WTN: Very fine, very cheap Bordeaux

I opened a 2008 Ch. Saint Genes from the Cotes de Blaye last nite with boeuf bourguignonne and what a great match and a very interesting wine. Produced by Bernard Magrez, the wine was opened 4 hrs. before and double decanted. It was black/purple and had a great nose of plum and roasted coffee. The palate was medium-full with the same flavors as the nose and the tannins were quite smooth.They have been that way straight from the bottle but the tannins did seem to smooth out more at the end of the meal. For only $10 this wine had great QPR and I wish I had more than one bottle.

Bourg, Blaye and Castillion (in a recent considation are all now know as Cotes de Bourdeaux) all seem to produce note-worthy wines at good prices. Almost all of the Bordeaux and Bordeaux Superior are produced in Entre-de-Mers, so the more delimited AOC's should be better and usually are.

Bourg, Blaye and Castillion (in a recent considation are all now know as Cotes de Bourdeaux) all seem to produce note-worthy wines at good prices. Almost all of the Bordeaux and Bordeaux Superior are produced in Entre-de-Mers, so the more delimited AOC's should be better and usually are.

When did this consolidation happen? This is first I've heard. Seems a little weird, as Bourg/Blaye aren't really close to Cotes de Castillon are they? I knew there was a 1er Cotes de Bordeaux appellation, but not especially prestigious (I'd opt for Bourg, Blaye, or Castillon over Premieres Cotes de Bordeaux). Seems like a strange marketing move

Bourg, Blaye and Castillion (in a recent considation are all now know as Cotes de Bourdeaux) all seem to produce note-worthy wines at good prices. Almost all of the Bordeaux and Bordeaux Superior are produced in Entre-de-Mers, so the more delimited AOC's should be better and usually are.

When did this consolidation happen? This is first I've heard. Seems a little weird, as Bourg/Blaye aren't really close to Cotes de Castillon are they? I knew there was a 1er Cotes de Bordeaux appellation, but not especially prestigious (I'd opt for Bourg, Blaye, or Castillon over Premieres Cotes de Bordeaux). Seems like a strange marketing move

As I understand the explanation on this website http://www.bordeaux-cotes.com/en/home/ , the words Blaye, Castillon, etc. will be tacked on to the words Côtes de Bordeaux as appropriate. In this way their terroir specificity will not be lost. Whether the change makes sense commercially is another matter.

One of the more fascinating things about Bordeaux is that it is so huge, so encompassing of so much diversity of land and terroirs, while being relatively restricted and homogeneous in grape varieties, that to most people outside the region the "Brand Bordeaux"', by which people mean the Famous Classified Growths, represents the region when there is so much more "there" there.

Having recently returned from some extensive travels through Bordeaux, and this time really paying close attention to the areas like the EDM (vastly more diverse than most people who have not been there could ever imagine) and the Bourg et Blaye (easily distinctive from the other regions; and few realize that that area also shares part of another major AOC, that of Cognac---so hello Ugni Blanc!), I can more clearly comprehend the very physical/geographical differences within the hugeness we call Bordeaux, and the wish for the residents to have folks outside the area know about it and recognize what it means.

On a different note entirely, I find myself thinking what Bordeaux might have developed into had not the INAO/AOC and the financially powerful mercantile interests been so efficient in controlling how the region was allowed to develop wine-wise. Certainly not as monolithic and restrictive as it has been, I think.

Richard,

In fact, Bourg is odd man out, refused to join with the others.

The series now includes:

Blaye - Côtes de Bordeaux
Cadillac - Côtes de Bordeaux
Castillon - Côtes de Bordeaux
Francs - Côtes de Bordeaux

I am a huge fan of Côtes wines. The quality can be uneven, but good ones are not rare, and cost a pittance.

Best regards,
Alex R.