🍷 Bordeaux blend
A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and other Bordeaux varieties.
A Bordeaux blend is a mixture of several grape varieties characteristic of the Bordeaux region of France. In the red Bordeaux blend the main grapes are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Petit Verdot and Malbec are often added, but in small shares.
The idea of blending is that each variety has its own strengths. Cabernet Sauvignon gives structure and tannins, Merlot softness and juiciness, and Cabernet Franc aroma and freshness. The weather in Bordeaux changes from year to year, and different varieties ripen differently. A blend helps produce wine that does not depend on a single grape.
The proportions depend on the bank of the river. On the left bank of the Gironde Cabernet Sauvignon is more often the base, on the right bank more often Merlot.
The Bordeaux blend became a model, and the style is copied around the world. In the United States the term "Meritage" exists for such blends. A blend is a kind of cuvée and is tied to French wine.
What it includes
Links
- Part of
- 🍷 Blend
- Where it is made
- 🗺️ French wine
- Related to
- 🍇 Cabernet Sauvignon, 🍇 Merlot, 🍇 Cabernet Franc
- Similar and different
- 🍷 Blend, 🍷 Meritage
Frequently asked questions
What is a Bordeaux blend?
A mixture of grapes characteristic of Bordeaux: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and others.
Why are grapes blended?
Each variety gives something different: structure, softness or aroma, and a blend makes the wine more resilient to weather.
What is Meritage?
An American term for wines made in the style of a Bordeaux blend.
Similar
🍷 GSM blend · 🍷 Grower Champagne · 🍷 Château-Chalon · 🍷 Varietal wine · 🍷 Saignée rosé · 🍷 Blended rosé
⚠️ Wine contains alcohol: adults only, drink in moderation. Wine usually contains sulphites; egg white or milk proteins are sometimes used for fining — important for allergies and for vegans.