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.
Merlot noir is a grape variety that originated in France (Bordeaux). It produces a variety of grape specially used for wine making. It is rare to find this grape to eat on our tables. This variety of grape is characterized by small to medium sized bunches, and medium sized grapes. Merlot noir can be found in many vineyards: South West, Languedoc & Roussillon, Cognac, Bordeaux, Loire Valley, Armagnac, Burgundy, Jura, Champagne, Rhone Valley, Beaujolais, Provence & Corsica, Savoie & Bugey.
sweet wines from the region of Entre-deux-Mers go well with generally quite well with dishes of rich fish (salmon, tuna etc), shellfish or sweet desserts such as recipes of fish balls, lobster in court-bouillon or chocolate mug cake.
When I first visited Bordeaux, the sleepy landscape of turreted stone châteaux and vineyards seemed timeless, with traditions so well established you felt they would go on forever. But new energy in this famous wine region is visible and audible: bees buzz and sheep graze in organic vineyards; brand-new cellars brim with sustainable features and wine fermenting in trendy amphorae; unusual grapes are gaining attention; and the number of women in key roles keeps growing. Yoga among the vines is s ...
Bordeaux has a history of extraordinary women running vineyards. In Sauternes & Barsac Françoise-Joséphine d’Yquem was imprisoned twice during the French revolution but managed to save both her neck and Château d’Yquem, 1er Grand Cru Classé Supérieur Sauternes. She then dedicated herself to her property, and introduced the practice of ‘tries successives’ or multiple passes through the vineyard during harvest to collect botrytised grapes at maximum maturity, transforming the quality of wines ...
Château Lafleur 2021 was released in the Bordeaux en primeur campaign this morning (27 May) at the equivalent of £6,508 (12x75cl in bond), according to Liv-ex. This sought-after Pomerol label, produced from a vineyard of just 4.5 hectares, is often sold in smaller quantities and sometimes only on allocation. UK merchant Justerini & Brooks was offering three-bottle cases of Lafleur 2021 for £1,627 in bond at the time of writing. Decanter’s Georgie Hindle gave Lafleur 2021 97 points, naming it ...
