A more demanding Bordeaux
Bordeaux Supérieur shares exactly the same area as the Bordeaux appellation — the whole of the Gironde — but imposes stricter quality criteria. The wines often come from older vines, and above all they follow a more demanding set of specifications.
What sets it apart from Bordeaux
Three requirements make the difference: lower yields (a guarantee of concentration), a higher minimum alcohol content (hence riper grapes), and above all mandatory ageing before release — often in vat or barrel until the spring following the harvest. The appellation mainly concerns red wine, with a small production of sweet whites.
The result: fuller, more structured reds with greater longevity than a simple Bordeaux, while remaining excellent value for money.
The grape varieties of Bordeaux supérieur
Merlot →red — majority grape variety, flesh and roundness
Cabernet-sauvignon & cabernet franc →red — structure and cellaring potential
Malbec & petit verdot →complementary grape varieties
Sources: Wikipédia — Bordeaux supérieur