Côtes de Bourg

Côtes-de-Bourg wines come from the Bourg vineyard, located on the right bank of the Gironde estuary, some 35 km north of Bordeaux. The Côtes-de-Bourg appellation d'origine contrôlée (AOC) was granted in 1936 for red wines and in 1945 for white wines, and covers fifteen communes located on the hillsides overlooking the Dordogne and Gironde rivers.

The river's water mass softens the very sunny microclimate of the hillsides. The soils are mainly clay-limestone. They rest on layers of porous stones that provide good natural drainage. The 4,000 hectares of vineyards allow for an annual production of nearly 200,000 hectoliters.

The grape varieties used for Côtes-de-Bourg wines are mainly Merlot, combined with Cabernet Sauvignon and, to a lesser extent, Cabernet Franc. These elegant wines reveal their beautiful personality, particularly when paired with white meats, game, and red meats. Côtes-de-Bourg wines have extremely deep colors, ranging from purple to black. Elegantly full-bodied, they express aromas of stewed black berries, with hints of undergrowth and spices. Aged in oak barrels, they are particularly suitable for aging (5 to 10 years) and develop bouquets of subtle complexity, both powerful and refined, such as the wines of Château Martinat, Château des Jonqueyres, and Château Grand Maison.

Also known as Bourgeais or Bourg, the Côtes-de-Bourg is one of the oldest vineyards in Bordeaux. This Bordeaux appellation refers to red and white wines renowned for their exceptional quality. The Bordeaux vineyard is a historic wine-growing region that is recognized throughout the world. It is France's leading vineyard in terms of quantity, with 5,983,000 hectoliters of wine from 38 Appellations d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC) produced in this region each year.

According to historians, wine culture in the region has existed since ancient times, when the Romans called it "Vitis Biturica." In 1936, Côtes-de-Bourg was awarded AOC status, and in 1941, it received AOP (Protected Designation of Origin) status. It is well integrated into both the local economy and the international market. This may be due to its strategic location near the Atlantic coast. It has established trade partnerships with Northern Europe and the United Kingdom. Côtes-de-Bourg has thus become the undisputed leader in the Bordeaux region.

Covering an area of over 117,000 hectares, this AOC boasts a wide variety of terroirs. At low altitude, Côtes-de-Bourg vines rarely grow above 100 meters in the magnificent valleys and hillsides of the Dordogne. In addition to being sandy and gravelly, the soil is mainly clay-limestone. Thanks to the porosity of the soil, there is no standing water. This allows the soil to retain all the minerals essential to the vines.

In addition, the Côtes-de-Bourg wine plots also benefit from ideal climatic conditions for good vine growth. Typical of the Aquitaine region, the climate here is temperate and distinctly oceanic. Every year, the plots are warmed by the sun for an average of 240 days.

Côtes-de-Bourg white wine is a blend of several grape varieties, including Colombard, Sauvignon, Muscadelle, Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc, and Gris. With a pale yellow color and green highlights, these wines are usually dry and fruity. Known for their freshness, they are renowned for being fine, modern wines. They are delicious as an aperitif. In addition to their exotic fruit notes, some vintages also have incomparable fruity expressions.

For an excellent food and wine pairing, Côtes-de-Bourg, a great white Bordeaux wine, should be enjoyed at a temperature between 10 and 12°C with fish, white meats, fresh cheeses, gizzard salads, etc. It is also exquisite with fruit soufflés, pies, ice cream, or sorbets.

Three words can describe Côtes-de-Bourg red wine: dark, robust, and age-worthy. Often garnet in color, this wine is tannic with typical Merlot aromas. Other Malbec fragrances, including wildflowers, poppies, and saffron, add to the complexity of this wine. These elements give it complexity and elegance, qualities that are highly appreciated by red wine lovers. They can also reveal a deep ruby red color with purple highlights for those that are even younger. Spicy notes of Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon form an impetuous duo. As Côtes-de-Bourg red wines are blends, an exceptional quartet is created in the end.

It would be best to store them for ten years in a cellar. However, you can enjoy them while they are still young. Thanks to their unique character, they are sure to delight lovers of fruity wines. To fully appreciate Côtes-de-Bourg red wines, it is recommended to serve them between 15 and 17°C. Pair them with red meats, hard cheeses, charcuterie, river fish, game, etc.