Among the most desirable wines are those produced in the impressive chateaux gracing the left and right banks of the Garonne River, the Dordogne River, and the Gironde. The legendary wines that are traditionally produced in these Chateaux can age for decades in monumental cellars vibrating with history and pride. The wealth and luxury surround you, resonating from the vineyards, to the architecture and the magnificent gardens, to the wine in your glass. Welcome to Bordeaux!

 

Location & Soils

Bordeaux wine region is in southeast France. The town that gave its name to the region is today a vibrant student town, with narrow streets, boutiques, restaurants and churches. North of the city, the Dordogne River, and the Garonne River meet to form a broad estuary called the Gironde. This is the largest wine-growing area in France with vineyards stretching as far as the eye can see, and a proud wine-making tradition that is 2,000 years old. The terroir is excellent for growing vines. The soils are limestone, rich with calcium, gravel, sandy stone and clay. There is plenty of irrigation from the Gironde and the rivers and the soils are well-drained. The Atlantic has a moderating effect on the climate. Each of the banks of the rivers is unique in its own way. 

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The Left Bank

The “left bank” of Bordeaux sometimes feels like Disneyland for wine lovers. The chateaux route (“La Route des Châteaux”) passes through impressive architectural buildings, charming villages like Pauillac and others, lakes and never-ending vineyards. For a moment, life is all about great wine. This is Cabernet Sauvignon's kingdom, dark (almost black) grapes that give the wines a deep color, high tannins, high acidity and strong flavors and must be aged in oak to soften the tannins. The aromas and flavors of the wine blend with those of the oak to give complex sophisticated wines that can mature for a very long time in bottles. Typical aromas and flavors are black fruits,  herbaceous, tobacco, licorice, cocoa, smoke, vanilla, coffee and cedar.

 

The Right Bank 

The right bank is the kingdom of Merlot, and the historic heart of the region. Like hundreds of years ago, citadels on the hilltops can be seen from a distance, surrounded by vineyards. The town of Saint Emilion is one of the most charming towns, filled with hidden wine cellars, Michelin star restaurants, and an abundance of large and artisanal wineries. Its sister, Pomerol, is a tiny village surrounded by exquisite wineries. Some of the highest value wines in the world are made here, in Chateau Petrus and a few of its neighbors, where a Merlot wine bottle can be sold for thousands of Euros.

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The varieties of the right bank are Merlot and Cabernet Franc (the ancient father of Cabernet Sauvignon). The flavors of Merlot range from red fruit flavors in the more northern areas, to black fruit flavors in warmer areas, to deep flavors like chocolate and fruitcake in the hot areas. Compared to Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot has less intense flavors, softer tannins, lower acidity, higher alcohol, and a fuller body.

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Bordeaux Blend

Typically, Bordeaux wines are blended and not varietal. The famous “Bordeaux Blend” of the top quality "left bank" is 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc and 15% Merlot. When blended with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc balance and "round" the wine to create legendary wines. The top-quality "right bank" blend usually has 70% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon.

 

Bordeaux Reds

“Red Bordeaux” is produced from a blend of grapes growing in the region (Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Malbec, Carmenere and four more varieties that were added recently (because of rising temperatures). 

 

Bordeaux Whites (Blancs)

While most Bordeaux wines are red (90%), there are a few interesting whites (for example in Graves) under the appellations Bordeaux Blanc and Bordeaux Superieur Blanc. It is also possible to find small quantities of rose and sparkling wines.

 

Sauternes & Noble Rot

The sweet wines of Bordeaux are uniquely exceptional. The most important sweet wines are made in Sauternes, a small village known for its unique “Liquid Gold” wines. Sauternes wines are produced from grapes that were affected by “Noble Rot” (Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc, and Muscadelle), resulting in sweet golden wines with rare aromas of orange, marmalade and a majestic mouthfeel.

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Classifications

Bordeaux wines vary in quality from everyday table wines to expensive prestigious wines. 

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There are 54 appellations. The first and major classification was initiated by Emperor Napoleon III and took place in 1855. All wines were evaluated and, practically assuming that market prices reflect wine quality - the wines ranked into five categories based on their price. The list of the 1855 classified wineries is fixed, and their wines are among the most expensive wines in the world. With the further development of the wine industry in Bordeaux, 100 years later, starting from 1955, more classifications have taken place, for example, in 1959 and in 2003. The latest classification is the Cu Artisan from 2006 that is revised every 10 years. The new classifications allow the list to be refreshed periodically and increases the wine quality. 

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Bordeaux Labels

Bordeaux wine labels usually include the name of the estate, its classification, the appellation (indicating the varieties of the wine in the bottle and of course its color), the location where the wine was bottled, the vintage and the alcohol content.   

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A word About Cognac

Finally, for completion, it is important to note that Bordeaux produces not only wine but also world-class cognac, up in the west bank of the river. 

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#France #Wine #Bordeaux