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French Wine Scholar > Bordeaux > Flashcards

Bordeaux Flashcards

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1
Q

What role did England play in the development of the wine industry?

A

In 1152, Henry Plantagenet (future King Henry II of England) married Eleanor or Aquitaine giving England the reign over Aquitaine, Gascony and a large portion of western France. In the Middle Ages, England was staunchly catholic and needed wine for mass, so Bordeax became England’s vineyard.

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2
Q

What role did the Dutch play in the development of the wine industry?

A

The Dutch were a mercantile empire based on maritime trade and became heavily involved in Bordeaux after the 100 years war. They convinced the Bordelais to shift their production to white varieties so the Dutch could use it for sweet table wine and to distill into their eau de vie (colourless, fruity brandy). The Dutch drained the Médoc peninsula in the 17th century which rasied the gravel beds and reclaimed that land for vine planting.

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3
Q

What was the 100 years war about?

A

King Edward the III of England refused to pay homage to King Philip of France which instigated the war. It lasted from 1337-1453, finishing when the French reclaimed Bordeaux at the battle of Castillon.

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4
Q

What were the 3 Golden Ages for Bordeaux?

A

1) Maritime trade with England post 1152 gave birth to a wealthy merchant class
2) Expansion of the Bordeaux wine market to include the new Dutch and British colonies in the 18th century
3) Robert Parker and the launch of his Wine Advocate which touted the merits of the 1982 vintage.

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5
Q

What are the principal waterways of Bordeaux?

A

Dordogne & Garonne Rivers. Gironde Estuary.

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6
Q

What was the effect on the vineyard size of the 1956 freeze?

A

25% of vines were destroyed.

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7
Q

What are the 2 UNESCO world heritage sites in Bordeaux?

A

The city of Bordeaux and the town of St-Emilion.

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8
Q

Does Bordeaux produce more AOC wine than Burgundy?

A

Yes (from less AOCs though)

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9
Q

How far inland are the rivers tidal?

A

75 miles

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10
Q

Describe Bordeaux through the seasons:

A

Spring: wet and frosty
Summer: warm and sunny with cloud cover.
Autumn: variable with rain and humidity.
Winters: moderate but temps can drop significantly

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11
Q

How much of its plantings did Malbec lose in the 1956 freeze?

A

33%

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12
Q

What is the climate?

A

Maritime

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13
Q

What are the cold soils and where are they found?

A

Clay and limestone (dense and moisture-retaining) found on the right bank.

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14
Q

What are the warm soils and where are they found?

A

Gravel and sand (radiate heat back to the vines) found on the left bank.

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15
Q

What are the origins of the soils?

A

The last Ice Age left extensive river desposits and marine sediments (from coastal flooding) across the Gironde. Bordeaux soils are sedimentary in nature with gravel terraces interspersed with sand, silt, clay and limestones.

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16
Q

What is the split between red and white wine here?

A

Red - 88%

White - 12%

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17
Q

What are the primary white grapes?

A 
Sémillon (49%)
Sauvignon Blanc (43%)
Muscadelle
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18
Q

What are the primary red grapes?

A 
Merlot (65%)
Cabernet Sauvignon (23%)
Cabernet Franc (10%)
Malbec
Petit Verdot
Carmenere
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19
Q

How does botrytis influence the finished wine?

A

Honeyed character

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20
Q

What is different between the reds of Bordeaux and those of the New World?

A

Bordeaux reds are less fruit-driven, less alcoholic and less overtly oaked. Flavours are synonymous with graphite, cigar box, walnut & tea.

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21
Q

What is the difference betwen clairet and rosé?

A

Clairet is semi-red with maceration times of 24-36 hours made in the saignée method.
Rosé is also saignée method but with shorter maceration times and lighter colour.
Some produces do make direct press rosé.

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22
Q

What are the sugar levels of Bordeaux rosé wines?

A

Always dry

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23
Q

What style of crémants can be made here?

A

White or rosé and range from Extra Brut - Doux.

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24
Q

What grapes can go into the white crémant?

A

Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon, Muscadelle, Ugni Blanc and Colombard + any authorised red grapes when vinified as blanc de noirs.

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25
Q

What grapes can go into the rosé crémant?

A

Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Carbernet Franc, Malbec, Petit Verdot and Carmenere.

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26
Q

What are the ageing requirements for crémant?

A

9 months sur lie

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27
Q

What are the important AOCs of the right bank, from north to south?

A

Blaye, Blaye-Cotes de Bordeaux, Cotes de Blaye, Bourg, Cotes do Bourg, Fronsac, Canon Fronsac, Lalande-de-Pomerol, Pomerol, Lussac St-Emilion, Montagne St-Emilion, St-Georges St-Emilion, Puisseguin St-Emilion, St-Emilion, St Emilion Grand Cru, Francs-Cotes de Bordeaux & Castillon-Cotes de Bordeaux

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28
Q

What are the important AOCs of Entre-Deux-Mers, from north to south?

A

Graves de Veyre, Sainte-Foy Bordeaux, Entre-Deux-Mers, Bordeaux Haut-Benauge, Cadillac, Cadillac-Cotes de Bordeaux, Premieres Cotes de Bordeaux, Loupiac, Cotes de Bordeaux St-Macaire, Sainte-Croix-du-Mont, Bordeaux & Bordeaux Superieur

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29
Q

What are the important AOCs of the left bank, from north to south?

A

Médoc, St-Estephe, Pauillac, Saint-Julien, Listract-Médoc, Moulis, Margaux, Haut-Médoc, Pessac-Léognan, Graves, Graves Superieures, Cérons, Barsac, Sauternes

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30
Q

What are the the wines of the left bank like?

A

Firmly structured with high tannins and notes of cassis, graphite, tobacco, cedar and sweet herb.

31
Q

What are the the wines of the right bank like?

A

More supple with soft, plummy fruit. Wines have silky tannins and high acidity with walnut & prune.

32
Q

What are the wines of the Entre-Deux-Mers like?

A

Reds are Merlot & Cab Sav based

Whites are Sav Blanc based

33
Q

What wines can be made under Bordeaux AOC?

A

Dry whites and red

34
Q

What wines can be made under Bordeaux Superieur AOC?

A

Dry reds and semi-sweet whites

35
Q

What is the AOC hierarchy?

A

Regional, Sub-regional, Commune

36
Q

What is interesting about the AOC of St Estephe?

A

Extremely structured and tannic requiring plently of bottle age. Producers are adding more Merlot to the blend these days to increase drinkability.

37
Q

What is interesting about the AOC of Pauillac?

A

Core of dustry, cocoa like tannins. Wines are structured and powerful.

38
Q

What is interesting about the AOC of St Julien?

A

Considered the most Californian. Notes of chocolate-covered cherry.

39
Q

What is interesting about the AOC of Margaux?

A

Most feminine and perfumed.

40
Q

What are interesting about the AOCs of Listrac-Médoc and Moulis en Médoc?

A

3 types of soil: small Pyrenees gravel, large Garonnais gravel and a clay/limestone mix.
The Listrac is the highest point in the Médoc peninsula.

41
Q

Is there more red or white produced in Graves?

A

Red (66%)

42
Q

What is historically interesting about Graves?

A

First vineyards in Bordeaux were planted here.

43
Q

What style of wine can be produced in Graves AOC?

A

Any red or dry white

44
Q

What style of wine can be produced in Graves Superieures AOC?

A

Semi-sweet whites (>1.8% sugar)

45
Q

What is interesting about the AOC of Pessac-Léognan?

A

Note-worthy Cab Savs on deep gravel soils with a unique hint of clove on the finish.

46
Q

How many communes are incorporated within the Sauternes appellation and which of these receives its own appellation?

A

5

Barsac

47
Q

Across the AOCs within the E-D-M, is more red or white wine made?

A

Red

48
Q

Which AOCs within E-D-M produce dry white wines only?

A

Entre-Deux-Mers

Entre-Deux-Mers-Haut-Benauge

49
Q

Which AOCs within E-D-M produce dry red wines only?

A

Cadillac-Cotes de Bordeaux

50
Q

Which AOCs within E-D-M produce semi-sweet white wines?

A

Graves de Vayres, Sainte-Foy Bordeaux, Bordeaux-Haut-Benauge, Premieres Cotes de Bordeaux, Cotes de Bordeaux Saint-Macaire

51
Q

Which AOCs within E-D-M produce sweet white wines ?

A

Cotes de Bordeaux Saint-Macaire, Cadillac, Loupiac & Sainte-Croix-du-Mont

52
Q

All of the AOCs within the Libournais produce red wine. Which one also produces other styles?

A

Francs-Cotes de Bordeaux also produces dry and sweet whites.

53
Q

What notes are typical of the wines from Pomerol?

A

English walnut, truffle and prune

54
Q

What are special about the soils of Pomerol?

A

They are rich in iron.

55
Q

What are requirements for the wines of St Emilion Grand Cru?

A

Lower yields, higher min abv, bottled at the chateau and the wines undergo 2 tastings, both before and after its mandatory 1 year ageing period.

56
Q

How are the wines of the St Emilion satellites different?

A

They are more delicately structured.

57
Q

Where are all of the Cotes AOCs located with regards the rivers? What are the soil types?

A

They are all located on the right banks and are west-facing. The soils are clay and limestone.

58
Q

What is the Cotes de Bordeaux AOC and where can it incorporate fruit from?

A

Appellation set-up in the 2008 vintage. It is a dry-red only appellation incorporating fruit from any of the old AOCS of: Premieres Cotes de Blaye, Bordeaux-Cotes de Franc, Cotes de Castillon and Cotes de Bordeaux.

59
Q

What were the 4 sub-regional designations added to the Cotes de Bordeaux AOC?

A

Blaye, Cadillac, Castillon & Francs.

60
Q

What are the principal and supplementary whites and reds for the Cotes de Bordeaux AOC?

A

Principal reds: Cab Sav, Cab Franc, Malbec & Merlot
Supplementary reds: Carmenere & Petit Verdot

Principal whites: Sav B, Sav G, Sémillon & Muscadelle
Supplementary whites: Ugni Blanc & Colombard

61
Q

Which of the Cotes de Bordeaux AOCs make red wine?

A

Blaye, Blaye-Cotes de Bordeaux, Bourg, Cotes de Bourg, Francs-Cotes de Bordeaux, Castillon-Cotes de Bordeaux, Cadillac-Cotes de Bordeaux

62
Q

Which of the Cotes de Bordeaux AOCs make dry white wine?

A

Blaye, Blaye-Cotes de Bordeaux, Cotes de Blaye, Bourg, Cotes de Bourg, Francs-Cotes de Bordeaux and Cotes de Bordeaux St Macaire.

63
Q

Which of the Cotes de Bordeaux AOCs make semi-sweet white wine?

A

Premieres Cotes de Bordeaux & Cotes de Bordeaux St Macaire

64
Q

Which of the Cotes de Bordeaux AOCs make sweet white wine?

A

Francs-Cotes de Bordeaux & Cotes de Bordeaux St Macaire

65
Q

What are the dominant grapes used in Cotes de Blaye AOC?

A

Dry whites from Colombard & Ugni Blanc

66
Q

Describe the 1855 classification

A

Places the top chateaux from Bordeaux in a ranking of 1st through 5th growths. It was never intended to be a classification but rather a working document to set prices and to pay taxes. 87 Chateaux were ranked on the original document on exhibition at the Paris Universal Exhibition. Wines were only considered from the Médoc, Pessac-Léognan and Sauternes.

67
Q

What are the Cru Bourgeois?

A

Began in 1932 when a list of 444 chateaux were presented by traders as of high quality that hadn’t been recoginised in the 1855 classification. It remains a member based syndicate system.

68
Q

What are the Cru Artisans?

A

Began in 2006, representing 50 boutique producers of quality who are enitrely responsible for the production process.

69
Q

Describe the structure of the Graves Classification

A

Incorporated in 1953, ranking the wines of 16 estates rather than the estates themselves. All wines are entitled to “Grand Cru Classé de Graves” status.

70
Q

Describe the St Emilion Classification

A

Began in 1955 and was designed to be revised every 10 years. It’s the only classifcation system of the right bank. The chateaux are graded on on the quality and condition of the winery, the standing of the estate in the marketplace and the quality of the wine.

71
Q

How much of Bordeaux’s wine is sold through traders?

A

70%

72
Q

What percentage of Bordeaux wine is exported?

A

42%

73
Q

What percentage of growers belong to a co-op?

A

Nearly 50%

74
Q

What are the optimum temperatures and humidity levels to store wines?

A

10-16 degrees at 65-75% humidity.

French Wine Scholar (15 decks)

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