Bordeaux sits where the Garonne and Dordogne rivers meet the Gironde estuary. The region is split by these waterways into two very different styles.
Left Bank (Médoc, Graves): Gravel soils drain well and warm up fast, favouring Cabernet Sauvignon: thick-skinned, high-tannin, needs time to soften. Classic châteaux: Margaux, Latour, Haut-Brion.
Right Bank (Saint-Émilion, Pomerol): Clay soils retain water, suiting Merlot: rounder, plummier, earlier drinking. Stars: Pétrus, Cheval Blanc.
Bordeaux wines are always blends. Dry whites are mainly Sauvignon Blanc + Sémillon. Sweet whites (Sauternes) use botrytis-affected Sémillon.
