Right Bank: Merlot's Soft Power

Cross the rivers to find a different world. Smaller properties, family ownership, and Merlot-based wines that seduce rather than impose.

Saint-Émilion: The Medieval Jewel

This UNESCO World Heritage village enchants visitors, but the wines are the real treasure. The classification system here, revised every 10 years, keeps producers competitive.

The Plateau: Limestone crown - Château Ausone and Cheval Blanc rule from here - Elegant, mineral-driven wines - Try: Château Grand Mayne (€40-50), biodynamic pioneer

Côtes de Saint-Émilion: The slopes - Clay-limestone soils, powerful wines - Many garagiste producers started here - Try: Château de Pressac (€25-35), sustainable farming, historic property

Saint-Émilion Satellites: The affordable alternatives - Lussac, Montagne, Puisseguin, Saint-Georges - Similar style, fraction of the price - Try: Château Montaiguillon (€15-20) from Montagne-Saint-Émilion

Pomerol: Small but Mighty

No classification, no grand châteaux—just 800 hectares producing some of the world's most expensive wines.

- Château Pétrus: The king, from pure clay soils - Le Pin: The garage wine that became cult legend - Iron-rich clay creates unique Merlot expression - Try: Château La Fleur de Gay (€60-80) for accessible Pomerol character

Emerging Right Bank

Fronsac and Canon-Fronsac: Pomerol's affordable neighbor - Similar soils, increasing quality - Try: Château Villars (€15-25), three generations of women winemakers

Castillon and Francs: The new frontier - Cooler sites, later ripening, freshness in warming climate - Attracting famous names seeking value - Try: Domaine de l'A (€25-35), biodynamic from Stéphane Derenoncourt