All the winners from the Bordeaux Masters 2023

That means that the wines featured are a reflection of the wines that sell through La Place de Bordeaux, wherever they are from, rather than a strict tasting of Bordeaux. And with that in mind, what’s greatest? Well, Bordeaux is still home to extremely fine, long-lived wines, with, notably, bottlings that are surprisingly easy to drink in a youthful state – and much more so than they would have been a decade ago. Helped by warm, dry growing conditions in recent vintages, as well as improved viticulture and winemaking, the idea that fine Bordeaux can’t be drunk within a few years of bottling is no longer true.

Proof of this came in the delicious 2020 expression of Pessac-Leognan’s Château Malartic Lagravière, or the 2018 vintage of St Emilion’s Château La Grace Dieu des Prieurs. Both producers were also the makers of outstanding white wines too – the former a lesson in how to craft ageworthy, barrel-influenced Sauvignon Blanc. As for the latter, Château La Grace Dieu des Prieurs was the source of one of the competition’s most surprising and lovely wines. Made with Chardonnay planted on Saint-Emilion’s limestone soils, it tasted like a grand cru Bourgogne Blanc, but, despite its quality, qualified as Vin de France: Chardonnay falls outside the rules of the Bordeaux appellation. More affordable than both these wines was the dry white from famous Sauternes producer Château Suduiraut. Crammed with ripe citrus and a touch of tropical fruit, complemented by a subtle creaminess from partial barrel-ageing, it delivers a lot of refreshing wine for £20.

The same could be said of our sole sweet wine – a Sichel Sauternes 2020 with plenty of honey, dried apricot, candied orange and vanilla pod notes for a touch more than £15 for a half-bottle. In fact, if one looks at the Gold-medallists from the competition, it’s notable how much great Bordeaux is affordable – that is relative to fine wines from elsewhere in the world. We had delicious, age-worthy structured Merlot and Cabernet blends from across Bordeaux that were priced below £40, with two of them retailing for sub-£20.

Still White – Unoaked

Still White – Oaked

Still Red – Unoaked

Still Red – Oaked

Still White – Sweet

International wines sold on La Place

About the competition

With high-quality judges and a unique sampling process, The Bordeaux Masters provides a chance for your wines to star. The 2023 competition was judged on 14 April at COMO The Halkin, London, employing experienced judges. The top wines were awarded Gold, Silver, or Bronze medals according to their result, and those expressions that stood out as being outstanding received the ultimate accolade – the title of Bordeaux Master. This report features the medal winners only.

Please visit the Global Masters website for more information, or, to enter future competitions – giving you the chance to feature online and in print – please call: +44 (0) 20 7803 2420 or email Sophie Raichura at: sophie@thedrinksbusiness.com