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Côtes de Bourg, Classical terroir, modern fruit

By Andreas Larsson

Côtes de Bourg is without any doubt a very fine source for nice Bordeaux.Wines with plenty of charm in both traditional and more modern versions are found side by side. The appellation counts some 3900 hectares and around 550 wine growers which offer a multitude of wine styles.
Merlot is the dominant variety with close to 70% of the plantings, complemented by Cabernet Sauvignon,Cabernet Franc and Malbec.I found this blind tasting maybe the most homogenous of all with very few disappointments.

The wines from 2004 were very good with ripe fruit, a fine freshness and well made. The wines from 2005 were at this stage very young and shouldn’t be judged completely, although the potential is there with classical attributes and a somewhat higher density and concentration than what 2004 showed.


2004 - Côtes de Bourg -

MY TOP PICKS


Château Falfas

A medium deep ruby red colour, the nose is very complex with elegant aromas of red berries, spices and minerals; the palate is very distinct and fresh with tones of minerals, elegant fruit and a long compelling aftertaste. Excellent structure.

Château Labadie
Intense ruby-purple colour, the nose is attractive and sexy with aromas of flowers, wild berries, elegant spices and minerals, the palate has a good structure with nicely integrated tannins, elegant fruit and a fine freshness, very long aftertaste, nicely made.

Château Guionne Cuvée Renaissance
Dark ruby-purple nuance, the nose is complex with elegant aromas of earth, minerals, sun ripe dark berries and spices; the palate has a nice concentration with marked tannins and nice fruit, fresh and long persistence.

Château Martinat
Very dark and dense ruby red colour, elegant nose of dark berries, minerals and dry spices, the palate is dry and distinct with well built tannins, nice fruit and a long aftertaste.

Château Fougas Cuvée Maldoror
Intense ruby red colour, the nose is complex and multifaceted with layers of wild berries, minerals, spices, leather and a floral touch, the palate has a nice concentration and freshness with fairly marked tannins and a long, attractive aftertaste.

Château Laroche Joubert
Medium to deep ruby red, the nose is floral and spicy with touches of wild berries, nice and complex palate with a good spiciness and fine fruit, balanced tannins and a long, compelling aftertaste.


I ALSO LIKED

Château Mercier
Deep ruby red, the nose is exotic and spicy with ripe dark berries, spices, mint and leather, the palate has nice sweet fruit and ripe tannins, nice grip and a long finish.

Château Fongalan
Medium deep ruby red, the nose is complex and evokes, earth, minerals, wild berries, and leather, the palate is distinct with a fine freshness and polished tannins, nice and spicy aftertaste.

Château Moulin du Haut Lansac
The colour is dark ruby red, the nose is slightly closed but with some air it emanates aromas of dark plums, cherries, minerals and leather, the palate is well structured with a tannic backbone, nice dark fruit, a discreet spiciness and a long persistence.

Château de Taste
Medium deep ruby red, the nose is spicy and floral with wild berries, on the palate the wine has a nice freshness and marked tannins, good fruit and medium to long aftertaste.

Château de Rousselet
Dense ruby red with some development, the nose is marked by some oak, dark fruits, leather and herbs; the palate is well structured with a good freshness, good fruit and a pleasant aftertaste.

Château Haut Pradier
Medium to deep ruby, the nose offers aromas of wood, spices and dark berries; the palate has a classical freshness to it, underlined by dark fruit, good and persistent aftertaste.


2005 - Côtes de Bourg

MY TOP PICKS

Château Guionne
Intensely dark purple colour, the nose is young and is currently dominated by aromas of new oak, vanilla and spices, on the palate the fruit is coming on nicely, well built with a good concentration, finely grained tannins and a fresh, long aftertaste, very nice material.

Château Tour de Guiet (Elevé en Fûts de Chêne)
Immensely dark purple colour, the nose is young, nervous and showing a multitude of dark fruits, flowers, leather and spices, the palate has a superb concentration albeit it retains a nice balance, nicely packed with a complex, spicy aftertaste.

Château La Coulée de Bayonne
Very intense purple colour, the nose is young and dense albeit elegant with dark berries, violets and undertones of oak and spices; the palate has a nice concentration and freshness and will open up nicely in the coming years, very good aftertaste and nice material.

Château Fougas Cuvée Maldoror
Immensely dark purple colour, the nose has a lot of young dark fruits, spices and also some earthy mineral notes, the palate has a nice structure with ripe tannins and a good freshness, elegant fruit and a very long aftertaste.

Château Grand Maison
Young dark ruby-purple colour, the nose is young and shows a good dose of new oak, vanilla, spices albeit it retains some elegant tones of mineral and wild berries, the structure is very dense with a good tannin-fruit-freshness ratio, well balanced despite its youth with a very long aftertaste.

Château Tour de Guiet
Dark purple colour, the nose is young and floral with hints of violets, dark berries and spices, the palate is very concentrated with a good balance and long finish. good potential.


I ALSO LIKED

Château Mercier Cuvée Prestige
Intense purple colour, the nose is young with a plethora of dark fruits, violets and spices, the palate is slightly on the tannic side right now, well concentrated and with a good length.

Château La Croix de Millorit
Intense young purple colour fairly closed on the nose but with an underlying fruitiness, and hints of wood and vanilla, nicely structured with a good freshness and good fruit, fine tannins and along finish.

Château Gravette Samonac
Intense young purple colour, the nose is young and dominated by oak, vanilla, spices and dark fruits, the palate is dense with a fine spiciness ripe tannins and a long persistence.

Château Grand Maison
Intense dark purple ruby, the nose evokes sweet aromas of red flowers, blackberries and cherries; the palate is fairly astringent with marked tannins but has a good concentration and potential, fine length indeed.

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