Bordeaux

Question 1

Climate in Bordeaux and climatic influences

Answer 1

Moderate Maritime Climate

Left bank protected from Atlantic storms by the Landes forest

Question 2

Avg rainfall

Excessive rain at key moments plays part in Vintage Variation how?

Answer 2

Rain at flowering = poor fruit set
Rain throughout the growing season = increased disease pressure
Rain at and following veraison = unripe fruit an fungal diseases
Rain at harvest = dilute flavours

Question 3

What has moderating influence on climate in medoc and why is this important

Answer 3

Gironde estuary, most prestigious wines =

Protects vines from frost

Question 4

Climatic Hazards in Bordeaux

Answer 4

Rainfall at inconvenient times
Frost - decimated 1956, 1991, 2017
Hail, sporadic, widespread

Question 5

Soils in left bank

Answer 5

Deposits of gravel and stony soils
Can be mixed with clay and sand
Top estates planted on gravel mounds aka “croupes”

Question 6

Benefit of gravel soils

Answer 6

Well-draining

Heat retention = gradually release it upwards onto vine, facilitating slow ripening

Question 7

Right bank soils

Answer 7

More clay, though significant patches of gravel in certain areas of the Libournais

Question 8

Merlot

Answer 8

Early budding
Mid-ripening
Susceptible to BBR, Coulure and Drought

Question 9

Merlot contribution to blend in Bordeaux

Answer 9

Med-Pronounced intensity strawberry and red plum, herbaceous in cooler years; cooked blackberry, black plum in hot years
Med Tannin
Med-high alcohol

Question 10

Cabernet Sauvignon

Answer 10

Late budding
Late ripening
Small berried, thick skinned, high tannin content
Prone to powdery mildew and trunk diseases Eutypa and Esca

Question 11

Cabernet Sauvignon contribution to blend in Bordeaux

Answer 11

Pronounced Violet, blackcurrant. black cherry, menthol or herbaceous flavours
Medium Alcohol
High acidity
High tannin

Question 12

Cabernet Franc contribution to blend in Bordeaux

Answer 12

Red fruit
High acidity
Medium tannins

Question 13

Petit Verdot

Answer 13

Early Budding
Late ripening (more so than cab sauv)
Prone to spring frosts, failure to ripen in cool years, rain around harvest

Question 14

Petit Verdot contribution to blend in Bordeaux

Answer 14

Does best in warmer parts of Medoc, often used as less than 5%
Powerful, deeply coloured
Spicy notes
High tannins

Question 15

Why is petit verdot increasingly valued in Bordeaux

Answer 15

Warming climate means more likely to ripen in most years

Question 16

Advantages and disadvantages, for the estates, of the en primeur system

Answer 16

A: Ability to test the market by releasing early lower-priced trenches
Early payment and return on investment, allowing the estates to finance the next vintage

D: Potentially selling at lower price than might get for the bottle
Potential for financial mismanagement or losses by negociants (they go out of business) that could affect estate’s reputation

Question 17

Advantages and disadvantages, for the final customer, of the en primeur system

Answer 17

A: Ability to secure sought-after wines and in theory at the lowest price
Option to keep or trade sought after wine

D: Bought on basis of opinions of trade buyers and journalists tasting unfinished samples - may not truly reflect final wine
Intermediaries (negociants, shippers) may go out of business before wine arrives
Prices may fall before wine arrives due to economic conditions of the quality of following vintages