All about Bordeaux

Updated on December 13, 2022

When we talk about wine, the Bordeaux region is one of the first that comes to mind. Over the years, the wines of Bordeaux have been able to distinguish themselves and today make it one of the most famous wine regions in the world. It is also a very complex wine region and it is sometimes difficult to understand all its workings and characteristics. Here are some essential information to know about the Bordeaux region.

A little history...

Bordeaux wines are known and recognized throughout the world and are often symbols of quality. But do you know what made them so famous? Here is some information that will help you understand the origin of the reputation of Bordeaux wines.

The first traces of viticulture in Bordeaux The origins of the vineyard go back to the first century, at the time of the Roman conquest and the importation of the biturica (ancestor of the cabernet), a variety which gave birth to the first vines in the Bordeaux region.
Importing wine being expensive, the Bordeaux people decided to produce their own wines. Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon were born. The city of Bordeaux became a flourishing business and gradually turned into a trading city.

The first important turning point was in the 12th century. It was during this period that Henri II Plantagenet became King of England. As he was married to Eleanor of Aquitaine and thanks to the commercial port facilitating exchanges between the two countries, the English quickly adopted the wines of Aquitaine, especially the claret. At that time, only two types of wine existed: claret (light and clear) and vin noir (high in tannins).
The explosion of exported wines led to The expansion of the Bordeaux vineyard, especially in the Graves and the Médoc. The people of Bordeaux tried to increase the quality of their wines and developed the use of barrels, which was facilitated by the transport of wood by the Garonne and the Dordogne. The producers invested in new techniques and increased their production.

It was in the 17th century that a new type of wine appeared, one that could be preserved. It was the "Ho-Bryan" (Haut-Brion) which was transported for the first time in wooden barrels and no longer in amphorae, allowing a better conservation of the wine. The Bordeaux wines continued to gain notoriety and the producers never ceased to develop new techniques and thus increase the quality of their wines, which is why Napoleon III asked for the drafting of a classification for the Universal Exhibition of 1855.

Then, around 1870, the region did not escape the invasion of phylloxera and was also strongly affected by mildew (two diseases of the vine). Wines became scarcer, which explains the increase in prices. The invention of the "bouillie bordelaise" (a compound made of water, copper sulfate and lime) to fight against mildew.
In the middle of the 20th century, the wine region experienced a new turning point due to severe episodes of frost and heat; we then saw a change in the grape varieties in favor of merlot.

These are the reasons why the Bordeaux vineyard has today this characteristic of a region producing quality products and of a great technicality; in particular with its wines of assemblies, characteristic of the region.

7 zones of appellations spread over 3 major regions

The Bordeaux basin also draws its particularity from its distinct separation into three large regions, each with their own characteristics. These three regions are easily identifiable thanks to the two rivers that separate them: the Garonne (the one to the north) and the Dordogne (the one to the south), both of which join together to flow into the Gironde estuary.

We can distinguish the right and left banks of the Gironde and the entre-deux-mers located between the Garonne and the Dordogne.

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Right bank

The grape variety that is probably the most characteristic of the right bank is the predominance of the merlot, planted at 70%, where it expresses itself best, notably thanks to the limestone soils characteristic of this area.

Blaye & Bourg
Côtes and Premières Côtes de Blaye / Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux / Côtes de Bourg

The Libournais
Fronsac / Canon-Fronsac / Pomerol / Lalande-de-Pomerol / Montagne Saint-Emilion / Lussac Saint-Emilion / Puisseguin-Saint-Emilion / Côtes de Francs / Côtes de Castillon / Saint-Emilion

Bordeaux & Bordeaux Supérieur

Left Bank

The left bank is characterized by a lot of soils where sand, gravel and clay (thicker minerals) mix to form "gravels", completely characteristic of the estates and châteaux on this side of the Gironde.The left bank is characterized by soils where sand, gravel and clay ("thick", larger minerals) mix to form the "gravels", completely characteristic of the estates and châteaux on this side of the Gironde. Contrary to the right bank, the most planted grape variety is cabernet sauvignon (but merlot and cabernet franc are also present).

Médoc

Saint-Estèphe / Pauillac / Saint-Julien /Listrac-Médoc/ Moulis / Margaux /Haut-Médoc/ Médoc

Graves

Pessac-Léognan/ Graves / Sauternais

Sauternes / Barsac /Cerons

Bordeaux & Bordeaux Supérieur

Entre-deux-Mers

The Entre-deux-mers is located between the Dordogne and the Garonne rivers. This area, less known than its two neighbors, produces, among others, dry and fruity white wines.
Entre-Deux-Mers Haut-Benauge / Graves de Vayres / Cadillac / Loupiac / Sainte-Croix-du-Mont/ Bordeaux & Bordeaux Supérieur

The main grape varieties

Reds :

- Merlot

Often blended with Cabernet Franc, it is renowned for producing round, fruity wines with supple tannins. Very present on the right bank (Pomerol, Saint-Emilion), it is the most planted grape variety in the region. Cherry, prune, strawberry and raspberry are characteristic aromas of the variety, balanced by notes of leather and cedar.

- Cabernet Sauvignon

This grape variety was born from a cross between a Cabernet Franc and a Sauvignon Blanc. It is mostly planted on the left bank. It allows to produce wines with a good aptitude for aging, thanks to its very rich tannic structure (the tannins soften during aging) as well as its strong color. Cherry, blackcurrant and licorice are characteristic aromas of Cabernet Sauvignon.

- Cabernet Franc

One of the oldest grape varieties to be cultivated in Gironde, Cabernet Franc produces very structured, aromatic wines with less tannin than Cabernet Sauvignon, which allows it to age more quickly. Strawberry, bell pepper, raspberry or violet are aromas
violet are some of the aromas of this grape variety.

- Malbec

This grape variety is the king of Argentina and is also used (on a smaller scale) in the Bordeaux region. This grape variety is known to give very fruity and colored wines with a good tannin content which makes it suitable for aging. Chocolate, blackcurrant and blackberry are aromas that you will find in a malbec.

- Petit Verdot

More present on the left bank of the Bordeaux basin, the petit verdot gives very tannic wines with a dark color which explains the time necessary for their aromas to reveal themselves (violet, blackberry, blueberry, cherry...). Petit Verdot is a grape variety used especially in blends with other grape varieties.

Whites :

- Semillon

It produces dry white wines that turn out to be very complex if they have been aged in barrel. It can be found in the Graves or in Pessac-Léognan, with mineral aromas, lemon, white peach... But it is also the king grape variety in Sauternes and Barsac with their production of dessert wines with orange, honey and citrus aromas.

- Sauvignon Blanc

Also used in the production of sweet white wines of Sauternes. Otherwise, it gives dry white wines, with aromas of grapefruit, melon, white peach or passion fruit.

- The muscadelle

It gives sweet, round and low acid wines. Generally with a very fruity nose, Muscadelle is generally used in blending and the aromas of pineapple and lemon are characteristic.

The classifications

The Bordeaux vineyards are distinguished from the others by their classifications; today five of them are used as references:

The 1855 classification (modified in 1973)

This is the most famous classification today, notably because it is the oldest. It was requested by Napoleon III on the occasion of the Universal Exhibition of 1855. It does not cover the whole of the Bordeaux vineyard, since at the time the chambers of commerce of Bordeaux and Libourne were quite distinct. The Bordeaux Chamber of Commerce having carried out the classification (at the request of Napoleon III), we find the Médoc wines (except for Château Haut-Brion which is part of the Graves) as well as the sweet white wines of the Graves (Sauternes and Barsac). It is therefore normal not to find the wines of the right bank appellations, such as Pomerol or Saint-Emilion.

There are five levels of classification for the reds and three levels for the whites.

Reds :

- Premiers Crus: Château Lafite, Château Margaux, Château Haut-Brion; Château
Latour, Château Mouton-Rothschild (first growth since 1973, second before)
- Second Growths (e.g. Château Gruaud Larose, Château Lascombes, Cos
Destournel)
- Third Growths (e.g. Château Palmer, Château Lagrange, Château Ferrière)
- Fourth Growths (ex : Château Marquis de Terme, Château Saint-Pierre, Château
Pouget)
- Fifth Growths (e.g. Château Pedesclaux, Château Dauzac, Château Grand-Puy
Ducasse)

White wines :

- Premier Cru Supérieur : Château d'Yquem
- First Growths (e.g. Château la Tour Blanche, Château Coutet, Château Rieussec)
- Second Growths (e.g. Château Suau, Château Caillou, Château Lamothe)

The main criticism of the classification today is that it was made at a time when it was largely based on the price per bottle.

The Graves classification

Except for Chateau Haut-Brion, the red wines of Graves were not part of the 1855 classification. It was only in 1953 (revised in 1959) that the Graves wine classification was created, classifying red and white wines. There are 16 classified growths belonging to the Pessac-Léognan AOC (e.g. Domaine de Chevalier, Château Haut-Bailly, Château Carbonnieux).

The classification of Saint-Emilion

The wines of Saint-Émilion are on the right bank and do not appear in the 1855 classification. In order to have their own referencing, the first classification of Saint-Emilion wines appeared in 1955.
This one is revised every 10 years; there are three levels of classification: the first great classified growths A (ex: Château Cheval Blanc, Château Angelus), the first great classified growths B (eg: Château Beauséjour, Château Figeac) and the great classified growths (eg: Château Bellevue, Château de Pressac).

The classification of the Crus Bourgeois du Médoc

The Crus Bourgeois classification was created in 1932 in order to represent the evolution of the quality of Bordeaux wines and therefore the estates and châteaux not included in the 1855 classification. There are three levels of classification: exceptional crus bourgeois, superior crus bourgeois and
bourgeois and crus bourgeois. Revised every ten years, the last existing version is that of 2003, but was cancelled in 2007 due to disputes. A new version of the classification is planned for 2020 (this time revised every 5 years).

The Crus Artisans classification

The Crus Artisans gained recognition in 2002 with the approval of an official classification listing them. Revised every five years, the latest classification dates from 2018 and includes 36 properties (e.g. Château la Tessonière Château Grand Brun, Château des Graviers)

Céline Charier for Les Grappes