Left Bank Bordeaux vs. Right Bank Bordeaux: What's the Difference? | Monarch Wine (2024)

FAQs

Left Bank Bordeaux vs. Right Bank Bordeaux: What's the Difference? | Monarch Wine? ›

The reason for the dominant grape varieties being different on both Banks is soil type. While the Left Bank is characterized by gravelly soils, the Right Bank is home to more clay-heavy soils. The former creates a solid home for Cabernet Sauvignon, whereas the latter is an optimal environment in which Merlot thrives.

Left Bank terrain is mostly flat with gravel topsoil and limestone underneath. Wines typically have more tannin and a bigger overall structure than their Right Bank counterparts, which generally comprise a limestone surface with less gravel and more clay.

The Left bank is known as the more prestigious area, home to the Frist Growths and blended from prominently Cabernet Sauvignon with high tannins, high acidity, and powerful structure. Bold aromas and flavors of black cherry, violet, and menthol are common. The top wines have aging potential for 30+ years.

The Left Bank has a terroir with gentle slopes and a wide variety of gravel, stones, sand, limestone, and clay soils. This makes the Left Bank was perfect for the production of Cabernet Sauvignon-based Bordeaux wine.

The right bank or Rive Droite brings to mind a chic sophistication and elegance that is quintessential Paris, while the left or Rive Gauche boasts a more relaxed artistic and romantic atmosphere.

Right Bank wines are also bold, but smoother, with softer tannins and typical Merlot fruity flavors. They can age, but are more "drink me soon" style. The terroir on the right bank is less difficult, with less gravel and more clay and limestone.

The Right Bank includes two main Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOCs) and other smaller appellations: Pomerol: The Pomerol appellation has 900 wine producers and makes excellent investment-worthy wines like Chateau Petrus.

The Left Bank includes the Médoc and Haut Médoc wine regions, which encompass some of the highest-rent districts in the wine world. This is where the most recognized and world-renowned Bordeaux appellations are located, such as Saint-Estèphe, Pauillac, Saint-Julien and Margaux.

The Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé classification is for Merlot and Cabernet Franc wine blends of high-quality. Currently 82 wineries have this distinction.

Right Bank wines are predominantly Merlot-based, with Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Petit Verdot used as blending components. Some estates have sought to increase their use of Cabernet Franc in recent years, for its ability to deliver freshness in the glass.

What is the difference between Bordeaux and Medoc? ›

Médoc is bordered to the north by the city of Bordeaux and by the Gironde estuary to the east. This peninsula-shaped territory is one of the districts of Bordeaux In fact, the original name of the region comes from its location.

For red wines, try grilled or roasted meats, steak, lamb chops, or braised beef. White Bordeaux wines compliment seafood, shellfish, poultry, creamy sauces, and dishes with herbs and spices. Cheese platters, charcuterie, and chocolate-based desserts also go well with Bordeaux wines.

Saint-Émilion and Pomerol, although geographically close, are distinguished by their terroir, climate and typicity. While Saint-Émilion shines for its complexity, richness and age-old history, Pomerol is seductive for its elegance, finesse and confidentiality.

The Left Bank is home to the first growth wines from the official 1855 Bordeaux Classification; Chateau Lafite Rothschild, Chateau Latour, Chateau Margaux, Chateau Haut Brion and Chateau Mouton Rothschild.

When you are looking downstream, the right side would be the right bank and left side would be the left bank. The right bank is always on the right when the water flow of the river is flowing downriver.

South of the Seine you find the Left Bank, usually referred to as the “cultural” side of the city. It is historically known to be home to intellectuals, artists, professors, and musicians.

Paris' Right and Left Banks: The Quick Explanation

It's called the “right bank” because when you stand facing West (towards the ocean), it's on the right side of the Seine river. The left bank, or Rive Gauche in French, refers to the south side of the Seine river or the left side when you face West.

The descriptive terms left bank and right bank refer to the perspective of an observer looking downstream; a well-known example of this being the southern left bank and the northern right bank of the river Seine defining parts of Paris.