Bordeaux Flashcards
Bordeaux map
Bordeaux history - Eleanor of Aquitaine
- Eleanor of Aquitane “grandmother of Europe”
- Married 2x to King Luis VII then to King Henry.
- Was imprisoned by her ex-husband for 16 yrs
- Very powerful and spirited, lived til 82
- Inherited a lot of land and export ports in Bordeaux
- Taught the English to drink wine
Bordeaux history - Dutch draining of Gironde Estuary
- Medoc was drained in 17th century by the Duth to clear the land for agricultural use.
- Discovered soil was gravel and good for growing wine, vines were planted and roads were constructed for trade.
- Gradually surpassed Graves as most presitigious region for growing wine.
Bordeaux slave trade
From 1672 to 1837, 180 shipowners in Bordeaux led 480 expeditions that transported as many as 150,000 Africans to France’s Caribbean colonies, making Bordeaux the most important French slave-trading port after Nantes.
Changing perception of Bordeaux
- Largest region of AOP wine production in France
- Highly regarded ratings
- Global image evolition of market and style
- “Have always done it this way mentality”
- Need to adapt for climate change (planting new varietals) and consumer preferences/affordability.
- Introducing new styles of wine and marketing strategies
- Showcasing diversity and quality in mid range price wine
Bodies of water that impact Bordeaux
Atlantic Ocean
Gironde Estuary
Dordogne River
Garonne River (flows to Atlantic)
Impact of waterways in Bordeaux
Early years allowed English and Dutch merchants to commercialize wines
Make the climate fairly humid - this can also cause mold and rot (Gulf Stream helps with this becoming a problem)
Temper the potential volatility of the climate providing a more stable growing environment
Allows for better drainage of the land - which is important for growing grapes, especially if vineyards are on hills (increased drainage)
“Bordeaux’s best vineyards can see the river”
Atlantic Ocean
Hour drive west of Bordeaux
Gironde Estuary
Directly west (north to south):
* Medoc
* St. Estephe
* Pauiliac
* St. Julien
Directly east:
* Blaye & Bourg
Garonne River
Directly west (north to south):
* Margaux
* Haute Medoc
* City of Bordeaux
* Pessac
* Leogan
* Graves
Directly east:
* Entre Deux Mers
Dordogne River
Directly west:
* Entre Deux Mers
Directly east:
* Bourg
* Fronsac
* Canon Fronsac
* Pomerol
* Saint Emillion
1855 Classification History
- Established by Napoleon to display best Bordeaux wines to the world
- Map highlighting the most prestigious estates
- Used wine sales records to establish top chateaus based on price in marketplace
- Ranked wines into 5 growths: First Growth down to Fifth Growth
- 61 chateaux classified
- Chateau Mouton Rothschild added as First Growth in 1973 due to persistence of family asking to be added.
1855 Classification First Growths
Chateau Lafite Rothschild (Pauilliac)
Chateau Latour (Pauilliac)
Chateau Mouton Rothschild (Pauilliac)
Chateau Margaux (Margaux)
Chateau Haut Brion (Graves)
1855 Classification Second Growths
- Chateau Rauzan, Margaux
- Chateau Leoville, St-Julien
- Chateau Durfort-Vivens, Margaux
- Chateau Gruaud-Larose, St-Julien
- Chateau Lascombes, Margaux
- Chateau Brane-Cantenac, Margaux
- Chateau Pichon Longueville, Pauillac
- Chateau Ducru-Beaucaillou, St-Julien
- Chateau Cos d’Estournel, St-Estèphe
- Chateau Montrose, St-Estèphe
Cru Bourgeois Classification
- Established in 1930, ranked every 5 yrs
- Medoc chateaux that did not make the cut for 1855
- Levels in decreasing quality:
- Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel
- Cru Bourgeois Superieur
- Cru Bourgeois
Bordeaux wine labels (1st Growths)
