Bordeaux, a wine region full of wine aromas, makes many wine lovers fascinated. But after drinking Bordeaux wine for so many years, do you really know Bordeaux? No problem, today's article will provide a comprehensive and in-depth analysis of the Bordeaux wine region, and after patient reading, you can become half a Bordeaux expert.
Small directories
First, a brief introduction to the Bordeaux appellation
2. A detailed explanation of the 35 common wine sub-regions of Bordeaux
1. Médoc (Lower Médoc)
2. Saint-Estèphe
3. Poillac
4. St. Julian's
5. Upper Médoc
6. Ristrack
7. Mullis
8. Margaux
9. Pessac-Léolian
10. Graff
11. Bordeaux First Hill (with Cadillac Bordeaux Hill)
12. Cadillac
13. Lupiak
14. Theron
15. Bassac
16. Su Tortoise
17. Mount Holy Cross
18. Saint-Marques
19. Bordeaux - Ober bernoj (and between the two seas - Ober bernoge)
20. Between the two seas
21. Bordeaux Saint-Foix
22. Saint-Emilion
23. Castillon
24. Poussegan
25. St. George's
26. Furlong
27. Montagne
28. Lusack
29. Pomerol
30. Lalande-Pomerol
31. Canon-Fronsack
32. Frunsak
33. Valygrav
34. Bourchu
35. Blay (and BlayChu and Blay Bordeaux)
1
Brief introduction to bordeaux appellations
Bordeaux is located in the southwest of France and has excellent geographical and climatic conditions. Bordeaux is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the west, and the Gironde River flows through the appellation. The climate is temperate and oceanic, with generally mild and gentle weather throughout the year, with more rainfall and no spring frost problems in most years. In addition, the barren gravel, clay and limestone soils form a complex and diverse geological structure, which allows Bordeaux to grow a rich variety of grape varieties and produce many types of wines.
2
A breakdown of 35 common bordeaux wine sub-regions
In terms of geographical location, Bordeaux is bisected by the Gironde river from south to north, with the appellation west and south of the Giron river known as the "left bank of Bordeaux", the east of the Giron river and the north of the Dordogne river as the "right bank of Bordeaux", and the appellation between the middle Dordogne and Garonne as "Entre-Deux-Mers".
Next, this article will introduce 35 common bordeaux appellations from the left bank of Bordeaux to the between the two seas and then to the right bank.
Tips: Compare the map, grasp the location of the production area, and you can learn more graphically. The numbers on the map represent the corresponding appellations described below, e.g. 1 for Medoc, 2 for Saint-Estèphe, and so on.
Note: Price indication
Location and soil: Geographically, Medoc can be divided into Haut-Medoc and Bas-Medoc. Nizhny Médoc is the northernmost part of the Bordeaux Médoc region, which is now generally referred to simply as Médoc. The soil here is mainly clay, but there is also a part of the land that is mainly gravel.
Main grape varieties: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc
Wine type and style: Mainly produces red wines, which are mostly marked as "Médoc" on the label. Red wine blends are dominated by Merlot and are not as delicate as those in the southern appellations.
Well-known winery: Chateau Potensac. There are also a number of Cru Bourgeois estates in the appellation.
Location and soil: Saint-Estephe, the northernmost village-level AOC appellation in Haute-Médoc, has a cooler climate, slower ripening of grapes and therefore higher acidity. There are various soil layers such as gravel, clay and sand in the production area, but overall the clay content is higher, so the water storage is stronger, mainly Merlot, and there is basically no drought problem.
Main grape varieties: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc
Wine types and styles: produced red wines, often dominated by Merlot, the color of the wine is generally darker, the taste is thick but delicate, and has excellent aging potential.
Well-known wineries: Chateau Cos d'Estournel and Chateau Montrose. There are also many intermediate estates in the appellation.
Location and soil: Pauillac is separated from Saint-Estèphe by just a stream and is dominated by barren gravel hills with good drainage.
Main grape varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc
Wine type and style: mainly produces red wines. Most of the wines produced are known for their fullness, rich taste and excellent aging potential. Aged in oak barrels, the aromas of Boyac wines tend to be delicate and delicate, with currant and cedar flavours dominated.
Renowned wineries: There are 18 tiered wineries, of which 3 of the 5 tier 1 are located in Pauillac, namely Chateau Lafite Rothschild, Chateau Latour and Chateau Mouton Rothschild.
Location and soil: Poillac is just south of the Saint-Julien appellation, which is located in the heart of the Médoc region and is small. The lower soil of the appellation consists of gravel, pebbles, sand and clay.
Wine types and styles: produced in reds, northern wines show a strong poillac, while southern wines borrow from Margaux's softness. Overall, St. Julian's wines are darker in colour, elegant in taste and have a stronger ageing potential.
Well-known wineries: The appellation has 11 graded estates, including 5 secondary estates, 2 tertiary estates and 4 fourth-tier estates. Among them, the second estate includes Chateaux Leoville Las Cases, Chateau Leoville Poyferre, Chateau Gruaud Larose and Chateau Ducru-Beaucaillou.
Location and soil: Haut Medoc is the higher southeastern part of the Medoc and includes the above-mentioned famous wine-producing villages such as Saint-Estève, Poillac, St. Julian and margaux, which will be introduced next. The soils here are diverse, ranging from gravel to clay.
Wine type and style: Upper Médoc mainly makes red wines, which are of better quality than lower Médoc. These wines are usually rich in flavor, with delicate aromas of vanilla and black fruit.
Well-known wineries: There are Chateau La Lagune, Chateau La Tour-Carnet, Chateau Cantemerle, etc., and some are intermediate.
Location and soil: Listrac is a neglected small appellation located in the south of Haute-Médoc and the highest in the Médoc region (44 meters above sea level). The vineyard soil in the appellation is mostly clay and limestone.
Wine type and style: Mainly red wines. Young red wines can be a bit tight on the palate, but even in years when the wine is generally lighter, the wine has a stable richness.
Well-known wineries: Chateau Clarke, Chateau Fourcas Hosten, and more than 20 mid-level wineries in the appellation.
Location and soil: Moulis, located in the south-east of Listrak, is the smallest village-level appellation in Obermédoc. Its terroir conditions are similar to those in margaux villages, with the soil dominated by calcareous clay and some gravel land.
Wine types and styles: only red wines, these have the structure of upper Médoc wines and also have good aging potential. The wines produced near the margaux village area also often bear the aroma of margaux wines.
Well-known wineries: Chateau Poujeaux, Chateau Chasse-Spleen, both of which are intermediate.
Location and soil: Margaux is the southernmost village-level appellation in Médoc and the largest of its sizes. The soil here is dominated by gravel, which is well drained, while providing a barren environment for the vines to grow, forcing them to root deep to absorb nutrients.
Wine type and style: Multi-producing red wines. Known for producing wines with rounded elegance, rich aromas and soft tannins (with Cabernet Sauvignon as the main blend), it is reminiscent of feminine tenderness.
Renowned wineries: There are 21 listed wineries, the most well-known being Château D.I. Margaux, as well as second-class châteaus such as Chateau Lascombes and Chateau Rauzan-Segla.
Location and soil: Pessac-Leognan is located at the southern tip of Bordeaux, north of Graves, near the left bank of the Garonne River, and the soil is dominated by gravel.
Main grape varieties: Sauvignon, Semillon, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc
Wine type and style: both red and white wines. Red wines are generally rich and dull in colour and have a fleshy texture. Thanks to the sandy soil and the aging of oak barrels, the local dry white wine is the best dry white wine in Bordeaux, with very complex flavors and rich aromas, as well as good aging potential.
Well-known winery: Chateau Haut-Brion, it is also the only first-class winery located outside the Médoc appellation.
Location and soil: Graves is located in the south of Bordeaux, where the terrain is relatively flat, mostly a mixture of clay and gravel.
Main grape varieties: Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc
Wine type and style: both red and white wines are produced. Red wines are similar in style to the Pessac-Léolian region, often with cedar notes, but with less intensity and complexity, and usually a higher proportion of Merlot in the wine. White wine is mainly dry white, mainly made of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon, the wine is golden in color, and generally has the aroma of fruits such as locust flowers, honey and citrus, which is suitable for long-term survival.
Well-known winery: Chateau de Chantegrive
Location and soil: Premieres Cotes de Bordeaux and Cadillac Cotes de Bordeaux are a narrow strip of land stretching from the southwest of entre-Deux-Mers to the city of Langon on the right bank of the Garonne River, with a predominantly calcareous clay soil.
Main grape varieties: Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon
Wine types and styles: mainly red wines, but also dry white and sweet white wines. The red wine blend is dominated by Merlot, with its clear colours and good intensity, and has been labeled "Cadillac Cotes de Bordeaux" for sale since 2011. Sweet white wines are mainly from the southern Cadillac Bordeaux Hills, which are generally blended from Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon.
Well-known wineries: Chateau Carignan, Chateau Carsin, Chateau Reynon
Location and soil: Located in the south of bordeaux's first mound, Cadillac became a separate legal appellation in 1973. The soil here is dominated by chalky soil and gravel.
Main grape varieties: Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc
Wine types and styles: mainly produce sweet and white wines, which are generally sweet or semi-sweet, with strong flavor and high residual sugar content. In addition, the appellation produces some red wines.
Well-known winery: Chateau Suau
Location and soil: Loupiac is also a sweet white wine region on the right bank of the Garonne River, located between Cadillac and the Ste-Croix-du-Mont, with a predominantly soil type of calcareous clay.
Main grape varieties: Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon
Wine types and styles: Mainly sweet white wines are made, the best sweet whites are usually deep in color, full-bodied and full-bodied in flavor.
Well-known wineries: Chateau du Cros, Chateau Loupiac-Gaudiet
Location and soil: Cerons is a small appellation between Graf and Barsac, with relatively flat terrain and a common clay soil.
Main grape varieties: Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc
Wine type and style: red and white wines are produced, with a small number of sweet white wines (lack of fullness). Red wines are mostly classic Bordeaux blends, while dry white wines are made from varieties such as Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon.
Well-known winery: Chateau de Cerons
Location and soil: Barsac, located in the southeast of the Serone appellation, is an important sweet white wine region on the left bank of the Garonne River. The terrain here is relatively flat, and there is more sand and limestone in the soil.
Wine types and styles: mainly to make noble sweet white wines, its style is generally lighter than Sauternes (Sauternes).
Well-known wineries: Chateau Climens, Chateau Coutet
Location and soil: Located in the south of Bassac, on the hilly land on the left bank of the Garonne River, Sauternes is bordeaux's most well-known sweet white wine region. Soil types include gravel, clayey limestone and limestone, and have an excellent climate for producing noble rot bacteria – foggy and cold in the mornings and dry and hot in the afternoons.
Main grape varieties: Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc, Muscadelle
Wine Type and Style: The main wine type is noble sweet white wine. Su tortoiseshell sweet white is known for its excellent quality, generally rich flavor, with apricot, honey and vanilla flavors, acidity and sweetness are very balanced, the taste is sweet but not greasy, with the potential for long aging, the price is also very expensive.
Well-known winery: Chateau d'Yquem
Location and soil: Ste-Croix-du-Mont is located on the right bank of the Garonne River, across the river from the Sauerne appellation, and is one of the important sweet white wine regions on the right bank of the Garonne, with gravel in the soil and good drainage.
Main grape varieties: Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc
Wine type and style: mainly produce sweet white wine, generally high alcohol and sugar content, strong flavor, but the price is more affordable.
Well-known winery: Chateau du Mont
Location and soil: Cotes de Bordeaux-Saint-Macaire is located in the southeast of Bordeaux, and the soil is mainly limestone, clay and so on.
Wine types and styles: Mainly to make sweet and white wines, the style is similar to the sweet and white of the first hill of Bordeaux. At the same time, it also produces some red wines with fruity flavors such as blackberries and plums.
Well-known winery: Chateau de Flores Blanc
Location and soil: Bordeaux Haut-Benauge and Entre-Deux-Mers Haut-Benauge are located in the middle between the first hill of Bordeaux and the two seas, with a predominantly calcareous soil.
Main grape varieties: Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc, Miscardi
Wine types and styles: Mainly white wines are made, which are usually dry, aromatic, strong in taste and well structured.
Well-known winery: Chateau Ferran
Location and soil: Entre-Deux-Mers is a wide-ranging region located between the Dordogne and Galon rivers, hence the name. There is a lot of clay and sandy clay, and some calcareous soil.
Wine types and styles: Dry white wines with a rich and fresh, fruity aroma and light red wines, none of which require ageing and are suitable for drinking at a young age.
Well-known wineries: Chateau Paradis Casseuil, Chateau Bonnet
Location and soil: Ste-Foy-Bordeaux, located in the eastern part between the two seas, is bordeaux's easternmost appellation. The soil is often solid calcareous clay, suitable for merlot's growth.
Wine type and style: Mainly red wines are produced, similar in style to the Bergerac appellation in the southwest of France, with fresh berry flavours, well-layered, medium-bodied and soft tannins. In addition, the appellation produces small quantities of dry white and sweet white wines with floral aromas.
Well-known winery: Chateau Martet
Location and soil: Saint-Emilion is located in the north between the two seas, in the eastern part of Libourne, on the right bank of the Dordogne River. The soils are rich in types, with well-drained gravel and limestone soils dominating the north and west, and limestone clay in the south and east, and sandy soils at the foot of some steep slopes.
Main grape varieties: Merlot, Cabernet Franc
Wine types and styles: Mainly red wines are produced, mainly Merlot, sometimes mixing the right amount of Cabernet Franc to enhance the sense of structure and make the wine more ageing potential. Wines produced in Saint-Emilion from Grand Céte vineyards are usually produced at lower yields and higher prices. The style is softer than the left bank's strong wine, with complex red berry aromas, and tobacco and cedar flavors develop as it ages. Of course, there are also many sake with a lighter body and a simpler flavor.
Well-known wineries: Chateau Cheval Blanc, Chateau Ausone, Chateau Angelus, Chateau Pavie
Location and soil: Castillon Cotes de Bordeaux, located in the east of Saint-Emilion, is part of the Cotes de Bordeaux and is dominated by clay, limestone and some sandy soils containing silt.
Wine type and style: only red wines are brewed, of which Merlot is the mainstay, and generally supplemented by other blended varieties, so it has a good sense of structure, most of which are suitable for drinking at a young age. It is worth mentioning that before 2009, the labels here were generally marked with cotes de Castillon, but for marketing purposes, the Castillon appellation joined the Association des Cotes de Bordeaux and changed the label to "Castillon Cotes de Bordeaux".
Well-known winery: Chateau d'Aiguilhe
Location and soil: Puisseguin-Saint-Emilion is a satellite appellation of Saint-Emilion, located in the northwest of the Castillon appellation, with a predominantly calcareous clay type and a small amount of gravel soil. The entire area is located on a limestone subsoil, and even in dry periods, the vineyards receive a good moisture supply.
Grape varieties: Merlot, Cabernet Franc
Wine types and styles: Only red wines based on Merlot are produced, generally with intense fruity aromas and soft tannins, but the quality of the wines is generally coarser than Saint-Emilion wines.
Well-known winery: Chateau des Laurets
Location and soil: Saint-Georges-Saint-Emilion is the smallest of Saint-Emilion's 4 satellite appellations, next to saint-Emilion. The area is small, with vineyards of less than 200 hectares and the soil is dominated by calcareous clay.
Wine types and styles: mainly red wines, the largest proportion of wine grapes is still Merlot, most of these wines are dark in color, with strong fruit aromas such as strawberries when young, higher tannins, stronger taste, but the overall wine quality is slightly rougher than the wines of saint-Emilion.
Well-known winery: Chateau Saint-Georges
Location and soil: Francs Cotes de Bordeaux is located in the north of Castillon and is also part of the Bordeaux hills. The terrain is higher, and on the slopes where the grapes are grown, the calcareous clay composition in the soil is higher.
Wine types and styles: Producing red wines dominated by Merlot, with a soft palate and fine structure. However, there are also fewer white wines produced here, both dry and sweet, and the wine grapes are mainly Semillon.
Well-known winery: Chateau le Puy
Location and soil: Montagne-Saint-Emilion is close to the northern part of the Saint-Georges appellation and is one of the Satellite Appellations of Saint-Emilion. The topsoil of this appellation is dominated by limestone and clay limestone, and the bottom layer is limestone soil doped with gravel, sand and porous.
Wine Type and Style: Only red wines are produced, which generally have intense red berry aromas, including cherries, blackberries and licorice aromas. The palate is elegant, the wine is full-bodied, has a strong and thick tannin structure, and has good aging potential.
Well-known winery: Chateau Roudier
Location and soil: Lussac-Saint-Emilion is also one of the Satellite Appellations of Saint-Emilion, the northernmost of several satellite appellations, next to the western part of the Fran appellation. The soil here is very diverse, the gentle slopes in the southeast are dominated by clay limestone, the western part is dominated by gravel and sandy sand and gravel soil, and the altitude is relatively high, the eastern part is dominated by limestone-containing bottom soil, and the northwest region is dominated by iron-rich sand and clay.
Wine types and styles: Like other satellite appellations of Saint-Emilion, merlot-based red wines are also produced, often with sweet and strong aromas of strawberry, raspberry and cherry, as well as leather-based aromas. Its taste is elegant, well structured, tannins are silky smooth and have good aging potential.
Famous winery: Chateau de Lussac
Location and soil: Pomerol, one of the most well-known wine regions on the right bank of Bordeaux, is located near the town of Libourne in a very small area. The appellation is dominated by special clay and sandy soils, which favor the cultivation of Merlot grapes.
Wine types and styles: Most of the wines in the region are red wines based on Merlot (blended with Cabernet Franc), which are generally delicate and warm in taste, with silky tannins, making them the most pleasing wine types in all of Bordeaux. Premium Pomerol wines are deep in colour, fruity and ripe, with hints of milk. It is worth mentioning that Petrus, known as the king of Bordeaux wine, is located in this appellation.
Well-known wineries: Château Bertus, Le Pin, Chateau Lafleur
Location and soil: Lalande-de-Pomerol is a satellite appellation of Pomerol, located in the northern part of the Pomerol appellation, including two wine-producing regions, Lalande de Pomerol and Neac. Part of Lalande's soil is sandy clay and is relatively low. Nick, on the other hand, has a high terrain with a soil structure of gravel and clay, the same as the best soils in Pomerol.
Wine types and styles: Prolific red wines, which usually have deep fruity and mineral flavors, elegant and silky taste, compact but not rough tannins, balanced structure and more affordable prices.
Well-known winery: Chateau La Fleur de Bouard
Location and soil: Canon-Fronsac, located in the western part of the town of Libourne, is one of the smallest POC in Bordeaux, with the main soil types being limestone and sand.
Wine type and style: mainly the production of red wines. The red wines of the Canon-Fronsak region are known for their elegance and sophistication, with pronounced tannins and charming red berry and spice notes.
Well-known winery: Chateau Canon
Location and soil: Fronsac is located in the northern part of the Canon-Fronsac appellation and in the western part of Pomerol. The banks of the Dordogne River are mostly alluvial soils, while the northern regions are slightly elevated, with mostly sandstone, limestone and less clay, which allows the vines to withstand hotter weather, so the quality of the grapes here is better than in the south.
Wine types and styles: Mainly produces powerful, full-bodied red wines. The region's red wines are aromatic with red fruit and pepper aromas. On the palate it is full-bodied, with heavy but not obtrusive tannins and a good ageing potential.
Well-known wineries: Chateau de la Riviere
Location and soil: Graves-de-Vayres is located in the southwest of Canon-Frunsak, immediately northwest between the two seas, and has a rich soil type of gravel, sandstone and calcareous gravel.
Wine type and style: both red and white wines are produced. Red wines often have a pure and rich fruity flavor when they are young. Made with 100% Sauvignon Blanc, dry white wines are fresh and vibrant in style with intense floral and citrus fruity notes. The 100% seminales are fermented in oak barrels for a full, rounded taste. Sweet White is also made with 100% Seminyone with a sweet honey flavor. Of course, most of the dry white is blended with Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and Miscardi.
Well-known winery: Chateau Fage
Location and soil: Cotes de Bourg, located at the confluence of the Dordogne and Garonne rivers, southeast of the town of Blaye, is a small, historic appellation where the first vineyards were founded in Roman times. The soils in this appellation are mainly clay and limestone, and some are gravel soils.
Wine types and styles: Mostly red wines based on Merlot varieties, mixed with a small amount of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, are full-bodied, rich in tannins, and have a strong aroma of red fruits, with good aging potential. In addition, a small number of white wines are produced, often made from Ugni Blanc and Colombard.
Well-known winery: Chateau Roc de Cambes
Location and soil: Blaye, Cotes de Blaye and Blaye Cotes de Bordeaux are located in the north of the town of Blay, on the right bank of the GaronNe River, on a vast and mountainous area with an average elevation of about 70 meters, and the soil is mostly clay limestone.
Wine type and style: both red and white wines are produced. Among them, red wines are mainly Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, the white wines of Brayccio are mainly pigeon cage white and white jade, and the white wines of Bray Bordeaux are mainly Sauvignon Blanc, Semirone and Miscardi. Red wines from the Bray region are usually fruity and suitable for young age, while white wines (mostly dry white) are light and have soft fruity notes.
Well-known winery: Chateau Bourdieu