Bordeaux

 

The most generic category and quantitatively most important within Bordeaux, accounting for around 40% of all red wine production and around 60% of all white wine production. Typically produced outside the more specific appellations however it is also possible to make this quality in any other commune by introducing very high yields - thus choosing to create a lesser wine. Obviously nobody would benefit from doing so. There are 3 huge 'patches' of land dedicated to AC Bordeaux wine, red or white - or better yet to say: not dedicated to producing anything better - The vast area east of Bourg and Blaye (mostly Merlot), the Entre Deux Mers (whose eponymous appellation is for white wines only), and the area east - south east of the most southerly edge of the Graves appellation. By it's modest AC law, the min. alcoholic strenght has to be 10%. Minimum 10.5% for 'Bordeaux Superieur' - which is not that much superior at all. About two thirds of AC Bordeaux is red. These are very short lived wines with modest if any concentration and of very variable consistency. These are not designed to last for more than a couple of years and typically see none to little oak and presumably only in the form of chippings.

 

Bordeaux countryside