Right Bank

right bank, an expression much used of that part of the bordeaux wine region that is on the right bank, or north, of the river dordogne. It includes, travelling down river, castillon Côtes de Bordeaux, francs Côtes de Bordeaux, st-émilion and its satellite appellations, pomerol and lalande-de-pomerol, fronsac and Canon-Fronsac, bourg, and blaye. The most obvious characteristic shared by these appellations, and distinct from left bank appellations, is that the dominant red wine grapes are Merlot with Cabernet Franc rather than Cabernet Sauvignon. In recent years, much has been made of the rivalry between the established large estates of the left bank and the much smaller properties of the right bank (including many garage wines) with their more recent reputations.