07 Intro to Bordeaux Flashcards
Location of Bordeaux
- South-west of France
- 45th parallel
- 5x size of Napa, largest wine region in FR
- On Atlantic Ocean
- Originally an English port
Bordeaux History
- 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
Bordeaux Climate
- 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
Bordeaux Bank locations
- Left bank: West of Garonne & Gironde
- Right bank: east and North of Dordogne & Gironde
- Entre-Deux-mers: Between Garonne & Dordogne
Bordeaux Bank AOC & soils
Left Bank
- Médoc: Gravel
- Graves: Gravel
Right bank
- Saint-Émilion: Gravel, limestone, sand
- Pomerol: Iron pan under sand and clay
Bordeaux Region reputation
- Médoc: Most prestegious
- Graves: Original Bordeaux prestige
Bordeaux Grape Varieties
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
Bordeaux - Merlot
- 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
Bordeaux - Cabernet Sauvignon
- 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
Bordeaux - Cabernet Franc
- Contributes elegance
- green bell pepper
- vegetal flavor when less ripe
Bordeaux - Petit Verdot
- Planted more regularly as climate is getting warmer
- 1-3% of blend if used at all
Bordeaux - White Grapes
- Sauvignon Blanc: main grape, high in acidity
- Sémillon: Rounded, more exotic, attracts Botryis; mostly in sweet wines or to add roundness to dry wines
Bordeaux - Red blends by bank
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
Bordeaux - White blends by bank
- 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
Médoc - Stats
- 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
Médoc AOPs
Sub-regions
- Médoc AOP
- Haut-Médoc AOP
Commune
- Saint-Estéphe AOP
- Pauillac AOP
- Saint-Julien AOP
- Margaux AOP
1855 Classification
- 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
1st Growth Château
- Château Lafite-Rothschild
- Château Latour
- Château Mouton-Rothschild
- Château Margaux
- Château Haut-Brion (Graves)
Bordeaux Vinification
Vinification
- French Oak Barrique
- Used on white / red
- Adds aroma & flavor impact
Bordeaux Vintage variation
- Inconsistent weather
- Rainfall during growing season
- Humidity (potential for mold)
Bordeaux Regional Laws & Labeling
- 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
Bordeaux: Graves Stats
- 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
Bordeaux: Sauternes AOP
- 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
Bordeaux: Pessac-Léognan AOP
- Geography: nortnernmost part of Graves, including Haut Brion
- Vinification: Dry white / red wines, new French oak
Bordeaux: Entre-Deux-Mers AOP
- Geography: large area between garonne & Dordogne rivers
- Soil: very fertile silt
- Grapes: Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon, Muscadelle
- Vinification: dry white only, stainless steel
Bordeaux: Saint-Émilion
- Location: Along Dordogne River near town of Libourne
- Soils: Salt, clay, gravel; limestone plateau’ sand
- Grapes: Merlot, Cabernet Franc
Saint-Émilion Appleations & Classification
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
Bordeaux: Pomerol AOP Stats
- 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
