Bordeaux wines awarded at the Gilbert & Gaillard International Challenge

A.O.C./A.O.P.

AC Bordeaux covers the entire Gironde department, with the exception of wetlands, valley floors and the sandy soils of the Landes woodlands. It applies only to red wines (dry whites are governed by a specific dry Bordeaux appellation). Legally, they can only be made from Cabernet-Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec, Petit Verdot and Carmenere. Four different soil types form the Bordeaux appellation area: marshlands (recent alluvial soils edging the Garonne and the Dordogne), gravely soils made up of gravel and quartz, calcareous clay earth, extremely widespread on hillside sites, and ‘boulbenes’ (loamy soils characteristic of the Entre-Deux-Mers plateaux). The wines are made traditionally in temperature-controlled stainless steel or lined concrete tanks. They can be aged in oak but this is optional.

Grape varieties: Vins rouges : cabernet-sauvignon, cabernet franc, merlot, malbec, petit verdot, carmenère. Vins blancs secs : sémillon, sauvignon, musadelle, colombard, mauzac, ondenc, ugni blanc