As a person who likes to drink Bordeaux wines, I am often asked how Bordeaux red wines differ from New World wines and, in particular, Napa Valley red wines.
Firstly, Bordeaux wines from the Left Bank (of the Dordogne and Garonne rivers, which separate Bordeaux into 2 sides) are similar to Napa Valley red wines in that both of these wines are mostly made with Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. Bordeaux wines from the Left Bank are almost always a blend of mostly Cabernet Sauvignon grapes with some Merlot and sometimes a small amount of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot grapes. The blending of grapes allows the winemaker to express the best qualities of each grape varietal. The winemaker can also balance the climate changes each year by using different proportions of the different grape varietals based on which grape varietals grew the best in that particular year. Napa Valley red wines are made with a very high percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, although famous Napa wines (such as Opus One, Dominus or Harlan Estate) do use a small number of other grape varietals. So if these wines use the same grape varietals, why do they taste so different?
One reason for the difference is the different soil conditions and climates of each region. The Left Bank of Bordeaux is a temperate Mediterranean climate with gravelly clay soils, whereas Napa Valley is dry Mediterranean climate with dryer summers and winters with more rain than Bordeaux. Napa Valley has a much more diverse soil composition with some flat plains and some mountainous regions. Stylistically, Bordeaux winemakers and Napa winemakers take a different approaches to wines. Bordeaux wines are from the “Old World” and traditionally have lower alcohol content and are less fruit driven compared to Napa wines. Most top-end Bordeaux wines are not meant to be enjoyed until they have been aged at least 10 years. Napa wines and the American wine industry is much younger and are referred to as “New World” wines. For many years, North Americans drank European-produced wines. It was only in the 1970s that pioneers like Robert Mondavi started to grow and produce wines in Napa Valley. Most of the popularization of Napa wines has only occurred in the last 30 years. Generally, Napa Valley red wines will be fruitier and have higher alcohol content than Bordeaux wines. They tend to be ready to drink much earlier than Bordeaux wines.
I find it so intriguing that similar grapes can be grown in different countries and produce such different wines. This is great for consumers as there are wines that can appeal to a broad range of taste preferences. With globalization, French winemakers are learning from Napa winemakers and vice versa so that modern Bordeaux red wines are drinkable much earlier compared to Bordeaux wines produced 30 years ago. Likewise, Napa wines are starting to dial back on the fruit-forward component of their taste profile.
The only way to find if there is a difference between Bordeaux and Napa red wines is to taste them yourself. You may prefer one over another or you may like both styles of wine! For more of my discussion of the differences between Napa and Bordeaux red wines, see my video here.
