Bordeaux Flashcards
What is the climate of Bordeaux?
Moderate maritime
What is the name of the warming ocean current that extends the Bordeaux growing season?
Gulf Stream
How does the Gulf Stream affect spring frosts in Bordeaux?
The warming current means they are rarely a problem.
The Landes forest and coastal sands protect Bordeaux from what?
Atlantic storms
Bordeaux has a moderate maritime climate. What does this mean for rainfall?
It rains throughout the year
What are the two biggest risks in Bordeaux associated with its moderate maritime climate?
- During flowering, a disrupted fruit set.
- During harvest, rot and dilute flavours.
Give three ways top Bordeaux producers have managed the moderate maritime climate.
- Rejecting unhealthy and unripe grapes(sorting).
- Changes in canopy management.VSP
- Using a blend of grape varieties with different flowering and harvest times.
In Bordeaux, which types of soils aid ripening of Cabernet Sauvignon?
Soils with high stone / gravel content.
In Bordeaux, which sub-regions have high stone / gravel content that help Cabernet Sauvignon ripen reliably?
Haut-Médoc
Bas-Médoc (mainly clay with outcrops of gravel)
Graves
In which Bordeaux region is Cabernet Franc widely planted and in which other two regions is it also grown?
Primary
Saint-Émilion
Secondary
Médoc
Graves
Why does Cabernet Franc grow well in the Médoc & Graves?
Like Cabernet Sauvignon it prefers warm, well-drained stoney / gravel soils.
What flavours does Cabernet Franc have if underripe?
Herbaceous
Stalky
What does Cabernet Franc give to a blend?
Vibrant fruit & floral notes in the blend.
What is the most planted red grape variety in Bordeaux?
Merlot
Which two premium wine regions are particularly important for Merlot?
Saint-Émilion
Pomerol
In which types of soils can Merlot ripen, where Cabernet Sauvignon can not?
Cooler, clay soils.
What grape variety is common in high volume, inexpensive Bordeaux wines?
Merlot
Which of the four key red grapes in Bordeaux only ripens in very hot years?
Petit Verdot
What does Petit Verdot give to a Bordeaux blend?
Deep colour
Tannins
Spicy notes
In Bordeaux, what does a producer typically call their best wine?
Grand Vin
When a Bordeaux producer makes a Grand Vin, what other two options do they have for left over wine?
Sell to Négociants
Use in a different wine (Second or Third label)
Which type of barrel is used by top Bordeaux producers for their red wines?
Barriques (225l)
Why is Sémillon suitable for noble rot wines?
It has a thin skin
Premium dry wines of Pessac-Léognan & Graves are made from which grapes?
Sémillon
Sauvignon Blanc
Muscadelle
What flavours does Bordeaux Sauvignon Blanc typically have?
Citrus & green fruits
Which grape variety is used to make dry white wines and is the one exception to the rule that all Bordeaux wines are blends?
Sauvignon Blanc
Which grape varieties are used in the production of sweet wines in Bordeaux?
Sémillon
Sauvignon Blanc
Muscadelle
What does Sauvignon Blanc give to blends of sweet wines?
High acidity
What does Muscadelle give to blends of sweet and dry wines in Bordeaux?
Pronounced grapey, floral flavour.
What can be said about the style and winemaking of Bordeaux’s lower end dry white wines?
Fresh & fruity.
Fermented in inert temperature controlled tanks.
Minimal further maturation although some show toasty hints of oak.
What can be said about the style and winemaking of premium dry white wines from Pessac-Léognan?
Frequently fermented & matured in oak barrels.
Richness and concentrated nutty flavours over fruit.
What can be said about the grapes and winemaking of premium sweet white wines from Bordeaux?
Grapes infected with noble rot.
Fermented and matured in new oak barrels for up to three years.
Of the different Bordeaux classifications, which is the only one to be part of the official appellation system?
Saint-Émilion
Unlike much of France, Bordeaux classifications are less about ___________ and are more like _________ .
Vineyards
Brands
The great wines of Bordeaux Cru Classé have tightly controlled boundaries that define the Châteaux. True or False?
False, there are no boundaries and many have bought & sold vineyards since the classification.
In which year was the Cru Classé ranking introduced, dividing the Médoc into five rankings and Sauternes into three?
1855