GET TO KNOW BORDEAUX'S WALLET-FRIENDLY CÔTES
The Bordeaux wine region is undeniably defined by its tidal rivers. But to determine vineyards with some of the prettiest water views, and estates that produce the best value wines, it’s wise to start at the source.
Beginning in the snowy Pyrenees mountains around 5,500 feet above sea level, the Garonne river flows about 325 miles north and west, and passes the Cité du Vin dockside at Bordeaux city.
Meanwhile, in central France, the Dordogne river crashes down more than 5,400 feet from the Massif Central. It flows west for 300 miles, meandering past the Saint-Émilion plain and skirting vines to the north of Bordeaux on its journey.
These two great rivers merge just beyond the city of Bordeaux to form the majestic Gironde estuary, the largest of its kind in Western Europe. From there, it’s a seriously tidal and cruise-ship worthy 45 or so miles to the Bay of Biscay and the Atlantic Ocean.
Riverside south and west, the vineyard landscape is flat and gravelly in the Médoc and Graves regions.
But to the north and east, Bordeaux Côtes vineyards climb around 400 feet from the three waterways. Planted on limestone and clay soils, they benefit from the warmth of these waters and their sunny exposures.
These vineyards comprise six appellations from west to east: Blaye, Bourg, Cadillac, Castillon, Francs and Sainte-Foy. Five have joined together to form what’s classified as the Côtes de Bordeaux. The sixth, Bourg, voted to stay apart. Together, however, they represent a new level of quality definitely worth exploring.
Wines from these Bordeaux Côtes appellations represent some of the best values and most enjoyable selections in Bordeaux. Mainly red, they are ready to be enjoyed within three years after
