The home of Bordeaux, Burgundy and Champagne – is arguably the world\’s most important wine-producing country. The diversity of French wine is due, in part, to the country\’s wide range of climates.
Bordeaux\’s climate is moderated by its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean and the presence of the various rivers (the Dordogne, the Garonne and the Gironde Estuary into which they flow). The region takes its name (which translates roughly as \”next to the waters\”) from the port city of Bordeaux, which serves as its logistical and administrative center.
THE GRAPES
MERLOT
CHARDONNAY
MERLOT
Red wine grape variety with strong historic ties to Bordeaux and the southwest of France.
Smooth, rounded and \”easy drinking\” are common descriptions of Merlot wines. The precise flavors that Merlot imparts to a wine are not easily grouped. Plum and black cherry are among the most common fruit-based descriptors used, though it is often used for producing wines of a particular texture, rather than a particular taste.
CHARDONNAY
Is the world’s most famous white-wine grape and also one of the most widely planted. Although the most highly regarded expressions of the variety are those from Burgundy and California, many high-quality examples are made in Italy, Australia, New Zealand and Argentina.
While many Chardonnay wines have high aromatic complexity, this is usually due to winemaking techniques (particularly the use of oak) rather than the variety\’s intrinsic qualities. Malolactic fermentation gives distinctive buttery aromas. Fermentation and/or maturation in oak barrels contributes notes of vanilla, smoke and hints of sweet spices such as clove and cinnamon. Extended lees contact while in barrel imparts biscuity, doughy flavors.
