BEST-SELLING CLARET: FINDING GREAT VALUE

UK: Bordeaux bargains under £20

Bordeaux remains a key category in the UK wine trade, and the quality and value of wines retailing under £20 is higher than ever. With a succession of fine vintages, the days of lean, green cheap Bordeaux wines seem consigned to history. In 2020, 188,000hl of Bordeaux wines were exported to the UK, accounting for 22% of the volume of all French AP still wine exports (source: CIVB).

Tom Jenkins, Bordeaux buyer for merchant Justerini & Brooks, highlights the importance of the region’s lower-priced wines: ‘Day-to-day sales tend to focus more on the value end. There are so many great wines sub-£30.’ Regarding quality, Jenkins notes: ‘Bordeaux has been blessed by a string of excellent vintages, coupled with a new range of winemakers with cutting-edge technology at their disposal and a far better understanding of their vineyards.’

Charles Sichel, export director of Bordeaux-based négociant Maison Sichel, agrees: ‘Bordeaux has never offered such quality across all categories.’ Sichel also highlights the diversity and environmental focus in the region: ‘Sub-£20 is a category which fits every one of the 50 or so Bordeaux APs. The sheer variety offered is considerable and the value for money second to none.’

For my recommendations, 12 leading UK retailers were each asked to submit three top-selling wines from their Bordeaux portfolio. These ranged from independent/regional merchants (Tanners and Jeroboams), to national outlets (Majestic, M&S, Tesco, Waitrose);