Bordeaux Flashcards
What are “Cool Soils” and where are they found in Bordeaux?
Clay and Limestone
On the right bank of the Gironde and Dordogne as well as on the hill sides of Entre-Deux-Mers.
The soils are dense and moisture-retaining, they do not speed up ripening process.
Suit for early ripening varieties such as Merlot, Malbec and Caberent Franc.
Describe soils of the Medoc AOCs.
Generally Gravel mounds on limestone
How many Co-operatives and Co-operative unions in Bordeaux and what is their share of the harvest?
- 29 Co-operatives
- 3 Co-operative Unions
- 23% of harvest
‘True or False
Graves Superieurs AOC ONLY produces Sem-Sweet white wines acoss the entire Graves area.
True
True or False
One vine of botrytized grapes yields one to three glasses of wine.
True
The finished wines must possess residual sugar to excess of 4.5% (45 g/l).
True or False
In Bordeaux, Clairet is made by often using Saignee (Bleeding) method with a very short maceration, 24 to 36 hrs skin contact and then bled off to ferment as white wine.
True
True or White
85% of wine producgton in Graves AOC is Red.
True
True or False
Most red Bordeaux AOC wiens are made from blends based on Merlot for light tannins and are best drunk young.
True
How many AOCs are in Sautennais sub region?
3 AOCs (Barsac/Sauternes/Cerons)
What are three white grape varieties used in Graves?
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Semillon
- Muscadelle
True or False
Bordeaux Blanc Sec (dry white) wines are primarilly Sauvignon Blanc or blends with Semillon.
True
True or False
Cremant de Bordeaux AOC wines are produced by the traditional method only.
True
What percentage does Entre-Deux-Mers wine region produce out of all Bordeaux white wine production ?
Nearly 25%
What are the soil makeup of Saint-Julien DOC?
Gravel mounds over sub soils of clay, marl and iron-pan.
True or False
The Haut-Medoc AOC covers the southern two-thirds of the Medoc Peninsula.
True
True or False
Moulis-en-Medoc wines are primarilly made from Merlot.
True
With higher content of clay and marls.
True or False
Haut-Medoc AOC also covers the six specific commune AOCs.
False
True or False
Entre-Deux-Mers AOC which covers the entire Entre-Deux-Mers area makes only Dry White wines.
True
True or False
The majority of the Chateaux ranked in the Classificaiton of 1855 are in the the four communes of the Medoc Peninsula.
True
What are three AOCs located directly across the Garonne River from the famous sweet wine regions of the Sauternais?
State the wine sttyle their production.
Which of the three is the most prestigeous?
- Cadillac AOC
- Loupiac AOC
- Sainte-Croix-du-Mont AOC
- Sweet White Wine
- Sainte-Croix-du-Mont (contains more gravel soils)
What are four primary grapes of the Libournais AOCs?
- Merlot
- Cabernet Franc
- Cabernet Sauvginon
- Cot
Based on the soil types of clay and limestone, Fronsac AOC and Canon Fronsac AOC, the only two AOCs west of Isle River in the Libourna, produce wines based on two grapes.
What are the varieties?
- Merlot
- Cabernet Franc
What is the main difference betweent Bordeaux Haut-Benauge DGC and Entre-Deux-Mers Haut-Benauge DGC as far as wine style is concerned?
- Bordeaux Haut-Benauge produces Dry and Semi-Sweet wines
- Entre-Deux-Mers Haut-Benauge Dry whites using the same grape varieties.
True or False
Barsac AOC producers may label their wine as Sauternes if desired.
True
Barsac is included in the Sauternes zone of production.
What soil type is featured in Margaux AOC?
Sand in the sub-soil below the gravel which is quick to warm and not very water retentaive.
True or False
The soil of Saint-Estephe has a higher percentage of clay than the southern neighbours.
True
As a result the higher percentage of Merlot in the Cabernet Sauvginon-dominant blend relative to other communes of the Medoc.
What mesoclimate is special to Sautenais sub-region?
The morning mist caused by the cooler waters of Ciron River meeting the warmer waters of the Garonne River promoting Botrytis / the noble rot.
True or False
Haut-Medoc is mostly covered by gravel top soil.
True
True or False
Medoc AOC located in the north of Medoc Peninsula and in genreal Merlot dominates.
True
More clay and limestone and less gravels in this area.
True or False
No dry white wines are allowed for Bordeaux Superieur DOC.
True
Red wines must have more strict production standards
No Alvarinho as the AOC is for Moelleux (semi-sweet) wines only
True or False
Bordeaux Superieus AOC Red wines must be aged at least until June 15 of the year following harvest.
True
What is Tris?
Muliple passes - hand picked several times to ensure only those desirable grape berries are picked.
Which river deposits small pebbles to its gravel beds in Graves de Vayres AOC?
Isle River
What feature protects Graves (of Bordeaux area) from the Altantic Ocean to the west?
Les Landes
This RED grape variety plantings are largely found in Bourg, Blaye and Entre-Deux-Mers.
What is it?
Cot (Malbec)
True or False
Cotes de Bordeaux AOC is red wine only AOC.
True
However three of DGCs also make white wine and two make sweet styles
How many categories were set for Sweet wines in the 1855 Classification?
What producer achieved the top status?
3 Categories
- Premier Cru Superieur
- Premier Cru
- Deuxieme Cru
- Chateau d’Yquem
Name the DGCs (3) that are NOT red wine only of Cotes de Bordeaux:
- Blaye Cotes de Bordeaux DGC - Dry Whites+Red
- Francs Cotes de Bordeaux DGC - Dry and Sweet Whites+Red
- Saint-Foy Cotes de Bordeaux DGC - Dry, Semi-Sweet and Sweet Whites+Red
The other two are:
- Cadillac Cotes de Bordeaxu DGC - Red only
- Castillion Cotes de Bordeaux DGC - Red only
Since the 1855 classification was establishe for the Paris Exhibition, there was only one change.
What was the change?
Chateau Mouton Rothchild was promted from Deuxieme Cru to a Premier Cru in 1973.
Who were Bituriges Vivisci?
Romans conquered the tribe of Bituriges Vivisci who lived around what is the modern day Bordeaux.
Which river does Barsac AOC lie?
Ciron River
Located on the left bank across from Sauternes
What are two training methods in Bordeaux?
- Taille medocaine
- Single or double Guyot
What soil type is found close to the rivers in Enter-Deux-Mers AOC?
Alluvial deposits
True or False
The Majority of Cru Bourgeois chateaux are located within the Medoc and Haut-Medoc AOCs.
True
What are the followings in French:
- Punch Down
- Pump Over
- Rack and Return
- Punch Down - Pigeage
- Pump Over - Remontage
- Rack and Retrun - Delstage
What are three AOCs in the Sauternais?
- Sauternes
- Barsac
- Cerons
What are two primary grape varieties and four grape supplientary grape varieties in the Medoc sub region of Bordeaux?
- Cabernet Sauvginon
- Merlot
and suipplimentary grapes -
- Cabernet Franc
- Petit Verdot
- Cot
- Carmenere
What two AOCs are contained in Sautenais region and what special wine style they feature?
- Sauternes
- Barsac
- All sweet white wines
Two producers are found on iron rich soils in Saint-Emilion.
Name them.
- Chateau Figeac
- Chateau Cheval Blanc
Which commune is considered to be the most “Californian” of the Medoc communes?
Saint-Julian AOC
Which classification is only Bordeaux sub region classfication to rank both red and white wines?
Graves Classification (part of Pessac-Leognan AOC.
How many DGCs in Cotes de Bordeaux AOC?
List the DGCs.
5 DGCs
- Blaye Cotes de Bordeaux DGC
- Cadillac Cotes de Bordeaux DGC
- Castillon Cotes de Bordeaux DGC
- Francs Cotes de Bordeaux DGC
- Sainte-Foy Cotes de Bordeaux DGC
What AOC is used for red wines produced and dry wine wines produced in Sautenais sub-region?
- Red wines: Bordeaux AOC or Bordeaux Superieur AOC
- Dry White: Bordeaux AOC
Name two lightly pigmented wines produced in Bordeaux:
- Rose (which is pink)
- Clairet (which is light red)
What makes Pauillac AOC wines powerfully structured that age well and have a benchmark note of dusty cocoa in the Cabernet Sauvginon dominated blends as far as the soil is cocerned?
Gravelly soil with excellent natural drainage
What is Le Landes?
Man made forest to the west of Bordeaux which protects Bordeaux wine region.
What grape variety is planted in the two thirds of Sauternes?
Semillon
Name SIX allowed red grapes (vinified as Blanc de Noirs) for Cremant de Bordeaux AOC:
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Merlot
- Cabernet Franc
- Petit Verdot
- Cot
- Carmenere
How many estates in Cru Bourgeois?
249 Estates - became formal in 2020
What does “Listrac” mean?
Either “fringe” or :edge.
What are three categories of Sainte-Emilion Grands Crus Classes?
- Premiers Grands Crus Classes A (top category)
- Premiers Grands Crus Classes B
- Grands Crus Classes
What is the major difference between Moelleux and Sweet wines during the harvest?
Sweet wine category is hand harvested in multiple passes (Tris) so that to pick only the botritis affected grapes whilte the Moelleux it is optional so it may have a mix of both non and botritis affected grapes.
Three grapes make up almost 90% of area under vine in Bordeaux (2019).
List them .
- Merlot (59%)
- Cabernet Sauvginon (20%)
- Cabernet Franc (8%)
True or False
All the Medoc AOCs are Red wine only.
True
The 1855 Classificaion categorized producers in the Medoc and Sauternes with one exception.
Name the exception.
Chateau Haut Brion
in Pessac-Leognan (in Graves)
True or False
Libournaios sub-region only produces red wines.
True
Name the categories in Cru Bourgeois.
- Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnels (top category)
- Cru Bourgeois Superieur
- Cru Bourgeois
Rankings reviewed every five years
Whare are two primary red grapes and four secondary grapes in Graves?
- Cabernet Sauvginon
- Merlot
- Cabernet Franc
- Petit Verdot
- Carmenere
- Cot
What is another name of Downy Mildew and who developed to combat it?
Peronospera
Jura born botanist/mycologist Pierre-Maire-Alexis Millardet working at the Univeristy of Bordeaux developed “Bordeaux Mixture” (Copper-Sulfate application)
True or False
Bordeaux AOC and Bordeaux Superieur AOC covers the same area and use exactly the same grape varieties.
False
Bordeaux Superiur Blanc wines must be made Moelleux or semi sweet in style and NO DRY white Bordeaux Superieur. Alvarihno is not Allowed.
True or False
Bourg AOC is a part of Cotes de Bordeaux AOC.
False
In what year did the extenisve winter freeze destroy much of the Cot crop in Bordeaudx and South-West France?
1956
Who was Emile Paynaud and what did he accomplish?
Professor of Oeonology of Bordeaux.
Paynaud encouraged wine makers to use the fruits from young vines for their second labelled wine - a second wine.
This gave a boost to the quality of the Grand Vin - the primary and most important wine that the chateaui produces.
What are two new approved white grape varieties in Bordeaux?
- Alvarinho
- Liliorila
List five top harvested (as of 2019) grape varieties of Bordeaux.
- Merlot (59%)
- Cabernet Sauvginon (20%)
- Cabernet Franc (8%)
- Semillon (5%)
- Sauvignon Blanc (5%)
Describe soil types suiting Cabenret Sauvignon and Merlot in the Medoc?
- Cabernet Sauvginon: Gravel on Limestone
- Merlot: Less Gravel and More Clay
Which sub region was the first vineyards planted in Bordeaux?
Graves
What are three appellations that make Sweet Wines as well in Entre-Deux-Mers?
- Graves de Vayres AOC
- Premieres Cotes-de-Bordeaux AOC
- Cotes de Bordeaux Saint-Macaire AOC
What are five sub-regions in Bordeaux AOC region?
- Medoc
- Graves
- Sautennais
- Entre-Deux-Mers
- Libournais
What two soil types typicalluy found in the Cotes vineyards?
- Clay
- Limestone
What well known AOC is located within Graves?
Pessac-Leognan
What is the main difference between regular red wine and Clairet?
Short macerating time - 24 to 36 hours. It is made by Saignee method.
Rose wines have even shorter maceration time and also uses Saignee method in Bordeaux.