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Left Bank
Medoc
-
Margaux
-
Pauillac
-
Saint-Julien -
Saint-Estèphe -
Pessac-Léognan / Graves -
Sauternes / Barsac -
Moulis
-
Haut-Medoc -
Listrac-Médoc
The "Left Bank" vineyard spreads over 200 km on a triangular peninsula from the Gironde estuary at the North of Bordeaux down to the city of Langon, situated 60 km South of Bordeaux. Embedded between the Gironde river and the Atlantic Ocean, the most northern section of the peninsula is better known under the name of
"Médoc". The central and southern portion, often called by its generic name of
"Haut-Médoc", hosts the most prestigious appellations and Châteaux of the Left bank -
Margaux, Pauillac,
Saint-Julien and Saint-Estèphe, which are completed by less renowned districts:
Moulis, Médoc,
Listrac-Médoc and Haut-Médoc's appellations where several fine wines are also produced. Generally the area enjoys an ideal moderate climate, particularly favourable to the production of high quality grapes. The Left Bank's soil is of exceptional quality. It consists of a mixture of sand, gravel, clay, limestone and coarse silt, on which grow the famous varietals which have made the reputation of Bordeaux wines over centuries;
Cabernet-Sauvignon,
Merlot, Petit-Verdot and
Cabernet-Franc.
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Right
Bank
Côtes
de Bourg -
Côtes
de Blaye -
Saint-Emilion
-
Satellites
de Saint-Emilion
Fronsac -
Côtes de Francs -
Côtes
de Castillon - Pomerol -
Lalande
de Pomerol
This vast expanse on the
right bank of the Dordogne and the Gironde rivers of approximately 100 kilometers long, is situated on the opposite bank to the great Medoc growths. The "right bank" area can be subdivided into three different regions:
1. The Côtes de Bourg
and Côtes de Blaye, locally called Bourgeais and Blayais
2. The Libournais, which include the most famous Pomerol and
Saint-Emilion districts - the
Satellites of
Saint-Emilion, Lalande de Pomerol, Fronsac and Canon Fronsac -
Côtes de Castillon.
3. Côtes de Francs constitute the third sub-area of the Right Bank. Following the Dordogne upstream, these regions form the Bordelais' Eastern border. The whole area is where the
Merlot grape reigns supreme - 70% of the vines planted here are of
Merlot
varietal. |
