Bordeaux Superieur

Bordeaux · France · Wine Auction Prices

Bordeaux Supérieur is a step above the basic Bordeaux AOC in the regional hierarchy, with stricter rules on minimum alcohol (10.5% vs 10%), lower maximum yields, and mandatory ageing before release. The appellation covers the same vast area as Bordeaux AOC — essentially any eligible vineyard in the Gironde department — but the higher standards mean Bordeaux Supérieur bottles consistently offer better quality and structure than their simpler counterparts. The Entre-Deux-Mers plateau between the Garonne and Dordogne rivers, together with the Côtes de Bordeaux subregions (Blaye, Bourg, Castillon, Cadillac, Francs), provides the bulk of Bordeaux Supérieur production. The appellation primarily produces red wines from Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc, though a small quantity of rosé and white is permitted. At auction, Bordeaux Supérieur rarely appears as a collectible item — it is overwhelmingly a restaurant and everyday wine category — but château-specific bottlings from serious producers, particularly in the right bank Côtes, can represent excellent value for early drinking at $15–40 per bottle.