Château de Cots
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Château de Côts is a family-owned winegrowing estate in Côtes de Bourg, committed to biodynamics (Demeter 2020). It crafts red wines and a 100% Malbec white, on clay-limestone and red gravel soils.
Identity
Château de Côts is a winegrowing estate located in Bayon-sur-Gironde, in the Gironde department. It is owned by the Bergon family, and more specifically managed by Rémi Bergon.
History and Philosophy
Château de Côts was founded in 1930 by Pierre Bergon. The estate is a family affair, with Rémi Bergon representing the third generation after joining in 2012.
The estate is deeply committed to environmentally friendly practices, with organic viticulture certified by Ecocert since 1999, and biodynamic viticulture certified by Demeter since 2020. Château de Côts is a member of the Fédération Nationale Interprofessionnelle des Vins de l’Agriculture Biologique (FNIVAB).
The Appellations
Château de Côts produces wines under the Côtes de Bourg appellation. The estate also crafts a cuvée under the Vin de France designation.
Practical Information
Château de Côts is located at 12 Chemin de Côts, 33710 Bayon-sur-Gironde. The estate can be contacted by telephone on +33 (0)6 83 83 86 24 or by email at info@chateau-de-cots.com.
The tasting cellar and shop are open Monday to Friday from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm and from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm. Weekend visits are by appointment only. Tours and tastings are offered throughout the week by appointment, in French or English, priced at €7 per person. The estate boasts a dedicated tasting room overlooking the vineyards.
Find Out More
Frequently asked questions
- What is the history and production philosophy of Château de Côts?
- Founded in 1930 by Pierre Bergon, Château de Côts is a family-owned estate run by Rémi Bergon, representing the third generation. The estate has been committed to organic viticulture certified by Ecocert since 1999, and biodynamic viticulture certified by Demeter since 2020, prioritising environmental stewardship and natural farming practices.
- Which appellations and grape varieties are cultivated at Château de Côts?
- Château de Côts mainly produces wines under the Côtes de Bourg appellation, alongside a Vin de France cuvée. The vineyard is predominantly planted with Malbec, including 55-year-old vines, complemented by several parcels of Cabernet Sauvignon.
- What are the terroir and surface area of the Château de Côts vineyard?
- The vineyard of Château de Côts covers 20 hectares between Bayon-sur-Gironde and Gauriac. The terroir is characterised by loamy clay-limestone soils, alongside select parcels composed of red gravels.
- How are vinification and ageing carried out at Château de Côts?
- Vinification is conducted traditionally using indigenous yeasts and no oenological additives. Maceration takes place in ancestral underground concrete vats for 5 to 7 weeks. Ageing for the red wines takes place in oak barrels, ranging from 12 to 18 months for Cuvée Tradition to two years for Cuvée Prestige.
The Vineyard (Terroir)
The vineyard of Château de Côts covers 20 hectares. It is situated between Bayon-sur-Gironde and Gauriac, with a south, south-westerly exposure. The soils are predominantly loamy clay-limestone, with a few parcels on red gravels. Viticultural practices include grassing every other row, ploughing, and the use of green manure sown every autumn.
The grape varieties feature a significant proportion of Malbec, including 55-year-old Malbec vines, as well as a few carefully preserved parcels of Cabernet Sauvignon.
Flagship Cuvées
The estate produces several cuvées, including:
- Cuvée Tradition: Crafted through traditional vinification, this wine undergoes ageing for 12 to 18 months in three-wine Bordeaux barrels from Radoux.
- Cuvée Prestige: Sourced from a plot selection, vinification is carried out using indigenous yeasts without any oenological additives. It is aged for two years in new 400-litre Bordeaux barrels from Radoux.
- R de Côts: A 100% Malbec white wine, vinified after direct pressing in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats.
- M de Côts: A 100% Malbec red wine, aged in concrete vats.
Vinification and Ageing
Vinification at Château de Côts is carried out traditionally, using indigenous yeasts and without added oenological inputs. Macerations last between 5 and 7 weeks in ancestral underground concrete vats. The harvest is carried out entirely by hand.
The barrel cellar allows the wines to be aged for a minimum of 12 months. Cuvée Tradition is aged for 12 to 18 months in three-wine Radoux barrels, while Cuvée Prestige benefits from two years of ageing in new 400-litre Radoux barrels.
- Appellations
- Côtes de Bourg, Vin de France
- Commune
- Bayon-sur-Gironde
- Wine region
- Les Vins de Côtes
- Owner
- Rémi BERGON
- Surface area
- 20 ha
- Certifications
- Bio, Biodynamie
Estate news
14 June 2024
Bordeaux, Bourg, Malbec - Les 5 du Vin - WordPress.com
L'article des 5 du Vin met en lumière le Malbec, un cépage historique de l'AOC Côtes de Bourg qui, bien que parfois délaissé, est aujourd'hui de plus en plus valorisé. Les Côtes de Bourg se distinguent par la proportion la plus élevée de Malbec dans le Bordelais, représentant 10% de leurs 3 400 hectares de vignes. Le Malbec, également connu sous le nom de Côt, est génétiquement lié au Prunelard et à la Magdeleine Noire des Charentes, ce qui en fait le demi-frère du Merlot. L'auteur, Marco, partage son expérience de dégustation d'une quinzaine de cuvées de Malbec des Côtes de Bourg, exprimant un enthousiasme généralisé pour ces vins. Il décrit en détail plusieurs vins dégustés, parmi lesquels on retrouve le Colline des Barrails Malbec 2015 du Château Relais de la Poste, le VI 2016 du Château Lacouture, l'Heritage 1757 2018 du Château Gros Moulin, Origines Ter Pointe 2019 de Tutiac, le Désir Pourpre 2019 du Château du Castenet, M de Côts 2020 du Château de Côts, Prestige La Dame de la Tuilerie 2020 du Château la Tuilerie, Côt à Côtes 2020 des Vignobles Raboutet, Vitis amphore 2020 du Château Beaulieu, La Cravate 2020 du Clos du Notaire, Ô ! Malbec 2021 du Château Haut-Macô, Gabin 2021 des Vignobles Dupuy, O Tour 2022 du Château Tour des Graves, et esmalbec 2022 du Château Martinat. Ces vins, issus de divers terroirs et méthodes de vinification (dont des élevages en amphore et des pratiques biodynamiques), ont globalement conquis le comité de dégustation par leur fraîcheur, leur fruité, leur structure et leur élégance, confirmant le renouveau et la qualité du Malbec dans cette appellation bordelaise.
Read the source — les5duvin.wordpress.comPractical information
- Address
- 12 Chemin de Côts, 33710 BAYON SUR GIRONDE
- Phone
- 06.83.83.86.24
- Contact form
- Contact the estate
- Visits
- toute la semaine sur rendez-vous