Bordeaux AOC
(Bordeaux Appellation Origine Controlée)
The Bordeaux AOC appellation alone counts for about 25% of the total AOC wine production in France.
Bordeaux AOC wines are coming from everywhere in the Bordeaux wine region. The appellation roughly covers Gironde department.
The quality of both red and white wine depends very much on the wine maker talent and on the quality of the grapes. It means that the quality varies from very disappointing wines to excellent bargain chateaux.
The Bordeaux supérieur appellation grow on the same
soils. Red wines may have a higher quality and can age better.
Bordeaux AOC wine information:
Name: Appellation Bordeaux Controlée
Appellation Bordeaux Supérieur Controlée
Entre-Deux-Mers
(between-two-seas)
Entre Deux Mers is not exactly between two seas but actually between two rivers: Dordogne and Garonne.
Entre-Deux-Mers produce a very good dry white wine. Wine makers prefer to keep their best grapes for Entre-Deux-Mers instead of Bordeaux AOC. However because of the compact soil, this is not the best place to grow vines in Bordeaux.
Entre-Deux-Mers wine information:
Name:
Appellation Entre-Deux-Mers Controlée
Location:
Between 2 rivers (and not seas !): Dordogne and Garonne
Places:
Grézillac, Naujan, Soussac, etc
Soil:
Compact sands
Silt
Clayey-limestone
Size:
2,400 ha (6,000 acres)
Production: 15 million bottles
Grapes: Sauvignon and Sémillon, Muscadelle
Type of wine:
Fresh and fruity dry white wine
Age:
1 to 3 years
Drink young
Vintage:
(recommended) 2003
Aromas:
Grapefruit
Litchi
Peach
Entre Deux Mers and Food:
Oysters (recommended)
Shellfish
Asparagus
Avocado
Frog legs
Sole Meunière
Cheese:
Roquefort
Location:
Gironde department
Places:
Too many to mention!
Soil:
Various
Size:
59,000 ha (150,000 acres)
Production:
Red: 400 million bottles
White: 75 million bottles
Grapes in Bordeaux:
Red wine: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Malbec, Carmenère, Petit Verdot
White wine: Sauvignon, Sémillon, Muscadelle and Ugni blanc, Colombard, Merlot blanc, Mauzac, Ondenc
Type of Bordeaux AOC wines:
Well-balanced red wine to drink young
Nervous and fruity dry white wine
Fresh and fruity rosé wine
Age:
2 to 5 years
Vintages(recommended) :
Red: 2003, 2000
White: 2003, 2001, 2000
Aromas:
Red fruits
Vanilla
Grilled Bread
Bordeaux and Food:
Red:Red meat Paté
White:Onion tart Mussels
Bordeaux and Cheese:
Red:Emmental
White:Boursin Roquefort Tomme de Savoie Valencay
