Bordeaux Flashcards by Emma Findlayson

What is the climate of Bordeaux?

Moderate maritime

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What is the name of the warming ocean current that extends the Bordeaux growing season?

Gulf Stream

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How does the Gulf Stream affect spring frosts in Bordeaux?

The warming current means they are rarely a problem.

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The Landes forest and coastal sands protect Bordeaux from what?

Atlantic storms

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Bordeaux has a moderate maritime climate. What does this mean for rainfall?

It rains throughout the year

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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.

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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.

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In Bordeaux, which types of soils aid ripening of Cabernet Sauvignon?

Soils with high stone / gravel content.

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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

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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

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Why does Cabernet Franc grow well in the Médoc & Graves?

Like Cabernet Sauvignon it prefers warm, well-drained stoney / gravel soils.

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What flavours does Cabernet Franc have if underripe?

Herbaceous
Stalky

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What does Cabernet Franc give to a blend?

Vibrant fruit & floral notes in the blend.

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What is the most planted red grape variety in Bordeaux?

Merlot

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Which two premium wine regions are particularly important for Merlot?

Saint-Émilion
Pomerol

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In which types of soils can Merlot ripen, where Cabernet Sauvignon can not?

Cooler, clay soils.

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What grape variety is common in high volume, inexpensive Bordeaux wines?

Merlot

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Which of the four key red grapes in Bordeaux only ripens in very hot years?

Petit Verdot

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What does Petit Verdot give to a Bordeaux blend?

Deep colour
Tannins
Spicy notes

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In Bordeaux, what does a producer typically call their best wine?

Grand Vin

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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)

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Which type of barrel is used by top Bordeaux producers for their red wines?

Barriques (225l)

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Why is Sémillon suitable for noble rot wines?

It has a thin skin

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Premium dry wines of Pessac-Léognan & Graves are made from which grapes?

Sémillon
Sauvignon Blanc
Muscadelle

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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

Which cru classification system in Bordeaux is awarded every five years to wines outside the 1855 Cru Classé rankings?

Cru Bourgeois

How many levels does the Graves Cru Classé system have?

One level, you are either a Cru Classé or not, for both red and white.

Why are all of Graves Cru Classé wines produced in Pessac-Léognan?

Pessac-Léognan was created after the classification, specifically to include all Cru Classé wines.

Put the following Saint-Émilion appellations into order from highest to lowest

Saint-Émilion Premier Grand Cru Classé A Saint-Émilion Premier Grand Cru Classé B Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé Saint-Émilion

Into which three general areas can Bordeaux be divided?

Left Bank (Médoc, Graves, Sauternes) Entre-Deux-Mers (in the middle) Right Bank (Saint-Émilion, Pomerol)

What is the difference between Bordeaux AOC and Bordeaux Supérieur AOC?

Bordeaux Supérieur AOC has stricter appellation rules and requires higher alcohol in the final wine.

Describe a typical Bordeaux AOC or Bordeaux Supérieur AOC red wine?

Early drinking Medium bodied Ripe red & black fruits, sometimes cedar oak Merlot dominated Cheapest have lighter body, astringent tannins

Which grape variety typically dominates white Bordeaux AOC and gives the wines a grassy character?

Sauvignon Blanc

The soils in Médoc AOC wines predominantly consist of?

Clay

Which red grape variety thrives in the cooler clay soils of the Médoc AOC?

Merlot

The Médoc and Haut Médoc are both located on which Bank?

Left Bank

The soils in Haut Médoc AOC and its communes are predominantly?

Gravelly

The best wines from the Haut-Médoc have a high percentage of which grape variety?

Cabernet Sauvignon

Wines from Haut-Médoc communes (Saint-Estèphe AOC, Pauillac AOC, Saint-Julien AOC, Margaux AOC) have which dominant fruit and oak flavours?

Fruit: Blackcurrant Oak: Cedar

Wines from Haut-Médoc communes (Saint-Estèphe AOC, Pauillac AOC, Saint-Julien AOC, Margaux AOC) have what type of tannins when young?

Grippy tannins (High)

Do wines from Haut-Médoc communes (Saint-Estèphe AOC, Pauillac AOC, Saint-Julien AOC, Margaux AOC) age well?

Yes, long ageing potential.

Which sub-region of Graves AOC has a reputation for making high quality red wines?

Pessac-Léognan AOC

What helps Cabernet Sauvignon ripen in Pessac-Léognan?

The warming gravel soils.

In order of importance, what are the two most important grape varieties in Right Bank Bordeaux blends?

Merlot Cabernet Franc

In Saint-Émilion, which of these three areas is most likely to create the lightest wines? Plateau North West Escarpment South & East Foot of Escarpment

Foot of Escarpment

In Saint-Émilion, which of these three areas is most likely to be Cabernet Sauvignon dominated? Plateau North West Escarpment South & East Foot of Escarpment

Plateau North West

Comparing top quality wines from Bordeaux Left and Right Bank, which is more likely to be described as: medium to high tannins, softer mouthfeel with complex red berry and plum aromas, developing into cedar and tobacco.

Right Bank

Summarise the three sub-areas within Saint-Émilion, giving the soils, grapes and the quality of the wine. The sub-areas are Plateau North West Escarpment South & East Foot of Escarpment

Plateau North West: well drained gravel and limestone. Merlot, Cabernet franc, Cabernet Sauvignon. Top quality Escarpment South and East: clay limestone. Merlot. Top quality Foot of Escarpment: sandy soils. Merlot. Lightest body

Which of the top two Right Bank regions, Pomerol and Saint-Émilion (both Merlot dominated), produce richer wines with more spicy, blackberry fruit?

Pomerol

Vins de Garage refers to what?

Garage Wines made on the Bordeaux Right Bank. Producers create tiny quantities of full bodied wines with incredible ripeness, with no expense spared.

The Bordeaux appellations of Blaye, Cadillac, Castillon and Francs have created what collective name for their red wines?

Côtes de Bordeaux AOC

Côtes de Bordeaux red wine style and grape variety can be described as?

Merlot dominated Early drinking Value for money

Which white wine AOC is located between the River Garonne and Dordogne?

Entre-Deux-Mers AOC

What style of wine is Entre-Deux-Mers AOC?

A dry white wine from Bordeaux.

Which of the following AOCs can only be used for the production of white wine? Pessac-Léognan AOC Graves AOC Entre-Deux-Mers AOC Bordeaux AOC

Entre-Deux-Mers AOC

Which region are both Sauternes & Barsac a part of?

Graves

In which two ways are Sauternes & Barsac able to concentrate their sugars in the production of sweet wines?

Noble Rot Passerillage - grapes dehydrate on the vine.

What conditions are required for noble rot to develop in Sauternes & Barsac?

Misty autumn conditions, once the grapes are fully ripe. If unripe grapes it is called Grey Rot

In Sauternes & Barsac which three grapes are used and what do they give to the blend? Order from most important to least.

Sémillon : Thin skin, susceptible to botrytis. Sauvignon Blanc: Refreshing acidity and fruity aromas. Muscadelle: Exotic perfume.

What is the difference between the wines of Sauternes AOP & Barsac AOP?

Very little. Both are sweet white wines with Barsac being a sub-region within Sauternes that can use either Barsac AOP or Sauternes AOP if they choose to.

What is the name of the region that is highlighted?