Finding the Best Bordeaux Online
Bordeaux is the undisputed king of ageworthy, collectible wine; however buying Bordeaux online is not without its risks. Counterfeits, poor storage history and a complex maze of vintages and classifications can make purchasing the right Bordeaux investment especially challenging.
At MacArthur Beverages, we have seventy years of experience curating some of the most valuable and noteworthy vintages of Bordeaux wine. Each year, our expert staff travel to the region to taste the latest vintages and curate the perfect Bordeaux bottles for our customers.
What is the flavor profile of Bordeaux?
Bordeaux is almost always a blend, primarily relying on Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc. The style depends heavily on which side of the river the grapes are grown.
In the Bordeaux region of France, there are two banks along the Gironde estuary, formed by the Garonne and Dordogne rivers.
The Left Bank
The Left Bank produces Bordeaux wines that are heavy and powerful in structure. The deep gravel soils of the Left Bank retain the heat for late-ripening Cabernet Sauvignon. Wines from the Left Bank are known for their longevity, making them typically better for the best Bordeaux wine for long-term cellaring and investment as they age gracefully.
The Right Bank
By contrast, the Right Bank produces wines that are velvety and fruity. The cooler clay and limestone soils of the Right Bank allow early-ripening Merlot and Cabernet Franc to thrive. If you’re new to drinking or collecting Bordeaux, Right Bank appellations can be a good place to start – their smooth Bordeaux wine for beginners who prefer softer tannins. While still highly ageworthy, Right Bank wines can typically be consumed earlier, making them ideal, affordable Bordeaux wines for weekly drinking and entertaining.
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Left Bank |
Right Bank |
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Tasting Profile |
Powerful, heavy |
Velvety, fruity |
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Ageworthiness |
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Appellations* |
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Producers |
*(Note: There are 65 appellations of Bordeaux wine. These are just a few.)
What is a First Growth or a Second Growth?
The Bordeaux "growths" (or crus classes) refer to the five-tier hierarchy established by the Bordeaux Wine Brokers Union for Emperor Napoleon III's 1855 Paris Exposition Universelle. There are five classifications of growths:
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Tier |
Status |
Wines in this Tier |
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First Growths |
The peak of status; the “royal family” of fine wine |
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Second Growths (Deuxièmes Crus) |
Several are highly coveted by collectors because they yield First Growth structure at a second growth price |
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Third Growths (Troisièmes Crus) |
Several estates command higher prices and critical reviews that rival Second or First Growths |
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Fourth Growths |
Historically known for solid, dependable table wines |
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Fifth Growths (Cinquièmes Crus) |
This tier houses some of the most dynamic and technologically advanced winemaking operations in Bordeaux |
What is En Primeur?
“En primeur” translates to “as a preview / first look”. In relation to Bordeaux wine, en primeur refers to buying the Bordeaux wine before it is even bottled – a wine “future”. While the wine is still in the barrel, buyers can purchase “futures” that ensure they will receive bottles of that vintage.
Buying futures through MacArthur Beverages guarantees the lowest opening price and flawless, direct-from-château provenance upon delivery. Our expert staff travels to the region annually to taste and recommend the best futures for our customers. Bordeaux futures on this website contain “ETA” followed by a year in the title. This indicates the expected delivery date for that vintage.
How do I know which vintages are best?
MacArthur Beverages’ expert staff are here to help you navigate which vintages of Bordeaux are right for your taste or investment. Not sure what to buy? Call our store during store hours and talk to one of our wine experts who can guide you through the right choice for you.
In addition to working with our team, there are many trusted resources online. Don’t just blindly trust AI to give you a recommendation! Several highly-trusted online sources include:
How do I begin adding investment-worthy Bordeaux to my cellar?
MacArthur Beverages recommends four main steps to starting your Bordeaux collection:
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Establish a relationship with a reputable wine merchant with expertise in Bordeaux, like MacArthur Beverages.
This establishes a level of trust and helps you to avoid fraudulent online sellers. A reputable wine merchant can also skillfully advise you on the best investments based on vintage and producer. -
Establish a commercial storage account.
Storing investment-level Bordeaux properly to ensure it reaches its full potential and retains its value requires holding your wine at a climate-controlled warehouse. -
Focus and target your allocations.
Focus your investments primarily in First Growths and very low production Right Bank Elites. Also focus on buying in 6 or 12 bottles to prevent discounting later. -
Utilize the En Primeur market.
This is really the best method to acquire investment-grade Bordeaux at the best prices. This approach secures the lowest opening release price and guarantees absolute pristine provenance, as you are the first owner after the Château. En Primeur occurs every spring, and MacArthur Beverages notifies our subscribers when Bordeaux Futures are available.
If you’re not sure which Bordeaux is the right investment, remember that you can always reach out to our Bordeaux experts for advice!
Which Bordeaux wine offers best value for collectors?
The best value for investors is often found in the Super Seconds (First Growth-like wines with a Second Growth price). First Growth and the “Super Seconds” are considered solid, blue-chip investments for the long term. Additionally, the Right Bank Elite, such as highly rated Pomerol or St. Emilion are excellent values.
Many of MacArthur Beverages customers around the country purchase new Bordeaux vintages with us every year to increase their Bordeaux investment. If you’re not sure which growths, producers or vintages are right for you, we’re here to consult with you.
When is the best time to drink my Bordeaux?
The best time to drink your Bordeaux depends on the wine’s classification, region (Left or Right Bank) and vintage year.
As our chart above shows, often Right Bank wines will mature faster than Left Bank wines. However, many Right Bank wines can age for decades. Additionally, how you store Bordeaux will impact the aging process. If you do not keep your Bordeaux in a climate-controlled wine cellar, it is likely best to drink sooner rather than later.
How to buy authentic Bordeaux wine online safely?
The safest way to purchase Bordeaux online is to work with a trusted partner, like MacArthur Beverages. Unfortunately, severe climate change and supply pressures have led to the development of complex operations where cheaper Spanish wine is bottled and sold illegally under prestigious Bordeaux appellation labels such as Margaux and Saint-Julien. Working with a trusted partner ensures that those partners have vetted the wine prior to selling it to consumers.
Why is MacArthur Beverages your best Bordeaux wine partner?
At MacArthur Beverages, you can have confidence in your purchases because our expert staff have personally tasted every Bordeaux we sell, including the en primeur (wine futures). We then purchase directly from the estates themselves.
We also want to ensure that all of our wines and spirits, including Bordeaux, are stored properly. Bordeaux is subject to thermal shock if not stored properly. To further avoid thermal shock, we only ship when the temperatures are not too hot or too cold to preserve the wine’s quality in shipping. We never ship your investment-grade Bordeaux during a heatwave.
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