Chateau Belle Coline, Blaye Cotes de Bordeaux AOC, 2014

There are the appellations everyone knows - Margaux, Pomerol, St Emilion.

But because everyone knows them, the price is driven up. They KNOW you'll pay it.

And then there's a group of appellations which group together to form Cotes de Bordeaux. Blaye is one of them.

Freed up from the price expectations that come with the village, you're able to get exceptional value for money here.

As with the best of Bordeaux, the terroir is clay limestone and sandy soils. Belle Coline has vines that are over 60 years old, making them some of the oldest vines in the appellation.

Malolactic fermentation is performed in a combination of tank and French oak barrels. The wine is aged in 33% new, French oak barrels for a about 12 months before bottling.