The Côtes de Bordeaux appellation was created in 2009 to merge four existing appellations used in the Bordeaux region of France. These four appellations are The Premières Côtes de Blaye, Côtes de Castillon, Côtes de Francs and the red wines of the Cadillac region. The latter were previously under the appellation Premières Côtes de Bordeaux. The changes were a commercially motivated decision, intended to create unity between these important but lesser known appellations.
They were intended to simplify the Structure of the Côtes de Bordeaux appellation. However, the New banner of the four appellations is not entirely original or easily differentiated from the Old one. It can be said that it has added further complexity to the Bordeaux appellations. This is underlined by the fact that the four components of the appellations are geographically extensive.
Carménère is a grape variety of Bordeaux origin. It is the result of a cross between Cabernet Franc and Gros Cabernet. In France, it occupies only about ten hectares, but it is also grown in Chile, Peru, the Andes, California, Italy and Argentina. The leaves of the carmenere are shiny and revolute. Its berries are round and medium-sized. Carménère is susceptible to grey rot, especially in wet autumn. It can also be exposed to the risk of climatic coulure, which is why it is important to grow it on poor soil and in warm areas. Carménère is associated with an average second ripening period. This variety has only one approved clone, 1059. It can be vinified with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. It produces a rich, highly coloured wine, which acquires character when combined with other grape varieties.
wines from the region of Côtes de Bordeaux go well with generally quite well with dishes of beef, veal or game (deer, venison) such as recipes of pork tongue with bacon and onions, escargots à la bordelaise or pheasant in a casserole with white wine.
On the nose in the region of Côtes de Bordeaux often reveals types of flavors of cherry, prune or tar and sometimes also flavors of menthol, balsamic or black plum. In the mouth in the region of Côtes de Bordeaux is a powerful with a nice balance between acidity and tannins.
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