What makes up a bordeaux wine

Right bank blends tend to be softer, less tannic, and lower in alcohol and acidity. With Merlot as the dominant grape, these wines are much juicier and usually ready to drink earlier than bottles from the left bank. Contrary to generalizations, single-varietal Sauvignon Blanc wines are allowed and are often highly expressive with citrus and green apple flavors.

The dessert wines of Sauternes are made mostly from Semillon due to its thin skin and susceptibility to botrytis. The highest quality wines saintain racy acidity, with peach, apricot and citrus flavors along with a waxy vanilla viscosity. Wine laws in Europe have a reputation for being incredibly complicated. On the right bank, the two major appellations to know are Pomerol and Saint-Emilion. Thanks to its popularity, Bordeaux can be found at all levels of quality and price.

The history of Bordeaux makes it a fabulous wine for a special occasion, whether that occasion is celebrating a life event or simply celebrating a night in with the ones you love. Thankfully, there are bottles priced for all occasions. Bordeaux In 60 Seconds: Bordeaux wines are world-renowned blends made with a predominant proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot.

Vintage variance is particularly important in Bordeaux. It experiences cool winters, mild and damp springs, hot summers, and long hours of sunshine during the fall. Diurnal temperatures remain fairly consistent. The region rarely has severe spring frosts or extremely cold winters, but variable rainfall can affect vintage quality by interrupting the flowering process, reducing yields, and inviting fungal diseases.

Coastal pine forests and sand dunes offer protection from Atlantic winds, but the ocean and rivers contribute to high humidity in the region, which encourages both noble and gray rot.

Bordeaux reaped significant export benefits in , when Eleanor of Aquitaine married Henry Plantagenet, who became king of England two years later. As a result, the region was able to establish a monopoly in the sale and distribution of Bordeaux wines to England.

During the 17th century, the Dutch emerged as dominant trade partners and buyers. They brought innovations, such as barrel sterilization, that helped conserve and improve the transport of Bordeaux wines to export markets throughout northern Europe and the Mediterranean.

The 19th century brought with it a new golden age, in which production doubled, exports tripled, and England once again clamored for Bordeaux wines. With the storied Classification, wine quality continued to rise. Once Bordeaux scions could be grafted onto American rootstock that could resist phylloxera, the work of restoring the vineyards began.

There are 65 AOCs in Bordeaux, and the wines from these appellations can be grouped into six categories:. In , Bordeaux produced nearly 5. Red varieties accounted for 88 percent of the planted area; whites made up the remaining 12 percent. It typically provides a supple characteristic, deep color, and notes of plum and fig to Bordeaux blends.

At This classic variety is descended from Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc. Approximately 9. Cabernet Franc adds freshness, finesse, and raspberry and violet notes to Bordeaux blends.

This grape is best known for its role in Sauternes sweet wine blends, in particular for its propensity to attract Botrytis cineria , or noble rot. Cabernet Sauvignon makes up the largest percentage of Left Bank Bordeaux blends. A complex, and strong wine with notes of dark fruit, cherry, tobacco; the Cabernet Sauvignon is renown for being both commercially and critically successful world-wide.

And thanks to the bold, rich flavors of the grape, the Cabernet Sauvignon is suited for a blend and as a stand alone wine. In Bordeaux, France, Merlot is the most prominently grown grape on the right bank. More high end Merlot is produced there than anywhere in the world. At Ridge, we believe in the rich possibility of Merlot, and invested in eight parcels of Merlot vineyards.