2. Bordeaux Flashcards
Where is Bordeaux?
wine region lies in south-west France, close to Atlantic Ocean
How is the Gironde estuary formed?
the River Garonne and the River Dordogne merge to form the Gironde estuary
The vineyards to the west of the Garonne and Gironde form what is collectively known as
the Left Bank
The vineyards to the east of the Dordogne and Gironde form what is collectively known as
the Right Bank
the majority of the vineyards between the two rivers is called
Entre-Deux-Mers, literally ‘between two seas’
In Bordeaux, nearly —- per cent of the plantings are black grapes.
90
The production of AOC wine in Bordeaux is — per cent red, per cent dry white, — per cent sweet white and — per cent rosé.
85
10
1
4
What was the major development in the 17th and 18th centuries in Bordeaux?
the large Médoc peninsula north of the city, which had been marshy and unsuitable for agriculture, was drained by Dutch residents in the city of Bordeaux and planted.
Name two properties that by the mid-18th their wines were widely appreciated across Europe and even in America.
Lafite and Margaux
How was the international reputation of Bordeaux wines established?
1- The city of Bordeaux had long been a centre for wine exports from other regions such as Bergerac.
2- The Entrepreneurial class of merchants/brokers whose origins lay in Britain, Ireland, Germany, Holland distributed the wines of Bordeaux
What commercial exhibition took place in 1855?
the Exposition Universelle de Paris
Who compiled a classification of the Bordeaux wines for the the Exposition Universelle de Paris in 1855?
The Bordeaux chamber of commerce
What is 1855 classification based on?
price
What regions were classified in 1855?
The estates of the Médoc plus Haut-
Brion in Graves were classed into five bands.
What is the appellation for modest, inexpensive, mid-price Bordeaux?
Bordeaux Supérieur
The area under vine on the left bank is enormous, with some —— hectares planted.
111,000
Around —- per cent of all bottled wines are inexpensive or mid-priced and — per cent are premium or super-premium priced.
70
30
Pomerol occupies only — hectares.
800
What is the climate of Bordeaux?
moderate maritime climate
What is the cooling influence of Bordeaux?
Atlantic Ocean that lies just west of the
vineyards
What conditions are considered a good year in Bordeaux?
1- Gentle heat throughout the growing
season,
2- Sufficient rainfall to promote growth and ripening,
3- Fine, relatively dry and warm
early autumns allow for steady and complete ripening
What climate conditions contributes to a remarkable longevity of great vintages?
1- Gentle heat throughout the growing
season,
2- Sufficient rainfall to promote growth and ripening,
3- Fine, relatively dry and warm
early autumns allow for steady and complete ripening
These three result in excellent balance of tannins, sugar, and acidity which partly explain the remarkable longevity of great vintages.
The Left Bank is partially protected from Atlantic storms by ——- .
pine forests, the Landes
Name one estate that fringe the pine forest in Bordeaux.
Domaine de Chevalier in Léognan and many in Listrac in the Médoc - these are cooler than the ones in the east.
How is the climate in the northern Médoc?
the forest is less of a feature and the landscape is more open to maritime
influence
The climate in the northern Médoc is —– than than the southern Médoc and Graves.
cooler
How is the rainfall condition in the left bank?
Rainfall is variable, an average of 950 mm a year but with marked variation from year to year and the times within the year when it falls.
——– at key moments is an important factor in vintage variation.
Excessive rain
rain at flowering can result in
poor fruit set
rain throughout the growing season can result in
increased disease pressure
rain at and following véraison can lead to
unripe fruit and fungal diseases
rain at harvest can
dilute flavours
What is the effect of climate change in Bordeaux?
hot, dry summers with insufficient rainfall
How was 2003 vintage in Bordeaux?
hot & dry - led to wines, both red and white, with low acidity that lack balance.
Besides causing low acidity and imbalance, what other effects can hot, dry years have on wine?
They can also lead to wines being more alcoholic than in the past as growers wait for phenolic ripeness before picking
What is Phenolic ripeness?
Phenolic ripeness refers to the stage of grape development when the phenolic compounds—primarily found in the skins, seeds, and stems—reach optimal maturity. These compounds include tannins, color pigments, and flavor components that are crucial for the quality of wine. Achieving phenolic ripeness is particularly important in red wine production because these compounds contribute to the wine’s structure, color, and taste profiles.
How is the maritime influence in the easterly, Right Bank regions of Bordeaux such as the Libournais?
The maritime influence is less pronounced in Saint-Émilion, Pomerol and appellations that surround them, but remains a factor.
What were the years that large areas of vineyards are affected by frost in Bordeaux and crop was decimated?
1956
1991
2017
In the Médoc, the most prestigious wines tend to be close to
the Gironde estuary
The prestigious wines of Medoc are made from vineyards that are protected from frost because….
the Gironde estuary moderating influence on the climate
What climate factor in Bordeaux is always sporadic, has been more widespread and destructive over the past decade?
Hail
How was wine production variation in 2017 in Bordeaux?
in frost-affected 2017, 33 per cent less wine was made than the 10-year average and 40 per cent less than in the large 2016 harvest. This level of variation of yield has significant financial implications for estates and for the wine business in the region as a whole.
—- plays a major part in the quality of the wines of Bordeaux.
Soil
What is the soil of the Left Bank – that is, the
Médoc to the north of the city and Graves to its south?
benefits from deposits of gravel and stony soils carried to the region by floodwaters from the Pyrenees and the Massif Central many thousands of years ago. Depending on their origin, the gravel is mixed with clay and
sand.
All the top estates of the Left Bank are planted on gravel mounds known as —–
croupes
The gravel mounds in Margaux
Is the highest at 32m
Why Gravel is a good soil for vines?
Gravel, unlike clay, drains well, so even after the showers and storms, to which the Left Bank is prone, the roots of the vines soon dry out and the grapes can continue to ripen.
Why Gravel is not an excellent soil for viticulture?
In extremely hot years, such as 2003 and 2005, the excellent drainage can put some vines at risk of drought stress. Specially when the soil is shallow.
Two years with extreme hot temperatures in Bordeaux
2003 & 2005
A dry vintage in Bordeaux
2016
How is the soil in Pomerol?
soils are rarely more than a metre deep and as a result, the vines can suffer, as was seen in the very dry summer of 2016.
Other than great drainage, what other contribution is made by gravel soils?
heat retention - After a warm summer day,
the pebbles and stones retain their warmth and continue gradually to release it upwards onto
the vines, facilitating their slow ripening.
What is the major soil of Saint Estèphe?
clay
How are the wines of Saint Estèphe?
while robust and characterful, have not achieved the same acclaim as those grown on gravel.
