Bordeaux's luxury image obscures its diversity:
- Under €10: Excellent everyday wines from négociants and cooperatives
- €10-25: Crus Bourgeois, satellites, second wines of classified growths
- €25-50: Lesser-known appellations, up-and-coming properties
- €50-100: Second wines of top châteaux, excellent vintages from middle-tier
- €100+: Classified growths, cult wines, special cuvées
Vintage Matters (But Not Always)
- Great vintages (2010, 2016, 2018, 2020): Buy broadly
- Challenging vintages: Shop carefully for values
- Climate change making "bad" vintages rarer
- Drink windows lengthening with better winemaking
Second Wines: First-Class Values
Most top châteaux make second wines from younger vines or lesser parcels:
- Les Carruades de Lafite (Lafite Rothschild)
- Le Petit Mouton (Mouton Rothschild)
- Pavillon Rouge (Château Margaux)
- Same winemaking, earlier drinking, fraction of price