Bordeaux

Predominate Varietals

There are five red grape varieties currently used to make red Bordeaux with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot as the major players. Cabernet Sauvignon flourishes on the Left Bank of the Gironde River while Merlot flourishes on the Right Bank of the river.

There are two major white grape varieties of the region, those being Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon. Both are used to make sweet and dry white wines with Sauvignon Blanc usually dominating the dry wines and Semillon basing the sweet wines.

MAJOR

• Cabernet Sauvignon: "King" of the Left Bank thriving in the gravelly soil producing one of the elite red wines in the world. Gives red Bordeaux its particular blackcurrant taste while providing tannin, backbone and structure.
• Merlot: "King" of the Right Bank producing wines accessible earlier than and generally matures sooner than Cabernet-based wines. Thrives in the typically limestone based soils topped with sandy clay of Right Bank, the grape is the most widely planted throughout the region; generally less acidic, tannic and softer than Cabernet Sauvignon.
• Sauvignon Blanc: Major player in dry white Bordeaux and a minor player in the sweet wines of Bordeaux; not as prone to noble rot as Semillon.
• Semillon: Being highly prone to noble rot, the grape is the base for all the great sweet wines of the region and most widely planted white grape in Bordeaux. Perfect partner to *Sauvignon Blanc and used to round off the dry whites.

MINOR

• Cabernet Franc: Parent grape of the mighty Cabernet Sauvignon contributing lighter color, tannins and body to wine. Preferring cooler climate of the Right Bank, the grape buds and matures sooner than Cabernet Sauvignon.
• Malbec: Once very widespread throughout the region, used as a blending grape contributing rich color and tannin but lacking in aroma and finesse.
• Petit Verdot: Final member of the five red Bordeaux varieties, generally used in nominal amounts contributing backbone and concentration. Being a late-ripening grape, it is often omitted from the blend unless seeing ideal vintage conditions.
• Muscadelle: Only used in small proportions in sweet wines and seldom used by the top estates.

Left Bank

MAJOR

• Pauillac: Home to three of the five 1st growths (Latour, Lafite-Rothschild and Mouton-Rothschild), seen by most as the most important commune of Haut-Medoc. The wines are characterized as full-bodied, tannic and concentrated as well as the longest-lived of all of Bordeaux red wines.
• Margaux: The classic descriptor for this region is feminine. The wines are generally accessible earlier than the other three major communes of Haut-Medoc being softer and developing a fragrant, perfumed bouquet sooner in life. Chateau Margaux is the one 1st growth of the region.
• St. Julian: Smallest of the four major communes of Haut-Medoc and often seen as producing wines similar to that of Pauillac. Contains no 1st Growths however due to its small size and high number of quality estates, the most consistent in quality of the four major communes of Medoc.
• St. Estephe: The largest and most northern of the four major communes of Haut-Medoc containing only five classified growths and no 1st growths. Typically the wines are tough, firm and tannic and less elegant than its neighbors.
• Graves: Located south of the city of Bordeaux and that of the four major communes of Haut-Medoc, the region is renowned for its fine gravelly soils. The wines are generally not as full and powerful as those of northern Haut-Medoc however very aromatic. Contains the only classified estate outside the Medoc, that being the 1st growth Chateau Haut-Brion.
• Pessac-Leognan: In 1987 the northern portion of Graves, being the most celebrated, was recognized with its own appellation. The subregion Pessac-Leognan contains the elite estates coming from within the region of Graves.

MINOR

• Moulis: Smallest of the six communes of the Haut-Medoc containing quality estates the likes of Chateau Chasse-Spleen and Chateau Poujeaux. The commune contains no classified growths.
• Listrac: The least significate of the six communes of the Haut-Medoc.

Right Bank

MAJOR

• St. Emilion: The first official Classification for St.-Emilion was in 1954 and is revised approximately every 10 years. Chateau Ausone and Chateau Cheval Blanc lead the pack, both being of the highest classification, premier cru A (there are nine other premier cru B).
• Pomerol: Although no official classification exists, Pomerol produces some of the world’s most expensive wines including world-renowned Chateau Petrus and the cult favorite, Le Pin. Pomerol is a small, compact area of relatively small estates producing relatively small amounts of wine with high price tags.

MINOR

• Cotes de Castillon: Located east of St.-Emilion offering wonderful Merlot-based wines of exceptional value.
• Fronsac: Located west of Pomerol producing approximately three times the quantity of Canon-Fronsac. While Cabernet Franc still takes a back seat to Merlot, it is used in larger quantities than in some of the lesser regions of the Right Bank.
• Canon-Fronsac: Located within Fronsac, producing similar quality and style of wine yet carrying a higher price tag due to smaller supply.
• Entre-Deux-Mers: Literally meaning “between two seas”, Entre-Deux-Mers is the chief grape source for generic red Bordeaux AC. Following Bordeaux AC, this is the second largest producer of white Bordeaux, the most of which is average at best.