Montpellier scored twice in the last three minutes to continue their astonishing start to the Ligue 1 season and move level on points with the league leaders once more.
Rene Girard's team had won five and lost only two of their first eight games, but looked set for another defeat when they trailed 2-0 to goals from Cheick Diabate and Mickael Ciani, despite Bordeaux defender Marc Planus' dismissal.
Curiously, both Montpellier's goals came after they too had been reduced to 10 men, with captain Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa sent off before Younes Belhanda's penalty and defender Hilton's injury-time equaliser.
The hosts took the lead in the 18th minute when Jaroslav Plasil's free-kick was repelled by goalkeeper Geoffrey Jourdren but Landry N'Guemo followed up and crossed for Diabate to volley home.
Planus received a straight red card in the 25th minute for a bad challenge on John Utaka, and the former Portsmouth striker almost exacted revenge when he fired a cross-shot inches wide after being picked out by Belhanda.
The Nigerian had another chance before half-time when he volleyed over with keeper Cedric Carrasso beaten, but Bordeaux's lead remained intact - and was extended five minutes into the second period.
Again, it originated from a Plasil set-piece, Ciani meeting his left-wing corner at the near post and heading past Jourdren.
Nicolas Maurice-Belay almost killed the game off but shot just wide, before Montpellier's Souleymane Camara skimmed the crossbar with a header from Henri Bedimo's cross.
Yanga-Mbiwa received his second yellow card 10 minutes from time for a foul on Yoan Gouffran, but it sparked an unlikely comeback from his side.
They cut the deficit when Ciani handled Olivier Giroud's free-kick in the penalty area and Belhanda stayed ice-cool to chip the penalty over the diving Carrasso.
And incredibly the equaliser arrived when Marco Estrada's free-kick was nodded across goal by Giroud and Hilton poked the ball home at the far post.
Angry home fans attempted to infiltrate the pitch after the final whistle and confront the match officials, who had to be escorted off the pitch by security staff.
