Appellations Flashcards
How many hectares are there in Haut Medoc?
Between 4,260 - 4,657
How many hectolitres are produced from Haut Medoc?
249,962
What are the varietals in Haut Medoc?
Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Malbec
What is the Haut Medoc soil like?
Gravel and argillaceous(clay) limestone
What is the potential longevity for Haut Medoc wines?
7 - 16 years, or more for some crus.
What are the varietals in Listrac?
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot
What is Listrac soil like?
Pyreanean and Garonne gravel, argillaceous limestone
What is the potential longevity for Listrac?
7 - 18 years
How many hectares are in Margaux?
1,352
How many hectolitres are produced in Margaux?
68,231
What are the varietals in Margaux?
Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot
What is the Margaux soil like?
Graves
What is the potential longevity for Margaux?
10 - 20 years (longer for the best vintage crus)
True or false: There is a narrow strip of vine growing land in Medoc.
True. This is a result of the geography of the land, as, the only favorable sites run in a very constricted band from Blanquefort to Saint Vivien on very distinctive terrain consisting of many gravel outcrops.
What are the two periods during which it is believed gravel was deposited in the Bordeaux region?
Gravel was deposited during the huge flows caused by the torrential downpours or mas melting of the glaciers. These two periods were the Pilocene or Upper Tertiary period and the Gunz Glacial Period of the Quarternary.
What is the Medoc proverb?
Les meilleures vignes regardent la rviere. “The best vines are in sight of the river.”
What is the distinctive Medoc character?
Ruby color wine and fruity bouquet with overtones of spice and vanilla.
What is the region of the Medoc?
Geographical name for the entire peninsula that stretches northwards from the city of Bordeaux to the remote port of Le Verdon.
Where are most of the Medoc’s vineyards located?
A coastal strip running up the eastern side of the peninsula.
When was the name changed from Bas Medoc to Medoc?
In the 1940s when growers argued the name might suggest lower quality wines.
Where does the AC Medoc (Medoc ) lie?
Lies west and north of St. Estephe.
Where does Haut Medoc lie?
Vineyards flank the more prestigious communes to the west and south, with the exception of St. Seurin de Cadourne.
How many hectares is the Medoc comprised of?
5,742
How much wine, as a percentage, does the Medoc contribute to the output of the Medoc region?
35%, or, on average, 38 million bottles.
How many bottles does the Haut Medoc produce, on average?
33 million bottles, or 28.5% of wines in the region.
What is the minimum density for Medoc wines?
5,000 vines per hectare
What is the minimum density for wines in Haut Medoc?
6,500 vines per hectare
When did the vines in medoc switch from primarily cabernet to merlot?
In the early 20th century in order to accommodate weather and amass a larger crop.
When was Moulis granted its AC?
1938
How many hectares are there in Moulis?
633
How many producers are there in Moulis?
53
How many bottles are produced in Moulis?
4 million bottles
How are wines from Moulis and Listrac described?
As having weight and richness at the expense of finesse and perfume.
When did Listrac get it’s AC?
1957
How many hectares are in Listrac?
668
How many growers are in Listrac?
74
How many bottles are produced in Listrac?
Just under 5 million.
Which appellation has the most First Growths?
Pauillac
What appellation has the most classified growths?
Margaux
Which appellation is the most compact?
St. Julien
What are the characteristics of wine from St. Julien?
Forthright in its fruit expression, firmly structured, yet at the same time, poised and elegant.
True or false: St. Julien is described as “the savage, beating heart” of the Medoc?
False. It’s Pauillac.
What are the defining characteristics of Pauillac?
Power and longevity.
What is the least prestigious of the Medoc AC?
St. Estepehe
True or False: St. Estephe has only 5 classified growths?
True. None are first growths.
How many hectares are under vine in St. Estephe?
Approximately 1,255.
Of the 1,255 hectares under vine in St. Estephe, how many are owned by the classified growths?
Approximately 250.
What was the reputation of wines in St. Estephe?
Wines that are slow to mature and the toughest, most tannic wines.
What is the new reputation of wines in St. Estephe?
The wines are now being made to reveal an increasing resilience on the softer, fleshier, merlot grape, as well as vinification aimed at producing more supple, earlier maturing wines.
What are some characteristics of wine from St. Estephe?
These wines generally remain among the most backward and unyielding produced in Bordeaux. Part of the reason is the soil, and wines tend to be more acidic and have textures that are chunky and burly.
Describe the soils of St. Estephe.
High clay, low gravel. Slow draining. Quality can soar during droughts.
What are textbook characteristics of Pauillac wines?
Rich, full-bodied, and a distinction of black currants, licorice, and cedary scents, and excellent aging potential.
Where is Pauillac?
On the left bank of the Gironde, Pauillac is sandwiched between St. Estephe to the north and St. Julien to the south. It is approximately 23 miles from the center of Bordeaux.
What is the soil type of Pauillac?
Sandy gravel with significant iron and mineral deposits.
What are the principal grape varietals of Pauillac?
Cabernet Sauvignon followed by Merlot. Very little Cab Franc and Petit Verdot in Pauillac.
Greatest recent vintages of Pauillac are?
2000, 1996, 1995, 1990, 1986, 1982, 1970, 1961, 1959
Where is St. Estephe Located?
The most northern of the four principal Medoc appellations, St. Estephe is on the left bank of the Gironde river, approximately 28 miles north of the city of Bordeaux.
Principal grape varietals in St. Estephe are?
Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot dominate, with Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot used in small proportions.
Principal soil type of St. Estephe?
Diverse soils, the finest vineyards are on gravel ridges, but sand and clay soils with some limestone are commonplace.
Greatest recent vintages of St. Estephe are?
2000, 1996, 1995, 1990, 1989, 1986, 1982, 1961, 1959
Greatest recent vintages of St. Julien?
2000, 1996, 1995, 1990, 1989, 1986, 1985, 1982, 1961
Where is St. Julien located?
In many ways, the center point of Medoc, laying to the north of Margaux, bordered on the south by the village of Cussac-Fort Medoc and on the north by Pauillac, it is approximately 22 miles north of Bordeaux.
Principal grape varietals of St. Julien are?
Cabernet Sauvignon followed by Merlot and small quantities of Cab Franc. Varietal composition of St. Julien tends to mirror Pauillac,.
What is St. Julien’s soil like?
Consists of extremely fine gravel, especially for the great vineyards adjacent to the river. Farther inland, there is considerable gravel, but more clay.
What are the greatest recent vintages of Margaux wine?
2000, 1999, 1998, 1996, 1990, 1983, 1961
Where is Margaux located?
Southernmost of the four principal Medoc appellations, lying on the left bank of the Gironde, 13 miles north of the city of Bordeaux.
What are the principal grape varietals in Margaux?
Cabernet Sauvignon dominates, followed by Merlot, Petit Verdot, and minuscule quantities of Cabernet Franc.
What is the soil like in Margaux?
As a general rule, this large and diverse commune has thin top soil and the vineyards situated close to the river, have fine, gravelly soils not much different than those found in Pessac Leognan. Farther inland, more clay and sand are found.
Where is Listrac located?
A backwater appellation, southwest of St. Julien, is 19 miles from Bordeaux’s city center.
