Bordeaux Flashcards
What is the breakdown of AOC wine in Bordeaux? Red/white/dry/sweet/rosé
85% red
10% dry white
1% sweet white
4% rosé
What are the top varieties in order of total hectares planted in Bordeaux?
- Merlot (58%)
- Cabernet Sauvignon (20%)
- Cabernet Franc (7%)
- Sémillon (4%)
- Sauvignon Blanc (4%)
- Other reds (2%)
- Muscadelle (1%)
How much land is under vine in Bordeaux?
Around 111,000 hectares planted in Bordeaux
It’s enormous
What % of wine in Bordeaux is inexpensive or mid-priced?
The great majority of wine (70% produced is only entitled to the modest Bordeaux or Bordeaux Supérieur appellations and are inexpensive to mid-priced
How big is a prestigious appellation such as Pomerol?
Pomerol is only 800 hectares
Bordeaux covers 111,000 hectares of planted land
What issues can excessive rain at flowering cause?
Poor fruit set
What issues can excessive rain throughout the growing season cause?
Increased disease pressure
What issues can rain at or following véraison cause?
Unripe fruit and fungal diseases
What issues can excessive rain at harvest cause?
Dilute flavours
How much rain does Bordeaux get?
950mm a year
But with marked variation from year to year and the times within the year when it falls
Rainfall variable and is an key factor in vintage variation
What is the climate in Bordeaux?
Bordeaux has a moderate maritime climate
Cool Atlantic Ocean lies just west of the vineyards and is a cooling influence.
In best years, gentle heat throughout the growing season, sufficient rainfall to promote growth and ripening and fine, relatively dry and warm early autumns allow for steady and complete ripening.
Such a climate can result in an excellent balance of tannins, sugar and acidity which partly explains the remarkable longevity of great vintages here
What partially protects the left bank from Atlantic storms?
An extensive Pine Forest, the Landes
Estates that fringe those firsts such as Domaine de Chevalier in Léognan and many in Listrac in the Médoc are cooler and thus more marginal than neighbours to the east are
Why is the climate in the northern Médoc cooler than the southern Médoc and Graves?
It does not enjoy such protection from the pine forest of the Landes and so is more open to maritime influences from the cool Atlantic
What three vintages were largely decimated by frost in Bordeaux?
1956
1991
2017
Why do the most prestigious wines tend to be close to the Gironde Estuary in the Médoc?
Because it has a moderating influence on the climate and often protects vines from frost
Those located a mile or two to the west can be devastated as we saw in 1956, 1991 and 2017
What are the challenges of hot dry years in Bordeaux?
Hot years such as 2003 can lead to wines both red and white with low acidity that lack balance
They can also lead to wines being more alcoholic than in the past as growers wait for phenolic ripeness before picking
What was a particularly hot, dry year this century in Bordeaux?
2003
Many wines had low acidity and lacked balance
How much of an issue is frost in Bordeaux?
Big. In frost affected 2017, 33% less wine was made than the 10 year average and 40% than in the large 2016 harvest
When does Sémillon typically ripen?
It is a mid ripening variety
What is Sémillon susceptible to?
Botrytis bunch rot and noble rot in the right conditions
What is the flavour profile of Sémillon?
Low intensity apple, lemon and if under ripe grassy flavours. A medium body, medium alcohol and medium to medium+ acidity
In high quality dry white Bordeaux blends it contributes low to medium intensity aromas, weight and body and medium acidity. It softens SBs more intense flavours and high acidity. It has a strong affinity with vanilla and sweet spice flavours from new oak
In botrytis affected sweet Bordeaux wines it contributes pronounced honey and dried fruit (lemon, peach) character and waxy texture.
What does Sémillon contribute to a Bordeaux blend?
white Bordeaux blends it contributes low to medium intensity aromas, weight and body and medium acidity. It softens SBs more intense flavours and high acidity. It has a strong affinity with vanilla and sweet spice flavours from new oak
What does Sémillon contribute to sweet Botrytis affected wines?
In botrytis affected sweet Bordeaux wines it contributes pronounced honey and dried fruit (lemon, peach) character and waxy texture.
Priced for its age ability and developing toast and honeyed notes with age in contrast to SV that can hold but whose flavours do not evolve
More susceptible to botrytis than SB
Top Sauternes wines (CH. Climens or Ch d’Yquem) tend to have a high proportion of SB in the blend
How low must yields be for sweet white Bordeaux?
Yields must be kept low - often at one third of the level for still wines to ensure very high sugar levels in grapes
25hL/ha maximum allowed in top appellations of Sauternes and Barsac
Below 10 hL/ha is common at the very top estates
These low yields alone increases production costs greatly
What must harvester be capable of distinguishing between when picking for Botryris affected Fruit in Bordeaux?
Noble rot vs grey rot or black rot
How many times might teams of pickers pass through a vineyard in Bordeaux for Botrytis affected fruit?
10-12 times in some vintages
At properties with the greatest attention to detail
When does a harvest last for Botrytis affected fruit in Bordeaux?
September to November
Vital decisions affecting quality are made in the vineyard
How are yields kept low for Botrytis affected fruit in Bordeaux?
Vines pruned to a low number of buds
Removal of any fruit that shows any sign of disease or damage as these would be highly prone to grey rot
What are the key three things the level of Botrytis in final wines in Bordeaux depend on?
- Conditions are correct for the spread of noble rot - varies from year to year
- The position of estates (proximity to where must forms most regularly vs other locations)
- Willingness of estates to wait for the best times to harvest and risk losing all or part of the crop due to adverse weather, the willingness of the estates to pay for multiple passes through the vineyard to select fruit
How much new oak is used in sweet Bordeaux wines?
30-50%
But can be up to 100% for example at Chateaux d’Yquem
Wines from less prestigious appellations are often unloaded and released a year after harvest
How are top sweet Bordeaux wines aged?
Top quality wines typically barrel fermented (for the best integration of oak and fruit flavours) with a high proportion of new oak and barrel after for 18-36 months (top wines) to encourage a gentle oxidation that will add to complexity
