Wine Styles

Red wines from Bordeaux are most commonly made from five grape varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and/or Petit Verdot. The wines may contain some or all of these. White wines from Bordeaux may contain one or more of Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc, and/or Muscadelle. The Left Bank red wines typically contain 60 to 70 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, with the remainder a blend of the other four varieties. The Right Bank reds are typically made with 70 percent Merlot, with the rest being Cabernet Franc and/or Cabernet Sauvignon. This blending difference, plus the richness of the soil in the Right Bank, promotes a less tannic wine than their Left Bank cousins, but both styles are considered exquisite, each bringing their own special characteristics to the bottle. Both dry and sweet white wines of Bordeaux are dominated by Semillon, with Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle in smaller proportions. Regardless of whether white or red, Bordeaux wines require extended cellaring and aging to reach their peak.