Some of the best values in 2019 Bordeaux are found in the Cotes de Bordeaux appellation. The terroir at the best estates mirror what you can find in some of the best vineyards in St. Emilion. So here, you find the elusive blend of high-quality wine, fabulous character and the ability to age, without high prices.
Every vintage does not favor the Cotes de Bordeaux region. But with 2019, the limestone and clay terroirs were for the most part able to handle the dry summer months. Conscientious estates made some very good wine, as you can see from my tasting notes and scores.
Normally, with this report, I might focus solely on the Cotes de Bordeaux appellation. But as you can see, you will also find wines from neighboring Right Bank appellations in this article, making it more comprehensive for 2019 Bordeaux.
It is also interesting to note that in this report, you find a few tasting notes for white Bordeaux wine. That is because appellation laws in Cotes de Blaye, Cotes de Francs and Sainte Foy allow for the production of dry white Bordeaux wine.
If you are looking for value, these Merlot and Cabernet Franc based 2019 Bordeaux wines are what you want to pay attention to.
All of the following 2019 Cotes de Bordeaux wines were tasted in my home office from mid-May until mid-June in non-blind conditions.
2019 dAiguilhe – Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux – Violets, lilacs, crushed stone, cocoa powder, red pit fruits and licorice in the nose. On the palate, the wine is sweet, silky, fresh and pure. Perhaps this is the most elegant offering yet for this wine. It is refined and polished with purity of fruit in the extended finish. Blending 88% Merlot with 12% Cabernet Franc. 93-95 Pts
2019 dAiguilhe Querre – Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux – Black cherry, black coffee and black figs on the nose with ripe, round, fleshy fruits, earthy overtones and juicy, jammy black cherries in the finish. You can drink this on release and enjoy it over the next decade. 88-90 Pts
2019 Ad Francos – Bordeaux Côtes de Francs – Pop this for the essence of ripe, dark red and black fruits, soft textures, licorice, flowers and just a hint of chocolate in the finish. 89-91 Pts
2019 Ad Francos Reserve Ad Aeternam – Bordeaux Côtes de Francs – A wealth of ripe, sweet, juicy fruit with earthy, stone and rock character, chewy tannins, length and sweetness with an olive tinged dusty, fruit-filled finish are found here. 91-93 Pts
2019 Ad Francos Blanc – Bordeaux Côtes de Francs – Fresh, juicy, round and creamy with a nice blend of lemon grass, orange peel and honeysuckle that is already quite tasty. 89 Pts
2019 Belle Coline – Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux – Espresso, wet earth, smoke and dark red fruits on the nose work well here. Round, soft, and deceptively tasty already, enjoy this on release and over the next decade. 89-91 Pts
2019 Cap de Faugeres – Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux – Dark in color, the wine exudes licorice, smoke, dark chocolate, black pit fruits and cherries. Full-bodied, lushly textured and with a hedonistic, fruit and chocolate filled finish, this will offer a lot of bang for the buck. The wine was made from blending 80% old vine Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. 91-93 Pts
2019 Claud-Bellevue – Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux- Forward, round, juicy, sweet, dark plum and licorice filled wine that while it is not overly complex, it is already quite fruity and delicious to drink. 86-88 Pts
2019 Clos Puy Arnaud – Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux – Round, fruity and with a strong limestone essence, offering ample juicy plums with the essence of crushed rocks on the palate, and in the finish. 88-90 Pts
2019 Cote Montpezat – Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux – With a touch oak, smoke, Maraschino cherries and sweet plums, the wine is medium-bodied, soft, supple, forward and fruity. Plus this will be ready to drink on release. 88-90 Pts
2019 Croix Lartigue – Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux – Licorice, black raspberries and dark cocoa scents are all over the place. From there you find a multi-layered blast of chocolate-covered, fat, ripe black cherries and a cup of espresso to wash it all down with. 89-91 Pts
2019 dArce – Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux – Medium-bodied, soft, lush and polished with a blackberry, dark cherry and cocoa nose, the wine is round, silky, fresh and fruity with chocolate overtones. This should provide pleasure early. 90-92 Pts
2019 de Francs Infinity – Bordeaux Côtes de Francs – Deeply-colored, full-bodied, concentrated with dark, almost meaty fruits, loads of tannins and along with all those dark red berries, along with a quarry of crushed rocks and stones. Allow this at least 5-7 years in the cellar before pulling a cork. 90-92 Pts
2019 de Francs Les Cerisiers – Bordeaux Côtes de Francs – Dark, earthy, red fruits, chewy tannins and a mineral-driven, salty, classic finish. Give this a few years in the cellar before popping a bottle. 89-91 Pts
2019 de Laussac – Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux – Super easy to like and even easier to drink, this lusciously textured wine serves up loads of dark chocolate covered cherries, plums and smoky blackberries in every sniff and sip. This is already a lot of fun to enjoy. Drink it over the next decade. 90-92 Pts
2019 des Mille Anges – Cadillac Côtes de Bordeaux – Medium-bodied, fruity and with a mineral, salty accent, the wine is fresh, forward and should be drinkable shortly after it is released. 84-86 Pts
2019 Domaine-de-lA – Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux – Lush, round, sweet and fresh, the vibrant, juicy fruit make a good impression on the nose and palate. The lift, classic style, energy and length are all in proportion here. This is the wine from the home property of Stephane Derenoncourt. 92-94 Pts
2019 Dubois-Grimon – Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux – Rich, ripe, lush and forward, the cocoa-dusted dark red fruits taste and feel great in this open, medium-bodied, round, soft-textured wine. 89-91 Pts
2019 Gigault Cuvee Viva – Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux – Licorice, espresso and lightly dusted cocoa notes on the nose, medium-bodied with a sweet, ripe, lush, round, juicy cherry mid-palate and finish. This will be just great on release and over the next decade or more. 89-91 Pts
2019 Grands Marechaux – Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux – Round, juicy, fruity and fresh with a blast of ripe, sweet, delicious, already open black cherries and licorice on the nose and medium-bodied palate. It is hard to find a better value in an early drinking wine. 87-89 Pts
2019 Haut Bertinerie – Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux – Sweet red fruits with a touch of chocolate around the black cherries that are found on the nose and in the finish. 86-88 Pts
2019 Hostens Picant – Sainte Foy Bordeaux – Spicy, earthy, smoky red fruits and underbrush are on the nose. Medium-bodied, earthy, round and fruity on the palate, the finish combines red berries and a strong green olive and herbal on the backend. 85-87-Pts
2019 Hostens Picant Cuvée des Demoiselles – Sainte Foy Bordeaux – White peach and green apples pop with freshness and a sweet, yellow citrus peel finish. This will be best in its refreshing youth. 88 Pts
2019 Hostens Picant Cuvee d’exception Lucullus – Sainte Foy Bordeaux – The star of the Sainte Foy appellation offers espresso bean roasted plums, black cherries and licorice on the nose. Ruby in color, the wine is soft, polished, juicy and loaded with sweet, ripe, fresh red fruits, herbs and spices. Drink it young, or age it a few years before opening a bottle. 89-91 Pts
2019 Lafitte – Premières Côtes de Bordeaux – Medium-bodied, soft, bright, crisp, juicy red fruits in a forward style are found here. This will be best in its youth. 86-88 Pts
2019 Lagarosse – Premières Côtes de Bordeaux – Fresh, fruity, floral and forward, with ripe red berries, olives and dark cocoa come through in this early drinking, soft-textured, medium-bodied wine. 87-89 Pts
2019 lAurage – Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux – Earthy, dark red fruits with a touch of herbs, olives and forest leaf on the nose. Medium-bodied, soft, fruity and filled with licorice, black cherries and kirsch, give this a few years in the cellar before popping a cork. The wine is a blend of 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc. 90-92 Pts
2019 Laussac Cuvee Sacha – Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux – Deep in color, with flowers, dark chocolate, black raspberries and even blacker cherries. Lush, round and sweet, with layers of black and red fruits, this is a nice hedonistic styled wine. 90-92 Pts
2019 Le Doyenné – Cadillac Côtes de Bordeaux – Bright, light, crisp, fresh, slightly herbal tinged red berries and black earthy fruits for early consumption. 86-88 Pts
2019 Le Rey Les Argileuses – Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux – Medium-bodied, bright, fresh and peppy, the bright, juicy, ripe, soft-textured red fruits and supple textured finish stands out, because there is nothing in the way of enjoying this delicious wine. It is hard to find a better in Bordeaux today. 90-92 Pts
2019 Le Rey Les Rocheuses – Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux – From vineyards planted in limestone terroir, the wine is medium-bodied, juicy, sweet, fresh, bright and forward. Drink this young wine for its beautiful ripe fruit. The wine was produced from 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. 89-91 Pts
2019 Montlandrie – Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux – One cannot help but notice the ripe, juicy plums on the nose. The chocolate, truffle and licorice notes that come next are the perfect nuance. Round, opulent and juicy, this wine is fresh, long and mouth-filling, ending with layers of fresh fruits. 91-93 Pts
2019 Moya – Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux – Medium-bodied and already quite easy to drink with its forward, earthy, cherry-filled character. This will be best on the young side to capture all its fresh fruits. 86-88 Pts
2019 Paloma – Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux – Sweet, almost candied plums, flowers and vanilla bean open the nose. On the palate, the wine is elegant, soft, medium-bodied, fresh and delivers its cherry essence with ease. This is a new wine from Jean-Francois Julien that is better known for La Fleur Morange in Saint Emilion. 89-91 Pts
2019 Réaut – Premières Côtes de Bordeaux – Medium-bodied with a thyme, black cherry and forest nose, bringing you to a forward styled wine with cocoa powder and earthy, bright red fruits in the finish. This will drink well on release. 86-88 Pts
2019 Réaut Carat – Premières Côtes de Bordeaux – Dark red fruits, pepper, flowers, red fruits and licorice are here on the nose and palate. Sharp, stony, piquant red fruits on the palate in the finish. 87-89 Pts
2019 Reynon – Cadillac Côtes de Bordeaux – Smoky red fruits with leaf and tobacco wrapper notes on the nose. The wine is soft, medium-bodied, forward and ends with a short, salty, slightly drying red fruit finish. 84-86 Pts
2019 Reynon Blanc – Cadillac Côtes de Bordeaux – Yellow citrus and green apple notes on the nose and palate in this easy drinking, summer white wine. Drink this on the young side. 85 Pts
2019 Roc de Cambes – Côtes de Bourg – Full-bodied, concentrated, earthy and cherry-filled with an herbal nuance and complexity, the wine is lively, wild and fruity with forest floor and fresh red fruits in the finish. The wine is considered by the owner, Francois Mitjavile, to be a relative of his more famous Tertre Roteboeuf in Saint Emilion, due to the similarity in terroirs. 90-92 Pts
2019 Saint-Cernin Bergerac No. 1 – Bergerac – Medium-bodied, earthy, mineral-driven, red pit fruit-filled wine with a red berry and oceanic finish. 87-89 Pts
2019 Suau Cadillac – Cadillac Côtes de Bordeaux – Smoky, dark chocolate covered cherries and licorice pop with no effort. Bright and fresh, with a red cherry-filled finish, this will best on the young side. 86-88 Pts
2019 Thenac Bergerac Rouge – Bergerac – Smoky, with licorice, underbrush, green olive and red fruit on the nose and medium-bodied, earthy palate in this classically styled wine. 84-86 Pts
We have a few more reports to release for you. The next article focuses on all the best wines from 2019 Lalande de Pomerol and 2019 Fronsac.
