Bordeaux Superieur Wine: Styles, 8 Best Bottles (2024)

The Bordeaux Superieur appellation comprises those Bordeaux wines that are “superior” in quality to the generic Bordeaux AOCs but don’t classify as Crus Bourgeois.

Interestingly, Beaujolais is the only other wine region in France that has adopted the “Superieur” title for its wines. It is, however, quite a popular title among Italian DOC wines.

Sit back and explore the exotic styles of these youthful, fruit-forward wines, taste and food pairings, 8 delicious Bordeaux Superieur bottles, and how they’re made.

Bordeaux Superieur Wine Regulations

Bordeaux Supérieur wine is made from the classic Bordeaux grape varieties - Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Sauvignon Blanc.

But, unlike generic Bordeaux AOC wines, the winemakers follow specific regulations to produce wines higher in quality than regular Bordeaux AOC. 

Winemakers can use the Bordeaux Superieur designation on the wine label only if they:

• Use older vines 
• Densely plant vineyards (at least 4500 vine plantings per hectare)
• Harvest the grape at the right ripeness and sugar levels.
• Maintain low yields
• Maintain minimum 10.5% ABV levels
• Age the wine in oak barrels for a minimum of 12 months

Bordeaux Superieur Wine Styles and Food Pairings

The Bordeaux Superieur appellation mainly covers red wines and a small amount of sweet white wines.

1. Red Bordeaux Superieur

Red Bordeaux Superieur is a blend of the red Bordeaux grapes - Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec, and rarely, Carmenere.

Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot are the stars of the blend. While the Merlot grape variety dominates the Right Bank wines, the Cabernet Sauvignon grape variety dominates the Left Bank.

They are complex and powerful with an intense fruit aroma (like raspberry) and brilliant freshness.

Red Bordeaux Superieur wine is best served at 12oC-15oC with grilled rib steak, roast beef, or veal.

2. Sweet White Bordeaux Superieur

This sweet, aromatic white wine is characterized by a honeyed tropical fruit flavor and refreshing acidity. 

The wine blend is dominated by Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon grapes. The most popular white wine comes from the Graves Superieures appellation. The famous Chateau d'Yquem 'Y' Ygrec wine is a Bordeaux Superieur wine.

Serve your white wine at 9oC-12oC with smoked salmon or cheese pasta.

8 Delicious Bordeaux Superieur Wines to Buy in 2024

These Bordeaux Superieur bottles are some of the finest Cabernet and Merlot Bordeaux Superieur blends:

1. 1950 Domaine des Justices Rouge Bordeaux Superieur
2. 2011 Chateau La Providence, Bordeaux Supeieur
3. 2020 Domaine du Bouscat Les Portes de L'Am Bordeaux Superieur
4. 2005 Chateau de Reignac 'Balthus' Bordeaux Superieur
5. 1964 Chateau d'Yquem 'Y' Ygrec
6. 2018 Chateau Brande-Bergere Cuvee O'Byrne Bordeaux Superieur
7. 2017 Ormiale Bordeaux Superieur
8. 2012 Dame de Coeur de Chateau Peyfaures Bordeaux Superieur

1. 1950 Domaine des Justices Rouge Bordeaux Superieur ($360)

This traditional Bordeaux wine has a velvety palate with an oaky aroma on the nose - a great wine to pair with steak.

2. 2011 Chateau La Providence, Bordeaux Superieur ($163)

A classic Merlot and Cabernet bottle from France, this 2011 vintage showcases a distinct minerality, dark ripe fruit flavor, and herb aroma.

3. 2020 Domaine du Bouscat Les Portes de L'Am Bordeaux Superieur ($136)

This 2020 Bordeaux vintage from the Bouscat estate has a delicious black fruit, plum liquor, and licorice nose. 

4. 2005 Chateau de Reignac 'Balthus' Bordeaux Superieur ($127)

This Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon wine blend gives off typical aromas of the Entre-de-Mers Bordeaux appellation wines - raspberry, coffee, black cherry, and licorice.

5. 1964 Chateau d'Yquem 'Y' Ygrec ($873)

This white wine is aged in 20% new French oak barrels, which gives structure to the wine. The palate has a white peach flavor.

6. 2018 Chateau Brande-Bergere Cuvee O'Byrne Bordeaux Superieur ($88)

This Merlot and Cabernet wine showcases the brilliance of older vines with its freshness and spice notes.

7. 2017 Ormiale Bordeaux Superieur ($58)

This red wine has deep fruit notes of black cherry, plum, and blackcurrant with licorice nuances. 

8. 2012 Dame de Coeur de Chateau Peyfaures Bordeaux Superieur ($50)

This red wine has a rich black fruit aroma with subtle spice notes. The palate has noticeable tannin.

Most Bordeaux Superieur wines aren’t aged in oak barrels for long - the reason why they are best consumed within 3-4 years of bottling.

Let’s also look at what’s unique about Bordeaux Superieur vineyards.

Bordeaux Superieur Vineyard Terroir

Bordeaux has 57 appellations, out of which 12,412 hectares of vineyard sites are dedicated to the Bordeaux Superieur appellation tier. The majority of these vineyards lie on the Right Bank of the Gironde river.

Being such a widespread appellation, the fruit from different parts displays unique characteristics. 

For example, the Left Bank has gravel and limestone soils, giving the wines a firmer structure and tannin. On the other hand, the Right Bank has dominant clay and limestone soils, making the wines soft and fruity.

Enjoy A Delicious Bordeaux Superieur While Building Your Very Own Fine Wine Collection

The fruity, easy-drinking Bordeaux Superieur from France is a great wine for a casual brunch or dinner. 

But, if you want to build a collection of profitable wines, you need an age-worthy bottle or two of investment-grade labels.

A trusted wine investment company like Vinovestcan help you buy, store, and sell authentic vintage wines from across the globe easily. Visit the Vinovest website and start building your fine wine collection now!