Bordeaux

Climate

Moderate Maritime

Influenced by Atlantic, Gulf stream, Les Landes, and tributaries.

Irrigation illigal

Varieties

Wine Styles

Soils

Warm Soils

Radiate heat to help ripen vines.

  • Gravel: Firm tannins and structure.
  • Sand: Yields softer, more approachable wines.

 

Cold Soils

Dense and moisture-retaining.

  • Clay: Iron rich, makes wines with prune and walnuts notes.
  • Limestone: Wines are more acidic and lean.

Classifications

Sub-regions

Left Bank: Low and flat. Mostly gravel.

Entre-Deux-Mers: Highest elevation in Bordeaux (which is still very low). Lots of soil types produce a variety of wine styles.

Right Bank: A string of small hills that is mostly clay and limestone.

AOCs

  • Can be red, white, rose, or sparkling.
  • Wines undergo chemical analysis and blind tastings.
  • All producers can classify wines as Bordeaux AOC or Bordeaux Superieur AOC as long as they meet criteria.
  • Dry whites CANNOT be Bordeaux Superieur AOC, but sweet whites can.

Left Bank

The Medoc

  • 100% Red wine.
  • Mostly cab sauv based.
  • 8 AOCs.

Graves and Sauternais

  • First vines planted in Graves.
  • 2/3 Production is red.
  • Ciron river provides climate for botrytis.

Entre-Deux-Mers

  • Red wine is majority of production.
  • Regions across the river from Sauternes produce sweet wines as well.

Libournais

The Cotes

  • All Cotes are on right bank on rivers, and face West.
  • Cotes de Bordeaux debuted in 2008 and is only red wine.