Bordeaux Clairet: 10 Best Wines, Pairing & Serving Tips

Clairet is a dark pink Rosé wine produced exclusively in the Bordeaux region using Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc grapes. 

Clairet wines are dry and refreshing with rich fruity aroma and flavor notes - the perfect easy-drinking tipple you can serve on a hot summer day!

In this article, we’ll cover all you need to know about Clairet wine, including how it’s made, the best bottles to buy, and ideal food pairings. We’ll also see how “Clairet” differs from the “Claret” and “Clairette” wine styles.

How is Bordeaux Clairet Made?

To get their distinct pink color, the Clairet wines go through the following winemaking process: 

• Pressing: The red Bordeaux grapes are harvested and lightly pressed. 
• Maceration: Then, the grapes go through a short maceration period (about 24 hours.)
• Saignee: During maceration, some of the grape juice is removed to increase the concentration of flavors and color in the grape must.
• Fermentation: The wine undergoes fermentation on the skins (with native yeast), which gives the wine its rich color. The Clairet fermentation process doesn’t last as long as red wine fermentation. This results in a lighter low-tannin wine that doesn’t have the aging potential of most traditional red Bordeaux wines.
• Aging: The blend is aged in stainless steel vats for a few months before bottling and distribution.

Let’s take a look at the best bottles of Bordeaux Clairet you can get your hands on.

10 Best Bottles of Bordeaux Clairet

Here are our top picks of Bordeaux Clairet in 2023: 

• 2021 Château Thieuley Clairet
• 2016 Château Penin Clairet
• 2020 Château Lauduc Classic
• 2021 Château Turcaud Clairet
• 2020 Château Lestrille Capmartin Clairet 
• 2020 Famille Doublet Château Vignol Clairet
• 2020 Château La Freynelle Clairet
• 2020 Château de Parenchère Clairet
• 2020 Le Clairet du Château de Lisennes
• 2020 ROC Clairet

1. 2021 Château Thieuley Clairet ($8)

This wine is a blend of the Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon grape varieties from the Château Thieuley vineyards in the Bordeaux region. It has a red fruit aroma with strawberry and raspberry notes on the palate.

2. 2016 Château Penin Clairet ($15)

This 2016 vintage Clairet has a silky red cherry color and raspberry aroma.

The wine has a pronounced freshness and fruit notes on the palate, followed by a creamy edge and a lingering aftertaste. 

3. 2020 Château Lauduc Classic ($8)

This Clairet from the vineyards of Chateâu Lauduc is raspberry-colored with an intense aroma of deep cherry and vanilla. 

This charming Clairet reveals strawberry, cassis and other exotic fruit flavors and a brilliant freshness.

4. 2021 Château Turcaud Clairet ($8)

The 2021 vintage Chateâu Turcaud Clairet is a cherry red wine with aromas of spices and red fruit. 

This Rosé wine is a blend of the Merlot and Cabernet Franc grape varieties. It has notes of strawberry, cassis and a hint of deep cherry on the palate, as well as a small tannin amount. 

The medium finish is fruity with a fresh leafy edge.

5. 2020 Château Lestrille Capmartin Clairet ($9)

This 2020 Bordeaux wine is a blend of Merlot and Cab Sauv with an aroma of perfect red berries and hints of red fruit and juicy cherry on the palate. 

It has a dark red color and a full-bodied texture. The finish is long and smooth. 

6. 2020 Famille Doublet Chateâu Vignol Clairet ($7)

This wine is a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Cabernet Sauvignon from the Vignol vineyards in the Bordeaux region. It has a perfect red color and aromas of strawberries and juicy cherry. 

The palate of this charming Clairet reveals hints of blackcurrant, rose and strawberry, as well as velvety tannin notes. The finish is smooth with a fresh leafy edge.

7. 2020 Chateâu La Freynelle Clairet ($8)

The 2020 vintage Chateâu La Freynelle Clairet has a bold pink hue and a fruity nose of raspberries and strawberries. 

This medium-bodied Rosé wine reveals sour lemon and juicy cherry notes with a creamy edge.

8. 2020 Château de Parenchère Clairet ($11)

This charming Clairet from Château de Parenchère has an aroma of lime, black currant and pink berries. 

The wine is full-bodied and crisp, while the palate has notes of silky red cherry, cranberry and pomegranate with a fresh leafy edge. 

9. 2020 Le Clairet du Chateâu de Lisennes ($7)

This 2020 Bordeaux wine has a light pink color with a bright nose of flowers, strawberry and citrus. 

The wine has a fleshy texture and flavor hints of silky red cherry and summer fruits. The finish is lively and fruity, with a perfect balance of acidic freshness. 

10. 2020 ROC Clairet ($15)

This perfect red wine is a 2020 Clairet with bright aromas of blackcurrant and juicy cherry on the nose.

The palate of this ROC Clairet has deep cherry and cassis hints with a creamy edge and a good balance. 

ROC Clairet wine is produced by Gentle Riot - a movement that is pioneering wines and winemaking that focus on sustainability.

Now, let’s look at how Clairet differs from Claret and Clairette. 

Is Clairet the Same as Claret and Clairette?

The terms Clairet, Claret and Clairette sound similar but they refer to different wine styles. 

Here’s what the other two terms mean:

• Claret: Claret is an umbrella term used to refer to all red Bordeaux wines especially in the UK. (It’s an old English word that originated in the Middle Ages and is still in use.) 
• Clairette: Clairette is a white grape variety native to the south of France. It’s used in different white wine blends from Rhone, Provence, and Languedoc.

Now let’s look at the dishes you can pair with Bordeaux Clairet.

Bordeaux Clairet: Pairing and Serving Tips

The dark and fruity flavors of Clairet make it a great pairing with all kinds of picnic and summer food. 

You can pair your favorite bottle of Clairet with pizza, avocado and prawns, tapas or even cod fritters. If you’re looking for a vegetarian option, consider pairing Clairet with tomato and mozzarella salad, cheese puff pastries or even cookies! 

For the best experience, serve your Bordeaux Clairet wine chilled at around 10° or 12° celsius.

Clairet: Your Companion on a Perfect Summer Day!

A bottle of Clairet wine is best enjoyed on a warm summer day with delicious picnic food as a pairing. 

Bordeaux Clairet wines are best enjoyed young and have no aging potential.

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