Ep 506: The Wines of the Cotes de Bordeaux -- The Secret Best Value Wines of the Region
This time we explore the hidden gems of \xa0Bordeaux -- the C\xf4tes de Bordeaux -- which make superb wines that few people know about. With an easy-drinking style, the C\xf4tes de Bordeaux are the hidden, affordable wines of Bordeaux. These historic vineyards are a collection of AOCs around eastern Bordeaux on sunny hillside slopes that grow a majority of Merlot and have similar soil types. These are not second or bulk wines \u2013 rather family-owned, often sustainable wines that are always a good value for money.
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This group of appellations under the marketing umbrella of C\xf4tes de Bordeaux covers 9 - 10% of the total production of Bordeaux. \xa0
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Faced with lots of competition from the named communes of Bordeaux (Pomerol, Saint-\xc9milion, etc), and the Bordeaux and Bordeaux Sup\xe9rieur AOCs, efforts started in 2004 to create the Union des C\xf4tes de Bordeaux (UCB) to create a collective \u201cbrand\u201d of recognition: the AOC C\xf4tes de Bordeaux with 6 terroir:
- C\xf4tes de Bordeaux - umbrella appellation
- Blaye C\xf4tes de Bordeaux
- Castillon C\xf4tes de Bordeaux
- Francs C\xf4tes de Bordeaux
- Cadillac C\xf4tes de Bordeaux\xb7
- Sainte-Foy C\xf4tes de Bordeaux (joined in 2016)
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In 2009, the AOC \u201cC\xf4tes de Bordeaux\u201d went into effect. They must all use the logo below on the bottle to reinforce the association:\xa0
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This is the wine we were drinking...
I hope this opens your eyes to some new, fantastic, affordable Bordeaux wines! Take a listen and put this to use -- there is a lot of goodness to discover here (and it won't hurt your wallet)!\xa0
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