There is a simple rule of thumb for Bordeaux wines:
• Left Bank wines are predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon (with other grapes blended in)
• Right Bank wines are predominantly Merlot based (with other grapes blended in)

The red grape varieties permissible in Bordeaux wine region are Malbec, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Petit Verdot. White grapes grown in the region include Semillon, Muscadelle, and Sauvignon Blanc. The famous botrytised dessert wines of Bordeaux come from the Sauternes region.

More than 10,000 different wines are produced in Bordeaux, by nearly 7,500 winemakers. With more than 120, 000 hectares of growing land, it's no surprise that the region is one of the largest wine producers in France.

Young red Bordeaux wines tend to be dark--coloured anywhere from a rich ruby to near-black. The red wines have heavy fruit scents of black cherry, cassis, and blackberry, along with spices like liquorice and vanilla bean. They have heavy tannins and rich, complex flavours.