Accompanying the two wines recently sent to me for review was this message, “As you may know, Planet Bordeaux wines include 7 AOC’s – Bordeaux Blanc, Bordeaux Supérieur, Bordeaux Supérieur Blanc, Bordeaux Rosé, Bordeaux Clairet, Bordeaux Rouge and Crémant (sparkling) – and represent 52% of the Bordeaux wine region (270 million bottles in 2013). Overall, 13 bottles of Planet Bordeaux are consumed every second worldwide!” That last sentence stuck. Pretty amazing?
What is Bordeaux?
It’s important for wine 101ers to understand that Bordeaux, first, is a place in France. Wine made from that region is called Bordeaux. The predominant grapes are Cabernet Sauvignon (left bank of Bordeaux) and Merlot (right bank of Bordeaux). I love explaining to people that if they like Cab or Merlot to try Bordeaux, and vice versa. The other grapes grown in Bordeaux, or considered a Bordeaux variety grown stateside or in other new world regions are: Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Carmenere and Malbec. White wines from Bordeaux are mostly Sauvignon Blanc or Semillon.
What is Bordeaux Supérieur?
From Wine Searcher, “Bordeaux Superieur wines are, as their name implies, a slightly “superior” form of standard Bordeaux AOC wines. The supérieur appellation is open to both red and white wines from anywhere in the Bordeaux region, which stretches 80 miles…(more)
Tasting
Aromas and flavors separate by ;
2013 Domaine de Chevalier
Rose De La Solitude
Bordeaux Rose
12.5% alcohol
Beautiful blood orange color followed by aromas of lime, white peach, lemon, strawberry, and a hint of orange blossom; crisp green apples, a little cantaloupe, and with enough acidity to carry through into a very long finish. I felt the wine a little too tart for me, I let it sit in my glass for a bit to revisit, and closed up the remainder to try again in a day. An hour later, and the next day, I detected no changes.
2010 Domaine de Courteillac
Bordeaux Supérieur
70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc
14.5% alcohol
Aromas of plums, juicy figs, black cherry, cloves, black olive, walnut and dark chocolate; black fruit, medium toasted oak, dust, dark tannins, earth, mint, with a medium length on the finish. Enjoy the full body of this wine with roasted meats, Bolognese sauce, hard cheeses and dark chocolate.
Planet Bordeaux (From Facebook)
About
Bonjour, Friends! Welcome to Planet Bordeaux – and to a voyage of discovery! http://www.planet-bordeaux.com
Mission
The aim of Planet Bordeaux is to share the wines and art de vivre of Bordeaux, but also to connect and keep in stride with today’s American lifestyle, and budget.
On this page and the new English-language website, www.planet-bordeaux.com, you’ll find information on where to enjoy, learn, and buy Bordeaux and Bordeaux Supérieur wines, and suggestions on how to add a dash of Bordeaux to your life, including food and wine pairing ideas and recipes.
Bordeaux Wines 101 on the website is a primer on Bordeaux varietals, blends and appellations, how to read a label, how to choose a wine, how to pair wine with food, and how to serve Bordeaux wines. The site also contains links to the blog written by Jana Kravitz, a native New Yorker, entitled Jana’s Bordeaux – Wine Country Living Moments.
We look forward to your comments, questions and suggestions – on the vineyards & châteaux, food & wine pairing ideas, as well as your stories of good people, good food & good wine from Planet Bordeaux.
We invite you to become a fan, check out the website, and follow us at @PlanetBordeaux on Twitter.
And please invite others to join!
Planet Bordeaux winemakers and other wine, food & tourism professionals are encouraged to link their fan pages with ours, share their news, châteaux visiting hours & events, and where the wines can be enjoyed.
Company Overview
Every 13 seconds, a bottle from these two appellations of a world-renowned wine region is consumed. And the answer is…What are Bordeaux & Bordeaux Supérieur!
Description
Known collectively as “Planet Bordeaux,” a shorter, more convivial name that represents both the winemakers’ association and all wines produced in Bordeaux’s regional appellations, we’re working to give people fresh new ways of exploring these high-quality, value-for-money — and very often, overlooked wines.
Get to know them, the people who make them and their stories, and experience the insider’s view of Bordeaux Wine Country Living.
http://usa.planet-bordeaux.com
https://www.facebook.com/PlanetBordeaux
Eve Bushman has been reading, writing, taking coursework and tasting wine for over 20 years. She has obtained a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust, has been the subject of a 60-minute Wine Immersion video, authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and recently served as a guest judge for the L.A. International Wine Competition. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits that may be answered in a future column. You can also seek her marketing advice via Eve@EveBushmanConsulting.com
