A Tale of Two Banks: Exploring Bordeaux’s Left and Right Bank Wines

A Tale of Two Banks: Exploring Bordeaux’s Left and Right Bank Wines

Bordeaux is one of the most famous wine regions in the world, known for its two prominent styles: Left Bank and Right Bank. These styles are defined by the region's geography, dominated by rivers and divided into three parts by the Gironde estuary: Left Bank, Right Bank, and the area between the two rivers known as Entre-Deux-Mers. If you are interested in understanding which grapes thrive in each area, you are in the right place.

1. Grapes Predominantly Grown in Each Area

Due to geographical reasons, the soil composition of the Left and Right Banks is significantly different, affecting the types of grapes that are suitable for cultivation.

Left Bank

The soil on the Left Bank mainly consists of gravel with some clay layers. Cabernet Sauvignon vines, which are late-ripening, need to stay as warm and dry as possible. Gravel is an ideal choice because it drains well and its large stones retain heat. Although Left Bank grows Cabernet Sauvignon primarily, small amounts of Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Malbec are also planted, along with some white grape varieties such as Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc for blending purposes.

Right Bank

The Right Bank, being further from the ocean, has finer soils dominated by clay-limestone, which are suitable for Merlot. Merlot vines ripen earlier and prefer cool, moist environments, making clay-limestone an ideal growing medium.

2. Different Styles

Left Bank Wines

Cabernet Sauvignon, with its small, thick-skinned grapes, has a high skin-to-juice ratio during pressing. The skins contain tannins and pigments, meaning Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant wines are deeply colored and high in tannins and acidity in young age, which could be too overpowering for some. These wines exhibit prominent black fruit aromas, such as blackcurrant and black cherry, and, to balance the tannins and acidity, are often blended with varieties like Merlot and Petit Verdot. Over time, they develop pleasant cedar and cigar-box flavors.

Right Bank Wines

Merlot grapes are larger in size and have thinner skins, resulting in lower tannin levels in young wines. These wines are more approachable early on, with a soft texture and flavors of red plum, cherry, and other fruits, offering a hedonistic feel. However, due to its softer nature, Merlot is often blended with small amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon or Cabernet Franc to add complexity.

Summary

To summarize, Left Bank wines are primarily made from Cabernet Sauvignon, which, when young, are tannic and strong-flavored but have great aging potential due to their high tannin content.

Right Bank wines, primarily made from Merlot, are more suitable for immediate consumption and offer a softer, more approachable profile. However, they don't have the same aging potential as Left Bank wines.

Both banks can produce exceptional wines, each with unique characteristics. Exploring and comparing wines from both banks can enhance your appreciation of the subtleties in great wine, bringing extra joy to your wine-tasting experience. So why not try wines from both and discover the distinctive pleasures they offer?

Next Article

In our next article, we'll explore the different sub-regions within the Left Bank and the Right Bank.