The 7 Best Bordeaux Wines to Buy in 2026

The hamlet of Anseillan can be seen from the windows of Château Lafite Rothschild. It has existed since the 1500s but only became part of the Lafite Rothschild estate in 1970 at the behest of Elie de Rothschild. Anseillan offers a true value because the wine is made by the Lafite team in the Lafite winery and cellars, but is sold at a fraction of the cost of other wines produced at the estate. The 2020 is a blend of approximately two-thirds Merlot and one-third Cabernet Sauvignon and offers aromas of cherry, brown baking spices, crushed violet petals, and black plum. It has firm but approachable tannins and flavors of black currant, ripe cherry, and black raspberry. Drink now, or lay down for a few years before opening. 

In the mid 1750s, Baron Pichon de Longueville divided his original Pichon Baron estate in half with his three sisters. His portion retained the Pichon Baron name, and his sisters’ portion across the road acquired the name Pichon Comtesse. The 2023 Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc. It has aromas of graphite, black licorice, lavender, and freshly picked blueberries. It has generous, rounded tannins and flavors of cassis, rolled tobacco leaf, cigar box, dried orange peel, and blackberry. It’s beautiful right now, but it should be even better in five to seven years.

Château Giscours’ history goes back to 1330, but it was occupied during the French Revolution and subsequently purchased by two Americans in 1793. It was most recently acquired by Dutch businessman Eric Albada Jelgersma in 1995. The estate currently has over 200 acres of vines and produces approximately 30,000 cases of wine annually. Château Giscours was originally classified as a Troisièmes Crus—third growth—in 1855 and remains a very good value for the price. Aromas of blueberry, violet petals, black currant, and blueberry lead you into the glass for flavors of black plum, Oolong tea, freshly baked blueberry pie, and black raspberry. Drink now or hold for a decade or so.

Château Haut-Brion was established in 1533, though the chateau itself was completed in 1549. It has had numerous famous owners, including Jean de Pontac and Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Perigord, but was purchased by American financier Clarence Dillon in 1935. His descendant, Prince Robert of Luxembourg, is currently at the helm of the estate. The 2019 vintage represents a stunning example of the quality of their wine. A blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc, it has a deep purple color with aromas of ripe cherry, black raspberry, and candied violet. Firm but pleasant tannins support flavors of plum, tobacco leaf, brown baking spice, and black currant. It’s drinking beautifully right now at the six-year mark.

Château Mouton Rothschild has been producing highly sought-after and highly collectable wine for centuries. In recent times, the family has commissioned various artists to design their label and proudly display the artwork on each and every bottle of the vintage year. For the 2021 vintage, Japanese artist Chiharu Shiota created an original artwork entitled Universe of Mouton that depicts a beautiful silhouette of a human figure in nature. The wine in the bottle is an artwork as well. It is a blend of 89 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, 10 percent Merlot, and 1 percent Cabernet Franc that offers aromas of cedar, purple flowers, cherry, and Indian spice box. It has supple and rounded tannins and flavors of cherry, cigar box, and black currant. Drink now or hold for a decade or so.

Originally named for the Irish family who purchased the estate in 1771, Château Clarke was acquired by Baron Edmond de Rothschild two centuries later. He was the co-owner of Château Lafite Rothschild, and although he died in 1997, it was his dream to produce wine from a relatively unknown vineyard. To that end, he restored the estate and replanted the 135-acre vineyard as a single parcel. His family invested over $20 million between 2020 and 2023, implemented new technical winemaking systems, and restructured the vineyard so that it could adapt to the effects of climate change. Their 2020 Listrac-Medoc has enticing aromas of violet, cassis, cedar, and graphite that transform to flavors of blackberry, black plum, vanilla, and raspberry, all gently wrapped in a velvety tannic sheath. It’s drinking beautifully right now at the age of five years.

Every bottle of Château Angélus bears an image of a church bell, which signifies the three churches that surround the natural amphitheater of the estate’s principal vineyard. The ringing of the noon bell was first ordered by Pope Callistus III in the 1400s to remind the faithful to pray for protection against the Turkish invasions. Château Angélus is currently managed by Hubert de Boüard and his daughter Stéphanie de Boüard-Rivoal, and the family can trace their history back to 1544 with the birth of Georges Boüard. Château Angélus 2023 has delightful aromas of cassis, violet petal, and black raspberry that transition on the palate to black currant, black plum, and cherry. Drink now, but wait seven to 10 years to fully appreciate this beautiful wine.