13 - Bordeaux

Question 1

What is the climate of Bordeaux? What are the benefits and problems it can cause as far as grape growing is concerned?

Answer 1

moderate maritime (Bordeaux is near Gulf Stream). benefits from warming ocean current from Gulf Stream. This extends the growing season. Therefore spring frosts are rarely problem. 
The Atlantic also brings high levels rainfall ->humidity. this can disrupt flowering, fruit set, promote rot and dilute grape flavors

Benefits: protected by Landes forest and coastal sand dunes from worst of Atlantic storms.

Question 2

What advantage do top producers in Bordeaux have that allows them to mitigate the differences in vintage variation?

Answer 2

Top producers are able to reject unhealthy and unripe grapes that can occur due to rot and dilution of grape flavor that is caused by too much rainfall and humidity

Question 3

True/False: most Bordeaux (red and white) are produced from a single grape variety

Answer 3

false. almost all red Bordeaux and most Bordeaux whites are made from blend of varieties (because it can be too risky to rely heavily on one variety due to variability in weather in Bordeaux)

Question 4

Why is one bad frost or heavy shower unlikely to ruin an entire crop of Bordeaux wine grapes?

Answer 4

Because the different Bordeaux varieties ripen at different times

Question 5

what are the three black varieties that predominate in Bordeaux? Where in Bordeaux are they most common? What are their characteristics?

Answer 5

Cabernet Sauvignon: dominates in Haut Medoc and Bas Medoc and Graves. high stone/gravel content of the soils in these regions means higher vineyard temp. therefore, Cabernet can ripen reliably and is 3/4 of best wines in these areas.

Cabernet Franc: used in Saint Emilion. also used in Medoc and Graves but lesser extent. has less body and tannin than Cabernet Sauvignon. When ripe, gives vibrant floral and fruit notes. Prefers well drained soils.

Merlot: most widely planted variety in Bordeaux. It is important in St Emilion and Pomerol (premium wines). Merlot has softness that makes popular for high volume wines.

(to a lesser extent, Petit Verdot): smaller plantings. Ripens only in very hot years. contributes deep color, very tannic.

Question 6

Why is Merlot better suited to grow in Saint Emilion and Pomerol than Cabernet?

Answer 6

Saint Emilion and Pomerol have cooler clay soils, which would be too cool for Cabernet Sauvignon to ripen.

Question 7

What are two main Bordeaux black varieties that prefer well-drained soils?

Answer 7

Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc.

Question 8

Treu/False: winemaking in Bordeaux follows a fairly rigid set of traditional practices

Answer 8

False. Winemaking practices are varied and reflect the style of wine and the producer’s resources.

Question 9

What is the purpose of making second and third wines in Bordeaux?

Answer 9

Lesser blends that are not suitable for the very best wine (called the grand vin) are used for second and third wines. This enables winemaker to maintain quality and style of the top wine.

Question 10

True/False: top quality red Bordeaux is aged in small oak barriques of 225 litres whereas generic Bordeaux is usually not aged in any oak

Answer 10

True.

Question 11

What is the most important grape variety for sweet wines in Bordeaux? Why is it particularly suited to sweet wines?

Answer 11

Semillon

think skin and affinity for noble rot

Question 12

Which variety is Semillon blended with in the dry white wines of Pessac-Leognan and Graves? What does Semillon contribute to these wines?

Answer 12

Sauvignon Blanc

contributes body

Question 13

What are the three main white varieties used in Bordeaux?

Answer 13

Semillon (adds body, often used sweet wines)
Sauvignon Blanc (adds acidity, often made varietally)
Muscadelle (floral, grapey, blended in sweet and dry wines)

Question 14

Which white variety is the one exception to the generalization that BOrdeaux whites are blends?

Answer 14

Suavignon blanc (it is used often for varietal dry white wines with citrus and green fruit aromas)

Question 15

Which two rivers combine to form the Gironde Estuary dividing the Bordeaux vineyards? What are the three broad areas that make up Bordeaux?

Answer 15

rivers: Garonne and Dordogne
regions:
Left Bank - West and south of Gironde/Garonne are districts of Medoc, Graves and Sauternes
Entre-Deux-Mers: between the Dordogne and Garonne
Right Bank: Saint Emilion and Pomerol (to north and east of Girdone/Dordonrdogne).

Question 16

What are the Bordeaux Classifications of crus classes and cru bourgeois?

Answer 16

Medoc and Sauternes:
Chateaux listed in the 1855 Classification are called crus classes.
In the top rank: Chateaux Lafite Rothschild, Latour, Margaux, Mouton Rothschild, CHateau Haut-Brion (Graves). In Sauternes, Chateau D’Yquem is top rank.

cru bourgeois was an additional classification created for other chateaux. This is awarded to wines of a specific vintage not to the chateau itself.

In Graves - cru classes wines are classified based on a list - all of these chateaux lie within Pessac-Leognan.

Saint-Emilion Grand Cru: classification system is integrated into appellation system. there is a separate appellation called Saint Emilion Grand Cru within Saint Emilion. The lower step classification within Saint Emilion Grand Cru is Saint Emilion Grand Cru Classe. Above this is Saint Emilion Premier Grand Cru Classe. (subdivided into Premier Grand Cru Classe A and Premier Grand Cru Classe B)

Question 17

True/False: Bordeaux’s classification systems lie outside of the appellation system, with the exception of Saint Emilion

Answer 17

True

Question 18

How are inexpensive, easy-drinking wines from the large generic appellations in Bordeaux labeled? What is the difference between the two desigantions?

Answer 18

Bordeaux or Bordeaux Superieur

Bordeaux Superieur has slightly stricter appellation rules and requires higher level alcohol

Question 19

What is the northernmost part of the Medoc called? What are the wines here labelled?
What is the soil composition?

What is the main grape variety used?
What is the style

Answer 19

Northernmost part of Medoc is called the Bas-Medoc
Wines are labelled ‘Medoc’
soil is mostly clay with outcrops of gravel
wines have more Merlot in blend than further south
early-drinking in style

Question 20

Where is the Haut-Medoc situated in relation to the Bas-Medoc area? What are the 4 smaller appellations in the Haut-Medoc with the greatest reputation?

What are their characteristics?

Answer 20

Haut Medoc is south of Bas Medoc.
Saint-Estephe, Pauillac, Saint-Julien, and Margaux

These have high percentage Cabernet Sauvignon in blend. Blackcurrant fruit. Cedar from oak. Lots of tannin in youth. Long ageing potential

Question 21

What is the most highly rated area in the Graves?

Answer 21

Pessac-Leognan (it is to south of Bordeaux)

Question 22

What are the soils of Pessac-Leognan like?

Answer 22

like Haut-Medoc, soils in Pessac-Leognan are gravelly and well-suited to Cabernet Sauvignon

Question 23

How do Pessac-Leognan wines compare to those of the Haut-Medoc?

Answer 23

They are lighter bodied, more fragrant. Made with as much care and as expensive as BOrdeaux wines.

Question 24

Which varieties dominate the wines of the Right Bank (Pomerol and Saint Emilion)

Answer 24

Merlot and to a lesser extent, Cabernet Franc

Question 25

What characterizes the 3 sub-regions of Saint Emilion?

Answer 25

plateau to the north and west of town of Saint Emilion - vineyards here have warm well-drained gravel and limestone soils where Cabernet Franc and some Cabernet Sauvignon grow well

escarpment to south and east have clay limestone soils = here is where most prestigious wines of St Emilion are grown. Medium to high tannin, soft rich moutfeel, red berry fruit and plum aromas.

sandy soils at foot of escarpment - lighter-bodied, less prestigious wines.

Question 26

How do the wines of Pomerol compare to Saint Emilion?

Answer 26

equal in reputation. Richer, spicier blackberry fruit character

Question 27

What is the term for full-bodied, ripe wines made from tiny plots of land in tiny quantities, no-expenses spared?

Answer 27

vins de garage (many of these are now famous in their own right and classified in the St Emilion appellation system)

Question 28

which red wine appellations have agreed to share the name Cotes de Bordeaux? What is the style of these wines

Answer 28

Blaye, Cadillac, Castillon and Francs

Merlot-based, early drinking

Question 29

which appellation situated between Rivers Garonne and Dordogne can only produce dry white wines?

Answer 29

Entre-deux-Mers (Sauvignon-Blanc based, unoaked)

Question 30

Other than Entre-deux-Mers, which Bordeaux appellations can produce white wines? What are their characteristics

Answer 30

Graves and Pessac-Leognan produce white wines as well as reds.

Graves - Sauvignon Blanc based, unoaked
Pessac-Leognan - blends of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon. usually fermented and/or matured in partly new oak, with medium to full body and toasty flavors.

Question 31

Where are the top sweet wine appellations of Bordeaux located? What are the climactic advantages that lend themselves well to sweet wine production?

Answer 31

grouped on banks of Garonne and its tributary the Ciron. Rivers create the ideal misty autumn conditions for noble rot to develop

Question 32

Where do the best sweet wines come from? What grape varieties are they based off of, and what are characteristics of the best wines?

Answer 32

Sauternes

dominated by Semillon because thin skin and susceptible to botrytis
Sauvignon Blanc contirbutes acidity and fruitiness
Muscadelle adds perfume

best Sauternes have high alcohol, sweetness balanced by high acid, apricot and citrus peel aromas from noble rot, toast and vanilla from oak fermentation and/or maturation

Question 33

True/False: producers in the village of Barsac within Sauternes can use either the appellation of Barsac or Sauternes

Answer 33

True