Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

France WSET Diploma D3 > Bordeaux > Flashcards

Bordeaux Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
WSET ® Level 1 Spirits flashcards WSET ® Level 3 Spirits flashcards WSET ® Level 2 Wine flashcards WSET ® Level 1 Wine flashcards WSET ® Level 3 Wine flashcards French flashcards WSET ® Level 2 Spirits flashcards WSET® Level 4 Wine flashcards
1
Q

Which two rivers merge to form the Gironde estuary?

A

River Garonne (southern) and River Dordogne (northern)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

How many % of the AOC wine is red, dry white, sweet and rosé?

A

Red 85%, dry white 10%, sweet 1%, rosé 4%

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What are the key developments in Bordeaux’s history?

A
  • In 17th&18th centuries the Dutch drained and planted the Médoc peninsula
  • By mid 18th century Lafite and Margaux were already widely appreciated
  • Entrepreneurial merchants as distrobutors
  • 1855 Exposition Universelle de Paris & calssification based on price (Médoc + Haut-Brion in Graves+ Sauternes)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

How many ha planted in Bordeaux?

A

111 000 ha

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

How many % of the wines are inexpensive to mid-priced / premium to super-premium?

A

70% inexpensive to mid / 30% premium to super

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is the climate like in Bordeaux?

A

Moderate maritime. Gentle heat throughout the growing region and sufficient rainfall, relatively dry and warm autumns

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is the Landes?

A

The extensive pine forest that partially protects the Left Bank from Atlantic storms

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Why is northern Médoc cooler than the southern Médoc and Graves?

A

The landscape is more open to maritime influence as the pine forest is less of a feature there

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

How can rain be a factor in vintage variation?

A
  • At flowering: poor fruit set
  • Growing season: increased disease pressure
  • Véraison: unripe fruit, fungal disease
  • Harvest: diluted flavors
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

How is climate change/hotter vintages affecting Bordeaux wines?

A

Hot dry summers with insufficient rain —> low acidity, lack of balance, more alcoholic—> reduced aging capability

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What is the Libournais?

A

Right bank regions of Saint-Émilion, Pomerol and the surrounding appellations

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What kind of vintage was 2003, 2005, 1956, 1991 and 2027?

A
  • 2003, 2005 were hot & dry

- 1956,1991 & 2017 were affected by frost and the crop was decimated (has significant financial implications)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

How does the Gironde estuary affect the vines in the Médoc?

A

The vines closer to the estuary are often protected from frost due to its moderating influence

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

How is the soil in the Left Bank?

A

Deposits of gravel and stony soil mixed with clay and sand. All top Estates are planted on croupes (=gravel mounds)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What are the pros and cons of gravelly soil?

A

👍🏻well-draining, after rain the roots soon dry out,
👍🏻 heat retention —> slow ripening
👎🏻in hot years it can be a risk for drought stress, esp. On shallow soil

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What is the soil type in Saint-Estèphe?

A

Clay —> wines are not as esteemed as those grown on gravel

17
Q

Why does Merlot dominate on the Right Bank?

A

Far more clay in the soil to which Merlot is ideally suited. Ripens fully even in cooler years.

18
Q

Where are the best grapes grown on the Right Bank?

A

On the limestone plateau or the gravel section that borders Pomerol

19
Q

What is Merlot like as a grape and wine?

A 
Early budding
Mid-ripening
Large berries
Higher sugar accumulation than cabernet
Strawberry, red plum, herbaceous /
Cooked blackberry, black plum
Med tannins, med to high alcohol
20
Q

What is Merlot susceptible to?

A

Spring frost
Coulure
Drought
Botrytis bunch rot

21
Q

What is CS like as a grape and wine?

A

Late budding & late ripening (may struggle to fully ripen —> blended with other varieties)
Small berries, thick skin
Pronounced violet, blackcurrant, black cherry, menthol, herbaceousness
Med alcohol, high acidity, high tannins

22
Q

What is CS vulnerable to?

A

Fungal diseases, powdery mildew

Trunk diseases Eutypa & Esca

23
Q

What are the red grapes of Bordeaux?

A

CS, CF, Merlot, Malbec, Petit Verdot, Carmenere

24
Q

What are the white grapes of Bordeaux?

A

SB, Sémillon, Muscadelle

25
Q

What is Petit Verdot like as a grape and wine?

A

Early budding & very late ripening
Often <5% in blends
Powerful, deep-colored wines with spiciness, high tannins
Increasingly valued due to warming climate

26
Q

What is Petit Verdot vunerable to?

A

Spring frost
Failure to ripen in cool years
Rain around harvest

27
Q

What is Sémillon like as a grape and wine?

A 
Mid-ripening
Susceptible to botrytis good and bad
High yielding
Low intensity apple, lemon, can be grassy, med body, med alcohol, med to med+ acidity
Softens up SB in blends
Has an affinity with new oak
28
Q

What is botrytised Semillon wine like?

A

Pronounced honey and dried fruit flavors (lemon, peach), waxy texture, ageability: toast and honey with age, develops complexity
Vanilla and sweet spice from new oak

29
Q

What is Muscadelle like?

A

Very susceptible to bunch rot —> well exposed sites
Flowery and grapey notes in sweet white wines
Not related to Muscat!

30
Q

What is the planting density for top quality vineyards in Bordeaux?

A

Closely spaced vines at
10 000 vines/ha
Relatively infertile soils, moderate vigour

31
Q

What are the pros and cons of high-density planting?

A

👍🏻 moderate vigour, more concentrated flavors and aromas
👍🏻 best use of expensive land
👎🏻 adds to costs (more plants, trellising, specialised tractors needed)
👎🏻 more time consuming to do anything

32
Q

What is the planting density in basic Bordeaux AOC?

A

Lower density 3000-4000 vines/ha

33
Q

What vine management systems are used in Bordeaux?

A

Head-trained, replacement cane-pruned, canes trained along wires
Left Bank: Double-Guyot (2 canes are trained)
Right Bank: Single Guyot
More rare: cordon-trained, spur-pruned

34
Q

Why is canopy management important in Bordeaux?

A

To reduce insidence of fungal diseases

To aid ripening

35
Q

How can Eutypa dieback, Esca and flavescence dorée be combatted?

A
  • Soft pruning for the trunk diseases, Making only small cuts if necessary to allow the wood to dry out and sap to flow
  • Insecticide (synthetitc) for flavescence dorée

France WSET Diploma D3 (10 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions