Left Bank vs. Right Bank Bordeaux: Here’s Why It Matters

Bordeaux is one of the most recognizable wine regions in the world, and its best reds often embody a certain level of prestige. Even among people who have never tasted them, just the names Lafite, Margaux, and Cheval Blanc, for example, connotes a sense of heritage and luxury.

For all its fame, however, it’s difficult to talk about Bordeaux in broad strokes. The region, after all, is huge, and its wines tend to express characteristics of the particular appellation within Bordeaux where its grapes are grown. This is why it’s important to have a basic understanding of the general geography of the region.

The Gironde River serves as a dividing line in Bordeaux. Along with the feeder Garonne and Dordogne rivers, the Gironde bisects the region into the Left Bank, home to vineyards to the west of it, and the Right Bank, for vineyards east. Understanding their differences will help you understand the character of many Bordeaux wines.

Different banks, different grapes

The five main grape varieties of Bordeaux are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Malbec. And while you can find a mix throughout the region, Cabernet Sauvignon is the dominant player in the Left Bank, while Merlot shines most brightly in the Right Bank. 

This plays an important role in the character of the wines produced in each area, says Matthieu Bordes, general manager and winemaker of Château Lagrange, a standout estate in the Left Bank appellation of St-Julien.

“Over on the Right Bank, red wines are mostly composed with Merlot [with Cabernet Franc also often playing an important role] and can be exceptionally smooth right out of the gate, if the oak notes are well-integrated,” he says. “Accordingly, their drinking window begins earlier than for Left Bank wines. On the nose and palate, we find a lot of blackberry, cherry, or violet, with silky tannins.

“Left Bank wines are produced with more Cabernet Sauvignon,” he says. “As a thick-skinned grape variety with a high level of tannin, it provides the backbone of the wine. It also contributes fresh aromas like blackcurrant, blackberry, and licorice, with hints of mint…This is definitely the grape variety for long cellar aging. When young, it can show firm tannins that soften over time, leading to a very wide drinking window.”

The role of climate

Bordes says that the influence of the Gironde and the Atlantic Ocean cannot be overstated. “The humidity moderates against cold temperatures and, in very warm conditions, encourages freshness,” he says.

Diane Flamand, oenologist for Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite), responsible for the company’s Les Légendes R portfolio, elaborates: “The Left Bank, surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean on the left and the Gironde estuary on the right, benefits from a cooler climate, fresh air, and wind coming from the two masses of water. [It has] better protection against the frost, too…On the other hand, on the Right Bank, the climate is much hotter.”

While these are the climate characteristics that define each side, it’s important to remember that each vintage is different. Some years are marked by heat or cool, rain or dry spells, which impact the wines.

That all-important word: Terroir

Bordeaux is a very complex region. There are a multitude of soil types and underlying geologies that impact the vines that grow in them.

In general, however, there are some predictable differences between each bank. 

“The Left Bank tends to be flatter and more influenced by the ocean, with gravelly soils that hold heat, which is perfect for ripening Cabernet Sauvignon,” says Amy Racine, beverage director and partner at New York City’s JF Restaurants. “The Right [Bank], especially around St-Émilion and Pomerol, has more hills with more clay and limestone in the soil, which holds cool water better and suits Merlot. So even though they’re not that far apart geographically, you get pretty different growing conditions that really shape the structure and character of the wines.”

Of course, the composition of each vineyard — and each vineyard block — plays a massive role in the final character of a wine. Merlot grown at Château Pétrus, for example, benefits from its high percentage of blue clay. Nearby estates, despite their proximity, produce wines of a distinctly different character, as their soils and terroirs are simply not the same.

“With over 50 appellations and significant vintage variation, Bordeaux offers an extraordinary diversity of styles and approaches,” says Stéphanie de Boüard-Rivoal, president and CEO of Château Angélus, in the Right Bank appellation of St-Émilion. “From the Right Bank to the Left Bank, the region is vast and rich in terroirs, microclimates, and philosophies. It is difficult to generalize when, in truth, there are nearly as many expressions as there are estates, and as many styles as there are winegrowers.”

The final Bordeaux blend

Bordeaux is a region of blending. While Cabernet Sauvignon dominates on the Left Bank, and Merlot and Cabernet Franc are stars of the Right Bank, producers modify their final blends to meet the needs of each vintage.

Despite this, Flamand says, “there are relatively consistent wine styles when the winegrowers respect the traditional final blend for each bank: more Cabernet Sauvignon on the Left Bank and more Merlot on the Right Bank.”

But that doesn’t mean that even a region as tradition-bound as Bordeaux can’t see incremental change. 

“You can find more and more Médoc wines with a high percentage of Merlot today,” says Flamand, referring to the most prestigious part of the Left Bank. “[They’re generally] easier to appreciate and ready to drink earlier.”

Sommeliers and beverage directors like Racine look to make the most of these differences in their wine program. 

“Left Bank wines often create the ‘serious’ section of a list,” she says. “They appeal to collectors, people celebrating something, or guests who know Bordeaux and want something structured and classic. Right Bank wines tend to play a more versatile role. They’re easier to pair with a range of cuisines and often more accessible in style and price. 

“I like having both on a list because they offer different expressions of Bordeaux and different guest experiences and price ranges. As a generalization, Left Bank brings gravitas, Right brings plush comfort.”

The beauty of the region is that there is so much from which to choose. “When defining the Right Bank and the Left Bank, one must first acknowledge that the grape varieties, the terroirs, and the stylistic approaches differ quite significantly,” says Boüard-Rivoal. “Naturally, vintages do not evolve in the same way across these distinct landscapes. With such fundamental contrasts, each has its own identity, and it is this diversity that defines the richness of Bordeaux.”