Bordeaux Flashcards
Bordeaux is 2nd in volume of production, behind _____
Languedoc
Dry white wines in Bordeaux are generally labeled ____
sec
Earliest grape to ripen
Merlot
A couple practical reasons for blending
Varying soil types + various ripening lengths of the grapes
This grape prefers clay-based soils
Merlot
This grape performs best in gravel
Cabernet Sauvignon
This grape excels in Limestone soils
Cabernet Franc
t/f: limestone-based soils promote acidity and freshness
true
What does Cab Franc contribute to the Bordeaux blend
herbal spices + red fruit aromatics
t/f: merlot contributes a fleshy, juicy texture when blended with Cabernet Sauvignon
true
Left bank Bordeaux blend is comprised of roughly ___ Cabernet Sauvignon
2/3rds
Where are you more likely to find Petit Verdot: Left bank or right bank?
left bank
What does Petit Verdot contribute to the blend?
color, depth, and an exotic perfume
What is Cru Artisan?
Classifcation that acts as a mark of distinction for small-time “artisinal” Chateaux in the Medoc
The 3 levels of Cru Bourgeois
cru bourgeois exceptionnels
cru bourgeois supérieurs
cru bourgeois
What does cru bourgeois classify?
wines of the medoc
The 8 Medoc AOCs
Medoc Haut Medoc Listrac Moulis St Estephe St Julien Pauillac Margaux
How often is the Cru Bourgeois classification revisited?
5 years
This commune AOC has 0 1st growths 5 classified growths overall
St.-Estephe
This commune AOC has 3 1st growths
Pauillac
Name the 1st growths of Pauillac
Chateau Lafite Rothschild
Chateau Mouton Rothschild
Chateau Latour
t/f: St.-Julien contains 2 1st growths
false. 0 1st growths
How many classified growths do Listrac & Moulis have?
0 each
How many 1st growths does Margaux have?
1
The wines of Margaux are often described as ______
feminine: emphasis on floural boquet, exotic character and finesse
In Graves the soil is similar to the Medoc but ____ in the south
sandier
The mixture of sand, light clay, gravel you find as you go south in Graves is known as ______
boulbenes
Graves wines were first classified in ___
1953
How often is the classification of Graves revisited and what are the levels?
No revisits; one level: cru classe
t/f: all but one cru classe chateau is found in Pessac Leognan
false: every cru classe chateau is within Pessac Leognan
t/f: Pessac Leogan does not allow dry whites
false
Name 3 sweet wines AOCs not including Graves Superieur
Barsac
Cerons
Sauternes
French term for noble rot
pourriture noble
Sauternes lies at the conflux of the _____ and Garonne rivers
Ciron
The wines of Sauternes were classified in 1855 and divided into these 3 subcategories
Premier Cru Superieur
1st growths
2nd growths
t/f: the wines of Barsac may be labelled as either Barsac AOC or Sauternes AOC
true
St.-Emilion contains a diversity of soils broadley categorized into these two types
The cotes and graves
St.-Emilion’s hillside cotes are steep _____ slopes
limestone
St.-Emilion’s graves is a _____ limestone plateau resembling the soils of the Medoc
gravelly
t/f: all Grand Cru Classe in St Emilion must meet the requirements of St Emilion Grand Cru
true
What must St Emilion Grand Cru AOC wines do to seperate them from St Emilion AOC?
+.5% ABV + extended elevage
The classification of St Emilion has these 3 categories
St Emilion Premiers Grands Crus Classe A
St Emilion Premiers Grand Crus Classe B
St Emilion Grand Crus Classe
Which is larger: St Emilion or Pomerol?
St Emilion
Cabernet Franc is known as ____ in Pomerol
Bouchet
Chateau Lefleur lies within _____
Pomerol
Chateau Le Pin lies within _____
Pomerol
The soils of Pomerol
sand, clay, gravel
Four satellite AOCs of St.-Emilion
Puisseguin
St.-Georges
Montagne
Lussac
Where is the Cotes de Bourg AOC?
Right bank, about 12 miles NW of the town of Bordeaux
Where is Blaye AOC?
north of Cotes de Bourg AOC (right bank)
The 5 subzones of Cotes de Bordeaux
Blaye Castillon Sainte Foy Francs Cadillac
Two parent grapes of Cabernet Sauvignon
Sauvignon Blanc
Cabernet Franc
Sauternes is typically __-__% ABV
12-14
This grape is typically the last to ripen in Bordeaux
Petit Verdot
Chateau Lascombes is classified as __ Growth
2nd
T/f: Bordeaux has the most hectares under vine of any French wine region
true
This IGP encompasses Bordeaux
Atlantique
