Bordeaux

Question 1

What is the breakdown of AOC wine in Bordeaux? Red/white/dry/sweet/rosé

Answer 1

85% red
10% dry white
1% sweet white
4% rosé

Question 2

What are the top varieties in order of total hectares planted in Bordeaux?

Answer 2

1. Merlot (58%)
2. Cabernet Sauvignon (20%)
3. Cabernet Franc (7%)
4. Sémillon (4%)
5. Sauvignon Blanc (4%)
6. Other reds (2%)
7. Muscadelle (1%)

Question 3

How much land is under vine in Bordeaux?

Answer 3

Around 111,000 hectares planted in Bordeaux

It’s enormous

Question 4

What % of wine in Bordeaux is inexpensive or mid-priced?

Answer 4

The great majority of wine (70% produced is only entitled to the modest Bordeaux or Bordeaux Supérieur appellations and are inexpensive to mid-priced

Question 5

How big is a prestigious appellation such as Pomerol?

Answer 5

Pomerol is only 800 hectares

Bordeaux covers 111,000 hectares of planted land

Question 6

What issues can excessive rain at flowering cause?

Answer 6

Poor fruit set

Question 7

What issues can excessive rain throughout the growing season cause?

Answer 7

Increased disease pressure

Question 8

What issues can rain at or following véraison cause?

Answer 8

Unripe fruit and fungal diseases

Question 9

What issues can excessive rain at harvest cause?

Answer 9

Dilute flavours

Question 10

How much rain does Bordeaux get?

Answer 10

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

Question 11

What is the climate in Bordeaux?

Answer 11

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

Question 12

What partially protects the left bank from Atlantic storms?

Answer 12

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

Question 13

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

Answer 13

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

Question 14

What three vintages were largely decimated by frost in Bordeaux?

Answer 14

1956
1991
2017

Question 15

Why do the most prestigious wines tend to be close to the Gironde Estuary in the Médoc?

Answer 15

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

Question 16

What are the challenges of hot dry years in Bordeaux?

Answer 16

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

Question 17

What was a particularly hot, dry year this century in Bordeaux?

Answer 17

2003

Many wines had low acidity and lacked balance

Question 18

How much of an issue is frost in Bordeaux?

Answer 18

Big. In frost affected 2017, 33% less wine was made than the 10 year average and 40% than in the large 2016 harvest

Question 19

When does Sémillon typically ripen?

Answer 19

It is a mid ripening variety

Question 20

What is Sémillon susceptible to?

Answer 20

Botrytis bunch rot and noble rot in the right conditions

Question 21

What is the flavour profile of Sémillon?

Answer 21

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.

Question 22

What does Sémillon contribute to a Bordeaux blend?

Answer 22

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

Question 23

What does Sémillon contribute to sweet Botrytis affected wines?

Answer 23

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

Question 24

How low must yields be for sweet white Bordeaux?

Answer 24

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

Question 25

What must harvester be capable of distinguishing between when picking for Botryris affected Fruit in Bordeaux?

Answer 25

Noble rot vs grey rot or black rot

Question 26

How many times might teams of pickers pass through a vineyard in Bordeaux for Botrytis affected fruit?

Answer 26

10-12 times in some vintages

At properties with the greatest attention to detail

Question 27

When does a harvest last for Botrytis affected fruit in Bordeaux?

Answer 27

September to November

Vital decisions affecting quality are made in the vineyard

Question 28

How are yields kept low for Botrytis affected fruit in Bordeaux?

Answer 28

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

Question 29

What are the key three things the level of Botrytis in final wines in Bordeaux depend on?

Answer 29

1. Conditions are correct for the spread of noble rot - varies from year to year
2. The position of estates (proximity to where must forms most regularly vs other locations)
3. 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

Question 30

How much new oak is used in sweet Bordeaux wines?

Answer 30

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

Question 31

How are top sweet Bordeaux wines aged?

Answer 31

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