Côtes de Bordeaux AOP

AOC/AOP Regulations

Département

• Gironde

Communes of Production

• Francs, Cadillac, Castillon, Blaye, Sainte Foy 

Styles and Encépagement

• Rouge: 
  • Principal Varieties: Min. 50% combined Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot; plus a max. 50% Cot (Malbec)
  • Accessory Varieties: Max. 15% combined Petit Verdot and Carmenère (max. 10% Carmenère)
• Côtes de Bordeaux „Castillon“ Rouge
• Côtes de Bordeaux „Cadillac“ Rouge
• Côtes de Bordeaux „Blaye“:
  • Blanc Sec:
    • Principal Varieties: Sauvignon Blanc, Sauvignon Gris, Sémillon, and Muscadelle
    • Accessory Varieties: Max. 15% combined Colombard and Ugni Blanc
  • Rouge
• Côtes de Bordeaux „Francs“:
  • Blanc Sec
  • Blanc Liquoreux: affected by botrytis or passerillage, hand-harvested in tries
  • Rouge
• „Sainte Foy“ Côtes de Bordeaux:
  • Blanc: Sec, Moelleux, and Liquoreux 
    • Principal Varieties: Min. 85% combined Muscadelle, Sauvignon Blanc, Sauvignon Gris, and Sémillon
    • Accessory Varieties: Ugni Blanc and Colombard
  • Rouge: 
    • Principal Varieties: Min. 85% combined Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Cot
    • Accessory Varieties: Petit Verdot and max. 10% Carmenère

Assemblage

• For Rouge wines, accessory varieties may not exceed 15% of the blend.  If Cot is used, it must be blended with another principal variety.

Minimum Potential Alcohol

• Côtes de Bordeaux: 11%
• Côtes de Bordeaux Rouge (with subzone designation): 11.5%
• Blanc Sec: 10.5%
• Blanc Moelleux: 13.5% (11.5% acquired)
• Blanc Liquoreux: 14.5% (12% acquired)
  • Sainte Foy: 15% (12% acquired)

Minimum Must Weights

• Côtes de Bordeaux: 180 g/l (189 g/l for Merlot)
• Côtes de Bordeaux Rouge (with subzone designation): 189 g/l (200 g/l for Merlot)
• Blanc Sec: 170 g/l (178 g/l for Sauvignon Blanc and Gris)
• Blanc Moelleux: 221 g/l
• Blanc Liquoreux: 238 g/l 
  • Sainte Foy: 255g /l

Enrichment

• Chaptalization is prohibited for Blanc Liquoreux

Residual Sugar

• Rouge: Max. 3 g/l
• Blanc Sec: Max. 4 g/l
• Blanc Moelleux: 17-45 g/l
• Blanc Liquoreux: Min. 51 g/l

Harvest Method

• Grapes for Blanc Liquoreux are affected by botrytis and/or passerillage, and must be hand-harvested in successive tries

Minimum Planting Density

• Côtes de Bordeaux, Cadillac, Francs, Blaye, Sainte Foy: 4,500 vines per hectare
• Castillon: 5,000 vines per hectare

Maximum Yield (Rendement de Base)

• Côtes de Bordeaux: 55 hl/ha
• Côtes de Bordeaux Rouge (with subzone designation): 52 hl/ha
• Blanc Sec: 62 hl/ha
• Blanc Moelleux: 45 hl/ha
• Blanc Liquoreux: 37 hl/ha

AOC Established

• 2009 (last updated 2018)

Links

• AOP Cahier des Charges