BORDEAUX STYLE WINES

California Wines ~ Bordeaux Style

Bordeaux has two harmonious wine regions ~ Left Bank and Right Bank


Bordeaux has been the largest and most popular wine region in the world for more than two thousand years. Divided by the river Gironde, Bordeaux is classified in two parts, the Left Bank, on the Atlantic Ocean side, which is famous for wines dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon and the Right Bank, which produces wines that have a larger percentage of Merlot.


Left Bank Bordeaux

The Left Bank, is where you find all the famous First Growth wines from the now legendary Classification of 1855. All the Left Bank wines are blends dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon, followed by Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec.

The primary characteristics of Left Bank wines comes from the combination of the grapes in the blend, and the soils, which are mostly gravel, with some clay. The best wines combine elegance with tannic structure, giving the wines firm mouth feel, coupled with flavors of currants, spice, earth and tobacco when young. With age they become softer and more refined, taking on additional nuances (very slight flavor hints) of cigar box, cedar, leather, smoke, herbs, truffle and tobacco.


Right Bank Bordeaux

The Right Bank is the home to the famous Petrus and Cheval Blanc, the best wines in the world made from Merlot and Cabernet Franc. There are also small plantings of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Malbec but Merlot is the undisputed king in the vineyards. The two most famous appellations in the Right Bank are St. Emilion and Pomerol.

The soils in this region are mostly clay and limestone, with some gravel and sand. Right Bank wines offer lush, sensuous textures, soft tannins and noses of juicy, black cherries, licorice, black and red plums, chocolate, flowers and truffle when young, while with age more tobacco, truffle, dark chocolate and earthy characteristics.




Bordeaux Premier Cru Map 850x1033


Williamson Bordeaux-Style Wines

Allure Meritage

Intense crimson color; subtle bouquet notes of fig, blackberry, raspberry, and hints of violet. Blessed with superb balance, an incredible combination of richness and delicacy, freshness and concentration.

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Amour Merlot

The world's finest Merlot is the revered Pétrus Merlot Clone 181 from Pomerol which we also planted right here in our Home Ranch Vineyards, bottled as the single-vineyard Amour Merlot, also used in our Bordeaux-style blends.

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Amuse Mélange

The initial bold color and nose introduces rich fruit in the mouth focused on red and black plum, earth and cocoa notes that show through finishing on a tighter note - a reminder that this is a concentrated wine with a bright future.

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Arouse Mélange

Arousing a gentle monster; aroma of dark, ripe plum with powerful red fruit in the mouth and delicate touches of licorice and fennel. Silky ultra-soft tannin throughout; not the slightest hint of astringency. A wine to drink and enjoy.

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Cherish Mélange

Cherish the critical balance between the Merlot suppleness, roundness and exceptional length and the Cabernet Franc which cherishes the nose with ripe red fruit delivering a wonderful, lasting impression.

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Clarissa Vin Rouge

Dark ruby color, beautiful, heady, complex aroma, dusty Cabernet in the mouth with an incredible, balanced cornucopia of dark flavors, licorice, blackberry, walnut and sultana very alive and totally in control..

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Entice Cuvée

Lively nose; luscious palate, juicy blackberry, currant and date flavors, powerful yet delicate with freshness and fullness on the palate evolving into a full-bodied, food friendly wine in search of a big pepper steak.

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Folly Mélange

Rich mouth-filling fruit, blackberries and blueberries; spices, cloves, sandalwood and dried lavender. Beautiful, dense center palate with perfectly polished long finish. Extremely powerful, refined, masculine, elegant and complex.

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Impulse Cabernet Sauvignon

Delicate, complex aroma, just a hint of violets. On the palate, incredible volume, smoothness and length showing notes of ripe dark berries, truffle, tobacco and blackcurrant. A great combination of complexity, density and volume.

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Indulge Cabernet Sauvignon

A substantial Cabernet with cedar, leather and pine on the nose followed by a beautiful palate showing lovely black fruit with touches of brier or bramble. A very pleasant density and texture ending with finely grained tannin.

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Ingénue Cabernet Sauvignon

Intense, deep red; beautiful cedar and herbs de Provence aroma; a rich mouthful of pleasure expanding to hints of vanilla and chocolate; firm and well-rounded structure revealing a long finish of profound aromatic intensity.

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Inspire Cabernet Sauvignon

Crimson-purple; intense blackcurrant and raspberry aroma with spice notes. Supple yet powerful flavors supported by a rich, silky tannin structure that nicely rounds out this impressive wine, inspiring the palate.

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Interlude Mélange

Intensely dark. Pure, refined, precise, ripe fruit. Silky and fresh on the palate with spicy notes and sleek, imposing tannin - wow! Inspired by the wines of Château Latour this is a beautiful wine worthy of its own interlude.

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Intrigue Mélange

Deep red color. Truly beautiful bouquet, notes of blackberry and blackcurrant along with chocolate and coffee. Smooth, well-structured tannin combining power and elegance with full, luscious body from beginning to end.

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Perky Petit Verdot

Dark garnet color with a violet and leather on the nose. In the mouth it starts as a massive wine with flavors of plum, lilac, violet and sage yet through the mid-pallet it ends up silky smooth making it a phenomenal wine to sit and sip.

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Ravish Mélange

Aromatically complex classic "French" nose, spice, coffee, cinnamon, chocolate, plums, dark cherries, truffles and fresh flowers - then in the mouth a torrent of dense fresh pleasure and great structure to ravish your senses.

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Seduce Cabernet Sauvignon

Seductive nose and remarkably balanced on the palate with complex layers of black fruit, cedar, herbs and spice. Just the right intensity and yet still balanced and elegant. Good tannin, soft yet powerful indicating its aging potential.

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Sovereign Cabernet Sauvignon

Intense structured, blueberry and blackberry with savory notes as the wine opens. The interplay of fruit, structure and acidity is compelling. Closing notes of violet, rose petal and mocha add further nuance. A once-in-a-lifetime wine.

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Stagecoach Cabernet Sauvignon

Elegant perfume and cedar aromas. Concentrated palate, dark berry, cardamom and a hint of tobacco with a long, flavorful finish supported by warm spicy notes. Lingering, powerful yet supple tannin indicating great aging structure.

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Sultry Cabernet Franc

Exotic roasted nut and dark fruit aroma then comes caramel, cranberry, a touch of licorice and spice - intoxicating! Full rich palate with its berry and plum finishing with a light black cherry flavor. A fine wine built on poise, not power.

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Tango Malbec

An expanse of blackberry, plum and black cherry while the nuanced flavors offer milk chocolate, cocoa powder, violet flowers, leather with a short, slightly sweet tobacco finish perfect for red meats and spicy foods.

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Tantalize Mélange

Once a year Bill makes an individual wine that will will tease your taste buds, tormenting them by presenting something desirable and only keeping it available for a short time - every vintage is a different blend - something to tantalize.

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The 1919 Mary Doyle

This wine is “like the power of the earth in a glass!” It tastes of raw power with that good fragrance of the countryside dampened by the season’s first rains. Powerful and sensuous, a perfect legacy for Mary, who would never settle for anything less!

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Desire Rose

Desire Rosé

Try something a little different like a delicious, fruity, dry rosé wine produced from a combination of Atlas Peak Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc, the very same fruit that we use to make our reserve wines.

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Tickled Pink Rosé

Summertime picnics; sunbaked days at the beach; the scent of meats grilling over hot coals; so try a fresh and fruit forward dry rosé wine. Pair with starters: tapenade, shrimps or toast with fresh goat cheese or even a refreshing salad.

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Joy Sauvignon Blanc

We found a cool spot by the frigid Dry Creek river - a perfect place to grow a joyful delicate, dry Sauvignon Blanc. Oak barrel aging rounds out the guava, grapefruit and melon flavors while softening the naturally high acidity.

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