Bordeaux Flashcards
What is the difference in min. potential alcohol between Saint Émilion AOP & Saint Émilion Grand Cru AOP?
Saint Émilion AOP: 11%
Saint Émilion Grand Cru AOP: 11.5%
Name three Châteaux located in Néac?
- Château La Fleur de Bouard
- Château de Chambrun
- Château Les Cruzelles
What is Est. JP Moueix?
Who founded it and when?
Who Runs it now?
Jean Pierre Moueix founded this negotiant in 1937 based in Libourne specializing in wines from Pomerol. Christian Moueix now runs the firm.
What is the name of the forest that protects Bordeaux vineyards from weather?
The Landes Forest
What famous commune in the Haut-Médoc has the highest portion of Clay?
St. Estèphe
What is the name of the river that seperates the communes of Sauternes & Barsac?
The Ciron - the meeting of the Ciron and the Garonne is one of the key factors in the mist that encourages botrytis in the fall.
What are the élevage requirements for St. Julien AOP?
not to be released before June 15th of the year following the harvest.
What is Pressac Noir?
A synonym for Malbec in the Right Bank
What was the solution to Peronospera or Downy Mildew?
The Bordeaux Mixture
What is the min. must weight and min. residual sugar required for Sauternes AOP?
221 g/l mst weight
45 g/l residual sugar
What is the soil you want to avoid in Fronsac?
The alluvial soils close to the banks of the Dordogne.
Cérons can label dry whites and red as…?
Graves AOP
What are the five vilages of Margaux?
- Arsac
- Labarde
- Cantenac
- Soussans
- Margaux
What are the three tiers of classification for Sauternes/
Premier Cru Supérieur
Premier Cru
Deuxièmes Cru
What is the Bordeaux Mixture?
A mix of Copper Sulfate, Lime and Water that is spread to avoid fungal infections.
Why was the appellation of Pressac-Léognan AOP created?
To differentiate the Northern Graves from the South. All classified estates were contained within Pessac-Léognan.
(est. 1987)
What is Michel Rolland’s propoerty in Pomerol?
Château Le Bon-Pasteur
What two appellations may produce a wine labeled “Haut-Benauge”?
Bordeaux AOP
&
Entre-deux-Mers AOP
What is the most northern commune (northern border) of Haut-Médoc?
St-Seurin
(St-Seurin-de-Cadourne is the town)
What are the élevage requirements for St. Estèphe AOP?
not to be released before June 15th of the year following the harvest.
What is the min. must weight and min. residual sugar requirements for Cadillac AOP?
255 g/l
51 g/l
What are the three sweet wine appellations that lie within the Premières Côtes de Bordeaux AOP?
- Cadillac AOP
- Loupiac AOP
- Sainte-Croix-du-Mont AOP
Name a few estates owned by Ets. JP Moueix?
- Château Petrus
- Château La Fleur-Petrus
- Château Trotanoy
- Château Lagrange
What is the min. must weight and min. residual sugar requirements for Premières Côtes de Bordeaux AOP?
221 g/l
34 g/l
What is the common assemblage for Fronsac AOP & Cannon-Fronsac AOP?
Merlot and Cabernet Franc
(The top estates will have as much as 80-100% Merlot)
What is the difference in max. yield between Cérons AOP & Sauternes AOP?
Cérons AOP - 40 hl/ha
Sauternes AOP - 25 hl/ha
What style of wine is produced as Côtes de Blaye AOP?
Dry white wine from Colombard and Ugni Blanc
What is the min. residual sugar for Bordeaux Superieur Blanc AOP?
17 g/l
Who is André Lurton?
He was a key figure in Graves when he arrived in 1965 to take over Château Couhins. He was president of the Syndicate de Haut Graves and instrumental in the creation of Pessac-Léognan AOP in 1987. He was founder of the local growers graganization. Also owned Château La Louviere, Château de Rochemorin and Château de Cruzeau.
What is the blue clay at Château Petrus known as?
Smectitie Clay
What style of wine is produced at Côtes de Bordeaux ‘Cadillac’ AOP
Rouge only
Who owns Château Latour?
François Pinault
What appellation in Bordeaux permits Merlot Blanc?
Graves de Vayres AOP.
max. 30%
Which two Classified Châteaux in Graves are now discontinued?
- Château La Tour Haut Brion
- Château Laville Haut Brion
What style of wine can be made as Côtes de Bourg AOP?
Dry white
&
Dry red
What style of wine is produced as Côtes de Bordeaux ‘Blaye’ AOP?
Dry white and dry red
How much rainfall does Bordeaux receive on average?
The Médoc experiences more annual rainfall, (950mm) than any other region in France.
What style of wine is produced as Côtes de Bordeaux ‘Castillon’ AOP?
Rouge only
What are the two categories of Cru Bourgeois that were done away with in 2007?
- Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel
- Cru Bourgeois Supérieur
What is the min. must weight and min. residual sugar requirements for Loupiac AOP?
229 g/l
45 g/l
What event led to the growers in Pomerol to plant more Merlot than Cabernet Franc?
The frost of 1956.
Which grape ripens earlier, Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon?
Merlot ripens up to two weeks earlier than Cabernet Sauvignon.
What region serves as the crossroads between the Charente and Bordeaux? Why?
Blaye AOP
Prior to the delimiting of Cognac in 1909, much of Blaye’s harvest was fro distillation in the Charente.
Which estate in the Graves was the first identifiable property in the historic record?
Château Pap Clement
First mentioned as a Papal gift to Bordeaux in 1305.
What are the four sub-zones of Côtes de Bordeaux AOP?
- Francs
- Cadillac
- Castillon
- Blaye
What are the scoring criteria for classification Saint Émilion Grand Cru Classé as set by the INAO?
14/20 total points.
50% tasting of past 10 vintages
20% topography and soil
10% viticulture and winemaking
20% reputation of the estate
Which lies furthest north, Cadillac AOP or Loupiac AOP?
Cadillac AOP
What are the élevage requirements for Margaux AOP?
the wines must be aged until at least June 1st of the year following the harvest and not released until at least September 1st of the year following harvest.
What are the styles of wine permited under Fronsac AOP and Canon-Fronsac AOP?
Rouge Only
(from mostly Merlot and Cabernet Franc)
What is the difference in elevage between Saint Émilion AOP & Saint Émilion Grand Cru AOP?
Saint Émilion AOP - Not released until April 15th of the year following the harvest.
Saint ´Emilion Grand Cru AOP - Not released until May 15th of the year following the harvest.
The Dutch created the drainage channels that keep the Médoc from reverting back into marshland. What are they called in French?
Jalles
Which subzone of Côtes de Bordeaux AOP may produce a botrytis wine?
Francs
Sainte-Foy can producer Liquoreux and Moelleux wines but are not required to be affected by Botrytis.
What are the three American born diseases that occurred in Bordeaux?
- Odium
- Phylloxera
- Peronospera
The commune of Pauillac is marked by first growths on the northern and southern border. What are they?
Château Lafite Rothschild (in the north)
&
Château Latour (in the south)
What are the communes of production for Sauternes?
- Sauterenes
- Barsac
- Fargues
- Preignac
- Bommes
For the Médoc AOP, what styles of wine are allowed?
Rouge only.
When did Premières Côtes de Bordeaux AOP become a sweet wine only appellation?
In 2009 with the restructuring of Côtes de Bordeaux.
What were the red wines of Cadillac released as prior to 2009?
Premières Côtes de Bordeaux AOP
What style of wine is produced as Blaye AOP?
Rouge only
(white wines from Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon are released under the “Blaye” geographic designation in Côtes de Bordeaux AOP.)
What parallel runs just north of Bordeaux?
45th Parallel
Where would you find gravel soils in the Entre-deux-Mers?
Graves de Vayres AOP
What are the élevage requirements for Blaye AOP?
Not released before March 31st of the second year following the harvest. (one of the longest elevage requirements in the Gironde department)
What is the min. must weight and min. residual sugar requirements for Sainte-Croix-du-Mont AOP?
229 g/l
45 g/l
Which sweet wine appellation fall within the boundaries of Graves?
- Graves Supérieur
- Cérons
What is the min. required must weight for Graves Superior AOP?
221 g/l
Give an example of two excellent estates in Graves that are not classified.
- Château La Louvière*
- &*
- Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion*
- &*
- Château Liber Pater*
Define Cliquage.
Micro-oxigination of wine when it is in barrel just after malo.
What is the most planted white grape of Bordeaux?
Semillon
What year was Pablo Picasso dedicated on the label of Mouton Rothschild?
1973
Briefly describe the climate in Bordeaux?
A maritime climate that is characterized by warm summers and cool winters but without the spikes of temperature and extreme seasonality which befall regions further inland. (Burgundy and Champagne)
Which lies furthest north, Sauternes AOP or Cérons AOP?
Cérons AOP
What are the four satellite appellations of Saint Émilion that can add their name to the appellation?
- Lussac-St. Emilion AOP
- Montagne-St. Emilion AOP
- Puisseguin-St. Emilion AOP
- St-Georges-St. Emilion AOP
What was the last of the major communes in the Haut-Médoc to receive AOC status?
Margaux 1954 (all others were 1936)
What is the Point de Grave?
It is the point of the peninsula that is the Médoc. Left side of the Gironde Estuary.
What are the élevage requirements for Pessac-Léognan AOP?
White: not released before March 30th of the year following the harvest.
Red: not released before October 1st of the year following the harvest.
What is the most planted red grape of Bordeaux?
Merlot
Where is the soil type known as Boulbenes found? What is it?
A mixture of sand, gravel and clay.
Found in Graves (Pessac-Léognan)
What was a big moment for the Garagiste movement?
When Parker rated the 1995 vintage of Ch. Valandraud higher than Petrus.
List three producers in the Garagiste movement?
- Château Le Pin
- Château Valandraud
- La Mondotte
- Canon-la-Gaffelière
Who is François Mitjavil and what two estates does he own?
A vigneron in St. Émilion. He owns Château Tertre Roteboeuf in St. Émilion and Roc de Cambes in Côtes de Bourg AOP.
What do produceres in Blaye also have the option of labeling their wine as?
Côtes de Bordeaux AOP (with or without the Blaye geographical designation)
What is the soil of Fronsac?
Sandstone & Limestone
What are the élevage requirements for Pauillac AOP?
not to be released before June 15th of the year following harvest.
How many liters does a barrique hold?
225L
What appellations were eliminated in Saint Émilion in 1984?
Saint Émilion Grand Cru Classé AOP
&
Saint Émilion Premier Grand Cru Classé AOP
What forms the Entre-deux-Mers northern and southern borders?
The Dordogne River in the north and Graonne River in the south.
(Premieres Côtes de Bordeaux)
What appellations lie directly across the Gironde from Haut-Médoc?
Blaye AOP
&
Côtes de Bourg AOP
What is the Élevage for Crémant de Bordeaux?
Min. 9 months of the lees and not released for a min. 12 months after date of tirage.
What was the solution to Oidium?
Sulfur
If producers from Barsac or Sauternes choose to make a dry wine (white or red), what are their labeling options?
Bordeaux AOP
Not permitted to use Graves
What do the French call the gravel mounds that are key to the success of Cabernet Sauvignon on the left bank?
Croupes
l’Enclos vineyard belongs to which classified growth?
Château Latour
(many consider this to be the best terroir of the left bank)
What are the three different Terroirs of Saint Émilion AOP?
The Côtes: Limestone rich hillsides that surround the vilage of St. Émilion in the eastern part of the region. (Angelus, Ausone, Pavie, Troplong Mondot)
The Plateau: The gravel terraces (“graves”) sandy soils and slopes that lead to the plateau of Pomerol. The “graves” section includes Figeac and Cheval Blanc.
The River Plain: The vineyards that flatten out at the base of The Côtes towards the Dordogne where the soil becomes sandier and lighter wines.
What is the regional IGP that covers all of Bordeaux?
Atlantique IGP
Why is the ocean temperature higher than normal by Bordeaux?
The Atlantic Gulfstream current brings warm waters up from the Caribbean and keeps the climate mild.
Who is considered the founder of the Garagiste Movement in Bordeaux?
The Belgian owners of Le Pin, Marcel & Gerard Thienpont in 1979.
What are the scoring criteria for classification Saint Émilion Premier Grand Cru Classé as set by the INAO?
16/20 total points
30% tasting of 5 older vintages
30% topography and soil
5% viticulture and winemaking
35% reputation of the estate
How far is it from the city of Bordeaux to the Pointe de Grave headland in the Médoc?
50 miles
What year did Balthus design a label for Mouton Rothschild?
- A pensil drawing of a nude nymphet that was rejected by the TTB. A label without the nymphet was created for the US.
Which first growth in Bordeaux is known for the highest % of Cabernet Sauvinon in the bland?
Mounton Rothschild
What is the Garagiste movement?
A group of producers making “Vins de Garage” as a reaction to the traditional style of Bordeaux. These wines were bigger, bolder, fruitier and more suited to what they perceived as the international style.
How many regional appellatons are there in Bordeaux?
- Bordeaux AOP
- Bordeaux Supérieur AOP
- Crémant de Bordeaux AOP
What is the most important city in the Right Bank and what appellation is it closest to?
Libourne
It is right below Pomerol
What is the river that seperates Fronsac from Lalande-de-Pomerol?
Isle River
(a tributary flowing into the Dordogne)
What is the min. required residual sugar for Graves Superior AOP?
34 g/l
What is Michel Rolland’s estate in Fronsac AOP?
Château Fontenil
Which subzone of Côtes de Bordeaux AOP can produce a dry white wine?
Blaye
Francs
Sainte-Foy
What is considered the best commune of Lalande-de-Pomerol and why?
Néac.
It is close to the Barbanne Rau by Château Petrus and Château La Fleur Petrus and has the most proportion of Crasse de Fer.
What is Vin de Presse?
After fermentation, the skins and seeds are pressed two times to produce a low alcohol, very dark and extreamly tannic wine.
What is Creme de Tete?
Who produces it?
Creme de Tete is a Sauternes wine produced by Château Gilette and is unique amongst Sauternes producers in that they age their wines for many years, sometimes decades, only in concrete vats before they are bottled. Gilette is one of the finest-made wines in Sauternes despite the fact that Château Gilette was not classified. The vineyard, situated miles north of Yquem, is planted on sandy soil with subsoil of rock and clay.
Name four prominent consultants in the Right Bank?
- Michel Rolland
- Stéphan Derenoncourt
- Gilles Pauquet
- Stéphane Toutondji
What is the best known estate of Moulis?
Château Chasse Spleen
What styles of wines can be produced as Bordeaux AOP?
- Blanc (sec to demi-sec)
- Rosé Clairet
- Rouge Clairet
- Bordeaux “Haut Benauge” Blanc (5-60 g/l RS)
What is the local name for Cabernet Franc in Pomerol?
Bouchet
What acts as the border between Pomerol and Lalande-de-Pomerol?
The Barbanne Rau
(Barbanne Stream)
What styles of wines are produced under Bordeaux Supérieur?
- Blanc (demi-sec, min. 17 g/l)
- Rouge
What is the min. must weight and residual sugar requirements for Cérons AOP?
221 g/l
45 g/l
Sulfur Dioxide is a necessary tool used in Sauternes to reduce or ward off the risk of what?
Sulfur Dioxide reduces volatile acidity, and wards off the risk of re-fermentation.
What is the largest Tonnellerie in Bordeaux? Where else have they set up operations?
Demptos.
Napa Valley & Hungary
What is the famous soil of Fronsac?
Fronsadais Molasse
(a mixture of Limestone and Clay)
What is the difference in élevage between Sauternes AOP & Cérons AOP?
Cérons AOP - may not be released before April 30th of the year following the narvest.
Sauternes AOP - may not be released before June 30th of the year following the harvest.
What river seperates St. Emilion from its satalites?
The Barbanne River
What is a density sorter?
A machine that evaluates rippeness.
By placing the grapes in a sugar water solotuion where as the more ripe grape will rise to the top.
What is the average holding of a Cru Artisan producer?
6ha
What is a Tranche?
The portion of a Bordeaux Property’s production that is sold En Primeur.
What percentage of Bordeaux’s white grapes are planted to Muscadelle?
6%
What form of Downy Mildew was found in Bordeaux?
Peronospera
What St. Emilion Chateau has soil similar to Petrus?
Château Cheval Blanc
What was the first Château in Bordeaux to estate bottle their wines? When?
Château Mouton Rothschild
1924
When did it become law for Classifies Chateaux to esate bottle their wines?
1972
What is the only certified biodynamic winery in Bordeaux?
Château Climens
What was the first vintage of Château d’Yquem’s “Y” ygrec?
1959
Dry white Bordeaux
What are the genetic parents of Malbec and where was it created?
Magdeleine Noire des Charentes
&
Prunelard (from the Tarrn deparetment.
Created by a grower named Malbeck who propigated the varietal in the Premieres Côtes de Bordeax.
What are considered the two most rainy years in the 2000’s in Bordeaux?
2002
&
2006
When was the Cru Bourgeois reenstated and how many total are there?
How many Supérieurs?
How many Exceptionnels?
2020
- Cru Bourgeois* - 179
- Cru Bourgeois Supérieur -* 56
- Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel -* 14
Who long are Cru Bourgeois Châteaux classified for?
5 years.
The current one in 2020 is for the 2018-2022 vintages.
The next classification will occur in 2025.
List the order of events for the Cru Bourgeois Classification?
- The first official Cru Bourgeois du Médoc occured in 2003 in which 247 Châteaux were classified.
- The classification was annulled in 2007.
- In 2010, a single-tiered classification was announced for the 2008 vintage and a new classification was reported annually.
- In 2020, they reinstated the hierarcy struture.
A dry white wine labeled as Haut-Benauge will be from what AOP?
Entre-Deux-Mers AOP
Which AOP region has more land under vine: Graves or Entre-Deux-Mers?
Graves AOP
(7,200 to 3,500ha)
What is the residual sugar range for wines from Bordeaux - Haut-Benauge AOP?
5-60 g/l
What year was Cheval Blanc not produced?
1991
Give three examples of a good vintage for Botrytis wine but not for dry, still wine in Bordeaux?
- *2011 -** biggest difference in quality
- *2013 -**
- *2007 -**
Describe the early 90’s in Bordeaux?
They were bad. For everyone.
1990 was a good, although hot vintage but then 91-93 was terrible all around and 1994 was still bad for Sauternes.
What are the worst vintages for Sauternes in the 1980’s?
1984
&
1987
What are the vintages to avoid for dry Red Bordeaux in the 1980’s?
1984
&
1980
What was the best vintage in the 1960’s for Red Bordeaux?
1961
What’s the worst vintage for Red Bordeaux in the last 10 years?
2013
What is considered the best and worst vintage for Red Bordeaux from 2000 to 2010?
2009 - Best
2007 - Worst? Maybe?
How was the 2012 vintage in Bordeaux all around?
It was mediocre for Red Bordeaux and terrible for Sauternes. Many estates did not produce a grand vin. Including Yquem.
What was the rainiest year in Bordeaux from 2000 to 2010?
2007
What vintage in the last 10 years was the most affected by frost in Bordeaux?
2017
What was the best vintage of Bordeaux from the 1950’s?
1959
What is largely considered to be the best vintage of Bordeaux in the 1980’s
1982
Give an example of a good vintage for dry Red Bordeaux but not for Sauternes?
- Although early, a great year for red and bad for Botrytis.
What is the physical boundary that separates Saint Estephe AOP and Pauillac AOP and what two estates are on either side?
Jalle de Breuil
Château Cos d’Estournel
&
Château Lafite Rothschild
What is the most Chinese owned appellations of Right Bank?
Fronsac AOP
Who is the largest land owner in Pomerol?
Château de Sales
Where does Bordeaux fall on the Winkler Scale?
2
Name two additional Châteaux in the “Graves” section of Saint-Emilion?
Château La Dominique
Château La Commanderie
Which classified growth had one of their owners fined 40K Euros for influencing the 2012 classification of Saint-Émilion?
Château Angélus
St. Laurent-des-Combes, St-Pey-d’Armes and Saint-Hippolyte are communes in which Bordeaux appellation?
Saint-Émilion AOP
Which Côtes de Francs Château has applied for their own AOP?
Château le Puy
Which first growth was the first to produce a second wine?
Château Margaux