Bordeaux Flashcards
1
Q
Breakdown of red, white and rosé in Bordeaux?
A
85% red
10% dry white
1% sweet white
4% rosé
2
Q
Most widely planted grape in Bordeaux?
A
Merlot (almost 60% of plantings)
3
Q
Cabernet Sauvignon what % of plantings in Bordeaux?
A
20%
(Merlot nearly 60%)
4
Q
Bordeaux climate
A
Moderate maritime
5
Q
Recipe for successful vintage in Bordeaux? Climate etc.
A
Gentle heat through growing season
Enough rain for growth adn ripening
Fine, dry, warm early autumn
Steady adn complete ripening
Excellent balance of tannins, sugar and acidity
6
Q
Why is Domaine de Chevalier more marginal climate than others?
A
Beside the Landes forest
7
Q
Rainfall in Bordeaux
A
Variable
950mm a year
8
Q
Impact of excessive rain at key moments in Bordeaux?
A
At flowering: poor fruit set
Through season: disease pressure increase
At and after veraison: unripe fruit, fungal
At harvest: dilute flavours
9
Q
Impact of rain at/after veraison in Bordeaux?
A
Can lead to unripe fruit, fungal diseases
10
Q
Hot dry years in Bordeaux do what to grapes?
A
In extreme cases (eg 2003): low acidity, lack balance
Can also lead to wines being more alcoholic - growers waiting for phenolic ripness
11
Q
Maritime influence more pronounced on Left or Right Bank Bordeaux?
A
Left Bank
Less pronounced but still a factor in RB
12
Q
Examples of frost years in Bordeaux
A
1956, 1991, 2017, 2021
13
Q
How does Gironde help in frost years?
A
Moderating influence on the climate, protecting from forst
14
Q
Impact on yield of 2017 frost in Bordeaux?
A
33% less wine made than 10-year average
40% less than 2016
15
Q
Source of gravels on Left Bank?
A
Deposits of gravel and stony soils carried by floodwaters from Pyrenees and Massif Central, thousands of years ago
16
Q
Highest gravel mound in Medoc?
A
32m, Margaux
17
Q
Croupes
A
Gravel mounds in Bordeaux
18
Q
What drains better, gravel or clay?
A
Gravel
Even after showers and storms on Left Bank, roots of vines soon dry out
19
Q
Risk of Medoc gravels in a very hot year?
A
Eg 2003, 2005
Excellent drainage = risk of drought stress
particularly for shallow soils
20
Q
What happened in Pomerol in 2016 (re shallow soils)?
A
Some drought stress
Gravel soils drain well, soil less than a metre deep
21
Q
What do gravel soils do re: heat?
A
Retain heat
Pebbles and stones retain warmth after hot summer day, release it upwards to vines gradually = aid slow ripening
22
Q
Soils in St Estephe?
A
Gravel
Pockets of clay
23
Q
Reputation of clay soils in Medoc?
A
Can make robust and charactful wines
Not as prestigious as gravel
24
Q
Best soils in Right Bank Bordeaux?
A
Limestone plateau St Emilion
Gravel in pomerol
lots of clay for the most part
25
Merlot on clay in Bordeaux: how does it perform?
Very well!
Ripens fully in most vintages
Accumulates more sugar (and thus alcohol) than Cab S/F
26
Merlot early or late budding?
Early budding
Prone to spring forst
27
Merlot early or late ripening?
Mid ripening
Grapes picked before autumn rain
28
Merlot susceptible to what ailments? (and so what?)
Coulure, drought and botrytis bunch rot
= sorting is necessary to maintain quality
all can reduce yields
29
Key benefit of Merlot in Bordeaux?
It can ripen fully in cooler years
(vs later ripening Cab Sauv)
30
Benefit of clay's water-holding capacity for Merlot?
Enables it to produce large berries
31
Merlot flavours and aromas Bordeaux
Medium to pronounced intensity
Strawb, red plum, herbaceous (cool years)
Cooked blackberry, black plum (hot years)
32
Merlot tannins and alcohol in Bordeaux
Medium tannins
Medium to high alcohol
33
Cabernet Sauvignon early or late budding?
Late budding
Some protect from spring forst
34
Describe Cabernet Sauvignon berries?
Small berries
Thick skins
High tannin
35
Cabernet Sauvignon ailments
Fungal (pwodery)
Trunk (Eutypa dieback and esca)
36
Cabernet Sauvignon ripens early or late?
Ripens late
Needs to be grown on warmer soils
Vulnerable to early autumn rains
37
Where is Cabernet Sauvignon at its best?
Warm, well-drained (gravel) soils
Medoc croupes
38
Cabernet Sauvignon flavours and aromas in Bordeaux
Pronounced intensity
Violet, blackcurrant, black cherry, menthol, herbaceous
39
Bdx: what's unripe Cabernet Sauvignon like?
High acidity, unripe tannins, little fruit
Cooler seasons where it struggles to ripen
blended with Merlot and CF for balance
40
What does Cab Franc bring to Bdx blend?
Red fruit
High acidity
Medium tannins
41
Malbec replanted in Bordeaux after when? Replaced with what?
Replanted after hard frosts of 1956
Replaced with Merlot (easier to grow)
42
Petit Verdot buds early or late?
Buds early
Spring frost
43
Petit Verdot ripens early or late?
Late
Even later than Cab Sauv
44
Reason for Petit Verdot unpopularity among Bdx growers?
Late ripening, even later than Cab Sauv = struggle to ripen in cool years
Susceptible to rain at harvest
Also, buds early: spring frost risk
45
Best spots for Petit Verdot in Bordeaux?
Warmer parts of the Medoc
46
What does Petit Verdot bring to Bordeaux blend?
Power
Deep colour
Spice
High tannin
47
Why is Petit Verdot increasingly valued by Bdx growers?
Warmer climate = more likely to ripen most years
48
Semillon ripens early or late?
Mid ripening
Susceptible to botrytis bunch rot, noble rot
49
Yields for Semillon?
Can carry high yields
50
Semillon flavours
Low intensity
Apple, lemon
Grass (if under-ripe)
51
Semillon structure
Medium body
Medium alcohol
Medium to medium (+) acid
52
What does Semillon bring to high quality dry white Bordeaux blend?
Low to medium intensity aromas, weight and body
Medium acidity
Softens SAuvignon Blanc's intensity and acidity
Vanilla and sweet spice from new French oak
53
What does Semillon bring to botrytis wines?
Pronounced honey and dried lemon, peach
Waxy texure
54
Which is more susceptible to noble rot: Semillon or Sauvignon Blanc?
Semillon
55
Two examples of Sauternes with high % of Semillon
Climens
Yquem
56
How does Semillon age?
Very well
Toast and honeyed notes with age
57
How does Sauvignon Blanc age?
It can hold but its flavours don't evolve
58
What does Sauvignon Blanc bring to white Bdx blend?
Grassy, goosberry
High acidity
59
Bdx: Muscadelle info
Needs to be planted on well exposed site
Prone to botrytis bunch rot
Mostly sweet wines
Flowery and grapey notes
60
What does Muscadelle add to blend?
Flowery and grapey notes
61
Costs associated with high-density planting in Bdx?
More plants and trellising required
Specialist over-the-row tractors
More (labour) time for vine training, ploughing, spraying etc
62
Vine density in basic Bordeaux AOC?
Low density
3,000-4,000 vines per hectare
(vs 10,000/ha for Pauillac etc)
63
Most common way to manage vine in Bdx?
Head trained
Replacement cane pruned
Canes trained along wires
Left Bank: two canes (double Guyot)
Right Bank: one can (single Guyot)
64
Different Guyot Left vs Right Bank
Left Bank: double Guyot, ie two canes
Right Bank: single Guyot, ie one cane
65
Second most common way to manage vine in Bdx (after Guyot)
Cordon-trained, spur-pruned
Rare but some estates use it, prestigious
Reduces yields naturally, better aeration
66
Moderate damp climate in Bordeaux leads to what problems
Downy mildew
Powdery mildew
Botrytis bunch rot
67
How to fend off mildew pressure with canopy mgmt?
Leaf removal during summer = improve aeration, deter rot
Exposes grapes to UV light = aid ripening
68
What is soft pruning?
Response to esca and eutypa dieback
Make only small cuts if possible, leave extra wood at cut site, allow wood to dry out
Maximise sap flow
69
Solution for flavescence dorée in Bordeaux/
Insecticides
70
Which side of a row can leaf removal take place on?
Either or both
71
Downside of leaf removal?
Exposure to sunburn and extreme heat
eg 2003, raisined grapes
72
Leaf removal more or less risky late in season?
Less risky late in season
Extreme heat less likely
73
What does bunch-thinning do?
Remove bunches, by hand or machine
Correct vines carrying a high yield
Improve concentration of flavour
Less popular now = unbalance the vine
74
Average yields in Bordeaux now?
50hl/ha
Decreased over last 20 year
75
Have yields on average increased or descreased in Bordeaux?
Decreased in last 20 years
now 50hl/ha
76
Size of harvst crew at big Bordeaux estates?
Over 100 ppl
77
Why machine harvest in northern Medoc?
Difficult to find hand-harvest workers so far north (2 hours from Bordeaux)
78
Early drinking red Bordeaux: fermentation
Mid-range temperatures
Short period on skins after ferment (5-7 days)
Preserve primary fruit, limit tannin extraction
79
Age-worthy red Bordeaux: fermentation
Mid-range to warm temperature
14-30 days on skins post-ferment
80
Red Bdx: Is maceration shorter or longer in poor vintages?
Shorter maceration in poor vintages if fruit not fully ripe
81
Simpler Bdx red: maturation
Stainless steel, concrete
4-6 mths
oak chips maybe
82
How frequently is high end red Bordeaux racked?
Every three months traditionally
Some avoid it and use micro-oxygenation instead
83
Two blending approaches in red Bordeaux
1. Blend over winter. most estates, ready for EP. Near-final blend plus deslsection for 2nd, 3rd and bulk wine.
2. Blend a few months before bottling. minority of estates. watch evolution of each lot before final blend.
84
Lighter coloured Bdx rosé (not Clairet) made how?
Direct pressing
85
Mid-priced white Bordeaux: lees ageing for how long?
Fine lees for 6-12 mths
= weight and omplexity
86
High-end white Bordeaux fermented and aged in what?
Barrique
Varying proportion of new oak
87
MLF in premium dry white Bdx?
Often blocked. Retain freshness and acidity
88
Bdx winemakers wary of batonnage why?
Can give wines excessive body (vs acidity) in hot years
89
Contemporary style fo white Bordeaux owes a lot to Denis Dubourdieu and ____
André Lurton
+ Sauvignon Blanc, skin contact
- new oak
90
Yields for sweet Bdx vs dry?
Often one-third of acceptable level for dry white
91
Why are low yields important for Sauternes?
Ensure very high sugar levels
92
How are low yields achieved in Sautneres?
Prune to a low number of buds
Remove any fruit that shows disease or damage (would get grey rot rather than noble rot)
93
Yields in Sautneres: max and average
max 25hl/ha
below 10hl/ha is common at top estates
low yields = high cost
94
How many tries at harvest for a top Sauternes estate?
10-12 at most attentive estates
95
Harvest in Sauternes: from when to when?
September to November
96
Sancerre: Level of botrytis in final wine depends on (3)
1. conditions for spread of noble rot (varies year to year)
2. proximity to areas where mist form
3. willingness to wait for best time to harvest (risk losing all/some crop) and pay for multiple passes through vyd
97
Sauternes made from both botrytris-affected and late-harvested (non-botrytis fruit). True or false?
True
(Level of botrytis can vary widely from year to year)
98
Ferment vessel(s) for Sauternes
Stainless steel
Concrete
Barrique
99
Top quality Sauternes typically fermented in what?
Barrique
Best integration of oak and fruit
100
Barrel ageing for Sauternes
18-36 mths
Gentle oxidation, add complexity
101
New oak in Sauternes
30-50%
can be up to 100% (eg at Yquem)
Adds to production costs
102
Bordeaux AOC max yields for red, rose, white
Red: 60hl/ha
Rosé: 62hl/ha
White: 67hl/ha
(Some wines of low flavour concentration)
103
Max yields for red Bordeaux AOC
60hl/ha
104
Max yields for red Bordeaux Superieur AOC
59hl/ha
(vs. 60hl/ha for Bordeaux AOC)
105
Bordeaux and Bordeaux Superieur together account for what % of all wine produced in Bordeaux?
50%
106
Red Bordeaux/Superieur style
Mainly Merlot
Medium intensity red fruit
High acid
Medium (+) tannin
Medium body
Medium alcohol
107
Dry white Bordeaux AOC style
Sauvignon Blanc
Medium intensity gooseberry and lemon
Medium body
High acid
Medium alcohol
108
Max yield for Medoc AOC and Haut-Médoc AOC
55hl/ha
109
Medoc and Haut-Medoc AOC can be sold for consumption when?
Mid-June the year after the harvest
110
Plantings in Medoc AOC
Nearly equal Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon
111
Max yield for Margaux, St Julien, Pauillac and St EStephe
57hl/ha
112
Grapes % planted in St Estephe
Cabernet Sauvignon 50%
Merlot 40%
113
Coolest of four Left Bank communes?
St Estephe
114
Advantage of St Estephe's clay recently?
Water retaining capacity helpful in recent dry, hot summers
115
% of Cabernet Sauvignon planted in Pauillac
62%
116
Where is Cabernet Sauvignon planted in Pauillac?
Gravel banks close to estuary
Ripen fully in most years
117
What % of Pauillac production is Gradn Cru Classé?
85%
118
What does WSET say about St Julien?
Lots of Cabernet Sauvignon
Lots of cru classe
Homogenous gravel soils
Style: midway between Pauillac power and Margaux finesse
No 1st growths, 5 second growths
119
Which of four Medoc communes grapes ripen earlier?
Margaux
7-10 days earlier tahn northern AOCs
120
Why is early ripening in Margaux an advantage?
Helps in cool years or if rain threatens
121
Why less moderating influence in Listrac and Moulis?
Further from the river
122
Max yields in Graves AOC: red and white
Red: 55hl/ha
White: 58hl/ha
123
How much of Graves AOC is red?
85% red
124
What is Graves Superieures AOC?
Late-picked and/or botrytis sweet wines
40hl/ha yield - higher than Sauternes
125
Red/white split in Pessac-Léognan (wine production)
80% red
20% white
126
Max yield for Pessac-Léognan (red and white)
54hl/ha (both red and white)
127
White Pessac-Léognan style
Sauvignon and Semillon
Pronounced goosberry, lemon, grapefruit
Vanilla dn clove
Medium (+) body
Medium (+) to high acid
Medium to high alcohol
128
Second largest AOC after Bordeaux/Bordeaux Superieur?
Entre-deux-Mers AOC
129
Max yield for Entre-deux-Mers
65hl/ha
(some wines of low flavour intensity)
130
St Emilion and St Emilion Grand Cru: yields
St Emilion: 53hl/ha
St Em Grand Cru: 46hl/ha
131
Differences between St Emilion and St Emilion Grand Cru
Same geographic area
St Em: 53hl/ha yield; 6 mths min ageing
St Em GC: 46hl/ha yield; 20 mths min ageing
132
% of Merlot grown in St Emilion/GC
60%
133
Top St Emilion GCwine style
Pronounced red/black plum, vanilla, clove
Full body
High alcohol
Medium (+) to high acid
Medium (+) to high tannins
Intense fruit concentration, high acid, high tannins = long ageing
134
Two largest St Em satellites
Montagne and Lussac
135
% of Merlot planted in Pomerol
80%
136
Max yield in Pomerol
49hl/ha
137
Pomerol top wines: style
Pronounced red and black plum, vanilla, clove
Full body
High alcohol
Medium (+) to high acid
Medium (+) to high tannin
Long ageing potential
138
4 Cotes de Bordeaux communes
Blaye
Cadillac
Castillon
Francs
139
Cotes de Bordeaux created when?
2009
140
Max yield(s) for Cotes de Bordeaux?
Cotes de Bordeaux AOC: 55hl/ha
Cotes de Bordeaux [+ name eg Castillon] AOC: 52hl/ha
141
Cotes de Bourg info
not part of Cotes de Bordeaux
Merlot dominant, similar style and price to Medoc AOC
10% Malbec (highest proportion of any Bdx AOC)
142
Semillon accounst for what % of plantings in Sauternes?
80%
143
How does noble rot form in Sauternes?
Cold Ciron River meets warm Garonne River
Leads to morning mists
Burnt off my middle of day, sunshine in afternoon dries grapes (avoid grey rot)
144
Max yields for Sauternes
25hl/ha (much lower in reality)
145
Sauternes wine style
Pronounced citrus peel, honey, tropical fruit (mango), vanilla
Full body
High alcohol
Medium to medium (+) acid
Sweet finish
146
Other sweet wine AOCs in Bdx (not Sauternes adn Barsac)
Sainte-Croix-du-Mont
Loupiac
Premieres Cotes de Bordeaux
147
How many classified "chateaux" in Graves? (WSET wording)
16
148
Graves classification published when?
1959
149
St Emilion classification published when?
1955
150
Three tiers of Cru Bourgeois (since 2018)
Cru Bourgeois
Cru Bourgeois Superieur
Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel
151
Average estate size in Bordeaux?
19 ha
152
Annual production in Bordeaux
800 million bottles
it fluctuates annually
153
Co-ops in Bordeau: what % of production and what % growers
25% of production, from 40% of growers
154
Production cost (per bottle) for Bordeaux AOC, Medoc AOC and Grand Cru Classé?
Bordeaux AOC: €0.57
Medoc AOC: €2.35
Grand Cru Classé: €16
Do not include interest on bank loans or land costs
155
Why are Grand Cru Classé more costly to produce than lesser estates?
Increased vine density
Harvest costs
Higher viticultural costs
Lower yield
Rigorous grape selection (optical sorting too)
Barrel ageing (% of new, and time spent)
156
Total value of Bordeaux wien sales in 2018
€4 billion
(50-50 domestic adn export)
157
Bordeaux sales value domestic/exprot split
50-50
158
Bordeaux volume sales domestic export split
56% domestic
44% export
159
Average price of Bdx wine in France?
€5.80 per bottle
Supermarkets 48% of sales volume
160
Top export markets by value for Bdx?
HK
China
USA
UK
161
Negociants account for approx what % of Bdx wine sales?
70%
162
Negociants take about what % of sale price? Bdx
15%
163
Courtier takes what % of sale price?
2%
164
How many negociants will a chataeu sell to?
Could be 40
165
Price per litre for bulk Bordeaux AOC
Around €1 per litre, struggle to improve it
166
When did consumers really takea n interest in Bordeaux EP sales?
Started psot WWII, wineries struggling financially
Start to catch on with consumers in late 1970s
Really takes off with 1982 vintage (quality and Parker)
167
En Primeur Bdx: advantages for estates
Ability to test market bt releasing early lower-priced tranches
Early payment and ROI, finance next vintage
168
EP Bdx: disadvantage for estates
Sell at lower price than might be obtained for bottled wine
Potential for financial mismanagement or losses by negociants - affect chateau reputation
169
EP Bdx: advantage for consumers
Secure sought-after wines, theoretically lowest price
Keep or trade wines
170
Ep Bdx: disadvantage for consumers
Unfinished samples and critics notes may not reflect final wine
Intermediaries may go out of business before wine arrives
Prices may fall before wine arrives
