AOC Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux Wine

History of the AOC Blaye-Côtes-de-Bordeaux Appellation

Located on the right bank of the Gironde, the vineyard of AOC Blaye-Côtes-de-Bordeaux is one of the largest in the Bordeauxregion. This appellation stands out today for the high quality of its wines, especially its red wines, aged in barrels for a minimum of 18 months. Indeed, the Blaye-Côtes-de-Bordeaux appellation follows strict regulations, encouraging the production of great age-worthy red wines.

Climate and Terroir of the AOC Blaye-Côtes-de-Bordeaux Appellation

Climate: AOC Blaye-Côtes-de-Bordeaux enjoys a temperate oceanic climate, with mild winters and hot, humid summers.
Soils: The soils of the Blaye vineyard are a mosaic of terroirs, ranging from clay-limestone to gravel soils. This variety gives the wines of the appellation a unique complexity.

Key Grape Varieties of the AOC Blaye-Côtes-de-Bordeaux Appellation

The wines of AOC Blaye-Côtes-de-Bordeaux are mainly made from traditional Bordeaux grape varieties: Merlot (dominant), Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc for the red wines, while the white wines are generally made from Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc, and Muscadelle.

Style of AOC Blaye-Côtes-de-Bordeaux Wines

White: The white wines of AOC Blaye-Côtes-de-Bordeaux stand out with their straw-yellow color with golden highlights. The aromatic profile reveals notes of citrus (grapefruit, mandarin) and white-fleshed fruits, with a lovely minerality and freshness on the palate.
Red: The red wines feature a deep purple color. The nose is dominated by ripe red and black fruit aromas, spices, leather, with a hint of vanilla in the finish. On the palate, these are full-bodied red wines with velvety tannins that soften as they age.

Best Food and Wine Pairings with AOC Blaye-Côtes-de-Bordeaux Wine

Here are some recipe ideas to pair with a bottle of red or white wine from a domain or château in AOC Blaye-Côtes-de-Bordeaux:
White: Seafood risotto, crab linguine, fresh goat cheese
Red: Grilled ribeye steak, duck confit, spit-roasted lamb