“Time to get your new cotes” :new appellation created in Bordeaux

 From the vintage of 2008 you may start seeing a new appellation called the COTES DE BORDEAUX particularly in restaurants. Although from quite different geographical areas of Bordeaux this new appellation groups together areas that, according to Christopher Chateau, the spearmaster behind this campaign, have certain key similarities. Firstly that all of these vineyards are on cotes - that is slopes. Vines like the good drainage that an inclined vineyard gives whatever the soil type. They are relatively small producers, mostly still family owned, who produce ‘authentic’ wines that are reasonably priced.  As each of the areas is located on the right bank of the Dordogne and Garonne Rivers and have predominantly clayey soils, the vineyards Merlot dominated. This means that they have a suppleness of tannin and an overtly fruity quality that enables them to be enjoyed young.

Bordeaux is often criticised as being complicated and hard to understand with its 54 (now 55 appellations). Here is an intitiative that has grouped together a number of appellations and simplified what they are called; to help the consumer and to provide weight to the different appellation’s marketing prowess.

The group COTES DE BORDEAUX groups together the following appellations which represent 14,000 hectares of Bordeaux vineyards (and 700,000 hectolitres of wine).

Premières Côtes de Blaye becomes Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux 

 

Bordeaux Côtes de Francs becomes Francs Côtes de Bordeaux

 Côtes de Castillon  becomes Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux

Premières Côtes de Bordeaux becomes Cadillac Côtes de Bordeaux

Cotes de Bourg declined the offer and have preferred to remain a separate entity and keep their identity. We’ll see if they have reason. It could be likened to joining the EU and giving up your monetary uniqueness. Does the Euro weaken the identity of every Francais or Italiano?

For more information contact :

www.bordeaux-cotes.com

Union des Côtes de Bordeaux                        Contact presse / Visuels/Interviews

Cours du XXX juillet                                                                        Jennifer Potts/Agence Cap&Cime

33000 BORDEAUX                                                            T. 01 55 35 08 16 / F. 01 44 50 50 21

T: 05 56 00 21 99                                                                                     M : jpotts@capetcime.fr