ
 incl. VAT and taxes
Lowest price: 117 € 
Free shipping

Sauternes AOC 1er Cru Classé Supérieur 2022 Château d'Yquem

0,75 ℓ
98
97
Discount 10%
359 
per bottle  (0,75 ℓ)  478.67 €/ℓ
 incl. VAT and taxes
Lowest price: 399 € 
Free shipping

Margaux AOC 2ème Cru Classé 2022 Château Brane-Cantenac

0,75 ℓ
118 
per bottle  (0,75 ℓ)  157.33 €/ℓ
 incl. VAT and taxes
Free shipping

Bolgheri DOC Rosso Caccia al Palazzo 2023 Tenuta di Vaira

0,75 ℓ
22.60 
per bottle  (0,75 ℓ)  30.13 €/ℓ
 incl. VAT and taxes
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