When most of us think of French wines, too often what comes to mind are expensive prices, confusing labels and unfamiliar, esoteric terminology.
Even though many French wines are among my favorites, the wines have never seemed very user friendly. And it’s easy to spend more time trying to figure out what to buy than simply enjoying the wine.
But that doesn’t have to be the case. Near the end of 2009, Bordeaux launched a new campaign — “Life Goes Better With Bordeaux” — aimed at honing its image and capturing a larger share of the U.S. market. Aware that consumers often search the Internet for information and recommendations, Bordeaux launched a new Web site, www.enjoybordeaux.com.
The site offers sections for live chats, Bordeaux event listings from around the world, recommended wines priced under $25 (100 listed) and tips and facts about Bordeaux. There is much information that could change consumers’ perceptions about Bordeaux. I found the site easy to navigate with helpful tips.
The following are my picks for wines less than $25 and produced in the Bordeaux region of France.
- 2007 Chateau Bonnet Cabernet Sauvignon / Merlot (about $19 retail)
- 2007 Chateau Bel Air Haut Medoc (about $24 retail)
- 2008 Chateau Bonnet Bordeaux Blanc (about $15 retail)
- 2007 Chateau De Clairefont Margaux (about $25 retail)
- 2007 Chateau Mayne Pargade Blanc (about $10 retail)
- 2007 Michel Lynch Merlot (about $13 retail)
- 2007 Mouton-Cadet Red Bordeaux (about $10 retail)