Appellations of Bordeaux Flashcards
How many appellations are there in Bordeaux?
65
What are the important generic Bordeaux appelations?
Bordeaux AOC
Bordeaux Supérieur AOC
What are the maximum yields of Bordeaux AOC wines?
WSET D3 Resource, pg. 19
- White, 65 hL/ha
- Rosé, 62 hL/ha
- Red, 67 hL/ha
INAO Guidelines (1987)
- White: 65 hl/ha
- Rose: 55 hl/ha
- Red: 55 hl/ha
What are the maximum yields of Bordeaux Supérieur AOC wines?
59 hl/ha
Bordeaux AOC and Bordeaux Supérieur AOC account for what proportion of wine output in Bordeaux?
50%
What is the difference between Bordeaux Supérieur AOC and Bordeaux AOC wines?
Grapes for Bordeaux Supérieur wines must have a minimum of 10% potential alcohol by volume at harvest and the wines must be aged for one year in oak before release.
What is the style of Bordeaux AOC and Bordeaux Supérieur AOC red wines?
They are primarily made from Merlot and show medium intensity red fruit, high acidity, medium to medium (+) tannins, medium body, and medium alcohol.
What is the style of Bordeaux AOC and Bordeaux Supérieur AOC dry white wines?
They are made with increasing levels of Sauvignon Blanc and have mediume intensity gooseberry and lemon fruit, medium body, high acid, and medium alcohol.
What is the quality of Bordeaux AOC and Bordeaux Supérieur AOC wines? What is the price?
Most are acceptable to good quality and inexpensive to mid-priced.
What are the important Left Bank appellations in Bordeaux?
Médoc AOC and Haut-Médoc AOC
Saint-Estèphe AOC
Pauillac AOC
Saint-Julien AOC
Margaux AOC
Listrac-Médoc AOC and Moulis AOC
Where are Médoc AOC and Haut-Médoc AOC situated?
On the left bank of the Gironde estuary, north of the city of Bordeaux.
What types of wine can be produced under Médoc AOC and Haut-Médoc AOC? At what maximum yields?
Red wines only with a maximum yield of 55 hl/ha
When can Médoc AOC and Haut-Médoc AOC wines be released for consumption?
Mid-June in the year after harvest
What part of the left bank is covered by Médoc AOC? What is the proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot planted there?
It comprises the northern part of the left bank and has nearly equal plantings of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot
What part of the left bank is covered by Haut-Médoc AOC? What is the proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot planted there?
It comprises the southern part of the left bank and includes the four famous Left Bank communes. It is planted with 50% Cabernet Sauvignon and 44% Merlot
What is the price and quality level of Médoc AOC and Haut-Médoc AOC wines?
There is a wide range of quality and pricing of Médoc AOC and Haut-Médoc AOC wines
What are the four most significant communes in the Left Bank?
Saint-Estèphe AOC
Pauillac AOC
Saint-Julien AOC
Margaux AOC
What is the general style of wine from Saint-Estephe, Pauillac, Saint-Julien, and Margaux?
Dry red wine with intense blackcurrant, green bell pepper (especially in cool vintages), red plum, vanilla and cedar, medium to high alcohol, high tannins, and medium (+) body
What is the general quality and price of wine from Saint-Estèphe, Pauillac, Saint-Julien, and Margaux?
Very good to outstanding quality with premium to super-premium prices
What is the most northerly and coolest of the four major Left Bank communes?
Saint-Estèphe
What percentage of plantings in Saint-Estèphe is Merlot? How does this compare to the other three important Left Bank communes?
At 40% Merlot, it has the highest percentage of Merlot planted in the big four communes.
What types of soil are found in Saint-Estèphe? How does this affect which grapes are planted and where they are positioned?
Gravel soils are found in the banks close to the estuary while clays are located farther inland. Merlot is typically grown on the clay soils away from the estuary while Cabernet Sauvignon can be found on the gravelly soils
What is the proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot plantings in Saint-Estèphe?
50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot
What is the general style of Saint-Estèphe AOC wines?
It has a reputation for rustic wines that need time in the bottle to soften the tannins, though wines that include high proportions of Merlot are softer and more accessible
How many First Growths and Second Growths can be found in Saint-Estèphe?
None, though there are a large number of Cru Bourgeois
What percentage does plantings of Cabernet Sauvignon comprise in Pauillac?
Around 62%
What is the typical proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon in the wine by top producers in Pauillac? How does this affect the wines
70-80%. The wines generally have high concentration and great longevity
What is the style of Pauillac AOC wines? How are they regarded?
Dry red wines with high tannins and high acidity. They are regarded as the most structured of the Left Bank
How many First Growths and Second Growths can be found in Pauillac?
Three First Growths, two Second Growths
What proportion of Pauillac’s wine output is cru classé? How does this compare to the other four major Left Bank communes?
85%, the highest proportion among the four communes
What is the proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon to other plantings in Saint-Julien?
Very high
What types of soil can be found in Saint-Julien?
The town has very homogeneous gravel soils
What is the style of Saint-Julien AOC wines?
Generally considered to be between the power of Pauillac and the finesse of Margaux
How many First Growths and Second Growths can be found in Saint-Julien? How much of its production is Cru Classé?
No First Growths, five Second Growths, and Saint-Julien is second in production percentage of Cru Classé wines.
What type of soils can be found in Margaux?
Stony, gravelly soils with some clay seams
When do grapes in Margaux ripen compared to other Médoc appellations? Why? Is this advantageous or not?
Grapes ripen 7-10 days earlier here because it is located in the southern part of Médoc. More northerly appellations are cooler and the grapes require more hang time. This can be a good thing in cool years or when rain threatens the typical Boddeaux harvest window.
What is the proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon to Merlot planted in Margaux?
Slightly less Cabernet Sauvignon, slightly more Merlot
How do clay seams in Margaux affect vineyard investment and planting?
Supplementary drainage may need to be installed, adding to costs. Merlot plantings are also higher here