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Bordeaux wines are produced in the wine region of the same name in southwestern France. It ranks second in the world in terms of area under vineyards, about 1,15 thousand km² (the first place is occupied by the French wine region of Languedoc).
There are 60 appellations and more than 8500 producers in the region. Thanks to the combination of unique climatic, geographical and geological conditions in tandem with the skill of talented winemakers, Bordeaux wines have won a resounding success.
wine cocktails
About the drink
Among the wines of Bordeaux, there are both inexpensive table brands and elite brands. Boro drinks can be divided into first and second wines.
The former include prestigious drinks that are made from the oldest vines. They have great aging potential and powerful tannin structure.
The latter are made from berries from young vineyards and have a lighter and fruitier character. The main part of the production is still red, sweet white and dry white wines.
Rose and sparkling drinks are presented in much more modest quantities.
Red wines are made mainly from a blend of varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Carmenère.
Classic combinations:
70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc, 15% Merlot.
70% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon.
White Bordeaux is made mainly from Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle. Classic proportion: 80% Sémillon and 20% Sauvignon Blanc. Sauvignon Gris, Colombard, Merlot Blanc, Ugni Blanc (Trebbiano), Ondenc and Mozac are also allowed.
Speaking about the wines of Bordeaux, it is impossible not to mention the technology and features of their production.
The first stage is the direct collection of ripe berries, which are cleaned of twigs and stalks, then crushed. Sometimes the must undergoes the process of chaptalization – light sugaring and artificial reduction of acidity.
Fermentation takes place directly in stainless steel vats, after which the pulp is pressed under pressure, and the resulting young wine is aged in oak barrels for a certain period prescribed by the recipe of the variety and the traditions of a particular production.
In Bordeaux, “mono-sorts” are not produced, so the wine is blended before bottling.
The finished blend can be additionally aged in barrels.
Views of Bordeaux
All Bordeaux wines are divided into 6 groups: 4 for red wines (by appellation):
Red Bordeaux и Red Bordeaux Superior
Four appellations exclusively dedicated to these brands. Local wines are distinguished by fruity and mineral notes in the bouquet, the highest quality and excellent taste. This is the most popular and widespread wine style of Bordeaux.
Red Cotes de Bordeaux
The group includes 8 appellations. Good quality and affordable wines are produced here.
Red Libourne (“Right Bank” wines)
This category includes 10 appellations in the vicinity of the city of Libourne. The main raw material is Merlot with a small amount of Cabernet Sauvignon. The wines of these places are distinguished by a rich fruity taste.
Red Graves and Medoc (“left bank” wines)
Appellations in the south and north of the city of Bordeaux. Drinks are concentrated, tannic. Long storage in a wine cellar evens out and smoothes their taste, so they are not recommended to drink young.
The last two groups for white wines (by taste):
Dry white wine. Drinks are produced throughout the region from Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon varieties.
White sweet wine. Unlike dry, it is less common, production is concentrated in the Sauternes appellation, but is also found in other sub-regions.
Bordeaux wine classification
In total, there are 4 recognized classifications of Bordeaux wines:
The official classification of Bordeaux wines in 1855. Includes red wines of the Medoc and sweet wines of Sauternes-Barsac.
Classification of wines of the Saint-Emilion region (St.-Emilion) in 1955, updated about once every 10 years.
Classification of wines of the region Graves (Graves) 1959.
Classification Cru Bourgeois (Cru Bourgeois), since 2010, existing in the status of an unofficial rating.
How to drink Bordeaux wines
Bordeaux wines are served in tulip glasses with a volume of 300 ml or more.
Of course, the vessel is not filled completely, the wine should fill about a third of the container – only in this way can its delicate bouquet open up.
Serving temperature depends on the brand, but complex wines can be left unrefrigerated and served at 15-18°C, light floral brands will sound good at 8-12°C, rich white wines can be slightly cooled to 13-15°C .
The same applies to snacks – gastronomic pairs are selected individually for a particular drink.
You can focus on the general rules: meat, game, poultry, spicy soft cheeses are suitable for red wine.
White wines are combined with fish, grilled vegetables, seafood, herbs, white meat.
Famous brands
Remembering all the wines of the region and their categories is simply impossible.
In fact, it is difficult to meet bad Bordeaux wine, consumer reviews about it are almost never negative. This is not surprising.
The highest control over wines by origin and denomination guarantees that the samples are authentic and of high quality.
Therefore, if there is an AOC mark on the bottle, you will definitely not be disappointed in the taste of the wine.
If the label says Grands vins de Bordeaux, GRAND CRU CLASSÉ EN 1855, Crus Bourgeois, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru AOC, these are the highest quality wines with an excellent reputation.
The most famous brands include:
Chateau Margaux
Lafite Rothschild
Haut-Brion
Latour (Latour)
Mouton Rothschild
Relevance: 09.08.2018
Tags: Wine and vermouth, Wine brands