Bordeaux wines are the most famous wine blends in the world.
On the Left Bank, Cabernet Saivignon is the primary grape in the blend.
![]() Black Currant |
![]() Blackberry |
![]() Black Cherry |
![]() Plum |
![]() Violets |
![]() Pepper |
![]() Licorice |
![]() Wet Stone |
![]() Oak |
![]() Vanilla |
![]() Toast |
![]() Coffee |
Black Currant, Dark Berries and Plum are typical Bordeaux Left Bank flavors.
Dark Floral hints (Violets) and Wet Soil (Graphite).
BODY | Full | ||
TANNINS | Medium - High | ||
FRUIT | Medium Plus | ||
ACIDITY | Medium | ||
|
![]() Mushroom |
![]() Hamburger |
![]() Ham |
![]() Casseroles |
![]() Pork |
![]() Lamb |
![]() Veal |
![]() Beef |
Rich Flavors and Tannins make Bordeaux Left Bank a perfect partner to Flavory Dishes.
Bordeaux loves Roasted Lamb and BBQ.
Excellent Pairing:
BBQ. Grilled. Roasts.
Roasted Potatoes and Onions.
Grilled Mushrooms (Portobello).
Grilled Veggetables.
BBQ. Chicken. Pork. Rabbit. Game.
Caramel Chicken.
Roasted Lamb. Lamb Chops. Lamb Shank.
Hamburger. Cheese Burger. Bacon Burger.
Red Meat Dishes. Spareribs. Veal Chops.
Pepper Beef. T-Bone. Kobe. Entrecôte.
Filet Mignon. Filetto (Italy). Solomillo (Spain).
Cheese:
Hard Cow Milk Cheese. French Comté. Cheddar.
The Bordeaux glass is perfect for medium to full bodied red wines.
It is taller than other red wine glasses, and has a slimmer bowl.
The large size of the glass allows the fruit bouquet to develop. It smooths out rough edges, plays down tannins, and allows the wines to achieve balance.
The slimmer bowl sends the wine directly to the back of the mouth for maximum taste.
Bordeaux in Southwest France is the most popular wine region in the world.
The river Gironde splits the area in the famous Left Bank (Southwest) and the Right Bank (Northeast) where two very different famous blends are produced.
On the Left Bank, Cabernet Sauvignon is the primary grape.
A typical top-quality "Bordeaux Blend" consists of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc, and 15% Merlot.
Left Bank wines are often spicy with bold tannins and are good candidates for aging.
On the Right Bank, Merlot is the primary grape.
A typical Right Bank blend consists of 70% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc, and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon.
Right Bank wines are also bold, but smoother, with softer tannins and typical Merlot fruity flavors. They can age, but are more "drink me soon" style.
The river Gironde splits the area in the famous Left Bank (Southwest) and the Right Bank (Northeast) where the two famous, but very different, Bordeaux Blends are produced.
On the Left Bank, Cabernet Sauvignon is the primary grape.
On the Right Bank, Merlot is the primary grape.
Bordeaux is dominated by red wine. Nearly 90% of all Bordeaux wine is red.
The most planted grape is Merlot, followed by Cabernet Sauvignon.
66% Merlot
23% Cabernet Sauvignon
10% Cabernet Franc
2% Malbec
1% Petit Verdot
47% Sémillon
45% Sauvignon Blanc
5% Muscadelle
Bordeaux Blanc
Pessac Léognan
Entre-Deux-Mers
Sémillon
Sauternes (Sweet)
On the Left Bank, Cabernet Sauvignon is the primary grape.
A typical top-quality "Bordeaux Blend" consists of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc, and 15% Merlot.
Left Bank wines are often spicy with bold tannins and are good candidates for aging.
The terroir is rocky, with gravel (stones) and some limestone.
In the wine world, this bad soil means good wine because the more the roots have to struggle, the better the quality. Rocky soils and hillsides give a good drainage (too much water gives a watery berry).
Famous appellations are:
Flavors:
Young: Spices. Earth. Tobacco.
Aged: Leather. Smoke. Truffle. Herbs. Cigar box.
On the Right Bank, Merlot is the primary grape.
A typical Right Bank blend consists of 70% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc, and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon.
Right Bank wines are also bold, but smoother, with softer tannins and typical Merlot fruity flavors. They can age, but are more "drink me soon" style.
The terroir on the right bank is less difficult, with less gravel and more clay and limestone.
Famous appellations are:
Flavors:
Young: Black Cherry. Red Plum. Flowers. Chocolate. Licorice.
Aged: Earth. Truffle. Dark Chocolate. Tobacco.
White Bordeaux uses Sauvignon Blanc and Semillion as primary grapes.