Bordeaux Flashcards
What are the 5 first growths of Bordeaux?
Chateau Margaux
Chateau Haut-Brion
Chateau Latour
Chateau Mouton Rothschild
Chateau Lafite Rothschild
What first growth Bordeaux are located within Pauillac AOP?
Chateau Latour
Chateau Mouton Rothschild
Chateau Lafite Rothschild
What AOP is Chateau Margaux located within?
Margaux AOP
What First growth Bordeaux is located within Graves?
Chateau Haut-Brion
What type of Climate does Bordeaux experience?
Maritime climate, influenced by the Atlantic Ocean and Gironde estuary acting as moderating influences. Coastal pine forest also protect the Medoc from harsh west and Northernly winds. Bordeaux’s climate becomes more continental further inland.
True or False: Nearly 90% of wine produced in Bordeaux is red?
True
What 3 rivers act as moderating influences in Bordeaux?
The Gironde Estuary plus the two large rivers that feed it, the Dordogne and Garonne.
The best vineyards in Bordeaux tend to be what soil type?
Gravel and stone soils
What type of soil is found in St. Emilion?
Limestone
Why is Merlot often planted in the less favorable soils of Clay?
Because of its lack of tannin and early ripening quality?
What are the 6 red grapes permitted for Bordeaux?
Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Carmenere, Malbec.
What red grapes make up the majority of plantings in Bordeaux?
Merlot 60% of plantings
Cabernet Sauvignon 20% of plantings
Cabernet Franc 10% of plantings
What are the 7 grapes permitted for white Bordeaux?
Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc, Muscadelle,
Ungi Blanc, Colombard, Merlot Blanc, Sauvignon Gris
What grape is used in a high percentage in the wines of Chateau Haut Brion Blanc, and Chateau La Mission Haut Brion Blanc?
Semillion
What are the Communes of Bordeaux’s left Bank from north to South?
St.-Estephe, Pauillac, St. Julien, Margaux, Pessac, Pessac-Leognan
Which grape dominates the wines of Pomerol?
Merlot
In which year were the top estates of the Medoc Classified?
1855
What are Cabernet Sauvignons main attributes in a Bordeaux Blend?
Structure, Power, and Longevity
St-Emilion was most recently classified for the 7th time in what year.
2022
Pavillion is the second wine of which Chateau?
Chateau Margaux
Ugni Blanc and Colombard are primarily used in which appellation?
Cotes de Blaye
The Saint-Emilion AOP Borders which major river?
The Dordogne River
What grape is typically last to ripen in Bordeaux?
Petit Verdot
What are the parent grapes of Cabernet Sauvignon?
Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc
Which commune is Chateaux-Leoville Las Cases located in?
St. Julien
Chateau Palmer is located in which commune?
Margaux
Cabernet Franc is also known as what on the right Bank?
Bouchet
What two rivers border the Sauternes AOP?
The Garonne and Ciron Rivers
In what year were the estates of Graves first classified?
1953
What is the minimum alcohol required for Saint-Emilion Grand Cru AOP?
11.5%
What is another name for Malbec on the right Bank?
Pressac
What appellation is Chateau Lafleur located in?
Pomerol
True or False: The Medoc receives more annual rainfall than any other French region?
True
What are the 2 Chateau currently ranked Premier Cru Class A in Saint-Emilion?
Chateau Figeac
Chateau Pavie
What appellation is Chateau Le Pin produce wine in?
Pomerol
What Chateau produces Creme de Tete?
Chateau Gilette
In what appellation can Crass de Fer soil be found?
Pomerol
What are Negociants?
Intermediaries, Buying grapes or bulk wine and making and aging it in their own cellars before selling it.
What are Courtiers?
Brokers of Wine with lots of buying power. They supply Chateau with financial backing While taking over the actual trade of wine. They are responsible for en Premier Sales.
What is En Premier refer to?
Refers to the yearly offering of Bordeaux or other wine as Futures.
What is Bordeaux Mixture
A mixture of Lime, Copper Sulfate, and Water its applied to vines throughout the season to combat fungus and mold.
What does Bordeaux Superieur AOP Indicate for red and off dry white wines.
A higher minimum potential level of Alcohol.
What is the primary grape in the Bas Medoc? Why?
Merlot because it performs better than other varieties in the water logged clay based soils.
True or False: Medoc AOP Wines must be red?
True
What is Cru Artisan
A designation formerly recognized in 2002 it is awarded to chateaux who prove themselves to be exceptional stewards of the land and craft. winemaking. These Chateau do not have large financial backing and work an average of 6 hectars.
In 2018 a review was conducted and currently 36 chateau hold this designation with a review now happening every 5 years.
What are the three categories of Cru Bourgeois?
Cru Bourgeois
Cru Bourgeois Supérieur
Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel
When was Cru Bourgeois first introduced?
1932
When was cru Bourgeois classification official when was it reinstated and when were the higher classifications reinstated.
Cru Bourgeois became official in 2003, then nullified, then reinstated but only the lower cru bourgeois classification in 2008, then the two higher classification were reinstated in 2018. The classification will be reviewed every 5 years.
What grape dominates the wines of St-Estephe AOP? Why?
Merlot, due to the regions higher percentage of Clay in the Gravel soils.
What grape dominates the wines of Pauillac AOP? Why?
Cabernet Sauvignon due to the regions deep gravel topsoils.
What style are the wines of St-Julien?
They typically demonstrate an elegant style.
Name two commune appellations in the Medoc that offer wines of good value?
Listrac-Modoc AOP and Moulis-en-Medoc AOP
What are Croupes?
Large deposits or mounds of gravely soil found in the Medoc.
How are the wines of Margaux often described stylistically?
Emphasized floral bouquet with exotic character and finesse.
Describe the soil in Margaux?
Not as deep of gravel as in St-Julien or Pauillac, Its described as a thin layer of sandy gravel deposited over limestone. Clay is more pronounced in the outlying areas.
What is Boulbenes?
A mixture of Sand, Gravel, and light clay found in Graves.
What style of wines fall under Graves AOP?
Both Red and White dry wines.
When was the sub appellation of Pessac-Leognan created?
In 1987
Sweet wines may be produced throughout Graves under what AOP?
Graves Supérieur AOP
What are the the 3 main sweet wine appellations in Graves?
Cerons, Barsac, Sauternes
Why does Botrytis affect the vineyards of Sauternes so well?
Because Sauternes lies at the conflux of the Ceron and Garonne Rivers, when the morning mists of the Ceron and warm waters of the Garonne mix it creates the perfect environment for botrytis.
What are Tries?
Multiple passes through a vineyard to select only the grapes that are ready.
How many growth levels are there in Sauternes?
Only two, First and Second Growths.
What Chateau is the only to achieve 1st growth or premier Cru Superieur in Sauternes?
Chateau d’Yquem
What is d’Yquem’s dry white wine called?
“Y” (Ygrec)
What are the five villages included under Sauternes AOP?
Sauternes, Barsac, Fargues, Preignac, and Bommes
What Chateau ages its wine in concrete vats for a decade before releasing? What is the wine called?
Chateau Gilette makes the wine Creme de Tete.
Name two vintages d’Yquem that did not produce Sauternes due to poor weather?
1974 and 1992
The finished wines of Sauternes must have a minimum how many grams of residual sugar?
45 grams per Liter
What is the minimum harvest must weight for Sauternes?
221g per liter
What grapes dominate the blends of St-Emilion and Pomerol AOP’s
Merlot and Cabernet Franc
What Chateau in St-Emilion uncharacteristically bases its wines on Cabernet Sauvignon?
Chateau Figeac
When was the St-Emilion classification created?
1954 (published in 1955)
What are the 3 tiers of the St-Emilion Classification?
Grand Cru
Grand Cru Classe
Premier Grand Cru Classe
True of False: Petit Verdot may NOT exceed 10% of the blend in St-Emilion Grand Cru AOP?
True
What is the minimum potential Alcohol required for St-Emilion Grand Cru AOP?
11.5%
What is the Aging (elevage) for St-Emilion Grand Cru AOP?
Wines may not be released until it least May 15th of the second year following harvest.
What is the soil type in Pomerol.
mixture of sand clay and gravel with a subsoil of Iron pan and rich clay (known as crasse de fer)
What grapes typically dominate the wines of Pomerol AOP? What is the style of wine produced?
Merlot 70-80%
Cabernet Franc20-25%
Stylistically the wines are Ripe, plump, and opulent, more approachable sooner than the wines of the Medoc.
What are 4 Chateau of Note from Pomerol?
Chateau Petrus
Chateau Le Pin
Chateau Lafleur
Chateau Trotanoy
What are the 4 Satellite appellations of St-Emilion?
Lussac
St-Georges
Montagne
Puisseguin
What are the 3 neighboring red wine districts of Pomerol?
Leland-de-Pomerol AOP
Fronsac AOP
Canon-Fronsac AOP
What is the primary soil type in cotes de Bourg and Blaye?
Limestone
What style of Wine does Cotes de Blaye produce?
Dry white wines based primarily on Ugni Blanc And Colombard, Minimum combined 50% of these two varieties.
What are the 3 sweet wine making districts of the Right Bank?
Loupiac
Cadillac
Sainte-Croix-du-Mont
What style of wine does Entre-Deux-Mers AOP Produce?
Dry White wines based on Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Muscadelle, and Sauvignon Gris.
What Geographical designation may Bordeaux AOP and Entre-Deux-Mers use.
Haut-Benauge AOP
True or False: When using the Haut-Benauge Geographical designation the wines are required to be dry in style.
True
Name all the 2nd Growth of Saint-Estephe.
Chateau Montrose
Cos D’Estournel
Name all the 2nd Growths of Pauillac.
Chateau Pichon Longueville Baron
Chateau Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande
Name all the 2nd Growths of Saint-Julien.
Chateau Leoville-Las Cases
Chateau Leoville-Poyferre
Chateau Leoville-Barton
Chateau Gruaud-Larose
Chateau Ducru-Beaucaillou
Name all the 2nd Growths of Margaux.
Chateau Rauzan-Segla
Chateau Rauzan-Gassies
Chateau Durfort-Vivens
Chateau Lascombes
Chateau Brane-Cantenac
Name the 3rd Growth in Saint-Estephe.
Chateau Calon-Sugur
Name the two 3rd Growths of Saint-Julien.
Chateau Lagrange
Chateau Langoa Barton
Name 2 third Growths of Margaux.
Chateau Palmer ( Super Second)
Chateau Desmirail
Name the 3rd Growth Bordeaux located in Haut-Medoc.
Chateau La Lagune
Name two 4th Growth Bordeaux and their Communes?
Chateau Talbot - Saint-Julien
Chateau Beychevelle - Saint-Julien
Name two 5th Growth Bordeaux and their communes?
Chateau Lynch-Bages - Pauillac
Chateau Belgrave - Haut-Medoc
When was the classification of Saint-Emilion created?
1955
What are the classifications of Saint-Emilion from least to greatest?
Saint-Emilion Grand Cru (Not really classified)
Grand Cru Classe
Premier Grand Cru Classe B
Premier Grand Cru Classe A
What chateau hold the classification of Premier Grand Cru Classe A after the 2022 review.
Chateau Pavie
Chateau Figeac
What 3 Chateau previously classified as Grand Cru Classe A dropped out of the 2022 classification. But are still according to market standards and demand some of the top Right Bank Bordeaux.
Chateau Chaval Blanc
Chateau Ausone
Chateau Angelus
What Chateau dropped out of the 2022 Saint-Emilion classification that was previously a Premier Grand Cru Classe B estate.
Chateau La Gaffeliere
Name 2 Premier Grand Cru Classe B estates of Saint-Emilion?
Chateau Troplong Mondot
Chateau Valandraud
Name 5 Great Bordeaux Vintages before the year 2000
1945 - Considered the greatest vintage of the 20th century
1961 - Yields were reduced by spring frost but summer was hot & sunny
1982 - Ideal growing conditions all year long
1990 - The last of the magnificent trio years. Very hot vintage
2000 - Robert Parker said Phenomenal possibly one of the best vintages of Bordeaux.
Name 4 great vintages of Bordeaux in the 21st century.
2005 - Lots of aging Potential
2009 - Very ripe
2010 - Strong and fresh (Considered Classic Bordeaux)
2015 - Rich and Velvety
Name 4 Vintages in Bordeaux that were great for Sauternes.
2009
2011 - Exceptionally good aging potential
2014
2015
What are 4 Vintages in Bordeaux generally considered not great?
2007
2008
2012
2013
Name 4 producers of note from Pomerol.
Chateau Petrus
Chateau Lafleur
Chateau le Pin
Chateau Trotanoy
