Bordeaux

Bordeaux lies in south-west France around the city of Bordeaux, where the Garonne and Dordogne meet to form the broad Gironde estuary. The Atlantic moderates temperatures, while the Landes forest provides some protection from ocean winds. The climate is generally temperate and maritime, bringing useful rainfall but also humidity, fungal pressure and occasional challenging harvests. Its many mesoclimates help explain the region’s broad range of wine styles.

The Gironde effectively divides the principal red-wine areas into two banks. On the Left Bank, notably the Médoc and Graves, deep gravel ridges store warmth and drain freely, conditions particularly well suited to late-ripening Cabernet Sauvignon. On the Right Bank, including Saint-Émilion and Pomerol, clay and limestone are more prominent and Merlot excels. Entre-Deux-Mers, between the Garonne and Dordogne, has clay, limestone and gravel soils and is especially associated with dry white wine.

Red Bordeaux is usually a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, sometimes with Petit Verdot or Malbec. Merlot contributes roundness and plum fruit; Cabernet Sauvignon brings structure, blackcurrant notes and longevity; Cabernet Franc often adds fragrance, freshness and cedar-like spice. Classical white blends unite Sauvignon Blanc with Sémillon, sometimes Muscadelle. They can yield crisp dry whites as well as the botrytis-affected sweet wines of Sauternes and Barsac.

Bordeaux has a detailed hierarchy of regional, subregional and communal appellations. Familiar names include Médoc, Haut-Médoc, Margaux, Saint-Julien, Pauillac, Saint-Estèphe, Pessac-Léognan, Saint-Émilion and Pomerol. Historic classifications also exist, notably the 1855 classification covering, among others, classified growths of the Médoc and Sauternes; these sit alongside appellation law. Straightforward Bordeaux is often enjoyable young, whereas serious cru and village wines from strong sites and vintages can commonly mature for a decade or more.