For some it will forever be the world’s most confusing, unfriendly and inaccessible wine producing region. For others, it’s a never-ending adventure of discovery, adventure and pleasure. If you missed part one, it’s not too late to get a quick introduction.

Right bank and left bank Bordeaux are terms you’re probably very familiar with, but then you go back to Australia for that eye-catching, easy to read and understand label. I couldn’t blame you. The New World markets itself very well, and traditionalist France is somewhat lagging behind in that department. But don’t let it scare you. Here’s your need-to-know on the difference between right and left.

Right Bank Bordeaux

The right bank appellations are situated on the right bank, or north, of the river Dorgogne. The dominant grapes varieties are Merlot and Cabernet Franc. The left bank has traditionally been more popular, but the right bank is now easily on a par and has found a huge fan-base in the USA.

Pomerol and Saint-Émilion are the most famous areas. The latter has four satellites, one being Lussac-St-Émilion, and Pomerol’s larger neighbour is Lalande-de-Pomerol. The wines from these regions tend to have great fruit concentration and softer tannins, so they’re a good place to start if you’re just getting into Bordeaux. The soil composition and climate is different to Médoc on the left bank, so this helps explain why the style can be very different.

Pay what you like here. There are plenty of good quality budget wines coming out of Saint-Émilion, but you could also pay the price of a new car for some wines. You’ll pay an arm and a leg for wines from 1990 vintage Pomerol.

Left Bank Bordeaux

You’ll hear Médoc and left bank in the same sentence. Now we’re on the other side of the river, where the terroir dictates Cabernet Sauvignon be used. With Merlot also being an important component, these wines tend to be concentrated, tannic and long-lived. Quite often they’ll need time before you can enjoy them at their best.

Wines labelled with ‘Médoc AC’ are sourced from vineyards in the northerly area of Médoc. ‘Haut-Médoc’ covers the southern region, but not some of the communal appellations – prepare for some name dropping – Margaux, St Julien, Saint-Estèphe and Pauillac. This is where the best soils are found.

If you decide to buy some young Médoc for ageing, buy right. Enjoy the thirty, ten or even just a couple of years that you have them down for and look forward to how they will have evolved. Each communal will give you an idea of what to expect, so don’t be afraid to ask for some advice, or look further into it yourself. It’s a whole world just begging to be explored, whether you’re a left banker, a right banker, or both.

20% off all Bordeaux wines for the month of April (prices discounted at checkout)