The Gardens of Edina - Olivier Rivière - Côtes de Bourg 2022
In Lansac, on the right bank of Bordeaux, Olivier Rivière launched a project in 2022 dedicated to Côtes de Bourg, using organic methods and restrained vinification. Planted on clay-limestone soils mixed with wind-blown silt and gravel, the vines benefit from cooler exposures that preserve the fruit's energy. The ambition is clear: digestible, precise reds with a silky feel.
Bourg 2022 Les Jardins d'Édina is a single-plot Merlot cuvée harvested by hand. The majority of the grapes are destemmed, macerated for approximately three weeks, and fermented indigenously. Aged in two-thirds concrete vats for tension and one-third in old barrels to polish the texture, bottled simply to preserve the character of the vintage. Dry profile, moderate alcohol content, limited production.
The nose opens with black plum and cherry, with notes of violet, graphite, and a hint of light cocoa. The palate is slender and juicy, carried by crisp fruit and a fine chalky grain. The mid-palate gains velvet without heaviness, the freshness balancing the maturity. A straight and sapid finish, with cherry pit, sweet pepper, and a stony echo that signals limestone.
At the table, serve this Bourg with roast poultry, herb-flavoured filet mignon, veal chop, grilled flank steak, or bistro dishes in a short sauce. Pairs well with a mature Comté or a Pyrenees Tomme. Ideal temperature: 15 to 16°C in a tulip glass. Open 30 to 45 minutes before serving or decant briefly to loosen the bouquet. Immediate enjoyment and ageing for five to eight years, depending on the cellar.
Grape variety: Merlot 100%
