Bordeaux Flashcards
Bordeaux Rouge and Bordeaux Superieur account for ___ of total production
45%
Where is the largest appellation protégée/contrôlée in France?
Bordeaux
The definition of negociant is:
An agent who purchases fruit or wine in barrel and ages it in their own cellar
En primer sales refers to…
Futures; early release of wine for sale
What are the primary white grape varieties used in Bordeaux?
- Semillon: the most widely planted white variety for dry and sweet wines
- sauvignon blanc: for dry wines
- Muscadelle de Bordelaise: add perfume and pungent flavor
What are the primary red grape varieties used in Bordeaux?
- Cabernet Sauvignon: also known as Carmenere, dominant in medoc, long lived, tannic and great finesse
- Merlot: brings color, fruit and suppleness to the blend
- Cabernet Franc: less structure than Cabernet Sauvignon but add fruits and fine aromas
- Malbec (cot): minor variety
- Petit Verdot: tannic, dark wine
The typical Bordeaux blends are:
•Medoc communes (left bank)
* 70% Cabernet Sauvignon
* 30% Merlot and minor varieties
•St Emilion and Pomerol (right bank)
* 70% Merlot
* 25% Cabernet Franc
How is the climate in Bordeaux?
Moderate temperatures
Increases vintage variability
Humid and mold
How are the soils in Bordeaux?
Medoc: gravel and northern graves
St Emilion: gravel over limestone
Pomerol: iron pan under sand and clay
What is the largest appellation in Bordeaux?
Medoc
The two sub appellations in Medoc are…
Haut Medoc
Medoc
What kind of wine predominates in Medoc?
Red wine
House of prestigious Chateaux
Medoc first Growths:
Chateau Lafite-Rothschild Chateau Latour Chateau Mouton-Rothschild Chateau Margaux Chateau Haut-Brion (Graves)
Which AOC contains the six communes and the most of the classified growth chateaux?
Haut-Medoc AOC
Which is the most northern commune of the Haut-Medoc with generally sturdy and full body wines?
Saint-Stephe AOC
The epitome of Claret is…
Pauillac AOC
Chateau Latour, Lafite-Rothschild and Mouton-Rothschild are part of…
Pauillac AOC
What is the smallest commune but largest % of classified growths (11)?
Saint-Julien AOC
How is the style of Saint-Julien AOC wines?
Combines elegance of Pauillac with sturdiness is Saint-Estephe
What are the five second growths from Saint-Julien AOC?
Chateaux Ducru-Beaucaillou Leoville-Las-Cases Leoville-Poyferre Leoville-Barton Gruaud-Larose
Listrac & Moulis AOC:
Lesser appellations
Cabernet based wines
No classified Growths
Margaux AOC…
Largest AOC in Haut-Medoc
Wines known for their elegance and finesse
One first growth: Chateau Margaux
The AOC of the Haut-Medoc are:
Haut-Medoc AOC Saint-Estephe AOC Pauillac AOC Saint-Julien AOC Listrac & Moulis AOC Margaux AOC
World famous botrytis dessert wines, dry wines labeled as Graves Blanc or Bordeaux Blanc…
Sauternes
Botrytis Cinerea facts:
Fungus that develops under humid conditions, dehydrates the grapes, concentrates sugar, changes flavor profile, does not develop uniformly
The dominated grapes in Saint-Emilion AOC are…
Merlot and Cabernet Franc
Saint-Emilion classifications:
Premier Grand Cru Classe A
Premier Grand Cru Classe B
Grand Cru Classe
Pomerol AOC:
Merlot dominated wines
Iron Pan and Clay soils
Five square miles
Area has never been classified
The oldest vineyards in Bordeaux are…
Bourg & Blaye
Bourg & Blaye facts:
Higher rainfall than in the Medoc
Bourg & Blaye appellations…
Cotes de Bordeaux
Cotes de Bourg (Bordeaux oldest region)
Blaye/Cotes de Blaye
Premieres Cotes de Bordeaux (sweet wine)
