Bordeaux Wine

The Bordeaux blend is much used worldwide; however, with its world-famous appellations, world-renown unique terroir and diverse soil landscape, a great Bordeaux still holds its own in any wine collection.

Left Bank vs Right Bank

The French wine region of Bordeaux is best known for some of the world's finest wine estates with a history that trace back thousands of years to decades of Roman rule. So diverse is the landscape that the region is best known for its Left Bank, on the Atlantic Ocean side of the Gironde estuary and Garonne river, and the Right Bank, which lies on the north of the Dordogne. The area between the rivers is known as Entre-Deux-Mers 'between two seas'.

Left Bank Bordeaux's
The Left Bank's best terroirs are gravel-based with a high proportion of round pebbles. Due to the Atlantic Ocean's proximity, the climate is cooler here, and the wines tend to be more tannic with firm structures and high acidities. Some well-known wines are from Medoc communes such as Margaux, Pauillac, Saint-Estèphe and Saint-Julien.
While all Left Bank wines tend to be blends, Cabernet Sauvignon is the grape of choice, with supporting roles coming from Merlot, Malbec, Cabernet France & Petit Verdot. The wines of the Left Bank are known for their magnificent personality, their typical aromatic profile characterised by stewed black fruits. Often seen as the choice of Bordeaux to lay down, Left Bank wines are designed to age with a tannic structure that softens beautifully over time. Som of the most sought-after vintages of these wines are 2005, 2009, 2010 & 2016 with 2018 & 2019 providing a consistent reputation in recent years. Browse the Corney & Barrow Vintage Chart for a deeper analysis.

Right Bank Bordeaux's
Right Bank vineyards are located on the sunny side of the Gironde estuary and benefit from the region's continental climate. The terroirs here are more clay-based, with a high proportion of limestone, with one of the only exceptions being Pomerol, where vines are planted in soils of clay, gravel and sandy soil. Due to the Right Bank soil nature, you'll find Merlot as the grape of choice as it loves the moisture retention characteristics of clay soil, especially with the region's extreme weather throughout the year. Right Bank Bordeaux wines are found to feature aromas of intense black fruit (the Merlot effect), plum and cherry to produce higher alcohol content and a full-bodied pour. This fruity character Right Bank style is often considered more approachable in their youth than those of the Left Bank and features some world-famous appellations such as Pomerol and Saint-Émilion.
While the Left Bank is home to some of the most famous names in Bordeaux wine, including Château Margaux, Château Latour and Château Mouton Rothschild, the Right Bank has seen a resurgence in popularity in recent years. The Right Bank's best-known wines include Pétrus, Le Pin and Château Cheval Blanc.

Bordeaux Whites & Entre-deux-mers

While synonymous with reds, the Bordeaux wine region also houses some fine white wines, including sparkling, dry and famous golden-coloured sweet wines from Sauternes & Barzac. The appellation of Entre-deux-mers, located between the Dordogne and Garonne rivers, is the largest in the Bordeaux region. The wines from Entre-deux-mers are usually white, with a small percentage of reds and rosés. White Bordeaux wines are typically blends of Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon. The wines are generally medium-bodied with aromas of citrus fruits, gooseberry and tropical fruits.