Francs Côtes De Bordeaux French wine appellation guide: location, history, wines, climate & soil
Francs Côtes de Bordeaux is the smallest of the Côtes de Bordeaux appellations, a hidden Right Bank gem producing elegant, fresh Merlot-based reds and some fine whites.
More info about Francs Côtes De Bordeaux
Geographic position
Southwestern France, in the Gironde, at the eastern edge of the Bordeaux vineyard, about 12 km northeast of Saint-Émilion, next to Castillon and the Dordogne department, around the villages of Francs, Saint-Cibard and Tayac.
Origin & history
Local tradition says the area was named after the Franks, who defeated the Visigoths nearby under King Clovis in the 6th century. The Bordeaux-Côtes de Francs appellation was created in 1967, and in 2009 it joined the Côtes de Bordeaux family under its current name.
Wines & grape varieties
Mostly red, from Merlot with Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Expect plum, black cherry, violet and fine, fresh tannins. A small amount of dry and sweet white is made from Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle.
Climate & soil
Temperate oceanic climate, slightly cooler and higher than nearby Saint-Émilion. Clay-limestone hills over limestone, with some sandy clay.
Wine region: Bordeaux
Grape varieties: Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Muscadelle, Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon