Bordeaux Flashcards
Bordeaux
The largest wine region in France
Location: SW France
City: Bordeaux
History: 1152 Elenore of Aquitaine married Henry II of England, 17-19th century expansion, Dutch built a system of canals draining the marshy Gironde (Medoc), Global distribution
Climate: Maritime, rainfall during long growing season, humidity, threat of mold
Moderators: Atlantic Ocean, Gironde Estuary, rivers
Soil: Gravel, limestone, sand, iron, clay
Grapes: Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, some Muscadelle, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, some Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Petit Verdot, Carmenere
Style: Blends, SB-Semillon, Merlot-Cab-Cab Franc
Vinification: New 225L French oak barrique (2yr)
Left Bank, Right Bank
AOPs (53): Medoc, Graves, Sauternais, Entre-Deux-Mers, Libournais, Bourg & Blaye
Bordeaux Wine Law & AOPs
Regional
Bordeaux AOP - 45% of total
$20
Sub-Regional or District
Haut Medoc AOP, Entre-Deux-Mers AOP
Commune - smallest & highest quality
Paulliac AOP, Margaux AOP, Pomerol AOP, St. Emilion AOP
Chateau - Estate under single ownership, Size varies, Brand name matters
Good vintages: 2015, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2005, 2003, 2000, 1998, 1990
1855 Classification of Bordeaux
61 properties or chateaux
Rated and categorized by price
First to 5th growths
First Growth Chateaux
1. Château Lafite-Rothschild, Pauillac
2. Château Latour, Pauillac
3. Château Margaux, Margaux
4. Château Haut-Brion, Pessac-Léognan
5. Château Mouton-Rothschild, Pauillac (1973 add)
Second Growth Chateaux
1. Château Mouton-Rothschild, Pauillac (1er in 1973)
2. Château Rausan-Ségla (Rauzan-Ségla), Margaux
3. Château Rauzan-Gassies, Margaux
4. Château Léoville Las Cases, St.-Julien
5. Château Léoville Poyferré, St.-Julien
6. Château Léoville Barton, St.-Julien
7. Château Durfort-Vivens, Margaux
8. Château Gruaud-Larose, St.-Julien
9. Château Lascombes, Margaux
10. Château Brane-Cantenac, Margaux
11. Château Pichon-Longueville Baron, Pauillac
12. Château Pichon Longueville Lalande, Pauillac
13. Château Ducru-Beaucaillou, St.-Julien
14. Château Cos-d’Estournel, St.-Estèphe
15. Château Montrose, St.-Estèphe
Left Bank
Bordeaux
Location: West of Gironde Estuary and Garonne River
Soil: Gravel (drains well, good for Cab)
Style: Cab blends, sweet white wines (Semillon blend), dry white wine (SB blend)
Medoc AOP, Graves AOP
Médoc AOP
Bordeaux Left Bank
Location: Along Gironde Estuary
Soil: Gravel
Grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Petit Verdot, red only
Blend: Cab Blends (70%), Merlot (30%)
Saint–Estéphe, Pauillac, Saint-Julien, Margaux
Graves AOP
“gravel”
Location: S, inland, south of Bordeaux city, left bank of Garonne River
Soil: Gravel
Grapes: SB, Semillon, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc
Graves AOP, Pesssac-Leognan AOP, Sauternes AOP
Pessac-Léognan AOP
Location: N Graves
City: Bordeaux
Vinification: Dry white & red, new French oak
Blend: SB (80%), Semillon (20%)
Tasting notes: creamy & lemon curd
Château Haut-Brion
Sauternes AOP
Location: S Graves, Garonne & Ciron Rivers
Climate: Humid, foggy
Grapes: Semillon, SB, Muscadelle
Vinification: Botrytis, sweet wines, oak aged, often new French barrique
Blend: Semillon (80%), SB (20%), some Muscadelle
Sauternes
Tell: Gold, sweet, and syrupy
Tasting notes: Grapefruit, citrus, high acidity
Sweet: High, Body: Full, Tannin: L, Acid: M+, Alcohol: M+
1er Cru Supérieur: Château d’Yquem
Entre-Deus-Mers AOP
“Land between two seas”
Location: S, inland, east of Bordeaux city, between Garonne and Dordogne Rivers,
Soil: very fertile silt
Grapes: SB, Semillon, Muscadelle
Vinification: dry white wine only, stainless steel
Blend: SB (80%), Semillon (20%)
Tasting notes: Grapefruit, gooseberry, lemon curd, chamomile, lemongrass
Right Bank
Bordeaux
Location: East of Gironde Estuary and Dordogne River
Soil: Red clay (retains water, Merlot ripens quickly), limestone, sand
Style: Merlot blends
Pomerol AOP, Saint-Emilion AOP
Saint-Émilion AOP
Bordeaux Right Bank
Location: Inland, along the Dordogne River
City: Libourne
Soil: Gravel, limestone plateau, sand, silt, clay
Grapes: Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon
Classification: Premier Grand Cru Classé A, Premier Grand Cru Classé B, Grand Cru Classé
St-Émilion AOP, Saint-Émilion Premier Grands Crus Classés (18), St-Émilion Grand Cru Classés (64)
1er Classé A: Château Angélus, Château Ausone, Château Cheval Blanc, Château Pavie
Pomerol AOP
Location: Inland, NE of the Dordogne River, very small appellation of only 3sqmi
City: Libourne
Soil: Red clay, sand, gravel, iron pan
Grapes: Merlot, Cabernet Franc, red only
Blend: Merlot blends (70%), Cab Franc (30%)
No classification
Chateau Pertrus
Right Bank Bordeaux (red blend)
Style: Dry, red blend
Tell: Earthy mushroom, tart black/red plum and cherry, oak
Tasting notes: Deep Ruby, black & red fruits, black currant, plum, black & red cherry, graphite, cedar, violet, barn yard, leather, tarragon, mint, forest floor, mushroom, clove, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, chocolate
Tannin: M, Acid: M+, Alcohol: M+, Body: M+, round & lush, Complexity: High
Pairing: red meat, black pepper, herbs
