Bordeaux Flashcards
What group was created to enforce France’s wine appellation system?
Institut National des Appellations d’Origine (INAO)
What year was the Institut National des Appellations d’Origine (INAO) created?
- 1935
Bordeaux is France’s largest (blank)?
AOC/AOP Region
What styles of wine are produced in Bordeaux?
- white
- red
- rose
- sparkling
- sweet
Médoc’s eventual dominance by creating a complex series of drainage channels throughout the area, making it suitable for viticulture
Who did this and when?
The Dutch
mid -1600’s
What are negociants?
Traditionally, négociants acted as one type of intermediary, buying fruit or wine in barrel to age in their own cellars before selling the bottled wine.
What are Courtiers?
Courtiers—brokers of wine—became a powerful force in the Médoc, supplying the châteaux with financial backing while gaining total control over the actual trade of wine.
What is en primeur?
the yearly offering of Bordeaux wine as futures.
Who is in charge of the en primeur?
The Courtiers
What is the climate of Bordeaux?
Maritime
What are the bodies of water moderating the climate in Bordeaux?
The Atlantic
Gironde Estuary
Coastal (blanks) protect the Médoc vineyards from harsh west and northwesterly winds, but rain is a worry, especially at harvest.
pine forests
What are the viticultural threats?
Rain around harvest time
mold and rot during spring time its wet and humid
spring time frost
What is the Bordeaux mixture and why is it used?
a mix of lime, copper sulfate, and water—is applied throughout the region to avoid fungal problems.
What are the wine styles of Bordeaux AOP?
red
white
rosé
clairet—a darker, more aromatic style of rosé that evokes the original claret wines shipped to England in the Middle Ages.
What are dry whites usually labeled as?
Sec
Six grapes are allowed for Bordeaux AOP reds. What are they?
Cabernet Sauvignon
Merlot
Cabernet Franc
Petit Verdot
Malbec
Carmènere
What does assemblage mean?
blend
What is the most widely planted grape in Bordeaux?
Merlot
Which red grape is the earliest to ripen?
Merlot
Which grape prefers clay-based soils?
Merlot
Which grape prefers well-drained gravel soil?
Cabernet Sauvignon
Which grape has difficulty ripening in colder limestone and clay soils?
Cabernet Sauvignon
Which grape excels in limestone-based soils, which promote acidity and freshness in the wines?
Cabernet Franc
What is encépagement?
Once appropriate soils are identified, an overall encépagement of mixed grapes that flower and are harvested at different times gives the estate a form of insurance. Cabernet Sauvignon, for instance, may avoid late spring frosts that can spell disaster for Merlot as it buds later, but the grape may fall prey to heavy fall rains after the Merlot is safely harvested.
What does Cabernet Sauvignon give to the blend?
gives the wine structure, power, and longevity
What does Merlot give to the blend?
Merlot contributes a fleshy, juicy texture that can soften the austerity of Cabernet Sauvignon
What does Cabernet Franc give to the blend?
a more tannic grape than Merlot but less muscular or weighty than Cabernet Sauvignon, imparts herbal spice and red fruit aromatics
What is the main grape of the left bank?
- Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon comprises approximately two-thirds of the blend and Merlot, Cabernet Franc and the other varieties make up the remainder
What grape(s) dominate the right bank?
Merlot and Cabernet Franc typically dominate blends on the Right Bank, at three-quarters and one-quarter respectively
What is the last grape to ripen in Bordeaux?
Petite Verdot
When, where, and why is Petite Verdot added to a blend?
added on the Left Bank in minute quantities for color, depth and exotic perfume; it is essentially non-existent on the Right Bank.
Where and when is Malbec used and whats its synonym?
Malbec, known as Pressac on the Right Bank, performs similarly to Merlot in the blend and is infrequently encountered in Bordeaux.
True or False: Carmenère is virtually extinct in the region.
True
What are the main white grapes of Bordeaux AOP?
Sémillon
Sauvignon Blanc
Muscadelle dominate the basic Bordeaux AOP white blend
Sauvignon Gris is considered a principal grape as well though not as widely planted
while Ugni Blanc, Merlot Blanc, and Colombard are restricted to a maximum proportion of 30%.
What do Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon provide to a wine?
Sauvignon Blanc offers pungency, high acidity, and citrus flavors.
In Bordeaux, the sharpness of Sauvignon Blanc can be leavened with Sémillon and rounded with oak;
achieve creamy, waxy texture while emitting unique aromas of honey and beeswax.
What does Muscadelleo provide to a blend?
The fragile Muscadelle is added sparingly, as its lovely, intense floral character can quickly overtake the wine’s balance.
What is the size of barriques?
225 liters
What are the requirements of Cremant de Bordeaux AOP?
Traditional Method Secondary Fermentation
The wines must spend a min. 9 months on the lees prior to dégorgement, and may not be released for a min. 12 months after the date of tirage
Min. 3.5 atmospheres of pressure
What are the alcohol requirements for Bordeaux Supérieur AOP?
Blanc: 12%
Rouge: 11%
What are minimum aging requirements for Bordeaux Supérieur AOP?
Blanc: Released no sooner than December 31st of the year of harvest (6 months minimum)
Rouge: Released no sooner than June 15st of the year following harvest (9 months minimum)
What does jalles mean?
drainage channels
True or False: The Medoc AOP wines must be red.
True
What is the soil type of the Bas Medoc?
for clay based soils so better for Merlot
What is the soil type of the Haut Medoc?
well drained gravelly soil
perfect for cabernet sauvignon
What are croupes?
Gravel mounds
What is the 1855 classification?
Commissioned by Emperor Napoleon III and carried out by the region’s courtiers, this classification ranked the top properties of Bordeaux by price prior to international exposure at the Universal Exposition in Paris later that year. All of the properties classified for red wine—with the exception of Château Haut-Brion in Graves—were Médoc châteaux, categorized by price into first through fifth growths.
Name the first growths?
Château Lafite Rothschild, Pauillac
Château Latour, Pauillac
Château Margaux, Margaux (Margaux)
Château Haut-Brion, Graves
Château Mouton Rothschild, Pauillac: Originally classified as a second growth, the estate was elevated in 1973.
Name some second growths?
Second Growths (Deuxièmes Crus)
Château Cos d’Estournel, Saint-Estèphe
Château Montrose, Saint-Estèphe
Château Pichon Longueville Baron, Pauillac
Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande, Pauillac
Château Léoville-Las Cases, Saint-Julien
Château Léoville-Poyferré, Saint-Julien
Château Léoville Barton, Saint-Julien
Château Gruaud-Larose, Saint-Julien
Château Ducru-Beaucaillou, Saint-Julien
Château Rauzan-Ségla, Margaux (Margaux)
Château Rauzan-Gassies, Margaux (Margaux)
Château Durfort-Vivens, Margaux (Margaux)
Château Lascombes, Margaux (Margaux)
Château Brane-Cantenac, Margaux (Cantenac)
Name some third growths?
Third Growths (Troisièmes Crus)
Château Calon-Ségur, Saint-Estèphe
Château Lagrange, Saint-Julien
Château Langoa Barton, Saint-Julien
Château Malescot-Saint-Exupéry, Margaux (Margaux)
Château Desmirail, Margaux (Cantenac)
Château Ferrière, Margaux (Margaux)
Château Marquis d’Alesme Becker, Margaux (Margaux)
Château Kirwan, Margaux (Cantenac)
Château d’Issan, Margaux (Cantenac)
Château Boyd-Cantenac, Margaux (Cantenac)
Château Cantenac-Brown, Margaux (Cantenac)
Château Palmer, Margaux (Cantenac)
Château Giscours, Margaux (Labarde)
Château La Lagune, Haut-Medoc (Ludon)
Name some fourth growths?
Fourth Growths (Quatrièmes Crus)
Château Lafon-Rochet, Saint-Estèphe
Château Duhart-Milon-Rothschild, Pauillac
Château Saint-Pierre, Saint-Julien
Château Talbot, Saint-Julien
Château Branaire-Ducru, Saint-Julien
Château Beychevelle, Saint-Julien
Château Marquis de Terme, Margaux (Margaux)
Château Pouget, Margaux (Cantenac)
Château Prieuré-Lichine, Margaux (Cantenac)
Château La Tour Carnet, Haut-Médoc (Saint-Laurent)
Name some fifth growths?
Fifth Growths (Cinquièmes Crus)
Château Cos Labory, Saint-Estèphe
Château Pontet-Canet, Pauillac
Château Batailley, Pauillac
Château Haut-Batailley, Pauillac
Château Haut-Bages-Libéral, Pauillac
Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste, Pauillac
Château Grand-Puy-Ducasse, Pauillac
Château Lynch-Bages, Pauillac
Château Lynch-Moussas, Pauillac
Château d’Armailhac, Pauillac: This estate was known as Mouton-Baronne-Philippe from 1933-1988.
Château Pédesclaux, Pauillac
Château Clerc-Milon, Pauillac
Château Croizet Bages, Pauillac
Château Dauzac, Margaux (Labarde)
Château du Tertre, Margaux (Arsac)
Château Belgrave, Haut-Médoc (Saint-Laurent)
Château de Camensac, Haut-Médoc (Saint-Laurent)
Château Cantemerle, Haut-Médoc (Macau)
What is the Cru Artisan designation?
Médoc’s eight appellations had the right to use the designation, denoting their place as exceptional stewards of the land and craft of winemaking, without the financing or apparatus of large-scale operations.
There are now 36 and will be updated every 5 years
What is the Cru Bourgeois classification?
Three levels:
Bourgeois Exceptionnel
Cru Bourgeois Supérieur
Cru Bourgeois
has been removed and added back and forth
in 2020 it was reinstated and will be updated every 5 years
249 châteaux were given Cru Bourgeois status, including 14 crus bourgeois exceptionnels and 56 crus bourgeois supérieurs
What are the AOP’s in the Medoc?
Medoc AOP (within that you have the Bas Medoc)
St Estephe AOP
Paulliac AOP
St - Julien AOP
Listrac-Médoc AOP
Moulis-en-Médoc AOP
Margaux AOP
Haut Medoc AOP
Does St-Estèphe contain any first growths?
Zero
What is the most notable producer out of St-Estèphe?
Château Cos d’Estournel
What is the soil type in St-Estèphe?
There is a high proportion of clay so there is a slightly higher percentage of Merlot grown here.
Does Paulliac AOP contain any first growths?
Yes, 3
Château Lafite Rothschild
Château Mouton-Rothschild
Château Latour
What is the soil type in the Paulliac?
Has the perfect gravelly top soil perfect for Cab Sauv
Does St-Julian AOP contain any first growths?
No
St-Julien has five second growths, including the “super-seconds” of Château Léoville Las Cases and Château Ducru-Beaucaillou
Where is Château Chasse-Spleen make their wines?
Listrac-Médoc AOP and Moulis-en-Médoc AOP in both communes. Most famous producer of these two communes.
Listrac-Médoc AOP and Moulis-en-Médoc AOP is known for what kind of wine?
Good value because they are lesser known appellations
True or False: Margaux AOP is the largest communal appellation of the Haut-Médoc
True
Margaux AOP has 5 villages. What are they?
Soussans
Margaux
Cantenac
Labarde
Arsac
How many classified growths does Margaux AOP have?
21 (the most than any other commune)
Does Margaux AOP contain any first growths?
Yes,
Chateau Margaux
Third growth Chateau Palmer is also located here
True or False: Both red and white wines can be labeled Graves AOP.
True
What is the minimum alcohol for Graves AOP?
Minimum Potential Alcohol:
Blanc: 10.5%
Rouge: 11%
What is the soil like in Graves AOP?
Similar to the Medoc but sandier towards the south
When was Pessac-Léognan AOP created?
1987
What are the communes of Pessac-Léognan AOP?
Pessac
Léognan
Cadaujac
Canéjan
Gradignan
Martillac
Mérignac
Saint-Médard-d’Eyrans
Talence
Villenave-d’Ornon
What are three main sweet wine appellations in Graves?
Cérons
Barsac
Sauternes
What are the grapes used to make the sweet wines of Graves?
Sémillon
Sauvignon Blanc
Muscadelle
botrytis style dessert wine
What happens to the grapes when Botrytis/noble rot attacks?
Due to the unique climactic conditions of Sauternes and Barsac (and to a lesser extent Cérons) the Botrytis mold may attack the grapes, dehydrating them so that sugar, acidity, and glycerol content are heightened.
What are the characteristics of boytritisied sweet wine?
The wines achieve an intense spiced complexity that would be impossible to duplicate through normal dehydration; with time the mold-afflicted grapes can imbue a bouquet of honey, saffron, dried fruit and ginger spice.
What are the villages in Sauternes AOP?
Sauternes, Barsac, Fargues, Preignac, and Bommes
What is the minimum must weight for Barsac AOP and Sauturnes AOP dessert wines?
weight of 221 grams per liter, and the finished wines must contains at least 45 grams per liter of residual sugar
What remarkable wine does Chateau Gilette release?
“Crème de Tête” after a decades-long maturation in concrete vats
- its unclassifed
When were Graves wines first classified?
1953
How many estates are classified Cru Classe in Graves?
9 for white
13 for red
22 total
What are the grapes in St Emilion AOP and Pomerol AOP?
red wine blends dominated by Merlot and, to a lesser extent, Cabernet Franc. Cabernet Sauvignon is rarely a major component
Which Chateau uses more Cabernet Sauvignon in St Emilion?
Chateau Figeac
What is the soil type of St Emilion?
St-Émilion contains a diversity of soils broadly categorized into two types: the côtes and graves.
As a simplification, the hillside côtes are steep limestone slopes and graves is a gravelly limestone plateau resembling soils of the Médoc.
When was the St-Émilion created its own three-tier ranking of châteaus?
1954 and published in 1955
revisions are made every decade
there is a tasting panel
Name St-Émilion Premiers Grands Crus Classés A
Château Pavie**
Château Angélus** (will not reapply for classification in 2022)
Château Ausone (withdrew from classification in 2021)
Château Cheval-Blanc (withdrew from classification in 2021)
Name some St-Émilion Premiers Grands Crus Classés B.
14
Château Beau-Séjour Bécot
Château Beauséjour (Duffau-Lagarrosse)
Château Bélair-Monange (known simply as Belair until the 2008 vintage)
Château Canon
Château Canon-la-Gaffelière**
Château Figeac
Clos Fourtet
Château La Gaffelière
Château Larcis-Ducasse**
La Mondotte**
Château Pavie-Macquin*
Château Troplong-Mondot*
Château Trotte Vieille
Château Valandraud**
Name some St Emilion Grand Cru Classes.
64
Château L’Arrosée
Château Balestard-La-Tonnelle
Château Barde-Haut
Château Bellefont-Belcier*
Château Bellevue♠
Château Berliquet
Château Cadet-Bon♠
Château Cap-de-Mourlin
Château le Châtelet
Château Chauvin
Clos des Jacobins
Couvent des Jacobins
Château Clos de Sarpe
Château La Clotte
Château la Commanderie
Château Corbin
Château Côte de Baleau**
Château La Couspaude
Château Dassault
Château Destieux*
Château La Dominique
Château Faugères**
Château Faurie-de-Souchard♠
Château de Ferrand**
Château Fleur-Cardinale*
Château La Fleur Morange**
Château Fombrauge**
Château Fonplégade
Château Fonroque
Château Franc-Mayne
Château Grand-Corbin*
Château Grand-Corbin-Despagne*
Château Grand-Mayne
Château Grand-Pontet
Château Les Grandes-Murailles
Château Gaudet♠
Château Haut-Sarpe
Château Jean Faure**
Château Laniote
Château Larmande
Château Laroque
Château Laroze
Clos La Madeleine**
Château La Marzelle
Château Monbousquet*
Château Moulin du Cadet
Clos de l’Oratoire
Château Pavie-Decesse
Château Peby-Faugères**
Château Petit-Faurie-de-Soutard♠
Château de Pressac**
Château Le Prieuré
Château Quinalt l’Enclos**
Château Ripeau
Château Rochebelle**
Château Saint-Georges-Côte-Pavie
Clos Saint-Martin
Château Sansonnet
Château La Serre
Château Soutard
Château Tetre Daugay
Château La Tour Figeac
Château Villemaurine♠
Château Yon-Figeac♠
St Emilion grand cru is an appellation or classification?
An Appellation
What is the difference between St Emilion Grand and AOP?
Wines labeled St-Émilion Grand Cru are required to show an additional + 0.5% alcohol and must undergo a longer élevage than wines simply labeled St-Émilion AOP.
All Grand Cru Classé wines must meet the requirements of the St-Émilion Grand Cru AOP.
What is the soil of Pomerol?
sand, clay and gravel, with a subsoil of iron pan and rich clay
Are there any classifications in Pomerol?
Nope
Name some high quality producers from Pomerol.
Château Pétrus
Vieux-Château-Certan
Château Lafleur
Château Le Pin
Château Trotanoy
Name the AOP’s of the right bank?
Fronsac AOP
Pomerol AOP
Saint-Émilion AOP
Saint-Émilion Grand Cru AOP
Canon Fronsac AOP
Lalande-de-Pomerol AOP
Montagne-St-Émilion AOP
Lussac-St-Émilion AOP
Puisseguin-St-Émilion AOP
Saint-Georges-St-Émilion AOP
Where are the oldest cultivated vineyards in Bordeaux?
Bour and Cotes de Bourg
Name a high-quality producer from the Cotes de Bourg?
Château Roc de Cambes
What are the rivers of right and left bank?
Garonne - left
Dordogne - right
What style of wine does Entre-Deux-Mers AOP make?
dry whites only
On the eastern shore of the Garonne lie the sweet white wine appellations of?
Loupiac
Ste-Croix-du-Mont
Cadillac
True or False: It is common in Bordeaux to release 100% varietal wines.
False
Merlot predominantly thrives in the gravel- and sand-based soils of which appellation?
Pomerol
Where is Château Latour located?
Paulliac
In which year were the top estates of the Médoc classified?
1855
Which grape typically dominates the wines of Pomerol?
Merlot
What is the most planted grape in Bordeaux?
Merlot
How many châteaux are currently ranked as “Premier Cru Classé A” in Saint-Émilion?
technically 4
Saint-Émilion was most recently reclassified in _____________ for the 6th time.
2012
Ugni Blanc and Colombard are primarily used in which appellation?
Cotes de Blaye
Select the most likely level of finished alcohol for Sauternes.
12-14%
The Cru Classé properties of Graves are located in which of the following appellations?
Pessac-Léognan
In what appellation does the Château Le Pin estate produce wine?
Pomerol
Select the two parent grapes of Cabernet Sauvignon.
Sauvignon Blanc
Cabernet Franc
True or False: The Médoc receives more annual average rainfall than any other major French wine region.
True
True or False: Bordeaux has the most hectares under vine of any French wine region.
True
What line of latitude runs just north of the region of Bordeaux?
45 degrees
What is the minimum alcohol for Saint-Émilion Grand Cru AOP?
11.5%
Pavillon is the second wine of which château?
Margaux
In which year were the estates of Graves FIRST classified?
1953
Traditional barrique in Bordeaux contains how many liters?
225 liters
Which grape is typically the last to ripen in Bordeaux?
Petite verdot
What is Bouchet?
a synonym for Cabernet Franc on the Right Bank
What are the 3 regional appelations that apply to the entire area of Bordeaux?
Bordeaux AOP
Bordeaux Superiour AOP
Cremant de Bordeaux AOP
What is the name of the estuary in Bordeaux
Gironde
Name the AOP of the following Chateaux
a. Château Cheval Blanc
b. Château Carbonnieux
c. Château Cos d’Estournel
d. Château Lynch-Bages
e. Château Suduiraut
a. Château Cheval Blanc – St Emilion
b. Château Carbonnieux – Pessac-Léognan
c. Château Cos d’Estournel – Saint-Estèphe
d. Château Lynch-Bages – Pauillac
e. Château Suduiraut – Sauternes
What is the northern most commune appellation of the Haut-Medoc
St Estephe
Which Chateau were upgraded to Premier Cru class B in Saint Emillion in 2012?
Château Valandraud
La Mondotte
Château Larcis-Ducasse
Château Canon-la-Gaffelière
What are the most planted red and white grapes in Bordeaux?
Merlot
Semillon
Name a famous biodynamic producer in Bordeaux
Pontet Canet
Which of the following are considered high quality vintages
a. 2005
b. 2007
c. 2010
d. 2009
e. 2002
f. 2000
a. 2005
c. 2010
d. 2009
f. 2000
Pouget-Lassale and Pouget, both merged into what Chateau?
Château Pouget, Cantenac-Margaux (Margaux)
What RIvers are surounding Saint Emilion AOP?
Dordogne (south of the appelation)
Barbanne (Northern edge / delimitation with satellites AOP)
What are the subregions of Margaux?
CLAMS
Cantenac
Labarde
Arsac
Margaux
Sousson
Which current helps to modify the climate in Bordeaux?
The Atlantic gulf stream
New grapes in Bordeaux and Bordeaux Superior allowed since 2021 reds?
Marselan
Touriga Nacional
Castets
Arinarnoa
New grapes in Bordeaux and Bordeaux Superior allowed since 2021 whites?
Alvarinho
Liliorila
