13. Bordeaux

Question 1

climate? stream? protected from - by?

Answer 1

• moderate, maritime
• Gulf stream
• storms, Landes forest, coastal sand dunes

Question 2

grape varieties allowed? most common (black, white)?

Answer 2

• thirteen allowed
• 3 black: C. Sauvignon, Merlot, C. Franc
• 2 white: Sémillon, S. Blanc

Question 3

C. Sauvignon - soil? why can it ripen?

Answer 3

• Médoc
• high stone, gravel content, raising vineyard temperature
• only areas where Cabernet can really ripen

Question 4

C. Franc - volume? where? vs C. Sauvignon? characteristics?

Answer 4

• Saint-Émilion, but also Médoc and Graves
• less body, less tannins
• vibrant fruit and floral

Question 5

Merlot - where? climate? characteristics and volumes?

Answer 5

• most widely planted in Bordeaux
• Saint-Émilion, Pomérol
• can grow well in cooler clay soils
• softness, good for high volume, inexpensive wines

Question 6

Petit Verdot - ripening? characteristics?

Answer 6

• only ripens in very hot years

- deep-coloured, high tannin

Question 7

Sémillon - special?

Answer 7

• noble rot (thanks to thin skin)

- adds vody

Question 8

Sauvignon Blanc - aromas? blends?

Answer 8

• citrus, green fruit
• increasingly used in varietal, non-blend wines
• high acid, required for sweet wines

Question 9

Muscadelle - used where?

Answer 9

• sweet wines

- grapey, floral

Question 10

Bordeaux classifications - appellation system? exception? based on? branding?

Answer 10

• outside of appellation system
• Saint-Émillion based within appellation system
• based on Châteaux/Estates
• land can be bought, added – branding!

Question 11

Médoc, Sauternes classification - 2!

Answer 11

• 1855 classification (cru classés, 5 ranks), to: Lafite Rothschild, Latour, Margaux, Mouton Rothschild, d’Yquem
• cru bourgeois: yearly for wines of specific vintage

Question 12

Graves (Pessac-Léognan) - classification?

Answer 12

• no ranking, just selection with a list

- all listed wines: crus classés

Question 13

Saint-Émilion - classification? 3 levels?

Answer 13

• integrated into appellation system
• lowest: Saint-Émilion Grand Cru
• mid: S.-E. Premier G.Cru B
• top: S.-E. Premier G.Cru A

Question 14

Generic appellations - red? white? rosé - style?

Answer 14

• red: Bordeaux, Bordeaux Supérieur
• white: Bordeaux
• rosé: Bordeaux Rosé, Bordeaux Clairet (mainly popular in French market, deeper colour, fuller body)

Question 15

Pessac-Léognan - soil? style?

Answer 15

• gravel, well-suited for C. Sauvignon, like Haut-Médoc

- little lighter body than Haut-Médoc

Question 16

Médoc - soil? style? vs Haut-Médoc?

Answer 16

• mostly clay
• lighter, early-drinking
• Haut-Médoc: gravel, top wines

Question 17

Garagiste?

Answer 17

• vins de garage: small plots of land, full-bodied, very ripe wines
• garagiste: winemaker
• now classified within appellation system

Question 18

Côtes de Bordeaux - 4? style?

Answer 18

• Blaye, Francs, Castillon, Cadillac

- more Merlot, easy drinking

Question 19

Entre-Deux-Mers - famous for?

Answer 19

• premium white wine

Question 20

Dry whites? style? varieties?

Answer 20

• Entre-Deux-Mers: S. Blanchierte, unoaked
• Graves: S. Blanc, unoaked
• Pessac-Léognan: S. Blanc, oaked, some cru classés

Question 21

noble rot - climate? what if not happening? where? varieties? style?

Answer 21

• river, misty autumns
• passerillage helps to concentrate sugars if not enough noble rot
• Sauternes: larger top area
• Barsac: within Sauternes, top as well
• Sémillon dominated, also S. Blanc (acidity) and some Muscadelle (exotic perfume)
• high alcohol, high acid