Premières Côtes de Bordeaux, the height of sweetness
Its slopes with their striking contours are certainly impressive. But what people remember most about the Premières Côtes de Bordeaux region is its golden semi-sweet and sweet white wines, with their delicious balance. A winning combination of an authentic terroir and expertise, which is sure to delight the taste buds.
What is the Premières Côtes de Bordeaux wine region?
Key points to remember
- 22 estates spanning 39 communes and 28 hectares, which can proudly display the name of the appellation on their bottles.
- A vineyard rooted on a 60-kilometer narrow strip of limestone cliff between the Garonne River and a range of slopes culminating at 120 meters in altitude. Added to this is a diverse landscape of vines, forests and prairies, creating breathtaking panoramic views and soils perfect for winegrowing.
- A wonderfully temperate climate generated by the “Garonne effect”, which makes the PDO unique: autumnal fog rising from the river combined with perfect sunshine creates the perfect environment for the spread of Botrytis cinerea, aka noble rot. This small fungus which is invisible to the naked eye develops on grapes, concentrating aromas.
Why do people love Premières Côtes de Bordeaux and its wines?
- Because these wines are a real gift of nature, produced thanks to noble rot which triggers the over-ripening of the grapes
- Because they are an irresistible reflection of their terroir and Bordeaux authenticity
- Because they can be enjoyed throughout a meal, served with melon during the aperitif, with white meat during the main dish or with a tangy tart dessert. And they are a real treat with roast chicken!
- Because the region is home to winegrowers whose passion for winemaking is heartwarming!
- Because when you visit their estates, there is nothing better than losing yourself in their breathtaking rolling landscapes
- Because here, there is plenty to do all year round, from vineyard strolls to Garonne River cruises to food and wine pairings and much more!
What is the
Premières Côtes de Bordeaux style?
A delicious, light sweetness with a harmonious floral and fruity aromatic expression – there is no better way to describe these wines!
If you had to sum them up in two words: elegance and roundness
More precisely, when young, these wines reveal notes of white flowers such as acacia and lime blossom, and fresh fruit such as peach and apricot. They are a lovely bright golden-yellow color. They develop notes of vanilla and candied fruit with age, underpinned by gentle copper highlights.
Whatever their age, Premières Côtes de Bordeaux wines always have delicious stories to tell.
See also: Grape varietiesWhich kind of wines can be found in Premières Côtes de Bordeaux?
Exclusively semi-sweet and sweet white wines.
Sémillon, the pillar of the PDO, bestows the wines with richness, structure, roundness and length, with notes of honey, candied fruit and dried apricots. Sauvignon Blanc counterbalances this sweetness with freshness, lightness and liveliness, not forgetting touches of citrus and white flowers. More discreet Muscadelle adds delicate finesse, with aromas of flowers and Muscat.
Fun facts
Three fun facts you need to know about Premières Côtes de Bordeaux
This appellation is full of surprises!
1.
These wines owe their magic to grapes which are left a long time to ripen. This allows the noble rot to gradually work its magic.
2.
“Grandes Côtes”, the former name of the Premières Côtes de Bordeaux, reminds us that the valleys of the PDO overlook Bordeaux, as well as the fact that the region has been a hub for Bordeaux winegrowing since the 1st century AD.
3.
When you discover these sloped vineyards, you can’t miss the extravagant 18th-century estates dotted across the region, known locally as “folies”. An apt nickname encapsulating the glory of a prosperous period during which the Bordeaux nobility swore allegiance to this region.
Let’s talk about the soil
This wine region’s best asset? Its clay-limestone and gravelly slopes, guaranteeing excellent natural drainage.
En voir plus
To produce high-quality wines, the Premières Côtes de Bordeaux selects the best plots in this regard, and harvests in limited yields with careful attention paid to ripening.
Let’s travel back in time
Winegrowing in the Premières Côtes de Bordeaux has a deeply-rooted history. As far back as Antiquity, it made its mark under the impetus of the Romans.
En voir plus
But it wasn’t until the Middle Ages that it really came into its own, driven by trade with England and the Netherlands. The production of its white wines, tailored for maritime exports, thus boosted the region’s economy and developments in local winegrowing techniques.
In the 18th century, its bottles traveled as far as the Caribbean and America. The appellation was finally recognized two centuries later, in 1937.
