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Reading a Bordeaux
Label |
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Since you cannot always
taste a wine before buying it, knowing how to read its
label is the key to smart shopping and ordering.
Five items are required by law to appear on the label:
- The name of the A.O.C. (Appellation d'Origine
Controlee) wine-growing region, district, or village
to which the wine is entitled according to how it
was produced. For example, a wine from the Pauillac
district would be labeled "Appellation Pauillac
Controlee."
- The volume of the wine in the bottle, 75 centiliters
or 750 ml (just under one liter) is standard.
- The percentage of alcohol by volume, normally
between 8% to 15%, which varies by appellation.
- The control number or lot identification number
(this may instead appear on the back label or on
the metal capsule).
- "Mis en bouteille au chateau means that the
wine is chateau-bottled, otherwise the appropriate
variation: "mis en bouteille a la propriete"
(bottled at the property), "mis en bouteille
dans la region de production" (bottled in the
region of production), or "mis en bouteille
dans nos caves" (bottled in our cellars).
- The country of origin must be indicated on all
exported wine. "Product of France" (Produit
de France) can also be used.
Many optional statements are also often put on
labels:
- The chateau name, which is also the name of both
the product and producer. If it is not a chateau
wine, then the regional appellation or a brand name
is usually indicated.
- The vintage or year in which the grapes were
harvested. 100% of the wine must be from the year
on the label.
- "Grand Vin" followed by the appellation,
most often simply "Grand Vin de Bordeaux."
- Art or logo representing the chateau.
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