Index
1- Bordeaux Wines and Vineyards
In oenological maturity, which is usually associated with greater purchasing power and a few gray hairs… one, there is already a global opening for wine tasting.
Bordeaux wine was not going to be less one of the most important areas in the world.
You will surely learn something if you read the article about Bordeaux wines.
Bordeaux, comes from Au Bord de l’eau (on the water’s edge). Bordeaux is the most important wine-growing region in France with some 115,000 ha. planted in vineyards, where its high quality grapes produce all kinds of wine.
First thing learned … they have such a variety of soils and are handled with about 12 varieties, 6 white and 6 red, that the diversity of types of wines is brutal.
Bordeaux wines are blend wines, a blend for earthlings. Both red and white wines come from the separate vinification of various strains.
2- The weather in Bordeaux:
The climate is warm and temperate in Bordeaux. There is rainfall throughout the year. Even the driest month still has rain. The average annual temperature in Bordeaux is 12.7 ° C. Precipitation is 931 mm per year.
3- Floors in AOC Bordeaux:
The soils are formed by gravels on the left bank of the Garonne (Pomerol and Saint-Émilion), which favors the hydric regulation of the vineyards.
In Sauternes, the Côtes and Saint-Émilion, the soils are calcareous and clayey-calcareous.
4- Zonas / Appellations Bourdeaux:
Within la AOC Bordeaux, we find 5 sub-zones:
1- Bordeaux & Bordeaux Superior
2- The Médoc
3- Blaye & Sauternes
4- The Libournais
5- Entre-deux-mers
5- The grape varieties used:
Red grape varieties:
Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec, Petit Verdot y Carménére.
White grape varieties:
Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon, Muscadelle, Ugni Blanc, Colombard y Sauvignon gris.
6- The types of wines they make:
The whites, (half of the production), range from light and dry in the Blayais, Entre-deux-Mers or the best Graves, to the richest and most liquorous wines, such as Sauternes or Sainte-Croix-du-Mont, going through the whole range of softness of the Premières Côtes.
Reds range from light wine in certain Médoc to powerful and well-built ones like Saint-Émilion and Pomerol.
The rosés are the least known, and they are light and dry.
7- Classification of Bordeaux wines:
In 1855 the famous Bordeaux Crus classification was carried out by the city’s Chamber of Commerce.
The classification is not consistent, by variety, area, type of soil … but … judge for yourself.
There are five main classification groups:
1- Grands Crus 1855
The criteria for including a wine within this classification is the notoriety, prestige of the winery and the price of the transactions.
Here we only have red wines from Médoc, liqueur whites from Sauternes and a red cru from Graves.
2- Grands Crus de Graves
16 wines are classified by communities and by types of red and white wine. Sixteen, not one more, not one less.
3- Grands Crus of Saint-Émilion
82 crus classified AOC Saint-Emilion. All from the Saint Emilion area.
4- Crus Bourgeois
Wines with the quality and value of red wines produced within one of the following eight Médoc sub-areas: Médoc, Haut-Médoc, Listrac, Moulis, Margaux, Saint-Julien, Pauillac et Saint-Estèphe.
5- Crus Artisans
Wines produced on small estates of less than 5 hectares and that fall within one of the eight Médoc appellations: Médoc, Haut-Médoc, Listrac, Moulis, Margaux, Saint-Julien, Pauillac et Saint-Estèphe.
As you can see, the classification is a bit surreal, but they know how to sell it well.
8- The tasting of Bordeaux wines:
The tasting and aromas of Bordeaux wines is a bit complex due to the great diversity of areas and varieties, so I do not describe the tasting of 3 types of characteristic wines:
The reds: Round and structured
These are wines with an intense red color with a remarkable aromatic richness and with round and unctuous tannins.
The aromas present are: Violet, Raspberry, cherry and blackberry.
From the varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot.
Service temperature between 15-17ºC
Aging time between 3 and 30 years.
Appellations
Bordeaux Supérieur (red), Blaye, Blaye – Côtes de Bordeaux (red), Bourg & Côtes de Bourg (red), Côtes de Bordeaux, Côtes de Bourg (red), Canon Fronsac, Castillon – Côtes de Bordeaux, Francs – Côtes de Bordeaux (red), Fronsac, Lalande-De-Pomerol, Lussac-Saint-Émilion, Montagne Saint-Émilion, Pomerol, Puisseguin Saint-Émilion, Saint-Émilion, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru, Saint Georges Saint-Émilion, Cadillac Côtes de Bordeaux, Graves de Vayres (red), Sainte-Foy-Bordeaux (red)
Powerful and intense reds.
Wines with character, with a beautiful aromatic persistence on the nose and in the mouth.
Aromas such as coffee, cassis, currant, blackberry and licorice.
From the varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.
Service temperature between 15-17ºC
Aging time between 5 and 50 years.
Appellations
Haut-Médoc, Listrac-Médoc, Margaux, Médoc, Moulis, Pauillac, Saint-Estèphe, Saint-Julien, Graves (red), Pessac-Léognan (red)
Dry and Fruity Whites
These are dry and fruity wines with explosive aromas of Sauvignon and remarkable freshness.
Aromas of Acacia, Lemon, Peach.
From the varieties: Muscadelle, Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon
Serving temperature between 7-11ºC
Storage time between 1 and 2 years.
Appellations
Bordeaux (dry white), Blaye – Côtes de Bordeaux (dry white), Bourg & Côtes de Bourg (dry white), Côtes de Blaye (dry white), Francs – Côtes de Bordeaux (dry white), Bordeaux Haut-Benauge (white dry), Côtes de Bordeaux Saint-Macaire (dry white), Entre-Deux-Mers, Entre-Deux-Mers Haut-Bénauge, Graves de Vayres (dry white), Sainte-Foy-Bordeaux (dry white).
