Things you need to know about Bordeaux
Map of Bordeaux
The spirit of Bordeaux:
At the beginning, an upper-class wine and sometimes a rivality between Bordeaux and Burgundy
Short story of Bordeaux:
During century 12th Bordeaux became English so they began a very important between England and Bordeaux.
Key numbers:
Bordeaux is the biggest AOC vineyard in the world with a little bit more than 100000 hectareas, 3000 chateaux and more or less 200 very prestigious. 16000 winegrowers. 850 millions of bottles
A success story:
- A very privileged relationship with England since 12th century - Château Haut-Brion was the first wine sold in bottle (also in England) - The 1855’s classement - The larger AOC vineyard in the work - A wine easy to understand - A lot of investors who allowed making the important works in the vineyard (mostly to drain the vineyard)
The art of the assemblage:
We are used to consider there are 2 great parts in the Red Bordeaux Vineyard. The left bank: Médoc & Graves (with Pessac-Leognan) Soil mostly made with graves (siliceous stone which fit perfectly with the Cabernet) The Cabernet-Sauvignon is a late maturing grape, so he needs hot soils like graves. The wines are very tannics
The right bank:
Saint-Emilion
Soil mostly clay, more compact, which fit perfectly with the merlot The merlot is an early maturing grape which appreciate colds soils
The assemblage : Merlot, Cabernet-Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Cabernet-Franc, Malbec…
And a very vast region which is called Entre-Deux-Mers (between Dordogne’s river and Garonne)
Other very important region of Bordeaux:
Sauternes, Barsac…
Some very well known vineyards:
Médoc Haut-médoc The wine near the river are delicate, the wine on the “plateau” are more powerful
Pauillac May be the more elegant wine for Bordeaux – Powerful and elegant at the same time. May be the perfect combination Wines : Laffite, Mouton-Rothschild…
Margaux Elegant, delicate,can be soft
Saint-Estèphe Very tannic, may be a little bit old fashion Libournais Pomerol The wine is supple and almost full body. Fabulous balance
Saint-Emilion Very elegant, nice fruit… Careful with the different qualities
Côtes de Blayes Very near to the “terroir”- Sometimes a little lack of elegance
Côtes de Bourg Powerful wines, some Châteaux are improving the denomination
Graves The reds are supples, with tobacco, red fruits aromas
Example of Wines tasted
Château Duhart Milon, 4ème cru classé, Pauillac, 2004
The initials conditions in 2004, weren’t very good. Rainy winter and cold spring. Fortunately, June and July were dry, August and September, mild, which cause a delay for the harvest. Winegrowers decided to harvest end-september and those who waited a little bit more had very good results.
Nose slightly oaky, candied fruits. In palate the wine has a good intensity, with an hint of bitterness at the end.
Chateau Reynon, Bordeaux Supérieur White 2004 Lemon, grapefruit, a very good definition of Sauvignon
The spirit of Bordeaux:
At the beginning, an upper-class wine and sometimes a rivality between Bordeaux and Burgundy
Short story of Bordeaux:
During century 12th Bordeaux became English so they began a very important between England and Bordeaux.
Key numbers:
Bordeaux is the biggest AOC vineyard in the world with a little bit more than 100000 hectareas, 3000 chateaux and more or less 200 very prestigious. 16000 winegrowers. 850 millions of bottles
A success story:
- A very privileged relationship with England since 12th century - Château Haut-Brion was the first wine sold in bottle (also in England) - The 1855’s classement - The larger AOC vineyard in the work - A wine easy to understand - A lot of investors who allowed making the important works in the vineyard (mostly to drain the vineyard)
The art of the assemblage:
We are used to consider there are 2 great parts in the Red Bordeaux Vineyard. The left bank: Médoc & Graves (with Pessac-Leognan) Soil mostly made with graves (siliceous stone which fit perfectly with the Cabernet) The Cabernet-Sauvignon is a late maturing grape, so he needs hot soils like graves. The wines are very tannics
The right bank:
Saint-Emilion
Soil mostly clay, more compact, which fit perfectly with the merlot The merlot is an early maturing grape which appreciate colds soils
The assemblage : Merlot, Cabernet-Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Cabernet-Franc, Malbec…
And a very vast region which is called Entre-Deux-Mers (between Dordogne’s river and Garonne)
Other very important region of Bordeaux:
Sauternes, Barsac…
Some very well known vineyards:
Médoc Haut-médoc The wine near the river are delicate, the wine on the “plateau” are more powerful
Pauillac May be the more elegant wine for Bordeaux – Powerful and elegant at the same time. May be the perfect combination Wines : Laffite, Mouton-Rothschild…
Margaux Elegant, delicate,can be soft
Saint-Estèphe Very tannic, may be a little bit old fashion Libournais Pomerol The wine is supple and almost full body. Fabulous balance
Saint-Emilion Very elegant, nice fruit… Careful with the different qualities
Côtes de Blayes Very near to the “terroir”- Sometimes a little lack of elegance
Côtes de Bourg Powerful wines, some Châteaux are improving the denomination
Graves The reds are supples, with tobacco, red fruits aromas
Example of Wines tasted
Château Duhart Milon, 4ème cru classé, Pauillac, 2004
The initials conditions in 2004, weren’t very good. Rainy winter and cold spring. Fortunately, June and July were dry, August and September, mild, which cause a delay for the harvest. Winegrowers decided to harvest end-september and those who waited a little bit more had very good results.
Nose slightly oaky, candied fruits. In palate the wine has a good intensity, with an hint of bitterness at the end.
Chateau Reynon, Bordeaux Supérieur White 2004 Lemon, grapefruit, a very good definition of Sauvignon
