Cards of Wine

The Bordeaux Wine Region

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 two very different famous blends are produced.

Bordeaux

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:

Few chateaux with many hectars (50-80ha average).

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:

Many small chateaux with few hectars (30 average).

Flavors young: black cherries, red plums, flowers, chocolate, licorice. Aged: earth, truffle, dark chocolate, tobacco.

White Bordeaux

White Bordeaux uses Sauvignon Blanc and Semillion as primary grapes.