Best Buys: Brilliant Value in Bordeaux
Great Bordeaux should have the ability to age gracefully, convey terroir, deliver a classic and nuanced expression, pair beautifully with food, and—most importantly—be undeniably delicious. None of this requires high prices, as the region remains one of the world’s great sources of value, which we hunt relentlessly for. Here are some of my current favorites.
First up has to be the Discovery Series. At under $1 per year in bottle from the superstar 2009 vintage, there are virtually no true comps to our 2009 K&L Discovery Series Bordeaux, St-Emilion $14.99 (Elsewhere $40) in today’s market for Bordeaux of this quality and value. Speaking of incredible vintages, 2016 was about as good as it gets in the northern Médoc, and our 2016 K&L Discovery Series Bordeaux, St-Estephe $24.99. (Elsewhere $45) bottling captures all that magic. This wine comes from a producer whose estate bottling is regularly celebrated by top-tier press and typically sells for far more than our modest price.
When crafting the first few bottlings in the program, I always envisioned Pauillac as the starting point. At the heart of the Left Bank, it’s home to multiple First Growths and some of the most historic properties in fine wine. Our 2019 K&L Discovery Series Bordeaux, Pauillac $29.99 (Elsewhere $50) bottling was produced by a classified growth and sourced from the excellent 2019 vintage. Pomerol, by contrast, felt like a pipe dream for a K&L-exclusive project—but through deep regional relationships, we were able to make it happen with the 2019 K&L Discovery Series Bordeaux, Pomerol $29.99 (Elsewhere $50).
Our latest container also arrived loaded with both new standouts and familiar favorites. Two Decanter Wine Award darlings lead the charge: the 95-point 2024 Les Roches Blanches Bordeaux Blanc $12.99 and the 97-point 2022 Coudert, St-Emilion $24.99. We’ve also spoken often about our admiration for the team at Beau-Séjour Bécot, and their 2020 Joanin Becot, Cotes de Castillion $24.99 delivers everything we love about the pink-capsuled bottle—fresh, vibrant, and detailed, with the skilled touch of Julien and Juliette Barthe clearly on display.
The next few wines are well-kept secrets from some of our favorite châteaux. The 2022 Le Haut Medoc de Giscours, Haut-Médoc $29.99 comes from the same winemaking team and vintage as Wine Spectator’s #1 Wine of the Year, Château Giscours. Crafted from vineyards just outside the Margaux appellation, this second wine is made with the same care and precision. A similar level of quality can be found in the 2022 Clos la-Gaffelière, St-Émilion $29.99, an under-the-radar second wine from one of our go-to Right Bank estates.
And while I’ve beaten this drum more than a few times, I’ll happily do it again: the 2020 Laroque, St-Emilion $39.99 97TWI 96VN 95JA 95JD is a top-tier St-Émilion that simply needs to be tasted to be believed. With critical acclaim more typical of a $100 wine than a $40 one, it’s a surefire winner from David Suire—highlighting the terroir, purity, and finesse that define the very best of modern Right Bank success stories.