Bordeaux Flashcards
What are the two major areas of Medoc
- Bas - Medoc ( Lower)
- Haut-Medoc (Upper)
Wines labeled “Appellation Mèdoc Controlèe were made from what part of Mèdoc?
Châteaux in Bas-Mèdoc
What is the dominant grape of Mèdoc
Cabernet Sauvignon
How are high quality wines from Haut Medoc labeled?
Appellation Haut-Medoc Contrôlèe
Note:
Are often high quality wines
What are the communes of Haut - Medoc?
From north to south
- St. Estèphe
- Pauillac
- St. Julien
- Listrac
- Moulis
- Margaux
What is the main soil type of Medoc?
Mainly gravelly with some deposits of limestone and clay
What is the most grown grape in Bordeax?
Merlot
What are the red grape varietals of Bordeaux?
- Merlot
-Cabernet Sauvignon
-Cabernet Franc - Petit Verdot
- Malbec
What is the main white grape varitials in Bordeaux?
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Semillion
- Muscadelle
Refer the newest grapes that have introduced by INAO and why
Red
Arinarnoa
Castets
Marselan
Touriga Nacional
White
Alvarinho
Petit Manseng
Liliorila
*suitable for their ability to handle water stress
*later ripening.
What commune in Bordeaux is known to being the most important appellation in all of Bordeaux
Paulliac
What are the five 1st Growth Classification Wines of 1855?
- Chateau Latour
- Château Lafite - Rothchild
- Château Mouton - Rothschild
- Château Margeux
-Château Haut - Brion
State the regulation for the new grapes from INAO
- limited to just 5% of an estate’s total surface area.
- no more than 10% of the blend in either red or white wines.
-only for Bordeaux AOP and Bordeuax Superieur AOP
What is the smallest commune in Haut Medoc?
St. Julien
What are boulbenes?
The mixture of sand, gravel, and light clay soil. This takes place in Graves
What are the 3 major bodies of water in Bordeaux
-Gironde
- Dordogne
- Garonne
What area in the Left Bank is known for its sweet white wines?
Sauternes,Barsac,Cerons
What is the fungus that is very popular on grapes in Sauternes and Barsac that helps produces sweet white wines?
Botrytis Cinerea
What grape gets Botrytis Cinerea the most in Bordeaux and why?
Semillion and because it’s a thin skinned grape that contains a lot of sugar
What causes Noble Rot?
1) Soil : comabination of clay, gravel and sand over a bed of deep limestone
2) Climate : The location attracts morning mists which are cause by the humidity generated by the cold watres of Ciron and the nearby pine forests. In the warm afternoon, the mists are blown away by the dry winds generated by the warmer Garonne, which dry the grapes off and prevent grey rot developing. Gentle rain can help too.
What is the white wine that is made in Pessac - Lèognan?
Sauvignon Blanc
What is the soil type in the right bank?
Clayish with lismestone
What is the main grapes of the right bank?
Merlot - the main grape
Cabernet Franc - is also a leading grape
What appellations in the right bank make white wines and refer the grapes
Côte de Blaye and Côte de Bourg
Colombard, Ugni Blanc
Blanc label of chateau Mouton Rothschild
Mouton Rothschild Aile d’Argent
Other red wines of the right bank?
Canon - Fronsac
Fronsac
Lalande - de - Pomperol
What is the smallest commune of all the quality communes in Right Bank?
Pomerol
What is the major grape grown in Pomerol?
Merlot
What is the top château in Pomerol?
Château Pètrus
What is the main grape of Saint Èmilion?
Merlot
True or False
Saint Èmilion was apart of the 1855 Classification?
False - due to being left out Saint Èmilion created its own appellation, Appellation Saint Èmilion Grand Cru Contrôlèe”
What are the top producers in Saint Emilion?
Château Cheval Blanc
Chateau Pavi
Chateau Angelus
Château Ausone
Chateau Figeac
What does Entre - Deux - Mers mean?
Between the Seas
What type wines are exclusively sold in Entre - Deux - Mers?
Dry white wines
What is the dominant grape in Entre De Mers?
Sauvignon Blanc
True or False
Sauternes are made every year?
False - Sauternes are made only during the best vintage years. During bad vintages the wines are sold off to other producers
Name an important Château in Sauternes?
Château d’YQuem
What bank is Sauternes located?
Left Bank
Refer the soils of Pomerol
Sandy/gravel and clay to the east
Sand with crasse de fer ironstone to the west
What are the main areas set off of the Dordogne River
Saint Emilion
Pomerol
Fronsac
Surrounding Appellations
What appellations set on the right bank of the Gironde River
Blaye
Bourg
What is the vast stretch of land between the Garonne River and Dordogne River
Entre - Deux - Mers
What is the climate of Bordeaux
Maritime
What area in France receives the most rainfall
Medoc
- Annual rainfall is 950mm
What are usually the driest months of Bordeaux
July and August
What parallel runs just north of Bordeaux
45th parallel
Why is the Atlantic Gulf Stream Current important to Bordeaux
It brings warm water up from the Caribbean, keeping the climate mild
What is Bordeaux most planted white grape
Semillon
What is the synonym for Cabernet Franc on the right bank
Bouchet
What is the original name of Malbec
Pressac Noir
What are the synonyms for Malbec and the location of these names
Côt - west France
Pressac - Bordeaux right bank around Lisbourne
What grape is the only grape that uses the spur training method
Sémillon
2nd and 3rd label of Chateau Mouton Rothschild
Le Petit Mouton de Mouton Rothschild
Baron Nathaniel
How many châteaux were chosen in the classification of 1855 and how many categories was it
57
- 5 categories called Grand Cru Classé
How many Sauternes were chosen for their classification and how were they divided
21
- 3 categories
- second Crus
- premier Crus
- Premier Cru Supérior
What were the original 4 châteaux chosen for the classification of 1855
Latour
Lafite
Margeaux
Haute - Brion
What château received the Premier Cru Supérieur
Château d’Yquem
What date was the classification of 1855 official
April 18, 1855
When was château Mouton Rothschild upgraded to a first growth
1973
What is most common vine training system in Bordeaux and why
Vertical in the Guyot system
- produces larger berries
What is the common style of guyot system used in the left bank
Double
What is the most common guyot training system used in the right bank
Simple
What type of training system is used for Sauternes and why
Cordon Training
- produces slightly smaller berries that attract botrytis
What disease is common with using the guyot cane training
Grey Rot
What is the common spacing in Médoc
1 x 1 meters
What is the common spacing in Saint Émilion and Pomerol
1.3 - 1.5 meters