Bordeaux blend: taste, styles and the dishes that match
29 styles and 262 dish scores from our sommelier database
Choosing Bordeaux blend gets easier once you know why it fits. This guide bundles the styles, the taste profile and the best-scoring dishes from our sommelier database — with Steak with pepper sauce as the classic.
Taste profile (Wine DNA)
Averaged across the styles in our database, Bordeaux blend shows fresh acidity, is medium-bodied and exuberantly fruity, with soft tannins.
Well-known Bordeaux blend styles
- Bordeaux blend · Southern Europe — medium-bodied, soft acidity, subtle oak notes
More body than the cousins from Bordeaux. - Bordeaux blend Southern · Southern Italy — full-bodied, fresh acidity, soft tannins, subtle oak notes
Red wines from Bordeaux grape varieties from warmer Italy, which gives these wines a full ripe, slightly stewed and richly fruity character. - Bordeaux blend Europe · Europe — medium-bodied, fresh acidity, soft tannins, subtle oak notes
A red Bordeaux blend from Europe's warmer climates. - Bordeaux blend central · Central Italy — medium-bodied, fresh acidity, soft tannins, subtle oak notes
Slightly riper and modern style of red wine, often from central Italy and from blends that have sangiovese added to the traditional blend of cabernet-sauvignon and… - Bordeaux blend Northern · Northern Italy — medium-bodied, pronounced freshness, firm tannins, subtle oak notes
Red wines from Bordeaux grape varieties from the cooler regions of Northern Italy, which makes these wines a lighter character and a whiff of green on palate and in… - Sangiovese Bordeaux blends · Italy — medium-bodied, soft acidity, subtle oak notes
Entry level qualities of blends produced from the sangiovese grape variety and varieties from Bordeaux, often cabernet-sauvignon or merlot. - Bordeaux blend Oregon & Washington · Oregon & Washington — full-bodied, fresh acidity, soft tannins, subtle oak notes
Eenvoudigste kwaliteit rode wijn van meestal cabernet-sauvignon en merlot uit de koelere klimaten van Oregon en Washington. - Bordeaux blend USA East Coast · US East Coast — full-bodied, fresh acidity, soft tannins, subtle oak notes
Eenvoudigste kwaliteit rode wijn van meestal cabernet-sauvignon en merlot uit de noordoostelijke staten van de VS.
Price-wise Bordeaux blend covers the full range: of the 29 styles in our database, 28% sit in the entry segment, 52% mid-range and 21% at the top end. You will find both a weekday bottle and a cellar-worthy wine in this grape.
The best-scoring dishes with Bordeaux blend
The dishes below come from our expert scoring: every combination was scored by sommeliers using the Wine DNA of both dish and wine. These are the strongest matches for Bordeaux blend styles, from classic to surprising.
- Steak with pepper sauce — best style: Bordeaux blend Europe
- Côte à l’os — best style: Bordeaux blend Europe
- Côte de boeuf — best style: Bordeaux blend Europe
- Ribeye — best style: Bordeaux blend Europe
- Chicken saltimbocca — best style: Bordeaux blend Northern Italy
- Steak — best style: Bordeaux blend Europe
- Penne alla vodka — best style: Sangiovese Bordeaux blends Italy
- Capuns — best style: Bordeaux blend Northern Italy
- Pizza margherita — best style: Sangiovese Bordeaux blends Italy
- Saltimbocca — best style: Sangiovese Bordeaux blends Italy
- Bitterballen — best style: Sangiovese Bordeaux blends Italy
- Wagyu — best style: Sangiovese Bordeaux blends Italy
Want to know if a specific bottle of Bordeaux blend matches your dish? Scan the label in the SommelierX app and see the match instantly.
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Frequently asked questions
- What does Bordeaux blend taste like?
- Averaged across the styles in our database, Bordeaux blend shows fresh acidity, is medium-bodied and exuberantly fruity, with soft tannins. It varies by style: see the overview above.
- What food goes with Bordeaux blend?
- The highest scores in our sommelier work: Steak with pepper sauce, Roasted Thick skirt, Gravy, Boiled Polenta, Boiled White asparagus, Blanched French beans, Thyme, Fried entrecôte and beef stew. The full list is above.
- Is Bordeaux blend a red wine?
- In our database Bordeaux blend is mostly made as a red wine (29 linked styles); regional exceptions exist.