Entre-deux-Mers is a large wine-growing sub-region of the Bordeaux region in southwestern France. Its name literally translates as "between two seas", although the seas in question are actually rivers - the Garonne and the Dordogne, which form the southern and northern boundaries of the region respectively. The Entre-deux-Mers is home to a variety of appellations, producing wines in styles ranging from the Sweet botrytised whites of Cadillac, Loupiac and Sainte-Croix-du-Mont - all close to the northeast bank of the Garonne - to the Dry table wines of Sainte-Foy and Graves de Vayres, closer to the Dordogne. The region stretching along the Garonne from the group of sweet white wine appellations to the area east of the city of Bordeaux is the red wine appellation Côtes de Bordeaux - until 2009 called Premières Côtes de Bordeaux, a title now reserved for sweet whites.
The appellations in this region can certainly be difficult to learn; Entre-Deux-Mers Haut-Benauge is for both sweet and dry whites, while in the same area Bordeaux Haut-Benauge can only be used for dry wines. The Entre-deux-Mers regional appellation title itself applies only to dry white wines made from Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon, Muscadelle and Ugni Blanc. However, the majority of wines produced within the boundaries of the Entre-Deux-Mers AOC are instead labeled as Generic Bordeaux or superior Bordeaux. Entre-deux-Mers occupies a significant portion of the Bordeaux region, stretching from the city in the west to the farmland of Bergerac in the east.
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.
red wines from the region of Entre-deux-Mers go well with generally quite well with dishes of beef, veal or game (deer, venison) such as recipes of boles de picolat (catalan meatballs), veal with cream and mushrooms or rabbit with mushrooms.
On the nose in the region of Entre-deux-Mers often reveals types of flavors of tobacco, leather or black currant and sometimes also flavors of cassis, non oak or earth. In the mouth in the region of Entre-deux-Mers is a powerful with a nice balance between acidity and tannins.
