Bordeaux!!!

A bordeaux is basically any wine produced in the Bordeaux region of France. But basically... Bordeaux...it's just the name conjures up all sorts of extraordinary wine expecations, but it's also not all about...What comes in my mind when someone talks about Bordeaux? I believe Bordeaux is the modern day red wine MECCA. It's a famous winemaking region, it has amazing maritime climate, huge collection of grape varieties, well honed traditions as well as complicated classification system, It's simply just a wine wonderland.

The Bordeaux region was introduced to wine by Romans, probably in the mid 1 century.

In the 12th century, the popularity of Bordeaux wines incresed dramatically, thanks to Henry Plantagenet and Eleanor of Aquitaine marriage. Why? Because the marriage made the province of Aquitaine, part of the Angevin Empire and the wine of Bordeaux was exported to England.

The export of Bordeaux was interrupted by the Hundred Years War between France and England in 1337, by the end of war France was taking the controle of the wine production in the region.

In the 1855, the Ch`ateaux of Bordeaux were classified and this classification remains widely used today.

The major reason for the success of winemaking in the Bordeaux region is the excellent environment for growing wines. Region is located in the south west corner of France just a miles from Atlantic ocean. The Gulf Stream exerts a warming influence on the region, yet summer weather can be fickle and inconsistent, making it head pain when it comes to getting grapes to fully ripen.

Climat is a critical player in vintage quality year in and year out. The best vintages are always warm ones, Bodeaux actually can be a cool climate for red grapes, which need plentyof sun toreach full maturity, with optimal levels of sugar and tannin, mature grapes always create great wines.

Three rivers do their best to define Bordeaux, effectively dividing the region into two primary sections - worldwide known as the left and right bank. Lover laying designated as the Left bank and includes the regions of the 

1. Medoc

2. Graves.

The gently sloping land on the north side of the Gironde is considered the Right bank, maintaind two tributaries

1. Garonne

2. Dordogne

The soil of Bordeaux's Right bank steers towards limestone and clay, functioning like a sponge to hold water, making it the ideal soil to grow the softer side of early ripening Merlot.

Don't expect to find the grapes on the lables of Bordeaux wines, You will find anything - produces name, various villages, AOC designations and appellations, but grapes? No! Why? Bordeaux - it's where grapes are grow, terrior, village region, it's most important than grape varieties. Don't be grape centric, enjoy finding Your favourite producer, Right or Left bank, terior....whats make this wine so great? Combination af the climate. the soil, terrior...

Generally red Bordeaux is made from Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec and Carm`en`ere.

White Bordeaux is second in domination list in this region and exclusive in the case of the sweet Sauternes made from S`emillon, Muscadelle and Sauvignon Blanc. As with the reds, white Bordeaux wines are usually blends. Bordeaux red wines are the regions most vocal ambassadors, like a living legend.

In the late 1960s S`emillon was the most planted grape in Bordeaux, since then, it has been in constant decline altrough it still is the most common of Bordeaux white wine grapes.

Buying Bordeaux wine can be an experience for newbies. To gain an grip on buying these wines, You need to recall that the Right bank is dominated by Merlot, but the Left Bank by Cabernet Sauvignon.

Enyoj the experiment by tasting the Merlot :)