{"id":4705,"date":"2020-02-14T09:35:50","date_gmt":"2020-02-14T08:35:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.comptoirdesmillesimes.com\/blog\/?p=4705"},"modified":"2020-03-10T16:24:03","modified_gmt":"2020-03-10T15:24:03","slug":"bordeaux-grape-varieties","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.comptoirdesmillesimes.com\/blog\/en\/bordeaux-grape-varieties\/","title":{"rendered":"GRAPE VARIETIES OF BORDEAUX'S LEFT BANK \u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

The reputation of Bordeaux wines<\/a> is well established. Known the world over, they still have a few well-kept secrets. Here, for example, grape varieties<\/a>. Do you know the Bordeaux grape varieties<\/strong> on your fingertips? And do you know how many reds there are, and how many whites? Let's take a look at the list of Bordeaux grape varieties, which is only a tiny fraction of the total number of French grape varieties (there are 210 in France).<\/p>\n

>Discover our selection of mature Bordeaux wines <<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

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What is a grape variety?<\/h2>\n

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A grape variety is simply a variety of grape plant. Each grape variety expresses its own particular odors and tastes. These are known as flavors. The land on which the vine is grown will also have an impact on the wine's gustatory qualities. This is called terroir. A Bordeaux white grape variety<\/strong> cultivated in a certain place will not necessarily have the same characteristics depending on its orientation to the sun, its rainfall, and so on. The same applies to a Bordeaux red grape variety<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

> See our guides to grape varieties<\/a><\/p>\n

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WHAT IS THE LEFT BANK?<\/h2>\n

Two rivers cross the Bordeaux region, dividing it into three parts. These are the Garonne and the Dordogne (One way to remember which river is further north: it's the first in alphabetical order), which join to form the Gironde estuary. To find out whether the appellation is on the left or right bank of the river, simply follow the direction of the current. In this case, the Dordogne and Garonne rivers join the coast to flow into the Atlantic Ocean. Wines to the south of the rivers are therefore on the left bank, while those to the north are on the right. For the more fastidious, there are 3 left banks: the Garonne, the Dordogne and the Gironde estuary. But the best-known of the three, encompassing the M\u00e9doc, Graves and Sauternes, is the Garonne.<\/p>\n

\"sales<\/a><\/p>\n

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THE GRAPE VARIETIES OF BORDEAUX'S LEFT BANK<\/h2>\n

Depending on the appellation and therefore the soil, certain grape varieties do better than others.<\/p>\n

On the left bank of the Garonne, we have a clay-rich soil underlayed with small gravels, pebbles and alluvial deposits brought down by the Garonne.<\/p>\n

Here are the grape varieties that predominate on this bank.<\/p>\n

Red grape varieties<\/u><\/h3>\n

On Bordeaux's left bank, the main grape variety is Cabernet Sauvignon with 50 % of vines planted, closely followed by Merlot (around 40 %).<\/p>\n

The remaining 10 % are mainly Cabernet Franc, complemented by Malbec, Petit Verdot and Carm\u00e9n\u00e8re.<\/p>\n

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\"cabernet<\/a><\/p>\n