Bordeaux Wine Pairing Ideas (For Different Wine Styles, Serving Tips)

You’ll come across a hundred different wine styles (reds and whites) from the Left and Right Bank appellations of the Bordeaux wine region.

Each of them boasts unique flavor profiles, and getting the perfect food pairing for your favorite Bordeaux wine might feel like a daunting task.

This article answers all your Bordeaux wine pairing questions as we look at what food complements the stunning Bordeaux red wine and the wonderful Bordeaux whites. 

Also, discover which cheese pairs well with your favorite Bordeaux white and red wine. We also have 5 advanced food pairing and serving tips for your next party!

Food Pairing Tips For Right Bank Bordeaux Wine

A Right Bank Bordeaux blend is Merlot-heavy and consists of Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon as the supporting grape varietals.

The typical Right Bank red wine flavors are dark fruit, black fruit, plum, dark chocolate, and vanilla notes. 

These wines tend to have medium acidity and smooth tannins - making them a perfect pairing for chicken dishes like roast chicken or BBQ chicken pizza.

Since these Merlot-dominant wines are on the leaner side, they also pair well with a juicy steak, Asian-style pork chops, or lamb chops with creamy roasted garlic aioli on the side.

Other dishes that pair well include beef stew, red meat, roast lamb, and spaghetti meatballs in a tomato jam sauce.

4 Right Bank Bordeaux wines you should try with these dishes: 

• 2009 Petrus Pomerol ($5,266)
• 2005 Chateau Ausone Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, France ($1,708)
• 2016 Chateau Pavie ($458)
• 2011 Chateau Cheval Blanc 'Le Petit Cheval Blanc' ($231)

Let’s explore how a Left Bank Bordeaux wine differs in flavors, and the pairing options for it.  

Food Pairing Tips For Left Bank Bordeaux Wine

Cabernet Sauvignon dominates the Left Bank Bordeaux blend - with Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Malbec as the supporting grape varietals.

Dominant Left Bank red wine flavors are blackcurrant, truffle, black fruit, and plum, with hints of violets and graphite. 

These wines tend to have a highly tannic mouthfeel and moderate acidity - making it a perfect pairing for caramel chicken and roast lamb. 

Since these Cabernet Sauvignon dominant wines have a robust structure, you can pair them with rich and greasy cheese and bacon burgers.

Other dishes that make for a great combo are roasted potatoes and onions, pepper beef, filet mignon, or a tender and juicy red meat dish.

4 Left Bank Bordeaux Wines To Try Out: 

• 2000 Chateau Mouton Rothschild Pauillac, France ($2,606)
• 2009 Chateau Cos d'Estournel Blanc Bordeaux, France ($347)
• 2015 Pavillon Blanc du Chateau Margaux Bordeaux, France ($311)
• 1982 Chateau Calon-Segur Saint-Estephe, France ($281)

Now, let’s look at food pairing choices for a white Bordeaux wine. 

Food Pairing with Bordeaux White Wine

Dry, white Bordeaux wine is generally a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon. 

White Bordeaux wine comes in a wide range of flavor profiles, from light and fresh to creamy and citrusy. 

As a result, a white Bordeaux wine will pair well with almost any white food like veal, pork, chicken, sushi, clams, and fish of all types.

A sweet wine from Sauternes makes for a classic pairing with Foie Gras, oysters, or a blue cheese like Roquefort. 

You can pair other sweet Bordeaux white wines with a range of sweet to savory delights like salty cheese, lobster, or a crispy sesame chicken with sticky Asian sauces. 

Now, let’s see what kind of cheese will pair best with a Bordeaux wine. 

Pairing Cheese With Bordeaux Wine

While white wine is often considered the best choice for cheese pairing - you can also pair a more mature cheese with a bolder full-bodied wine. 

• Dry white wines made with Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc grapes have crisp flavor profiles that pair well with cheddar or any sharp, semi-hard cheese. While goat cheese makes an ideal pairing with Sauvignon Blanc or a sweet Bordeaux Rose wine.

• Bordeaux red wine, known for its vivid fruit flavors and vibrant acidity, is the perfect wine to pair with a French cheese or a creamy cheese. A full-bodied red wine also pairs well with sharp or aged cheese.

5 More Advanced Bordeaux Wine Pairing Tips

Here are some tips to keep in mind for the perfect Bordeaux wine pairing.

• While making wine selections, it's essential to decide whether you want the spotlight to be on the food or the wine. A rich, spicy, and exotic dish will take all the attention away from your delicate wine.
• The texture of a dish is worth paying attention to in wine pairing. Rich and heavier foods like turkey and lamb will pair well with a ripe and fuller-bodied red wine like Merlot. While a leaner style like Sauternes will compliment a lightly cooked salmon with a dash of lime.
• Serving an aged Left Bank Bordeaux wine? Opt for a light dish like poultry or fish to bring out the wine’s decadent aromas and incredible notes of truffle, cherries, and spice.
• When pairing chocolate with wine, remember that the bitterness of the chocolate will complement the bitterness of the wine. So dark chocolate and a full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon are the perfect treat combination.
• A younger wine is more suitable for heavier dishes like lamb, beef, and stews. The more robust flavor of these dishes will complement the high tannic structure of the wine.

(Want to learn more fantastic wine pairing tips and tricks? Check out this essential guide - Wine Pairing 101.)

How To Serve Bordeaux Wine

Store your red Bordeaux below 65 °F / 18 °C and serve it at the same cellar-like temperature.

Decant the wine for at least 30 minutes before drinking to allow it fully open up. 

This will bring out its intense, complex flavors and help you truly appreciate your French wine - be it a sweet wine, a golden Bordeaux, or a rich red wine. 

Bordeaux white wines are best served at temperatures between 43° to 47 °F / 6 - 8° C. 

Time to Find a Bordeaux Wine for Your Next Celebration!

You don’t have to be a wine aficionado or a sommelier to get creative with your wine pairing. The key is to decide whether the wine or the food will be the star of the night and then build around it. 

Meanwhile, you can start building a portfolio of the finest Bordeaux wines through Vinovest - to open at your next big event or simply as an investment that’ll grow in value over time.

Check out the Vinovest website and get your hands on investment-grade fine wine from across the globe today!