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CMS Wine Study > 07 Intro to Bordeaux > Flashcards

07 Intro to Bordeaux Flashcards

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1
Q

Location of Bordeaux

A
  • South-west of France
  • 45th parallel
  • 5x size of Napa, largest wine region in FR
  • On Atlantic Ocean
  • Originally an English port
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2
Q

Bordeaux History

A
  • Winemaking started in 4th century
  • 17-19th c. slavery lead to wealth & expansion
  • Global distribution of wine
  • Dutch merchants made channels that dried marshes & improved viticulture –> Medoc swamp in Marshland, now very famous
  • Chateaux: estate with single-ownership - this name / brand is more important than specific vineyard location
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3
Q

Bordeaux Climate

A
  • Climate: Maritime
    –> consistent climate extends growing season, but humidity is a risk, particularly for red wine
  • Climate moderators:
    –> Garonne & Dordogne rivers
    —> Grionde Estuary (rivers meet north of city of Bordeaux
    —> Atlantic Ocean, with pine forest on the west to protect from harsh storms & high winds
  • Challenges: rain at harvst & frost
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4
Q

Bordeaux Bank locations

A
  • Left bank: West of Garonne & Gironde
  • Right bank: east and North of Dordogne & Gironde
  • Entre-Deux-mers: Between Garonne & Dordogne
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5
Q

Bordeaux Bank AOC & soils

A

Left Bank
- Médoc: Gravel
- Graves: Gravel

Right bank
- Saint-Émilion: Gravel, limestone, sand
- Pomerol: Iron pan under sand and clay

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6
Q

Bordeaux Region reputation

A
  • Médoc: Most prestegious
  • Graves: Original Bordeaux prestige
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7
Q

Bordeaux Grape Varieties

A

White
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Sémillon
- Muscadelle - small quantities

Red
- Merlot - most widely planted
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Cabernet Franc
- Petit verdot - small quantities
- Malbec - allwowed, but rarely seen
- Carmenére - allowed, but rarely seen

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8
Q

Bordeaux - Merlot

A
  • Most planted
  • Ripens first & so can be harvested before the rain, which could dilute flavors
  • Due to early harvest, can be planted in limestone, sand, & clay, which don’t offer good drainage (no risk, b/c harvested before rains)
  • Softer wine - soft, juicy, plumby flavors
  • Typically blended with Cab Sav, which offers softness & spice
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9
Q

Bordeaux - Cabernet Sauvignon

A
  • Most prestigous
  • Only can plant in gravel (Left bank, or a few spots on right bank) since it offers good drainage
  • Power, finess, acidity, black fruit, herbal flavors
  • Backbone of what people believe Bordeaux is
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10
Q

Bordeaux - Cabernet Franc

A
  • Contributes elegance
  • green bell pepper
  • vegetal flavor when less ripe
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11
Q

Bordeaux - Petit Verdot

A
  • Planted more regularly as climate is getting warmer
  • 1-3% of blend if used at all
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12
Q

Bordeaux - White Grapes

A
  • Sauvignon Blanc: main grape, high in acidity
  • Sémillon: Rounded, more exotic, attracts Botryis; mostly in sweet wines or to add roundness to dry wines
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13
Q

Bordeaux - Red blends by bank

A

Médoc Communes (Left bank)
- 70% Cabernet Sauvignon
- 30% Merlot

St-émilion & Pomerol (Right Bank)
- 70% Merlot
- 30% Cabernet Franc
- Limited Cabernet Sauvignon due to lack of gravel soil

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14
Q

Bordeaux - White blends by bank

A
  • No whites allowed in right bank
  • Whites only allowd in Graves area of Left Bank
  • Dry white wines (Pessac Léognan & Enter-Deux-Mers): 80% Sauvignon Blanc, 20% Sémillon
  • Sweet white wines (Sauterns & nearby): 80% Sémillon, 20% Sauvignon Blanc
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15
Q

Médoc - Stats

A
  • History: Salt marsh & pine forest until mid-17th c. when Dutch engineers drained marsh
  • Location: North of Bordeaux along Gironde Estuary, Left bank
  • Soil: Gravel, with great drainage
  • Grape: Red only, Cabernet Sauvignon-based blends
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16
Q

Médoc AOPs

A

Sub-regions
- Médoc AOP
- Haut-Médoc AOP

Commune
- Saint-Estéphe AOP
- Pauillac AOP
- Saint-Julien AOP
- Margaux AOP

17
Q

1855 Classification

A
  • Napoléon III commissioned ranking
  • Ranked 61 properties in 5 tiers (1st through 5th growth)
  • Ranked based on historical prices
  • Excluded Right bank wines
  • Classification stands today, but is not part of AOP system
  • Ranking focused on Médoc, but one property in Graves was included due to reputation
18
Q

1st Growth Château

A
  • Château Lafite-Rothschild
  • Château Latour
  • Château Mouton-Rothschild
  • Château Margaux
  • Château Haut-Brion (Graves)
19
Q

Bordeaux Vinification

A

Vinification
- French Oak Barrique
- Used on white / red
- Adds aroma & flavor impact

20
Q

Bordeaux Vintage variation

A
  • Inconsistent weather
  • Rainfall during growing season
  • Humidity (potential for mold)
21
Q

Bordeaux Regional Laws & Labeling

A
  • Regional Appelation: Bordeaux AOP, 45% of production
  • Sub-regional or district appelations: Haut Médoc AOP or Entre-Deux-Mers AOP
  • Commune Appleations: smallest AOPs, highest quality
    –> examples; Pauillac, Margaux, Pomerol, Saint Julien, Saint Estéphe, St. émilion
22
Q

Bordeaux: Graves Stats

A
  • Location: South of Médoc & city of Bordeaux
  • Soil: Gravel
  • White Grapes: Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon
  • Red grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc
  • Sub-regions: Pessac-Léognan AOP & Sauterns AOP
  • Huat brion is most famous example
  • best Grapes are where there is more gravel & more elevation
23
Q

Bordeaux: Sauternes AOP

A
  • Geography: Southernmost portion of Graves, bordered by Garonne & Ciron Rivers
  • Climate: Humid
  • Grapes: Sémillon, Suavignon Blanc, Muscadelle
  • Vinfiication: botryis affected sweet wines; oak aged, often in new French barrique
  • Harvest: steadily repeat to pick only fuzzy raisins by hand
24
Q

Bordeaux: Pessac-Léognan AOP

A
  • Geography: nortnernmost part of Graves, including Haut Brion
  • Vinification: Dry white / red wines, new French oak
25
Q

Bordeaux: Entre-Deux-Mers AOP

A
  • Geography: large area between garonne & Dordogne rivers
  • Soil: very fertile silt
  • Grapes: Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon, Muscadelle
  • Vinification: dry white only, stainless steel
26
Q

Bordeaux: Saint-Émilion

A
  • Location: Along Dordogne River near town of Libourne
  • Soils: Salt, clay, gravel; limestone plateau’ sand
  • Grapes: Merlot, Cabernet Franc
27
Q

Saint-Émilion Appleations & Classification

A

Appelations:
- St-Émilion AOP
- St-Émilion Grand Cru AOP –> add’l 0.5% alcohol & a longer aging than wines just from St-Émilion AOP

Classification System
- Premeir Grand Cru Classe A (4 named Chateaux)
- Premier Grand Cru Classe B
- Grand Cru Classe

Designed to change every 10 yrs

28
Q

Bordeaux: Pomerol AOP Stats

A
  • Location: Along Dordogne River, near town of Libourne to NW of Saint-Émilion; 3sq miles
  • Soils: Sand, Clay, Gravel; subsoil of iron pan & rich clay
  • Grapes: merlot (90-95%) & Cabernet Franc-based blends
  • No classification system, reds only

CMS Wine Study (15 decks)

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