Rolf Bichsel - Best of Bordeaux

to the north-west of the region (commune of Figeac – Cheval Blanc). The soils at

the foot of these slopes (Pied de Côtes) consist of clay, sand and gravel. Merlot

(around 60%) is supplemented by Cabernet Franc and a little Cabernet Sauvi-

gnon. Specific locations have a signi

fi

cant impact on the style: subtle and excep-

tionally elegant but with good aging potential (plateau), lively and dense medi-

um-bodied wines (slopes and lowlands), particularly fruity with character and

finesse (Figeac), characterised by woody notes and rich in extract in the style of

a Bolgheri (modernists), or compact and sharp (lowlands along the Dordogne).

Pomerol

800 hectares of vines I 150 winemakers I 4 million bottles a year

Pomerol, an oval four kilometres long and three kilometres wide on the right

banks of the Garonne and Dordogne, is the smallest of the large Bordeaux ap-

pellations in terms of size. The best ferrous loam soils with varying proportions

of clay and gravel can be found on the ‘plateau' around the church. In the west

towards the Isle – the Gironde's third river – the soils contain clay and sand and

produce lighter wines. In the east, Pomerol adjoins the vineyards of Saint-Emil-

ion (Figeac and Cheval Blanc estates). Merlot is the main variety at 80% and

produces elegant, velvety, full-bodied yet smooth wines.

Fronsac / Canon-Fronsac

1,100 hectares of vines I 150 producers I Around 8 million bottles a year

These two neighbouring appellations stand on a horseshoe-shaped chain of

hills between the Dordogne and the Isle, at a somewhat higher altitude than

those in Pomerol and Saint-Emilion in a relatively windy location, which has a

major impact on the maturation process and style of wine. Only a few winemak-

ers, mostly members of the Expression de Fronsac cooperative, produce great

wines. Clay over molasse and limestone soils, around 80% of which are planted

with Merlot, produce the most ‘Italian' of all the Bordeaux wines with angular

yet also astonishingly fresh tannins, offering extract and high levels of alcohol

which ensure long aging in the best examples.

The best wine bars,

restaurants, hotels

and other selected

addresses for visitors

to Bordeaux

Beginning on page 274

58

MapPessac-Léognan, Graves, Sauternes, Bordeaux

Pessac-Léognan, Graves,

Sauternes, Bordeaux

5Château Bastor Lamontagne

14Château Bouscaut

18Château Brondelle

20Château Caillou

27Château Carbonnieux

33Château Climens

36Château Couhins

37Château Couhins Lurton

38Château Coutet

39Château Crabitey

44Château D‘Yquem

48Château de Fargues

50Château de Malle

51Château de Myrat

54Château de Rayne Vigneau

56Château Doisy Daëne

57Château Doisy Védrines

66Château Filhot

73Château Gilette

81Château Guiraud

83Château Haut Bailly

86Château Haut-Brion

99Château La Mission Haut-Brion

100Château La Mission

Haut-Brion / Laville Haut-Brion

102Château La Tour Blanche

107Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey

112Château Lamothe Guignard

120Château Latour Martillac

126Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion

130Château Malartic Lagravière

143Château Nairac

145Château Olivier

148Château Pape Clément

163Château Rabaud Promis

164Château Rahoul

167Château Raymond-Lafon

168Château Respide Medeville

169Château Rieussec

171Château Seguin

172Château Sigalas Rabaud

174Château Smith Haut Lafitte

177Château Suduiraut

180Château Thieuley

190Clos Floridene

192Clos Haut Peyraguey

197Dourthe N° 1

The next six pages list all of the chateaus portrayed in this book. They are

divided into the three main areas (south Bordeaux, Médoc, right bank) and

listed in alphabetical order: the number represents the page on which the

full description can be found.

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14

5

18

20

27

33

36

38

39

44

37

48

50

51

54

56

56

57

66

81

8

86

99

100

102

107

112

120

126

130

143

14

148

163

164

167

168

169

171

172

74

177

180

190

192

197

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