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