Bordeaux

France's benchmark red region: maritime-climate, blend-based Left Bank (gravel, cabernet-driven) vs Right Bank (clay/limestone, merlot-driven), organised around the château system and the 1855 Classification.

About the region

Bordeaux is one of the world's major fine-wine regions (~290,350 acres across some sixty appellations), lying along the Gironde Estuary and its two feeder rivers, the Dordogne and the Garonne, an hour from the Atlantic. Its maritime climate — tempered by the ocean, the Gulf Stream and the Landes pine forests — is milder and more stable than it would otherwise be, but can be difficult, which is why growing several varieties that ripen at different times spreads the agricultural risk. Nearly 90 percent of the wine is red, and both red and white Bordeaux are almost always BLENDS of two or more varieties. The region splits into the LEFT BANK (west of the Gironde/Garonne — the Médoc and Graves, on deep, well-drained beds of gravel and stone, where cabernet sauvignon dominates and gives the wines their framework and tannic structure) and the RIGHT BANK (east of the Gironde/Dordogne — St.-Émilion and Pomerol, on cooler clay and limestone, where the earlier-ripening, fleshy merlot leads). The British call red Bordeaux 'claret.' Wine is made under the château system: a château is any building attached to vineyards with a cuverie (where wine is made) and a chai (where it is stored and aged). Bordeaux is famous for its multiple, region-specific classifications — most famously the 1855 Classification of the Médoc — and for its top wines' ability to be elegant yet concentrated and long-lived. It also makes superb sweet whites, notably Sauternes.

Within Bordeaux

Saint-Émilion

St.-Émilion is a leading RIGHT-BANK red appellation. On cooler clay and limestone soils, its wines are led by the fleshy, supple, earlier-ripening merlot, with cabernet franc — valued for aromatic intensity and notes of violets and spices — especially important here. St.-Émilion has its own classification (first drawn up in 1954 and, unlike the Médoc, revised roughly every decade): the top level is Premier Grand Cru Classé, split into an 'A' group (the higher tier) and a 'B' group, above the Grands Crus Classés. Its rankings have been repeatedly contested in court.

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Pomerol

Pomerol is a small, prestigious RIGHT-BANK red appellation on clay-rich soils, where the fleshy, supple merlot leads and cabernet franc plays an important supporting role. Uniquely among Bordeaux's major areas, Pomerol was never formally classified — yet it is home to some of the world's most expensive wines, such as Château Pétrus, which was unranked in 1855 simply because it was a Pomerol.

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Médoc

The Médoc (including the Haut-Médoc) is the heart of Bordeaux's LEFT BANK, on the west side of the Gironde Estuary. Its top vineyards sit on deep, well-drained beds of gravel and stone near the river — an old saying holds that the finest vineyards 'can see the river.' The land looks flat but has gently rolling rises that vary sun exposure and drainage. Inside the Haut-Médoc are four famous communes running north to south: St.-Estèphe, Pauillac, St.-Julien and Margaux. The wines are cabernet-sauvignon-based, drawing their framework, structure and considerable tannin — and thus their great ageing ability — from that grape.

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Saint-Estèphe

Saint-Estèphe is the northernmost major Médoc appellation. Heavy clay soils retain moisture and produce Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant blends with firm tannins and high acidity. Five Cru Classés include Cos d'Estournel and Montrose.

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Pessac-Léognan

Pessac-Léognan, appellation since 1987, sits on deep gravel beds north of Graves. Produces Cabernet Sauvignon-led reds and dry Sauvignon Blanc–Sémillon whites. Home to all 16 Crus Classés de Graves, including Haut-Brion.

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Saint-Julien

Saint-Julien sits between Pauillac and Margaux on the Médoc's Left Bank. Deep gravel over clay produces structured Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant blends. Eleven Crus Classés, all Second through Fourth Growth, define the appellation.

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Graves

Graves lies on the Left Bank south of the Médoc and is named for its gravelly soils. It makes both red and white wine, and contains one famous smaller appellation, Pessac-Léognan — home to Château Haut-Brion, the only non-Médoc estate ranked in the 1855 Classification (and later classified again under the separate 1953/1959 Graves system, giving it two classifications). The top Graves châteaux were all simply granted the title Grand Cru Classé, with no hierarchical order among them.

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