BORDEAUX Wines: LEFT Bank vs RIGHT Bank (Comparing & Tasting)

Let's compare and taste side by side wines from the Left bank and the Right bank of French winemaking region Bordeaux. Both banks offer a diverse range of wines, each reflecting its distinct geography, climate, soils and dominant grape varieties.
Some of the WINE ACCESSORIES I use regularly:
🥂 Riedel Veritas Champagne Wine Glass: amzn.to/3qhMLRF
🍷 Riedel Veritas Old World Syrah Glass: amzn.to/3uC6zgW
🥂 Riedel Veritas New World Pinot Noir Glass: amzn.to/3uG8Nfc
🍾 Cork puller: amzn.to/3iBrFZZ
🍾 The Durand cork puller: amzn.to/3OYKdS1
🏳️ Riedel Polishing Cloth: amzn.to/3izWJcx
🧳 Wine travel protector: amzn.to/3s8WWs0
🗜️ CORAVIN and its accessories:
Coravin Timeless Six+ Wine Preservation System: amzn.to/3YtIxmj
Coravin Timeless 3-Needle Kit: amzn.to/3YtIxmj
Coravin Argon Gas Capsules: amzn.to/3IkuCJa
Coravin Screw Caps: amzn.to/3IkuYQ0
📚 Some of my favorite WINE BOOKS:
📓 Flawless: Understanding Faults in Wine by Jamie Goode: amzn.to/3eb7AYP
📒 Understanding Wine Technology: The Science of Wine Explained by David Bird: amzn.to/3e2qBNb
📕 Authentic Wine: Toward Natural and Sustainable Winemaking (by Jamie Goode): amzn.to/3ygtuAC
📘 The Oxford Companion to Wine (by Jancis Robinson): amzn.to/3ryy0H6
📙Wine Grapes: A Complete Guide to 1,368 Vine Varieties, Including Their Origins and Flavours (by Jancis Robinson, Julia Harding and Jose Vouillamoz): amzn.to/3RCAheM
📗 A Life Uncorked (by Hugh Johnson): amzn.to/3M5yeyQ
📓 Drinking with the Valkyries (by Andrew Jefford): amzn.to/45mGBOG
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
**CONTENTS OF THIS VIDEO:
0:00 Introduction
1:09 Bordeaux at a Glance
2:28 Geography & Climate
3:57 Soils
4:40 Grape Varieties
6:08 Wine Styles & Winemaking
8:00 Notable Appellations & Producers
9:27 The Tasting
12:37 The Conclusion
#bordeaux #wineeducation #wine
Be sure to subscribe to my channel, as I am posting weekly videos on all things wine and monthly episodes of wine podcast.
**FOLLOW ME:
Instagram: / blancdenoir
Twitter: / blancdenoir

[@loganmalf22]

A video on soil types would be amazing! As a newer wine enthusiast it's something I'm really curious about. Great idea 😁

[@NoSediment]

Thank You. Will try to arrange that sooner than later. 😅

[@crazywisdom42]

Agreed. Just read Dirty Guide to Wine and I’d love to hear your perspective in a video. Cheers!

[@vaibrasil100]

soil is fundamental and I don’t understand why so rare to find a video on that. Merlot on limestone, cabernet on gravel. Minerality is key in wine, calcium in Bordeaux is just unique. A la tienne!

[@-itkindaworks-]

We absolutely want to see more on specific soils - and thanks again for this one!

[@NoSediment]

Great, will keep that in mind. Have been avoiding this topic for a while. 🤔😅

[@atamo4323]

Would love to see. Had a great experience at a wine making educational centre in Rhone valley Cornas region before. They showed samples of different soil types and you could taste the effect on the wine (it was rose wine at that time). Galet, clay, lime stone etc. quite interesting.

[@bradbellomo6896]

I'd absolutely love a video on soil. So much B.S. out there with wine tasting (saying things like tasting the granite bedrock in a wine), but also soil has a huge impact on how grape vines grows.

[@NoSediment]

Yes, exactly. I want to make a video on soil, but I am worried that some might expect this -> “tasting granite bedrock in wine” which is not true. There is a lot of myths and half truths surrounding this topic. 😅

[@bendakstarkiller1270]

Fantastic analysis as always Agnes!

[@NoSediment]

Thank You for the compliment and a comment. 🙏🏻🍾

[@CorkWhisperer]

Thank you for amazing content!

[@NoSediment]

And thank You for commenting, watching and giving me energy to continue! 🙏🏻 Cheers! 🍷

[@jpdonovan3753]

A soil video would be wonderfully geeky! And I'd totally be here for it. ;-)

[@NoSediment]

The only problem, I fear, is that I wouldn’t talk about it in a way, that is written in books. 😬🤦‍♀️ I am afraid people might not like it. 😳

[@jpdonovan3753]

@@NoSediment As a WSET Level 3 grad, I can confidently say that NOT talking about it like they do in books is exactly what would draw me to your version of it. (No offense to the WSET textbooks...well, maybe a little.). Your wine education style is fantastic, and it would absolutely carry through for a soils lesson. In my humble opinion. Can't wait. 🙂

[@raakeshmadoo8375]

Always a pleasure viewing your videos; learning made easy!

[@NoSediment]

Thank You, so sweet to read Your comment! 😊 Cheers! 🥂✨

[@babydaddy8224]

Great content, absolute pleasure to watch, i subscribed!! Very well made, thanks for all your hard work!!

[@NoSediment]

Thank You for Your comment and subscribing. 🙏🏻 Happy that You enjoy our content. 🥂 Cheers!

[@thejohnringo]

This talk was information-rich, and so, very useful as well as enjoyable. My fave Bordeaux wines are for sure left bank; sentimental fave = Ch. Leoville Lascases. Please do a talk on soils.

[@NoSediment]

Thank You for Your comment. 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻 I will work on soils, it seems that a lot of people would like this topic, and yet I always thought it was too geeky! 😅

[@LASUPERLAWYERS]

Thanks for picking two wines I’ve never tasted, to open me to new ideas.

[@NoSediment]

Thank You’ 🙏🏻 Both great wines by the way, and definitely deserve more attention’ Cheers! 🍷

[@dublodave7860]

Hi Agnese, Yes please - a video on soil types would be very useful and helpful to me as I am about to start a WSET level 3 course. Cheers..

[@NoSediment]

Thank You. 🙏🏻 I will start to work on it already. It seems that people are really interested in this topic. 😅

[@tomandreano6582]

Greatly informative. Thank you. I agree an analysis of soils would be helpful. My only experience with Pualliac was from a gift. 20 years of aging and it was incredible.

[@NoSediment]

I keep trying to prepare for soil video, but it is just such a complex topic! But I will! 🙏🏻

[@chemepharmd76]

I don't think you can get "too geeky" if you like wine 😁. In addition to soil influences, I think a video comparing 1st, 2nd, and 3rd labels would be enjoyable and informative.

[@NoSediment]

Thank You! 🙏🏻 I actually was thinking on the video like this! I just need to convince myself so buy those expensive wines. 🍷

[@fivetimesyo]

@@NoSediment This is your chance, Agnese! Use this as an excuse and blame it on your subscribers.

[@robertfenti3996]

Fabulous....love Bordeaux in Ripe Years....

[@NoSediment]

I love it in more cooler years, but yes, lovely wines, amazing area! ✨🥂

[@richardholness7053]

Again, a very nice "accessible" video that condenses masses of material for the viewer. Very impressive (I have a soft spot for your choice of words also)! It really does help define the general differences around the 2 main types of bordeax cuvee and that is useful as they can both be a delight (and truth be told a horror), but are very different and appeal to different people, but in many cases to the same people. I also like that you eluded to but didn't get dragged into the archaic growth classfication system, which as I commented on after a previous video can be a subject to the law of diminishing returns for the buyer. I am very lucky to have 2010 bordeaux from various vineyards in my cellars and most are still very "austere" and "taught" with the tannins really holding them back from being in their best drinking window and I feel you captured this beautifully when you talked about the left bank bordeaux beautifully. What I'm trying to say, is that communicating about wine in an accessible way is the challenge and I feel you are doing this so well and I really enjoy.

[@NoSediment]

Thank You for Your comment, and Your support. I think I have gone through many stages myself, but I feel that wine shouldn’t be a topic of only lucky few, but rather open and inclusive. And I actually think that 2010 Bordeaux wines are epic! 🍷

[@TobaccoWine11]

Amazing Selection You have great taste I am a Wine Lover

[@NoSediment]

Thank You! ✨ Cheers! 🥂

[@jodyb2036]

Thanks for another great video. So how would you rank the vintages from Bordeaux? Probably another video in that too, and yes would love to hear about the influence of soil types.

[@NoSediment]

Vintages of Bordeaux would require several separate videos, I guess! 😂 And soil is a very influential, but I am afraid not in the way that majority thinks. 🥹

[@NoSediment]

Vintages of Bordeaux would require several separate videos, I guess! 😂 And soil is a very influential, but I am afraid not in the way that majority thinks. 🥹

[@jodyb2036]

@@NoSediment Intriguing…I look forward to it 👍🏼

[@unclemidge]

Finally you tasted a bottle I have 😊

[@NoSediment]

Cheers to that! 🙌🍾

[@vincentcarida569]

I would love a video on soil types!!

[@NoSediment]

Deal, it looks like I will need to start working on it. 🙌😉

[@loganmalf22]

I loved how you described the left bank wine as "sitting back." I still haven't tried many Bordeaux wines, but recently I was trying to describe the difference between a pair of dry reds from the Alentejo and the Douro in Portugal. It sounded crazy to me, but the way I wanted to describe them was that the Alentejo seemed like a very friendly, easy to talk to person who would introduce themselves to you while the Douro was sitting back in a chair comfortably waiting for someone to come and start a conversation. They were both delicious, interesting wines, but the Alentejo seemed more approachable in a way while the Douro, although interesting and complex in its own way, was more challenging. One started the conversation itself, the other left it to you to search first before opening up.

[@NoSediment]

Great way to describe a wine, I can immediately understand what You meant by that! 😌😊 I think someone told me a while ago, that it is completely fine to describe wine as a person, and wines do act sometimes as people, so why not? 😅 Cheers! 🍷

[@Natashaz48]

Yes please make a video about soil!😊

[@NoSediment]

Sure! I already have put it on my calendar. 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@drmatthewhorkey]

Niceeee video and blouse! Pedesclaux offers fantastic value for money IMO. I agree with you that it’s a bit austere when young. I like it with 10 years or so

[@NoSediment]

Thank You! 🙏🏻 Yes, Pedesclaux is really good wine, and great value, indeed. 🍷

[@denisdonohue1863]

That Château Pédesclaux is divine.

[@NoSediment]

And absolutely great value! 🍷

[@camillaflorentz8112]

Yes, video on soil type’s. 🙌😁

[@NoSediment]

Great! Will work on that! 🙌

[@joecali2442]

Would love to see a video on the wines of Fronsac at some point 😊. Seems like my local stores have over a hundred options from St Emilion and Pomerol, but only a very small number available from Fronsac. Would like to know what to try ordering online as a good entry point.

[@NoSediment]

Thank You for the suggestion, yes, indeed Fronsac would be nice topic to cover, and a good value as well in my opinion 🙏🏻

[@atamo4323]

Great episode! Maybe a quick episode on tips for self wine tour travelers on bringing wines back on long haul flight. It is always a challenge and a bit of an embarrassment when just buying 1-2 bottles at each vineyard/domaine, when other customers were buying by case (even when they were coming by bikes). After visiting 10 places, it’s a challenge to put them safely in suitcases and hope they don’t break. 😮‍💨

[@NoSediment]

There really isn’t much tips or tricks. I usually bring very little wine if I travel by plane. One way is to pay for a shipment. But most of the time I just wrap bottles in my dirty t-shirts and hope 🤞 bottles don’t break on their way back 🙏🏻🙏🏻 And don’t feel embarrassed, this is the way it is. And there are some wineries that also offer shipping. 🥂🍾

[@TobaccoWine11]

I Love your channel I love drinking Wine

[@NoSediment]

Thank You! 🥂 Cheers! ✨

[@kubo-thegermanshepherdpuppy]

Amazing

[@NoSediment]

Thank You’ 🥂🍾

[@df71091]

I remember having Terran from Slovenia, that soil is so rich in iron, i like it a lot. It stains your mouth and teeth like crazy but its really something special

[@NoSediment]

Hahaha, I am someone who’s mouth and teeth always gets black from red wine, therefore I am very conscious when drinking red wine in public! 🍷😅

[@megatrendy1]

Very good explanations!👏👏👏But I would have appreciated a bit more wines tasted: Phélan-Ségur, Kirwan 2020, La Lagune, Du Tertre, Poujeaux, Haut-Batailley, La Croix 2018 (Pomerol), Domaine de Chevaler sind e.g.

[@NoSediment]

Thank You! 🙏🏻 All great wines and it would definitely make sense to taste more wines, as one cannot really appreciate the differences between two areas, by only tasting one wine from each. I do have some of these wines in my cellar, but I also don’t really live on samples, I buy all my wines, so it would have been a very expensive video. Hopefully in the near future I can manage that. 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@giuliettcamel]

I'd love the soils video

[@NoSediment]

I will be working on it, promise! 🍷

[@hyazza5022]

We would love that video about soils. Would it be too geeky? Definitely. Are we the kind of geeks who enjoy these kind of things? Absolutely.

[@NoSediment]

THANK YOU! I already have started to prepare for this video. I truly hope it will not be a disappointment. 🫣

[@kirkkiu2160]

definitely interested about soil’s influence on wine grapes growing.

[@NoSediment]

Great, will keep this topic in mind when preparing for the future videos. 🙌

[@andrewwebster15]

Very interested in the soils video, but it may be pretty nerdy for a broad audience. I think you can sneak it into another video. Ribera del Duero has such distinct soils by elevation, that it made it simple for me to taste the difference soil makes even though it’s the same grape.

[@NoSediment]

Thank You! 🙏🏻 I will try to include it more now, that I have seen peoples responses. 🍷 Cheers!

[@dennythewinenerd]

Sveiks! My wife and I were just having a discussion about tasting minerals in wine just a couple of days ago! While there is no scientific proof that the rocks/minerals in a soil can lend to the flavor profile of a wine, many times circumstantial evidence tries to counter that! (such as the different flavors of mineral, from "crushed rock" to "wet stone" to "flinty") Volcanic soil from Italy, galets in Chateauneuf Du Pape, shiest in Alsace... do they only effect the flavor via adding warmth, draining/lack of drainage, etc.. or do they have some other direct effect that may make chablis taste chalky? Or a montepulciano taste flinty? So, yeah... would LOVE to see a nerdy episode about soil. :)

[@NoSediment]

Thank You! Once my school starts again, I have promised myself that this will be the first video I make! 🥂 Cheers!

[@user-kc3pe7pc8w]

I like both banks of course.👍😁🍷🍷

[@NoSediment]

Cheers to that! 🍷

[@Mathijs1308]

Though I have my favorites on each bank, I’ve always been a sucker for Pomerol … when pushed to a specific producer there … Château Nenin ❤

[@NoSediment]

Nenin is really, really nice! 🍷 I love both banks, and it is hard to single out favourites. 🥲😅

[@Mathijs1308]

@@NoSedimentyep … currently pulling the 09-10 Nenin from their crates … oh so velvety and deep wines at this stage 🫶🏻

[@palandi]

+1 for the video on soils, Agnese. and maybe another one on dry white Bordeaux? 🙃

[@NoSediment]

O my, dry white Bordeaux deserves it own video for sure, and maybe not even one. 😅 and one for soils are definitely coming up, as promised! 🍷

[@tantaihuynh1509]

Thank you for your very informative video. In your opinion, for the same price, which red wine would you buy . French, Italy,Portugal, Spain or other countries(South Africa, Chile,Australia,USA...).

[@NoSediment]

I think better price is offered by Portugal and Spain, as well as non-European countries. 🍷 but I would buy Italy, I just really enjoy their wines. 🍷 what about You?

[@tantaihuynh1509]

@@NoSediment thank you so much for your feedback , advice and opinion. I do not spend much money on wine because i don not drink much so i usually buy the Italian Salento and Tussock Jumper Australian Shiraz (14,5%) at Carrefour for less than 7 euros for the Australia wine. I have had the opportunity of drinking a Haut-Brion, a Châteur Latour and an Eyqiem(hopefully offered by a member of the famous Lazard Bank). Love your videos and hope your channel will reach at least 100K subscribers.

[@stevenholt4936]

Both but I have more left bank for the reasons you gave but also because the appellations are easier to understand. Overall, I prefer CS to Merlot, so tend to favour the left bank if I am only buying one or two half-cases.

[@NoSediment]

Thank You! 🙏🏻 I probably are the same, but I know when Merlot is in the right hands, it can produce divine wines! 🍷

[@QualeQualeson]

Listen, it's early days for me mmkay? My head is swimming with wine info and sometimes I get befuddled by the strangest things. One such thing has been left and right bank Bordeaux. I think it would be easier if they said west and east. I actually checked and I think I've got it :p It's left and right as seen from the south, which to be fair is what you typically do when looking at a map. But in theory it could have been as one look up river from Bordeaux city, there's a reason we use the cardinal directions in geography. So left is west of the river Garonne which also includes most of Bordeaux city, and right is east. I'm probably a little dumb :p

[@NoSediment]

This is so funny, and in all honesty I have never thought about it that way. I have to check the angles in the map again, and maybe make it even worse for You? Could it also be north and south bank? 😅

[@QualeQualeson]

@@NoSediment I'm glad you're amused 😄

[@user-cr4xw9cm4r]

St Emilion: I wanna be your friend Pauillac: hold it, I don't know you yet

[@NoSediment]

Hahaha’ good one! 🙌

[@finanarchbold7509]

I'd like to hear about the soils!!

[@NoSediment]

Will definitely start to work in that! Thank You! 🍷

[@lucifernos]

hello Agnese if we put wine aside, what other alcoholic drink do you like or is your favorite? do you like whiskey?

[@NoSediment]

Hey! :) Unfortunately I almost don’t drink any spirits, rarely will I enjoy a nice (bitter style) cocktail. But since I live in Latvia I do enjoy beer, and we have absolutely amazing beers here. It is though only a summer beverage. ✨

[@lucifernos]

@@NoSediment Cheers to the beer... 🍻

[@andrzejkaczorowski9203]

cabernet should be more aged to get softer tanins while merlot based wines need fewer years in the bottle and do not last as long as cabernet. Right bank up to 15-20 years cabernet 30-40.

[@NoSediment]

While I completely agree with what You say in theory, it is not always the case in real life. There are many winemaking techniques used that can make Cabernet Sauvignon more approachable in its youth, as there are ways to add structure for Merlot. Things have changed vastly! 😉 Cheers! 🍷

[@borbetomagus1]

more geology videos please!

[@NoSediment]

Deal, I will start to prepare one soon enough! 🙏🏻😅

[@tonybari]

While Cab Sauv is the primary varietal in a left bank blend and Merlot is the primary varietal in a right bank blend, are there specific percentages for each varietal that must be met in order for them to be called “left bank” and “right bank?” Similarly, are there specific percentages of the accompanying secondary / supporting varietals that must be met? e.g. Is 50% Merlot, 30% Cab Franc, 15% Cab Sauv, and 5% Malbec + Petit Verdot considered a right bank, since Merlot is the dominant varietal, or must specific percentages be met?

[@NoSediment]

Left vs Right bank is not an appellation, so there is no rules regarding this. And You can find plenty of Merlot based wines in the left bank, it is just that the majority of best known wines will be made based on Cabernet Sauvignon. However, there are many sites, where Cabernet is not suitable grape and might not even reach full ripeness. 🤷‍♀️

[@kairodumba7924]

I've been doing my research but can't seem to pick between a 2012 Chateau Montrose and a 2015 Chateau La Clotte. The latter's vintage is better but the former is second growth. Which would you pick?

[@NoSediment]

Sorry for such a late reply, but I would choose Montrose, the best estates always will deliver on the lesser vintages. But it is just me, other wine lover would advise You differently. Cheers! 🥂

[@ozziedylan9903]

I Love Wine 🍷🍾🥂🍷

[@NoSediment]

Cheers to that! Me too! 🥂✨

[@VektrumSimulacrum]

Not too geeky...well maybe but teach us about dirt anyways!🙏 (insert Jonny Depp jar of dirt scene here) 🦑

[@NoSediment]

😂😂😂 Thank You’ 🙏🏻 Will do! 🍷

[@stephensheer6781]

Soil and Geology very important. DO IT

[@NoSediment]

Thank You for the comment, I will start working on it! 🙏🏻🍷

[@nasos00]

Soil video yes please

[@NoSediment]

Coming, hopefully soon enough.

[@robertbethea7431]

Can you please make a video of you saying Sangiovese on repeat 😊jk

[@NoSediment]

😂😂😂😂 not sure it will be very interesting video in general! 😆

[@typerightseesight]

finish it! lol. mortalll kombaaat lol.

[@NoSediment]

😂😂😂 exactly!

[@Ruirspirul]

French first and foremost are amazing at marketing and Bordeaux is a perfect example of this, they sold whole world that left bank is full of gravel and right bank has clay as if it is something exclusive, most of worlds soils are either alluvial or some sort of clay in them 😅

[@NoSediment]

😂😂😂 I am not a soil specialist and definitely will not know what majority of soil is around the world. But I think in this case, these soils work more as a defining argument for a choice of grapes. Not necessarily the definition of the quality. Because we all know that soil alone doesn’t mean that wine will be great, there are so many other factors affecting it, including human work! 😉

[@lesliepless2939]

Terroir indepth, please!

[@NoSediment]

To be honest I am surprised, how much people would love to hear on this topic. Thank You, I will work on it! 🙏🏻🍷

[@robertomangioni9272]

a lot of potential means not that good

[@NoSediment]

In my vocabulary it doesn’t mean that. Because potential in wine means should be good now, just as it will be good later!

[@robertomangioni9272]

really ? potential is generally used for a wine yet to develop but good to know it has such broad meaning

[@NoSediment]

@@robertomangioni9272 of course. Bad wine cannot develop into something great. It has to be great already at the beginning. Potential means it has enough structure, concentration and flavour intensity to not loose it over time. It doesn’t mean, rough tannin that will develop into something better with ageing. It never does.

[@MangoZen]

Would love a video on soils. Yes!

[@NoSediment]

Thank You! Will start working on it! 🙏🏻