Master of Wine Jancis Robinson says, “I am always banging on about how price is no absolute guide to quality and I believe this is particularly true of Bordeaux.” She goes on to say that although most first growths sell for hundreds or thousands of dollars per bottle, there are plenty of high-quality petits châteaux wines available for a fraction of that price. In fact, it’s possible to find many top-quality and age-worthy wines for less than $200 per bottle. This guide to the best Bordeaux under $200 will help you discover fine red and white wines that have some of the highest quality-to-price ratios on the market. You don’t have to break the bank to start a stellar Bordeaux collection of your own—these wines are both impeccably crafted and affordable.
Not All Top-Quality Bordeaux Is Expensive
Many Bordeaux collectors mistakenly believe highly rated wines are always expensive. However, this isn’t the case for all Bordeaux. For example, 2016 Château Pichon Baron received near-perfect scores (between 98 and 99 points) from many professional critics, yet this wine sells for around just $150 per bottle. So why does this wine cost so much less than wines like 2016 Château Mouton Rothschild or 2016 Château Haut-Brion? The answer lies in the Bordeaux classification system.
Many lower-ranked Bordeaux producers have improved over the decades since the official classification and are crafting exquisite wines.
The Bordeaux Wine Official Classification of 1855 ranked the best estates from first to fifth growths and is still used to classify modern wines today. The first growth producers are:
- Château Haut-Brion
- Château Mouton Rothschild
- Château Lafite Rothschild
- Château Latour
- Château Margaux
- Château d’Yquem (ranked as a superior first growth among white wines)
The estates above produce many of the most expensive wines in the region, in part because these wines are of exceptional quality and also because they’re sought-after among investors looking to resell their collections. However, while the official classification gives wine consumers a sense of which wines are highest in quality overall, it’s far from perfect. The main problem with relying too heavily on official classifications is that the system is inflexible and slow to change. Many lower-ranked Bordeaux producers have improved over the decades since the classification and are crafting exquisite wines. Consumers are beginning to catch on to this fact, too; some cult-favorite fifth growth wines like Château Lynch-Bages are now slightly more expensive than wines from much higher-ranked second growth producers like Château Rauzan-Gassies. This is precisely because Château Lynch-Bages has improved so much in quality, which has increased demand for these wines.
So, until the official classification is updated to accurately reflect the quality of all modern Bordeaux, wine enthusiasts shouldn’t rely on it to decide whether a wine is worth the price. Instead, they should assess each wine individually and consider other factors that may indicate quality, such as:
- High scores (96 points or more on average) from trustworthy professional critics
- Rarity and low annual yields
- Aging potential
- Terroir quality and reputation
- Market demand
- Whether it’s a second wine label from an iconic estate (which typically cost less than flagship labels)
To help you start a collection of the best Bordeaux under $200, we’ve put together a list of affordable red and white wines that have one or more of the qualities above.
The Best Bordeaux Under $200 for Red Wine Collectors
If you’re looking for the best Bordeaux under $200, you’ll find plenty of great red wine options from estates that are not classified as first growths. All of the wines in the list below received scores of at least 96 points or more from most critics and many are also age-worthy.
Wine |
Price (on the Vinfolio marketplace) |
Aging Potential |
2016 Château Haut-Bailly | $162 | Hold until 2025; drink through 2045 |
2015 Château Haut-Bailly | $139 | Hold until 2020; drink through 2040 |
2005 Château Pape Clément | $190 | Drink now through 2040 |
2016 Château Pichon Baron | $149 | Hold until 2025; drink through 2040 |
2015 Château Pontet-Canet | $120 | Hold until 2022; drink through 2035 |
2015 Château Rauzan-Ségla | $125 | Hold until 2025; drink through 2040 |
2010 Château Smith Haut Lafitte | $168 | Drink now through 2040 |
2016 Château Troplong-Mondot | $129 | Hold until 2022; drink through 2045 |
2015 Château Valandraud | $199 | Drink now through 2035 |
2009 Clos l’Église | $165 | Drink now through 2030 |
If you’re looking for excellent red Bordeaux under $200, another option is to invest in second or third wines from first growth estates. These wines cost hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars less than the flagship labels in part because there’s less secondary market demand for them.
Investing in these lesser-known labels makes it possible to build an affordable collection of wines from the greatest producers in Bordeaux’s history.
Wine |
Price (on the Vinfolio marketplace) |
Aging Potential |
1995 Château Haut-Brion Bahans de Haut-Brion | $130 | Drink now |
2018 Château Haut-Brion Le Clarence de Haut-Brion | $139 | Hold until 2025; drink through 2040 |
2015 Château Haut-Brion Le Clarence de Haut-Brion | $115 | Hold until 2020; drink through 2040 |
2017 Château Lafite Rothschild Carruades de Lafite | $194 | Hold until 2025; drink through 2040 |
2013 Château Latour Les Forts de Latour | $198 | Drink now through 2030 |
2006 Château Latour Les Forts de Latour | $191 | Drink now through 2025 |
2005 Château Margaux Pavillon Rouge | $199 | Drink now through 2025 |
1996 Château Margaux Pavillon Rouge | $195 | Drink now |
1990 Château Margaux Pavillon Rouge | $190 | Drink now |
2017 Château Mouton Rothschild Le Petit Mouton | $199 | Hold until 2025; drink through 2040 |
2016 Château Mouton Rothschild Le Petit Mouton | $169 | Hold until 2025; drink through 2040 |
These second wines won’t age quite as long or gain as much in value as flagship wines from these estates, but they are still delicious, complex, and have aging potential. Investing in these lesser-known labels makes it possible to build an affordable collection of wines from the greatest producers in Bordeaux’s history.
The Best Bordeaux Under $200 for White Wine Collectors
It’s easy to find high-quality Bordeaux for under $200 in regions known for producing fine white wines, like Sauternes. That’s because these wines have always been less expensive on average than red Bordeaux blends. However, although these wines typically cost less (only a handful of producers–like Château d’Yquem–make wines that cost more than $200 per bottle), they are still wonderfully complex and age-worthy. Below is a list of some of the best Bordeaux under $200 for fans of sweet white wines:
Wine |
Price (on the Vinfolio marketplace) |
Aging Potential |
2007 Château Climens 1er Cru | $80 | Drink now through 2030 |
2001 Château Climens 1er Cru | $189 | Drink now through 2030 |
2015 Château Doisy-Daëne L’Extravagant | $143 | Hold until 2020; drink through 2040 |
2011 Château Guiraud | $95 | Drink now through 2035 |
2017 Château Rieussec | $55 | Drink now through 2040 |
2016 Château d’Yquem | $179 (375 ml bottle) | Hold until 2025; drink through 2065 |
2015 Château d’Yquem | $199 (375 ml bottle) | Hold until 2030; drink through 2050 |
2014 Château d’Yquem | $179 (375 ml bottle) | Hold until 2025; drink through 2050 |
2013 Château d’Yquem | $169 (375 ml bottle) | Hold until 2020; drink through 2050 |
2010 Château d’Yquem | $199 (375 ml bottle) | Hold until 2020; drink through 2050 |
Wines in smaller format bottles like half bottles may not age as long as those in standard-sized bottles.
You may be surprised to find vintages from Château d’Yquem on this list. Although these wines typically sell for much more than $200 per bottle, they are less expensive when they’re young or when they’re sold in smaller format bottles. Buying smaller bottles is a great way to build a collection of Château d’Yquem and other top-quality Sauternes wines on a budget. However, keep in mind that wines in smaller format bottles like half bottles may not age as long as those in standard-sized bottles, so you may have to open these wines earlier than the drinking window indicates.
If you prefer dry white wines, take a look at some of the best white Bordeaux under $200 from first growth estates:
Wine |
Price (on the Vinfolio marketplace) |
Aging Potential |
2018 Château Haut-Brion La Clarté de Haut-Brion | $85 | Drink now through 2025 |
2010 Château Mouton Rothschild Aile d’Argent | $84 | Drink now |
2010 Château Mouton Rothschild Aile d’Argent | $84 | Drink now |
These white wines aren’t as collectible, age-worthy, or high in quality as Château Haut-Brion or Château Mouton Rothschild’s flagship labels. However, they are still fascinating to drink, especially when they’re young. You can drink these wines while you wait for your more age-worthy dry white Bordeaux to mature.
Why You Should Invest in the Best Bordeaux Under $200
Focusing your collecting efforts on the best Bordeaux under $200 allows you to build a large collection with a small budget. This is perfect for beginner collectors who are still trying to discover wines and producers they enjoy without committing to a huge investment up front. Concentrating on bottles that cost $200 or less is also a good idea for collectors interested in buying wine by the case. For just $2,000 or less, it’s possible to invest in a full case of wine that can be opened over the course of several years or sold at a much higher price once the wine reaches maturity.
Regardless of what your reasons are for buying the best Bordeaux under $200, all of the wines in this guide make perfect additions to any collection. Don’t be fooled by the price tag—these wines are deeply impressive.
Whether you are starting your high-end wine collection or adding to an established portfolio, Vinfolio is your partner in buying, selling, and professional storage. Contact us today to get access to the world’s finest wine.