Bordeaux A popular French wine
Bordeaux – A popular French wine
Bordeaux is one of the two most renowned wine-producing regions of France. It maintains its geographical classification of its viticulture areas since 1855. Bordeaux wine has a large market because it enjoys the status of the largest and oldest wine producing region in the world.
The region has nearly 10,000 chateaux that bottle their own wine and 57 different appellations. The largeness of the region can be gauged by the fact that it has six major categories of wine classifications under Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée (AOC) the system that governs wine cultivation, production and appellations of wine-producing regions. Of the 17 districts in Bordeaux, Médoc, Graves, St. Emilion, and Pomerol are best known. Médoc, Sauternes, and Barsac were classified in 1855, Graves in 1953, and St. Emilion in 1955.
Bordeaux ranks its wineries (chateaux) and vineyards (crus) into five classes of grand crus. The highest class called premier grand crus (First Growth) is still retained by five chateaux: Château Margaux, Château Latour, Château Mouton-Rothschild and Château Lafite-Rothschild in Pauillac, and Château Haut-Brion in Graves, all in Bordeaux region. Wines from these vineyards are considered to be among the highest-quality wines in the world.
But why is Bordeaux wine rated so high? The major reason is the excellent environment in Bordeaux for growing wines. The geological foundation of the region is limestone and the soil, composed of gravel, sandy stone and clay, is rich in calcium. The Gironde estuary and its tributaries along with Garonne and Dordogne rivers give it an Atlantic Climate, which is ideal for cultivation of superior grapes.
Bordeaux’s regions that produce the most exotic fine wines are all located on the well drained gravel soils found near the Gironde River. Add to that recipes and techniques perfected by ancient Romans and adherence to strict laws governing wine cultivation and production, and you have excellent Bordeaux wines that are easy on the palate and equally refreshing.
Another distinguishing feature of Bordeaux wine is strict compliance of the concept of terroir, a term that reflects the place of origin. As only permitted varieties of grapes are used to produce Bordeaux wine, it ensures that taste and quality does not vary.
Red Bordeaux wine is generally made from a blend of some of world’s finest grapes. Bordeaux wine is intimately connected with Cabernet Sauvignon, one the finest and most well recognized wine grape varieties. Although initially arising out of financial necessity, the ‘Bordeaux blend’ of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet franc and Merlot, is what gives Bordeaux wine the spectacular taste that it is renowned for.
Red wines produced in Médoc are generally of bright and fresh with distinct character. Some of the 12 communes of Médoc, namely, Pauillac, Margaux, St. Julien, Cantenac, and St. Estèphe produce wine of particular quality. An evidence of superior quality of Bordeaux wines from Médoc is provided by the fact that out of the 61 wines classified in 1855 all, except one, were from Médoc.
The Graves district of Bordeaux is
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famous mostly for its white wine that is rich in taste and not so sweet. In fact, Graves produces as much red as white wine. The balanced, fine coloured, and fruity red wines are sometime rated finer than white wine from Graves. Château Haut-Brion was first classified as first growth in 1855 and is also one of the eight red wines of Graves that figured in the 1959 classification, in which another five chateaux were also classified for white wines. The Sauternes commune produces natural sweet wines that have an exotic fruity flavour. St. Emilion, on the other hand produces full bodied and dark coloured wine.
White wines also come from other wine-producing districts of Bordeaux like Sainte Foy, Entre-Deux-Mers, Langoiran. Best whites of Ste. Croix-du-Mont, Loupiac, and Cérons have characteristics of Sauternes. Red and white fine wines are also produced in Bourg, Blaye, Cadillac, and Camblanes-et-Meynac.
It is not only history and official classifications but also the wide variety of blends that makes Bordeaux wines the most popular French wines in the world. The basic Red Bordeaux and Bordeaux Supérieur wines, allowed to be produced all over the region, are the cheapest Bordeaux wines. Wines of Red Côtes de Bordeaux are usually blends dominated by Merlot. Red Libourne, or “Right Bank” wines are a blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Red Graves and Médoc or “Left Bank” wines are a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon with little bit of Merlot. Sauternes produces the world’s most famous Sweet white wines.
It is exactly these features that make Bordeaux wine the most coveted world over. Simply asking for Bordeaux wine ensures that you will be offered a wide range of wines with refreshingly exotic tasting wines, one of which you are bound to appreciate.
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Bordeaux – A popular French wine / Author: Scott Jamieson