Crémant de Bordeaux is the regional appellation for traditional method white and rosé Sparkling wines from the Bordeaux wine region in southwest France. Sparkling wine production in Bordeaux is far from prolific and has slowly declined in response to the obvious success of still wines in the region. Sparkling wines have been produced in Bordeaux for more than 100 years, but the appellation was not formalized until April 1990. Even today, the specific style of Crémant de Bordeaux wines is not as Clear as that of other French Crémant appellations, such as Crémant de Loire, Crémant de Bourgogne and Crémant d'Alsace.
This is probably due to the fact that these wines have such a marginal presence in the sea of Dry red wines for which Bordeaux is famous. More than 500 parishes are covered by the Crémant de Bordeaux appellation, making it one of the largest in France in terms of geographical area. However, only 100 hectares of vineyards are currently dedicated to the production of these wines. The classic Bordeaux Grape varieties predominate, with sparkling wines being made from the same grape varieties as the still wines.
Cabernet Franc is one of the oldest red grape varieties in Bordeaux. The Libourne region is its terroir where it develops best. The terroirs of Saint-Emilion and Fronsac allow it to mature and develop its best range of aromas. It is also the majority in many blends. The very famous Château Cheval Blanc, for example, uses 60% Cabernet Franc. The wines produced with Cabernet Franc are medium in colour with fine tannins and subtle aromas of small red fruits and spices. When blended with Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, it brings complexity and a bouquet of aromas to the wine. It produces fruity wines that can be drunk quite quickly, but whose great vintages can be kept for a long time. It is an earlier grape variety than Cabernet Sauvignon, which means that it is planted as far north as the Loire Valley. In Anjou, it is also used to make sweet rosé wines. Cabernet Franc is now used in some twenty countries in Europe and throughout the world.
wines from the region of Crémant de Bordeaux go well with generally quite well with dishes of shellfish, poultry or appetizers and snacks such as recipes of mussels with cream supers, quick coconut milk chicken or baked chestnuts.
On the nose in the region of Crémant de Bordeaux often reveals types of flavors of citrus, citrus fruit or cream and sometimes also flavors of peach, microbio or tree fruit. In the mouth in the region of Crémant de Bordeaux is a powerful with a nice vivacity and a fine and pleasant bubble.
