Key Grapes
| Variety | % |
|---|---|
| Merlot | 59% |
| Cabernet Sauvignon | 20% |
| Cabernet Franc | 8% |
| Sémillon | 5% |
| Sauvignon Blanc | 5% |
Minor: Muscadelle, Petit Verdot, Malbec (Côt), Colombard
2021 NEW: Arinarnoa, Castets, Marselan, Touriga Nacional, Alvarinho, Liliorila
Left Bank vs Right Bank
| Left Bank | Right Bank | |
|---|---|---|
| Soils | Gravel, sand (warm) | Clay, limestone (cold) |
| Primary | Cabernet Sauvignon | Merlot, Cab Franc |
| Style | Structured, tannic | Silky, softer |
| Key Areas | Médoc, Graves | Pomerol, St-Émilion |
Entre-deux-Mers: "Between Two Seas" — Sauvignon Blanc; reds as Bordeaux AOC
Médoc Communes (Red Only)
| AOC | Key Feature |
|---|---|
| Pauillac | Most classified (17); dusty cocoa; powerful |
| Margaux | Most southerly; delicate, perfumed, elegant |
| Saint-Julien | Most "Californian"; chocolate/cherry |
| Saint-Estèphe | Higher clay; cooler; more Merlot |
| Listrac/Moulis | Inland; more clay; Merlot-dominant |
Haut-Médoc: Southern 2/3; home to most Cru Bourgeois
Classification Systems
| System | Year | Ranks | Key Facts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1855 Médoc | 1855 | 61 châteaux (5 tiers) | 5 Premiers Crus; Haut-Brion = only non-Médoc; Mouton elevated 1973 |
| 1855 Sauternes | 1855 | 27 châteaux (3 tiers) | Yquem = only Premier Cru Supérieur; no Right Bank/dry whites |
| Graves | 1953/59 | 16 properties | Ranks WINES not estates; all in Pessac-Léognan |
| Saint-Émilion | 1955 (2022) | 85 estates | Revised every 10 yrs; 2 PGCA: Figeac, Pavie; Ausone/Cheval Blanc withdrew |
| Cru Bourgeois | 2020 | 249 estates (3 tiers) | Médoc only; reviewed every 5 yrs; 14 Exceptionnels |
| Cru Artisan | 2018 | 36 estates | Small (1-5 ha); vineyard to bottle |
Graves & Sauternais
| AOC | Style |
|---|---|
| Graves | Dry white + red; 85% red |
| Pessac-Léognan | All Crus Classés de Graves; hint of clove |
| Sauternes | Sweet; Ciron mist = botrytis |
| Barsac | Can bottle as Sauternes; lemony freshness |
| Cérons | North of Barsac; 33 ha only |
Dry whites from Sauternes = bottled as Bordeaux AOC (e.g., "Y" from Yquem)
Right Bank (Libournais)
| AOC | Key Feature |
|---|---|
| Pomerol | NO classification; iron-rich; no Malbec allowed |
| Saint-Émilion | Limestone/clay; varied styles |
| St-Ém Grand Cru | AOC (not ranking); 3× St-Ém production |
| Satellites (4) | Lussac, Montagne, Puisseguin, St-Georges |
| Fronsac/Canon | Red fruits, black pepper |
Côtes de Bordeaux (2009)
| DGC | Style | Key |
|---|---|---|
| Blaye | White + Red | 3% of Bdx dry white |
| Cadillac | Red only | Right bank Garonne |
| Castillon | Red only | E of St-Émilion; 70-80% Merlot |
| Francs | W, R, Sweet | High limestone; more Cab Franc |
| Sainte-Foy | W, R, Sweet | Only LEFT bank Côtes DGC |
Bourg: Colombard = primary white | Blaye: Independent AOC (red only)
Regional AOCs
| Bordeaux | All styles; Haut-Benauge DGC |
| Bordeaux Sup. | NO dry white; red aged to June 15 |
| Crémant | 1990 AOC; 100+ yrs made |
Sweet Wine Terms
Moelleux: 12-45 g/l R.S. (semi-sweet)
Liquoreux: >45 g/l R.S.; botrytis mandatory
History Highlights
| 1152 | Eleanor of Aquitaine → Henry II; 300 yr English ties |
| 1453 | Battle of Castillon; France reclaims |
| 1600s | Dutch drain Médoc; gravel beds raised |
| 1855 | Classification for Paris Exhibition |
| 1956 | Freeze kills 25%; Malbec → Merlot |
| 1973 | Mouton elevated to Premier Cru |
| 1982 | Parker launches Wine Advocate |
| 2021 | 6 new grapes approved (climate) |
Entre-deux-Mers AOCs
| AOC | Style |
|---|---|
| Entre-deux-Mers | Dry white ONLY; 25% of Bdx whites |
| Graves de Vayres | White, red, semi-sweet |
| Premières Côtes de Bdx | Semi-sweet to sweet white only |
Sweet AOCs (across from Sauternais)
Cadillac: 51 g/l min | Loupiac: 45 g/l
Sainte-Croix-du-Mont: 45 g/l; most prestigious (gravel)
1855 Classification Detail
5 Premiers Crus (Médoc)
Lafite Rothschild • Latour • Margaux • Haut-Brion (Pessac) • Mouton Rothschild (1973)
| Tier | # |
|---|---|
| Premiers Crus | 5 |
| Deuxièmes Crus | 14 |
| Troisièmes Crus | 14 |
| Quatrièmes Crus | 10 |
| Cinquièmes Crus | 18 |
Total: 61 châteaux | Based on 19th c. price points
Top Exam Points — Memorize These!
France's largest AOC (4× Bourgogne)97% = Merlot, Cab Sauv, Cab Franc + Sémillon, Sauv Blanc, Muscadelle
Left = gravel = Cab SauvRight = clay/limestone = Merlot/Cab Franc; 1956 freeze killed Malbec → Merlot
Haut-Brion = only non-Médoc 1855Pauillac = most classified (17); Mouton elevated 1973 (only change)
Graves classifies WINES not estates1953/59; all 16 properties in Pessac-Léognan; dry white + red
Pomerol = NO classificationIron-rich; only Libournais AOC without Malbec allowed
St-Ém Grand Cru = AOC not rankingSt-Ém GCC = classification; 2022: Figeac + Pavie = PGCA
Ciron River creates botrytisSauternes/Barsac; Barsac can bottle as Sauternes; Yquem = only Premier Cru Supérieur
Bordeaux Sup = NO dry whiteLes Landes = largest man-made forest in W Europe; Joseph Capus drafted AOC law