Summer Evenings Call for Bordeaux

Summer in Northern Michigan is the perfect time to discover Bordeaux. Crisp Bordeaux Blanc pairs beautifully with fresh Great Lakes whitefish, grilled shrimp, goat cheese salads, or a picnic along the shores of Lake Michigan. Red Bordeaux, often lighter and more elegant than many people expect, is equally at home alongside grilled steaks, burgers, mushroom dishes, or a charcuterie board enjoyed on the patio after a day at the beach.

There's something timeless about a bottle of Bordeaux. Produced in southwestern France, the Bordeaux region has been crafting exceptional wines for more than 2,000 years, earning a reputation as one of the world's most celebrated wine regions. While the name may sound formal, Bordeaux wines are surprisingly approachable—and many offer incredible value for everyday enjoyment.

One of the things that makes Bordeaux so special is that it's all about blending. Rather than relying on a single grape, most Bordeaux wines combine varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Sauvignon Blanc, and Sémillon. The result is a wine that's balanced, layered, and food-friendly. A fun fact: Bordeaux is home to more than 6,000 wineries and produces hundreds of millions of bottles each year, making it one of the largest fine wine regions in the world.

Check out some of our new inventory:

2017 Chateau Capbern Saint-Estephe- Sister property of famed Saint-Estephe producer Calon Segur, this beautiful red is a blend of 55% Cabernet, 39% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot. With the same team behind this bottle as Calon Segur itself, you can expect to get a great bottle, and that comes in the form of bright red and black fruits like blackberry, black cherry, and cassis, mingled with notes of earth, leather, and hints of cocoa. Ready to drink right now. $36.99

2022 Heritage de Chasse-Spleen Rouge- Chasse-Spleen is a highly renowned property in the Moulis-en-Medoc appellation where they produce their Grand Vin, or great wine, but the family also owns vines in the Haut-Medoc that they purchased long before the official region was ever designated. Often confused for a 2nd Label of the same Chateau, this is actually a separate wine more akin to a sister wine to the Chasse Spleen. This ambiguity has kept the price very reasonable for a stunning wine with notes of red current, black cherries, and spice. $28.99

2022 Chateau Siran Rouge Margaux- Another star in the land of value Bordeaux, Chateau Siran has remained remarkably consistent over the years in a commune that has quite a few mediocre producers. Able to adapt well to the heat of the 2022 vintage, the vines at Siran were still stressed into producing very small, concentrated berries resulting in a gorgeous red with notes of strawberry, blackcurrant, and raspberry along with hints of spice and graphite. $55.99

2022 Fleur de Pedesclaux Rouge Pauillac- With the strength of the 2022 vintage doing favors for lots of smaller chateaux, it’s indeed great to see that the second labels of 5th growth estates are able to produce some wonderful wines. Hailing from the famed commune of Pauillac, this blend of 49% Merlot, 46% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Petit Verdot is velvety and lush with black cherry, blueberry, black currant and red raspberry being delivered on soft tannins. $38.99

2022 Chateau Potensac Rouge Medoc- The 2022 vintage was a gift to producers like Chateau Potensac in the Medoc as the higher temperatures and relatively low rainfall did much of the work for the producers by limiting the size of the whole harvest and the size of the grapes themselves, leading to fewer, more concentrated grapes. Primarily Cabernet Sauvignon at 43%, with 36% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, this is a supremely well-integrated bottle of wine with chocolate coveried cherries, blackcurrants, and red apple skin, with leather and cocoa in the mix. $48.99

2015 Chateau Olivier Rouge Pessac-Leognan- From one of Bordeaux’s oldest wine producers, hailing all the way back to the 12th century, Chateau Olivier makes wonderful, bold wines that also have an element of minerality to them. Equally gifted in red and white wines, Pessac-Leognan is the home of Chateau Haut-Brion and La Mission Haut-Brion who are renowned in this as well. From the 2015 vintage which has been deemed “excellent”, this 10 year old blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot, mingling together to create a wine with stony minerality, bright acidity, and lots of stewed and ripe fruits like black cherry, plum, and blackberry. $69.99

Whether you're already a wine enthusiast or simply looking to try something new, Bordeaux is a wonderful place to start. These wines have stood the test of time for good reason, they're versatile and food-friendly. If you've never explored Bordeaux before, this summer might be the perfect opportunity.

Stop by Anderson's Market to browse our newest Bordeaux selections. We'd love to help you find a bottle that fits your taste, your menu, and your next Northern Michigan evening.