The difference between the Bordeaux Left Bank and Bordeaux Right Bank

When it comes to French growths, there is one key question for passionate wine lovers: Burgundy wines or Bordeaux wines? If you are one of those people whose answer is Bordeaux, there is another question of conscience in terms of taste. Namely: Left or Right bank? And yes, in this case, left and right are capitalised, even though they somehow point the way. After all, they are style-defining - and have caused heated discussions at many a wine evening.

But in the end, it is almost impossible to say that you didn't like the Cheval Blanc, Lafleur or Pavie from the Right Bank or Lafite Rotshchild, Margaux or Latour from the Left Bank. They are all great wines, but indeed they differ.

There are the powerful and dense wines from the Left Bank, which are contrasted with the somewhat more accessible and finer wines from the Right Bank. Both sides can be a prime example of elegance and longevity, but otherwise differ considerably. Why is that? Let's first break down how the Left and Right Banks are defined in Bordeaux before we get down to the nitty-gritty.

Left Bank, Right Bank - and a little orientation

If you look at the map of Bordeaux, you can see the two rivers Garonne and Dordogne, which join at the city of Bordeaux to form the Gironde, which in turn flows into the Atlantic Ocean. And it is here that we find the Left and Right Banks, which are always mentioned when talking about Bordeaux wines. The Left Bank includes the Médoc as well as Graves and Sauternes with all their appellations such as Saint-Estèphe, Pauillac, Haut Médoc, Saint-Julien, Margaux or Pessac-Léognan, if we swim with the current of the Gironde to the sea.

On the right bank, on the other hand, we find the Blaye and Côtes de Bourg growing regions as well as the Libournais, which is home to prestigious appellations such as Pomerol and Saint-Émilion. So much for the geographical orientation.

It's high time we went into more detail.

Climatic differences

It is generally said that the climate in Bordeaux is maritime in character. With greetings from the Atlantic and the Gulf Stream. The warm ocean current extends the growing season so that the grapes can ripen well into October. Spring frosts are also less frequent. Unfortunately, the Atlantic can also make it very, very wet in spring and autumn. This can certainly lead to problems.

However, if we now look at the Bordeaux map again, it quickly becomes clear that the influences just described have the strongest impact on the Left Bank, while the Right Bank only experiences them in a milder form. Simply because the Right Bank is a little more inland. However, this geographical fact is only a partial argument in favour of the different plants on the two banks. So let's get to the bottom of the relevant aspects - in the truest sense of the word.

Soils and main grape varieties on the Left Bank

The real difference between the Left and Right Bank lies in the soil. The Left Bank is dominated by gravelly soils made up of pebbles, gravel and sand. The proportions vary from appellation to appellation, as there is actually not THE typical soil type on either bank. However, this does not change the fact that the soils on the Left Bank store heat very well thanks to their pebble composition. This has a positive effect on grape ripening. At the same time, these soils are also very water-permeable. Rain and moisture cannot accumulate in them.

And here's the kicker: both warmth and water permeability are ideal for the Cabernet Sauvignon grape variety. The grapes have very thick skins. Cabernet Sauvignon therefore needs a lot of warmth in order to ripen fully. At the same time, the grape variety reacts very sensitively to too much moisture. The grape clusters can literally drown if there is too much water. There is no such danger on the Left Bank. This is precisely why Cabernet Sauvignon is the main grape variety here, which has a decisive influence on the flavour of almost all cuvées.

Soils and main grape variety on the Right Bank

The soils on the right bank of the Gironde are even more varied than on the left bank. Clay, sand and limestone alternate diligently here. Gravel, however, is only found in negligible quantities. What do clay, sand and limestone have in common? They don't store heat so well, but they do store water. For Cabernet Sauvignon, that would be the death blow, so to speak. That's why this grape can only be found on the few patches of gravel that you have to look for with a magnifying glass on the Right Bank. For another red grape variety, however, the soil characteristics on the Right Bank are ideal. We are of course talking about Merlot.

Merlot has a thinner skin than Cabernet Sauvignon. Too much heat would cause the grapes to develop far too quickly. This would result in the flavours already being overcooked, even though the individual grape clusters are not yet ripe. The result would be a particularly sour and unharmonious must. However, the majority of the grapes would probably not make it to harvest anyway because the vines would have died of thirst beforehand. Yes, gravel soils are something of a natural enemy of Merlot. However, the grape variety feels right at home on clay, limestone and sand. Here it can develop a beautiful fruitiness and a velvety character that is so typical of the vines from the Right Bank.

What somehow unites both Banks

Of course, Bordeaux wines are not made exclusively from Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot. The blending of different grape varieties has a very, very long tradition on both banks. After all, this allows winegrowers to balance out weather-related fluctuations and create wines with consistent flavours. Cabernet Sauvignon on the Left Bank and Merlot on the Right Bank are joined here and there by Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec: the world famous Bordeaux blends.

And let's not forget that Bordeaux also produces fantastic white and sweet wines! Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc form the basis here - sometimes paired with Muscadelle. Fun fact: All three white grape varieties thrive on both the Left and Right Banks. But this also applies to Cabernet Franc and Co. Only Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot are the divas in this case and insist on their own side of the river. So when it comes to the question of left or right bank in Bordeaux, it clearly depends on your own preferences. Do you prefer Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot? Depending on your answer, you now have a clue as to which bank suits your taste in wine better.