Bordeaux "Left Bank" (France)
Bordeaux wines are the most famous wine blends in the world.
On the Left Bank, Cabernet Saivignon is the primary grape in the blend.
Typical Flavors
 Black Currant |
 Blackberry |
 Black Cherry |
 Plum |
 Violets |
 Pepper |
 Licorice |
 Wet Stone |
Oak Added Flavors:
 Oak |
 Vanilla |
 Toast |
 Coffee |
Black Currant, Dark Berries and Plum are typical Bordeaux Left Bank flavors.
Dark Floral hints (Violets) and Wet Soil (Graphite).
Profile
| BODY | Full | ||
| TANNINS | Medium - High | ||
| FRUIT | Medium Plus | ||
| ACIDITY | Medium | ||
| |||
Food Pairing
 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.
Pairing Suggestions
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.
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The Ideal Glass
The Bordeaux glass is perfect for a bodied red wine.
It is taller than other red wine glasses, and has a slimmer bowl.
The large size of the glass allows the 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
Bordeaux in Southwest France is the most famous wine region in the world.
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.
The Left Bank
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 Right Bank
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.
Left Bank Wines
Bordeaux Rouge
Cabernet Sauvignon
Médoc
Margaux
Graves
Pessac-Léognan
Right Bank Wines
Bordeaux is dominated by red wine. Nearly 90% of all Bordeaux wine is red.
The most planted grape is Merlot, followed by Cabernet Sauvignon.
Red Grapes
66% Merlot
23% Cabernet Sauvignon
10% Cabernet Franc
2% Malbec
1% Petit Verdot
White Grapes
47% Sémillon
45% Sauvignon Blanc
5% Muscadelle
Bordeaux Blanc
Bordeaux Blanc
Pessac Léognan
Entre-Deux-Mers
Sémillon
Sweet Wines
Sauternes (Sweet)
Sparkling
Bordeaux Left Bank
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:
- Haut-Médoc
- Margaux (Château Margaux)
- St.Estephe
- St.Julien
- Pauillac (Château Lafite-Rothschild, Château Mouton Rothschild and Château Latour)
- Pessac Leognan (Château Haut-Brion)
Flavors:
Young: Spices. Earth. Tobacco.
Aged: Leather. Smoke. Truffle. Herbs. Cigar box.
Bordeaux Right Bank
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:
- St. Emilion (Cheval Blanc)
- Pomerol (Petrus)
Flavors:
Young: Black Cherry. Red Plum. Flowers. Chocolate. Licorice.
Aged: Earth. Truffle. Dark Chocolate. Tobacco.
White Bordeaux
White Bordeaux uses Sauvignon Blanc and Semillion as primary grapes.