2. Bordeaux Flashcards
Which two rivers merge to form which estuary in Bordeaux?
1) River Garonne
2) River Dordogne
3) Gironde estuary
The area between the Dordogne and Garonne is called what?
Entre-Deux-Mers
What is the red/white/sweet/rose production split in Bordeaux?
1) 85% red
2) 9% white
3) 1% sweet
4) 5% rose
What is the most widely planted grape variety in Bordeaux?
Merlot
How much land is under vine in Bordeaux?
108,000
What is the climate of Bordeaux?
Moderate maritime
What weather feature has a warming influence on Bordeaux and from where does it originate?
1) The Gulf Stream
2) The Gulf of Mexico
What protects the left bank from Atlantic storms?
The Landes - extensive pine forests towards the south of the region
At what stage of the growing cycle is protection by the Landes most beneficial?
Flowering and fruit set
Give two examples of sub-regions protected by the Landes.
1) Leognan (Domaine de Chevalier)
2) Listrac
Rainfall is variable year to year. Excessive rainfall at which three stages can result in significant vintage variation?
1) Rain at flowering an result in poor fruit set
2) Rain at and after veraison can lead to unripe fruit and fungal disease
3) Rain at harvest can cause dilution
Provide an example of a vintage that was beset by hot, dry summers with insufficient rainfall.
2003
What other climatic factor is a concern for vineyards further from the Gironde or its two rivers?
Frost
What is the key soil component of the top estates of the Left Bank and what two advantages does it provide?
1) Gravel with clay and sand
2) Excellent drainage
3) Heat retention
What are ‘croupes’?
Gravel mounds (up to 32m in Margaux) formed by deposits from floodwaters from the Pyrenees and Massif Central
What is a disadvantage to the Left Bank’s high proportion of gravel soil?
Can cause hydric stress in drought-affected years
In which Left Bank sub-region can pockets of clay be found?
Saint-Estephe
What soil component is more common on the Right Bank?
Clay
What are the five main black varieties grown in Bordeaux (as discussed in the textbook)?
1) Merlot
2) Cabernet Sauvignon
3) Cabernet Franc
4) Malbec
5) Petit Verdot
What are the three main white varieties grown in Bordeaux (as discussed in the textbook)?
1) Semillon
2) Sauvignon Blanc
3) Muscadelle
When does Merlot bud?
Early
When does Merlot ripen?
Mid-ripening
What is an advantage of Merlots ripening timeframe?
It can be picked before early autumn rain
What two diseases is Merlot susceptible to?
1) Coulure
2) Botrytis
What two climatic condition is Merlot susceptible to?
1) Spring frost
2) Drought
Why is Merlot commonly planted on soils with high quantities of clay as opposed to Cabernet?
1) The soils are cooler
2) The water-holding capacity of the soils produces the large berry size typical of Merlot
What three structural characteristics does Merlot contribute to a wine?
1) Medium tannins
2) Medium to high alcohol
3) Body
What flavours does Merlot contribute in cool years vs hot years?
1) Strawberry, red plum, herbaceous flavours in cooler years
2) Cooked blackberry, black plum in hot years
When does Cabernet Sauvignon bud?
Late
What three diseases is Cabernet Sauvignon susceptible to?
1) Powdery mildew
2) Esca
3) Eutypa
Describe Cabernet Sauvignon as a berry (2) and what a resulting characteristic of this is in wine (1)
1) Small berries
2) Thick skins
3) High tannins
When does Cabernet Sauvignon ripen?
Late
What climatic condition is Cabernet Sauvignon susceptible to?
Early autumn rains (due to late ripening)
What four characteristics does Cabernet Sauvignon contribute to a wine?
1) Violet, blackcurrant, black cherry and menthol/herbaceous flavours
2) Medium alcohol
3) High acidity
4) High tannins
What three characteristics does Cabernet Franc contribute to a Bordeaux blend?
1) Red fruit
2) High acidity
3) Medium tannins
When does Petit Verdot bud?
Early
When does Petit Verdot ripen?
Later than Cabernet Sauvignon
What two climatic factors is Petit Verdot vulnerable to?
1) Spring frost
2) Harvest rain
What three characteristics does Petit Verdot contribute to a Bordeaux blend?
1) Deep colour
2) Spice
3) High tannins
When does Semillon ripen?
Mid-ripening
What is Semillon vulnerable to?
Botrytis
What four features does Semillon contribute to a dry white Bordeaux?
1) Low to medium intensity aromas
2) Weight
3) Medium acidity
4) Softens Sauvignon Blanc’s intensity
What two features does Semillon contribute to a sweet Bordeaux?
1) Honey, dried fruit
2) Waxy texture
Why are top Sauternes wines typically Semillon-dominant?
Due to the variety’s susceptibility to botrytis in comparison to Sauvignon Blanc
What four features does Sauvignon Blanc contribute to a dry white Bordeaux?
1) Grassy, gooseberry fruit
2) High acidity
What is Muscadelle prone to, and where is it best planted if this is to be avoided?
1) Botrytis
2) Well exposed sites
What does Muscadelle contribute to sweet white wines?
Flowery, grapey notes
What is the traditional planting density for top quality Bordeaux vineyards? (3)
1) 10,000 vines/ha
2) Vines 1m apart
3) 1m between rows
What are two reasons Bordeaux’s top vineyards are planted the way they are?
1) Makes the most of prestigious land
2) Moderates vigour by increasing root competition
What two factors add to the expense of close-planted vineyards of Bordeaux?
1) Adequate trellising
2) Over-row tractors
At what planting density might vineyards in Bordeaux AOC be planted?
3,000-4,000 vines/ha
On which bank is Double Guyot most common?
Left Bank
On which bank is Single Guyot most common?
Right Bank
What other training method is less common but used by some prestigious estates?
Cordon-trained, spur-pruned
What is ‘soft pruning’?
Involves avoiding cuts to live wood in positions where you want uninhibited sap flow, and making cuts as small as possible (since bigger cuts cause a larger region of dieback)
What two disease pressures does soft pruning alleviate to which Cabernet Sauvignon is particularly prone?
1) Eutypa dieback
2) Esca
If leaf removal is to be conducted, when in the season is it best to do so? Why?
Later once the risk of extreme heat has passed so as to avoid sunburn
In what three vessel types does red winemaking take place?
1) Stainless steel
2) Oak
3) Concrete
What wines are produced by mid-range fermentation temperatures and 5-7 days post-fermentation maceration?
Wines intended for early drinking where the preservation of primary fruit and limited tannins is desired
What is the most common form of cap management in Bordeaux reds?
Pump-over in closed vats
What is a practice undertaken by some prestigious wineries with respect to fruit sorting and winemaking?
Plot by plot picking and winemaking based on optimum ripeness
What wines are produced by mid-range to warm fermentation temperatures and 14-30 days post-fermentation maceration?
Wines intended to age in bottle
What are two common methods of oxygenation of a red Bordeaux while in the maturation phase?
1) Racking every three months
2) Micro-oxygenation
Simpler wines may be matured in what three vessel types and for how long?
1) Stainless steel, concrete, large vats
2) 4-6 months
High quality wines are matured in what vessel type and for how long?
1) 225l barriques
2) 18-24 months depending on quality and progress of maturation
What is Clairet?
A deeper coloured, traditional style of Rose, which is bled off as a by-product of red winemaking where the aim to to concentrate red musts and wine
What are the two main varieties used for Bordeaux rose?
1) Merlot
2) Cabernet Sauvignon
Once white grapes arrive at the winery they may be a) pressed on arrival or b) left on skins for up to 24 hours. Why?
a) To deliver maximum freshness
b) For more aromatic, phenolic complexity provided the fruit is fully healthy
Wines intended for early drinking are generally fermented how and in what vessel?
1) Cool
2) Stainless steel
What post-fermentation winemaking technique might give a mid-priced white wine more weight and complexity?
A period of 6-12 months lees maturation
How are higher quality whites fermented and aged?
In barriques with varying levels of new oak
What technique used to be more common for white Bordeaux that is used less now and why?
1) Battonage
2) Can give excessive body in relation to acidity levels, particularly in warm years
What is the maximum yield for Sauternes and Barsac? Is it achieved?
1) 25 hL/ha
2) 10 hL/ha is more common
What Sauternes estate uses 100% new oak?
Chateau d’Yquem
Why must yields for sweet wines be kept low?
To ensure the very high sugar levels in the grapes
How are the low yields for sweet wines achieved?
Pruning to a low number of buds and removing any that show signs of disease or damage that would be prone to grey mould at harvest
What harvest technique adds to the cost of sweet Bordeaux?
Multiple passes of hand-harvesting
In what months are sweet Bordeaux wines harvested?
September to November
The level of botrytis depends on what two factors?
1) The correct conditions for the spread of noble rot
2) The position of the estates (proximity to where mist forms regularly)
What two financial concerns must be considered in determining the level of botrytis?
1) Willingness of the estates to wait for the best harvest times (risk vs reward)
2) The willingness of the estates to pay for multiple passes to ensure quality
How many appellations are there in Bordeaux?
65
In what three vessel types are sweet Bordeaux wines fermented?
1) Stainless steel
2) Concrete
3) Barriques
How is high quality sweet Bordeaux fermented and why?
1) In barrel with a high proportion of new
2) For best integration of oak and fruit
What are the two lesser appellations of the Left Bank? Why?
1) Listrac-Medoc
2) Moulis
3) Further from the Gironde so less moderating influence of river and gravel
What are the two red and dry white wine appellations of Graves north to south?
1) Pessac-Leognan
2) Graves
What are the maximum yields for Bordeaux AOC white, rose and red wines?
1) 67 hL/ha
2) 62 hL/ha
3) 60 hL/ha
What is the maximum yield for Bordeaux Superior AOC?
59 hL/ha
Bordeaux AOC and Bordeaux Superior AOC account for what per cent of all wine produced in Bordeaux?
44%
What is the main black and white variety for Bordeaux AOC and Bordeaux Superior AOC?
1) Merlot
2) Sauvignon Blanc
What is the maximum yield for Medoc AOC and Haut-Medoc AOC?
55 hL/ha
When can wines from Medoc AOC and Haut-Medoc AOC be sold?
From mid-June of the year after harvest
What are the two more generic Left Bank appellations?
1) Medoc
2) Haut-Medoc
What are the four famous communes of Haut-Medoc?
1) Saint-Estephe
2) Pauillac
3) Saint-Julien
4) Margaux
What is the maximum yield of the four famous communes of Haut-Medoc?
57 hL/ha
A high proportion of what soil type is common in the four famous communes of Haut-Medoc?
Gravel
Which is the coolest of the four famous communes of Haut-Medoc and what are the two reasons why?
1) Saint-Estephe
2) Most northerly
3) Closest to the Atlantic Ocean
Which of the four famous communes of Haut-Medoc has the most Merlot plantings? Why?
1) Saint-Estephe
2) Ripens more reliably in the cooler conditions and clay soils further from the Gironde
How many of the First Growths are in Pauillac? Name them
1) Three
a) Chateau Lafite-Rothschild
b) Chateau Latour
c) Chateau Mouton-Rothschild
What is the primary variety of Pauillac?
Cabernet Sauvignon
What commune of the Left Bank is widely considered the most structured?
Pauillac
Which Left Bank commune has the highest proportion of cru classe wine?
Pauillac
Explain the syle of Saint-Julien
The midway point between the power and structure of Pauillac and the finesse of Margaux
How many First Growths are there in Margaux? Name them
1) One
a) Chateau Margaux
Which of the four famous communes of Haut-Medoc ripens earliest?
Margaux
What aspect of Margaux’s soils may require additional investment?
It has clay seams that can require supplementary drainage
What is Graves Superieures AOC?
An appellation for late-picked and/or botrytis-affected sweet wines with a higher yield limit (40 hL/ha) than Sauternes.
What is the maximum yield for Graves AOC red and Graves AOC white?
1) 55 hL/ha
2) 58 hL/ha
How many First Growths are in Pessac-Leognan? Name them.
1) One
a) Chateau Haut-Brion
What is the maximum yield for Pessac-Leognan AOC?
54 hL/ha
Unlike the four famous communes of Haut-Medoc, Pessac-Leognan is also known for what style of wine?
The best dry white wines of Bordeaux, but production is predominantly red
What is the maximum yield of Entre-deux-Mers AOC?
65 hL/ha
What style of wine is produced in Entre-deux-Mers AOC?
Dry white wines of acceptable to good quality
What are the two largest Saint-Emilion satellite appellations?
1) Montagne Saint-Emilion AOC
2) Lussac-Saint-Emilion AOC
What is the maximum yield of Saint-Emilion AOC?
53 hL/ha
What is the maximum yield of Saint-Emilion Grand Cru AOC?
46 hL/ha
What are the maturation times of Saint-Emilion AOC and Saint-Emilion Grand Cru AOC?
1) Six months
2) 20 months
What are the two dominant varieties of Saint-Emilion AOC and Saint-Emilion Grand Cru AOC?
1) Merlot
2) Cabernet Franc
What is the maximum yield of Pomerol AOC?
49 hL/ha
What is Lalande-de-Pomerol AOC?
A larger satellite appellation with higher yields than Pomerol AOC
What are four Cotes de Bordeaux appellations?
1) Blaye
2) Cadillac
3) Castillon
4) Francs
What are the maximum yields of Cotes de Bordeaux?
1) 55 hL/ha
2) 52 hL/ha if a commune name is appended
What variety does Cotes de Bourg AOC have the highest plantings of in all of Bordeaux?
Malbec
What are three other sweet wine appellations of Bordeaux?
1) Saint-Croix-du-Mont
2) Loupiac
3) Premieres Cotes de Bordeaux
How is the sweetness achieved
for Sainte-Croix-du-Mont, Loupiac and Premieres Cotes de Bordeaux?
Botrytis or late harvest
What are the maximum yields for Sainte-Croix-du-Mont, Loupiac and Premieres Cotes de Bordeaux?
1) 40 hL/ha
2) 40 hL/ha
3) 45 hL/ha
What per cent of plantings does Semillon account for in Sauternes/Barsac?
80%
Why do Sauternes and Barsac have the ideal conditions for noble rot?
The cold Ciron River meets the warmer Garonne River promoting morning mists that are then burned off by afternoon sun
How may wines made in Barsac be labelled?
As Barsac AOC or Sauternes AOC
What have winemakers in Sauternes and Barsac been producing to combat a decline in demand for their wines?
Producing dry wines
What are the four classifications of Bordeaux?
1) The 1855 classification
2) The Graves classification
3) The Saint-Emilion Grand Cru classification
4) The Crus Bourgeois du Medoc classification
The 1855 classification is comprised of how many properties?
60
The Graves classification is comprised of how many properties?
16
Explain the Saint-Emilion Granc Cru classification (2)
1) Revised every 10 years
2) Chateaux are judged based on terroir, production methods, reputation and a blind tasting of 10 vintages
What are the three tiers of Cru Bourgeois du Medoc (as at 2018)
Chateaux are classified as one of:
1) Cru Bourgeois
2) Cru Bourgeois Superieur
3) Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel
Which is the only top quality appellation not to have a classification system?
Pomerol
Co-operatives account for what per cent of production in Bordeaux?
25% from 40% of grape growers
What is the average estate size?
20 ha (2022)
What are seven reasons why costs for cru classe wines are much higher than generic appellations?
1) Land costs
2) Vine density
3) Harvest costs
4) Viticultural costs
5) Lower yield
6) Rigorous grape selection
7) Barrel ageing
What are the top three export markets for Bordeaux?
1) China
2) USA
3) Belgium
What is Bordeaux’s domestic/export split?
55/45%
Exports account for what per cent of Bordeaux sales by value?
52%
Explain ‘La Place de Bordeaux’ in three steps from winery to sonsumer
1) Chateaux sell to negociants via courtiers (brokers)
2) Negociants sell to wholesalers/retailers
3) Retailers sell to consumers
What per cent is the courtier’s fee?
2%
What per cent is the negociant’s fee?
15%
Why has basic Bordeaux remained inexpensive for many years? (2)
1) Lower demand in France
2) Increased competition from imports (Chile, Australia)
What are three advantages to chateaux of selling wine en primeur?
1) Generate cash flow earlier allowing the estates to finance the next vintage
2) EP sell price covers all costs up to and including bottling
3) Ability to test the market by releasing early lower-priced tranches
What are three advantages to consumers of buying wine en primeur?
1) It may be their only opportunity to buy these wines
2) It may be at a lower price than when sold on the general market
3) The price/value of the wine may increase over time
What are two disadvantages to chateaux of selling wine en primeur?
1) Potentially selling at a lower price than might be obtained for the bottled wine
2) Potential for financial mismanagement or losses by negociants that could adversely affect reputation
What are three disadvantages to consumers of buying wine en primeur?
1) Wines are bought on opinions of unfinished wines
2) Intermediaries may go out of business before the wine arrives
3) Prices may fall before the final wine arrives due to economic conditions or the following vintage’s quality
When are En Primeur wines first sold?
In the spring (April) following harvest
Describe a classic Pomerol
Merlot-dominant, full-bodied and deeply coloured, with blackberry, cassis, and chocolate flavours with clove and vanilla oak complexities
Name three top Saint-Emilion chateaux
1) Chateau Cheval Blanc
2) Chateau Ausone
3) Chateau Angelus
What rootstock is favoured, particularly for Cabernet Sauvignon?
Riparia Gloire de Montpellier
What the general soil of St Emilion?
Sand, gravel and loam over limestone
What is the distance of the Gironde at its widest?
15km
In what two areas of Bordeaux are extensive vine pull schemes being undertaken to reduce land under vine by 10ha
1) Cote de Blaye
2) Entre-deux-Mers
What is the newest appellation in Bordeaux that launched in 2023?
Entre-deux-Mers Rouge AOC
What is beneficial about blue clay?
It absorbs water, but in the absence of water it doesn’t crack so the root systems aren’t disturbed
Where is there more iron-rich blue clay than any other commune?
Pomerol (particularly Petrus)
Give an example of a biodynamic Chateau in Bordeaux
Palmer (Margaux)
Which Bordeaux black variety is susceptible to millerandage?
Cabernet Sauvignon
What were the two of the
strongest vintages in Bordeaux of the 1980s?
1) 1982
2) 1989
What were three of the strongest vintages in Bordeaux of the 2000s?
1) 2005
2) 2009
3) 2010
List three poor vintages since 2000
1) 2007
2) 2011 (except for Sauternes)
3) 2013 (Sauternes and dry whites good)
How long must Bordeaux Superieur be aged in barrel?
12 months minimum
What six varieties have been permitted in Bordeaux AOC and Bordeaux Superieur AOC since 2021 as long as they are a maximum 5% of property’s area under vine and 10% of final blend?
1) Alvarinho
2) Liliorila
3) Marselan
4) Tourgina Nacional
5) Castets
6) Arinarnoa
