left bank, an expression for that part of the bordeaux wine region that is on the left bank of the river garonne. It includes, travelling down river, graves, sauternes, barsac, pessac-léognan, médoc, and all the appellations of the Médoc. The most obvious characteristic shared by the red wines of these appellations, as distinct from right bank appellations, is that the dominant red wine grape variety is Cabernet Sauvignon rather than Merlot and Cabernet Franc, although there are many other distinctions.
