1. Bordeaux

Question 1

Climate

Answer 1

• Moderate maritime
• Left Bank -> vineyards protected by Les Landes (cooler than neighbours)
• Northern Médoc is more open to maritime influence -> cooler than south

Question 2

Bordeaux AOC and Bordeaux Supérieur AOC

Answer 2

o Merlot, CS, CF
o High-volume (inexpensive)

Question 3

Médoc AOC and Haut-Médoc AOC

Answer 3

o Red wine-only
o Wines come in a wide range of prices and quality levels
o Good to very good and mid to premium-priced

Question 4

Saint-Estèphe AOC

Answer 4

o Most northerly and coolest of the four prestigious Left Bank AOCs
o More Merlot planted than the other three (40%) -> more clay
o Cabernet Sauvignon -> 50%, on gravel banks close to the estuary
o Rustic wines that need many years in the bottle to soften the tannins
o Small batches of premium-priced wines

Question 5

Pauillac AOC

Answer 5

o High proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon planted (62%)
o Gravel banks close to the estuary -> grapes ripen fully in most years
o Top estates -> higher proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon (70-80%)
o Highest proportion of production of Cru Classé wine à 85%
o Small batches of premium to super-premium-priced wines

Question 6

Saint-Julien AOC

Answer 6

o Very high proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon planted
o High proportion of Cru Classé production
o Very homogenous gravel soils
o Mid-way -> powerful structure of Pauillac / finesse of Margaux
o Small batches of premium to super-premium-priced wines

Question 7

Margaux AOC

Answer 7

o High proportion of Cru Classé production
o Slightly less Cabernet Sauvignon planted and slightly more Merlot
o Reputation for perfumed wines with silky tannins
o Small batches of premium to super-premium-priced wines

Question 8

Listrac-Médoc AOC and Moulis AOC

Answer 8

o Further from the river -> less moderating influence and less gravel
o Able to release the wine for consumption slightly earlier
o Wines -> good to very good and mid to premium-priced

Question 9

Graves AOC

Answer 9

o Large appellation for white and red wines
o Good and inexpensive to mid-priced

Question 10

Graves Supérieur AOC

Answer 10

Late picked and/or botrytis-affected sweet white wines (40hL/ha)

Question 11

Pessac-Léognan AOC

Answer 11

o Gravel soils and the moderating effect of the Garonne
o High-quality, often barrel-fermented and aged white wines -> 20%
* Blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon
o High-quality red wines -> 80%
* Similar in style / price to the 4 most prestigious Médoc AOCs
o Small batches of premium to super-premium-priced wines

Question 12

Entre-Deux-Mers AOC

Answer 12

o Only white wines à reds are bottled Bordeaux/Bordeaux Supérieur
o High-volume of inexpensive wines

Question 12

Entre-Deux-Mers AOC

Answer 12

o Only white wines -> reds are bottled Bordeaux/Bordeaux Supérieur
o High-volume of inexpensive wines

Question 13

• St-Émilion and St-Émilion Grand Cru AOC

Answer 13

o Clay and limestone (cooler)
o Merlot-dominant, CF, CS
o High-volume (inexpensive) and small batches (premium)

Question 14

Pomerol AOC

Answer 14

o Small but very prestigious appellation for red wines
o Iron-rich soils and gravel pockets
o Merlot -> dominant grape (80%), Cabernet Franc next
o Small batches of premium to super-premium-priced wines

Question 15

Lalande-de-Pomerol AOC

Answer 15

Larger satellite AOC -> slightly higher yields than Pomerol AOC

Question 16

Côtes de Bordeaux AOC

Answer 16

o AOC for reds and whites
o Blaye, Cadillac, Castillon and Francs can append their name
o Dominant grape -> Merlot
o Inexpensive to mid-priced wines

Question 17

Côtes de Bourg AOC

Answer 17

o Dominant grape -> Merlot
o Inexpensive to mid-priced wines

Question 18

Sauternes AOC and Barsac AOC

Answer 18

o Sweet wines (25hL/ha), gravel, clay, limestone
o Late-harvested and botrytised grapes
o From unoaked (mid-priced) to small batches (premium)

Question 19

Sainte-Croix-du-Mont AOC, Loupiac AOC and Premières Côtes de Bordeaux AOC

Answer 19

o Less famous AOCs for late harvest and botrytised white wines