Bordeaux Flashcards
What are the two rivers which traverse Bordeaux?
- Garonne (running South of Entre-Deux Mers)
- Dordogne (running North of Entre-Deux Mers)
What do the Garonne and Dordongne rivers merge to form?
The Gironde Estuary.
Where is the left bank?
West of River Garonne and Gironde estuary
Where is the right bank?
East of the River Dordogne and the Gironde estuary.
How much of the plantings in Bordeaux are red?
Nearly 90% (almost 60% Merlot)
What is the split of the AOC wine production?
85% red, 10% dry white, 1% sweet white and 4% rosé
Has Bordeaux always been suitable for cultivating grapes?
No. The Dutch residents drainedthe Medoc peninsula in the 17th and 18th centuries
What is the area under vine in Bordeaux?
111,000 hectares. (about 70% size of London)
How much wine is inexpensive/mid priced? Premium/super premium?
- 70% inexpensive/mid
- 30% premium/super premium
What is the climate in Bordeaux?
Moderate Maritime.
What has a cooling influence on Bordeaux?
The Atlantic to the west of the vineyards.
What does the Atlantic do to Bordeaux?
Exerts a cooling influence.
What protects the Left Bank from Atlantic storms?
The pine forest, the Landes.
What influence does the Landes forest have?
Partially protects the Left Bank from Atlantic storms, but is less of a feature in the northern Medoc whuich is open to more maritime influence.
Are the southern Medoc/Graves areas cooler or warmer than Northern Medoc? Why?
Warmer in southern Medoc/Graves. The forest is less of a feature in the North, leaving it open to maritime influence.
What is the rainfall in Bordeaux?
Variable, average 950mm/year.
How does rain impact vintage variation in Bordeaux?
- 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 impact does climate change have on Bordeaux?
Hot dry summers with insufficient rain. Can cause insufficient acidity/a lack of balance and higher alcohol.
What can decimate crops in Bordeaux and when has it happened?
Frost. ‘56, ‘91, ‘17.
What can protect vines from frost?
In Medoc, those close the the Gironde estuary see a moderating influence whihc can protect from frost which further west can be devastating.
What is the predominant soil on the Left Bank?
Gravel and stony soils.
Depending on origin, maybe mixed with clay or sand
Why is gravel beneficial?
- Gravel drains well, so even after showers abnd storms (to which LB is prone), roots dry out soon and grapes continue to ripen.
- Heat retention, after a warm summer day, they retain and gradually release heat upwards to the vine to facilitate ripening
What are the risks of gravel soils?
In extremely hot years, the drainage can put the vines at risk of drought stress, particularly where soils are shallow.
Is there clay on the Left Bank?
Pockets yes (esp Saint Estephe) but wines do not have same acclaim as those from gravel.
What is the soil of the Right Bank?
- There is far more clay
- Significant patches of gravel in some sections of Libournais
What is the dominant grape of the Right Bank and why?
Merlot, as it is ideally suited to soils with signficant clay. It ripes fully in almost all vintages.
Where are the best wines of the Right Bank from?
Grapes grown on the limestone plateau or the gravel section bordering Pomerol.
What are the red varietals of Bordeaux?
- Merlot
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Cabernet Franc
- Malbec
- Petit Verdot
What are the white varietals of Bordeaux?
- Semillon
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Muscadelle
Is Merlot early or late budding? Ripening?
Early budding (ie vulnerable to spring frosts)
Mid budding (can be picked before Autumn rain)
What is Merlot susceptible to?
- Coulure
- Drough
- Most Botrytis bunch rot
Requires sorting to maintain quality, all above can reduce yields.
What is the benefit of Merlot in Bordeaux?
In cooler years it can ripen fully (vs later ripening Cab Sauv)
What was an advantage in the past but less so today wrt to Merlot vs the Cabernets?
It reaches higher sugar levels, therefore higher potential alcohol. (less relevant in a warming climate).
What does Merlot contribute to a Bordeaux blend?
- Medium to pronounced intensity fruit
- strawberry and red plum with herbaceous in cooler years
- cooked blackberry and black plum in hot years
- Medium Tannins
- Medium to high Alcohol
Is Cabernet Sauvignon early or late budding?
Ripening?
What does this mean?
Late budding. Gives some protection from spring frosts.
Late ripening. Vulnerable to Autumn rains.
What does Cabernet contribute to a Bordeaux blend?
- Pronounced violet, blackcurrant, black cherry and menthol or herbaceous flavours
- medium alcohol
- high acidity
- high tannins
What happens in cooler years to Cabernet Sauvignon and how is it mitigated?
Can struggle to ripen, resulting in high acid, unripe tannin and little fruit.
Blended regularly with Merlot and Cabernet Franc.
What does Cabernet Franc contribute to a Bordeaux blend?
- Red fruit
- High acid
- Medium Tannin
When and why was Malbec replaced in Bordeaux? With what?
Hard frosts of 1956.
Mainly Merlot.
Is Petit Verdot early/late budding? Ripening? Where does it do best?
Early budding and ripens later than Cabernet Sauvignon.
Does best in the warmer parts of Medoc.
How much Petit Verdot is typically used in a Bordeaux blend?
What does it provide?
< 5%
Provides:
- Deep colour
- Spice notes
- High Tannin
When does Semillon ripen?
Mid-ripening
What is Semillon susceptible to?
Botrytis bunch rot, and Noble rot (under the right conditions.
What does Semillon contibute to dry white Bordeaux blends?
- Low intensity
- apple, lemon
- if under ripe, grassy, flavours
- Medium body
- Medium alcohol
- Medium to medium (+) acidity.
- Softens Sauvignon Blanc’s more intense flavours and high acidity.
What does Semillon contibute to botrytis-affected sweet Bordeaux wines?
- Pronounced honey and dried fruit (lemon, peach) character and a waxy texture.
- top Sauternes wines tend to have a high proportion of Sémillon in the blend
- Ageability - Develops toast and honeyed notes with age
What does Sauvignon Blanc contribute in Bordeaux blends?
- Grassy and goosbery fruit
- High acidity
Added both to dry white blends, and sweet botrytis affected wines.
Increaing amounts of dominant or single varietal wines are being made.
Where does Muscadelle need to be planted?
Well exposed sites, as susceptible to botrytris bunch rot.
How is Muscadelle used?
Mostly in sweet wines to contribute flowery and grapey notes.
What is the traditional vine spacing in Bordeaux?
1m apart
1m between rows
10,000 vines / ha
What are the pros/cons of close spacing in Bordeaux?
Pros
- Best use of expensive vineyard land
- Suitable for relatively infertile soils
- Results in moderate vigour
Cons
- Adds costs - more plants, more trellising, specialised tractors
- More time to train, plough, spray