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Certified Sommelier Exam (CMS 2) > Bordeaux > Flashcards

Bordeaux Flashcards

1
Q

Where is the region of Bordeaux in France?

A

Southwest France, along the Atlantic coast.

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2
Q

What is the climate of Bordeaux?

A

Maritime to continental moving from the coast inland.

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3
Q

What are the major bodies of water in and around Bordeaux?

A
  • Atlantic Ocean
  • Gironde Estuary
  • Garonne River
  • Dordogne River
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4
Q

Fill in the blank.

The vineyards to the west of the Garonne and Gironde form what is collectively known as the _____ _____.

A

Left Bank

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5
Q

Fill in the blank.

The vineyards to the east of the Dordogne and Gironde form what is collectively known as the _____ _____.

A

Right Bank

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6
Q

Fill in the blank.

The majority of the area between the Dordogne and Garonne is called ________.

A

Entre-Deux-Mers

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7
Q

Which ocean current is the warming influence across Bordeaux and beyond?

A

The Gulf Stream

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8
Q

Fill in the blank.

The Left Bank is partially protected from Atlantic storms by extensive pine forests called ________.

A

the Landes

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9
Q

The Médoc, Haut-Médoc, Blaye and Côtes de Bourg are on opposite sides of which river?

A

The Gironde

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10
Q

Pomerol and St. Émilion are on which river?

A

The Dordogne

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11
Q

Pessac-Léognan and Graves are on which river?

A

The Garonne

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12
Q

Sauternes and Barsac are near the confluence of which two rivers?

A

The Ciron and the Garonne

The Ciron is colder and the Garonne is warmer, and it’s where they meet that promotes the morning mists that encourage botrytis.

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13
Q

How do bodies of water moderate temperatures?

A
  • Create breezes to cool down wine growing areas.
  • Bodies of water warm up and cool down slower than land mass, so they can keep regions cooler in the spring and warmer in the autumn.
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14
Q

What are the three main white grape varieties in Bordeaux?

A
  1. Sauvignon Blanc
  2. Sémillon
  3. Muscadelle
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15
Q
  • What are the three main red grape varieties in Bordeaux?
  • What three red grape varieties are planted in lesser amounts in Bordeaux?
A
  • Main
    • Cabernet Sauvignon
    • Merlot
    • Cabernet Franc
  • Lesser
    • Malbec
    • Petit Verdot
    • Carménère
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16
Q

What is the main grape in Pomerol and St. Émilion?

(Right Bank)

A

Merlot

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17
Q

What is the main grape in St. Estèphe, Pauillac, St. Julien, and Margaux?

(Left Bank)

A

Cabernet Sauvignon

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18
Q

What are the four soil types found in Bordeaux?

A
  1. Gravel
  2. Clay
  3. Limestone
  4. Sand
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19
Q

Cabernet Sauvignon grows best on this soil type.

A

Gravel

It provides excellent drainage (especially when storms roll in from the Atlantic), but in hot years like 2003 that ability to drain can lead to drought stress.

All the top estates of the Left Bank are planted on gravel mounds known as croupes.

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20
Q

Merlot grows best on this type of soil.

A

Clay based

An an important benefit of Merlot is that it can ripen fully in cooler years, in comparison to the later-ripening Cabernet Sauvignon.

The water-holding capacity of clay enables vines to produce the large berry size typical of Merlot

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21
Q

Evaporation from large bodies of water and springtime precipitation contribute to these 3 things.

A
  1. Humidity
  2. Mold
  3. Rot
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22
Q

Select the correct answer.

Black and Grey Rot are:

a. beneficial
b. harmful

A

b. harmful

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23
Q

Select the correct answer.

Noble Rot is:

a. beneficial
b. harmful

A

a. beneficial

Noble Rot, aka Botrytis cinerea, helps to produce the sweet, succulent wines of Sauternes and Barsac.

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24
Q

How can springtime frosts affect yield?

A

They can reduce yield if the frosts were cold enough to freeze new plant material, making it incapable of producing grapes.

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25
Q
  • What is Bordeaux mixture?
  • How is it used?
A
  • A combination of copper sulfate, lime, and water.
  • It is used as a fungicide and bactericide.
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26
Q

Fill in the blanks.

White wines in Bordeaux intended for early drinking are generally fermented at _____ fermentation temperatures in _________.

A
  • cool
  • stainless steel tanks
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27
Q

Fill in the blank.

Higher quality Bordeaux white wines are fermented and aged in _____, with a varying proportion of new oak.

A

barriques

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28
Q

Why do many Bordeaux producers block malolactic conversion in their white wines?

A

To retain freshness and acidity.

Many winemakers will not even stir the lees because the technique can give the wines excessive body in relation to their levels of acidity (especially in hot years).

29
Q

The level of botrytis in the final wines of Sauternes and Barsac depends on these four factors:

A
  1. Whether the conditions are correct for the spread of noble rot, which varies from year to year.
  2. The position of estates (proximity to areas where mist forms most regularly vs. other locations)
  3. The willingness of estates to wait for the best times to harvest and risk losing all or part of the crop due to adverse weather.
  4. The willingness of estates to pay for multiple passes through the vineyard to select botrytis-affected fruit.

As a result, the wines may be made from varying proportions of botrytis-affected and late-harvested fruit.

30
Q

Top-quality Sauternes and Barsac are typically fermented and aged in which vessel?

Why?

A

Fermented in barrel for the best integration of oak and fruit flavors with a high proportion of new oak and barrel-aged (18–36 months for top wines) to encourage a gentle oxidation that will add complexity.

31
Q

In Bordeaux, when making red wines fermentation temperatures and the extent of post-fermentation maceration on the skins depends on the style of the wine to be made and the quality of the vintage.

How are red wines for early drinking made?

A

Mid-range fermentation temperatures and a short period on the skins after fermentation (5–7 days) is typically used for wines intended for early drinking to preserve primary fruit and to limit the extraction of tannins.

32
Q

In Bordeaux, how are red wines meant to be aged for many years in the bottle made?

A

Mid-range to warm fermentation temperatures and a total of 14–30 days on the skins.

Maceration times are reduced in poor vintages if the fruit is not fully ripe.

33
Q

What are the two regional (or generic) appellations of Bordeaux?

A
  1. Bordeaux AOC
  2. Bordeaux Supérieur AOC
34
Q

What is the sub-region on the Left Bank of Bordeaux?

A

Haut-Médoc

35
Q

What are the four commune appellations within Haut-Médoc from north to south?

A
  1. Saint-Estèphe
  2. Pauillac
  3. Saint-Julien
  4. Margaux
36
Q

Name three appellations within Graves AOP.

A
  1. Pessac-Léognan AOP
  2. Sauternes AOP
  3. Barsac AOP
37
Q

Name three major appellations on the Right Bank of Bordeaux.

A
  1. Pomerol AOP
  2. St-Émilion AOP
  3. St-Émilion Grand Cru AOP
38
Q

Lalande-de-Pomerol AOP is a satellite appellation of this other appellation.

A

Pomerol AOP

39
Q

Puisseguin and Montagne are satellite appellations of this other appellation.

A

St-Émilion AOP

40
Q

In what vintage was Château Mouton Rothschild elevated from second growth to first growth?

A

1973

41
Q

Name the five first growths of Bordeaux.

A
  1. Château Lafite Rothschild
  2. Château Latour
  3. Château Mouton Rothschild
  4. Château Margaux
  5. Château Haut-Brion
42
Q

In what year was the Crus Bourgeois du Médoc classification created?

A

1932

43
Q
  • What are the three tiers of quality for Cru Bourgeois?
  • For how many years does this quality classification last once it’s earned?
A
  • From the 2018 vintage on, châteaux will be classified as one of three tiers of quality:
    1. Cru Bourgeois
    2. Cru Bourgeois Supérieur
    3. Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel
  • This classification will last for five years.
44
Q

Why was Haut Brion included in the 1855 Classification?

A

Because it was the most famous even though it’s in Graves.

45
Q

List the fourteen Second growths of Bordeaux.

A
  1. Rauzan-Segla
  2. Rauzan-Gassies
  3. Léoville-Las Cases
  4. Léoville-Poyferre
  5. Léoville-Barton
  6. Durfort-Vivens
  7. Gruaud Larose
  8. Lascombes
  9. Brane-Cantenac
  10. Pichon Longueville Baron
  11. Pichon Comtesse de Lalande
  12. Ducru Beaucaillou
  13. Cos d’Estournel
  14. Montrose
46
Q

What are the red wines in the Classification of Graves (1959)?

A
  1. Haut-Brion
  2. Bouscaut
  3. Haut Bailly
  4. Carbonnieux
  5. Chevalier
  6. de Fieuzal
  7. Olivier
  8. Malartic Lagraviere
  9. La Tour Martillac
  10. Smith Haut Lafitte
  11. La Mission Haut Brion
  12. Pape Clement
  13. La Tour Haut Brion
47
Q

What are the white wines in the Classification of Graves (1959)?

A
  1. Haut-Brion
  2. Bouscaut
  3. Carbonnieux
  4. Chevalier
  5. Couhins
  6. Couhins Lurton
  7. Laville Haut Brion
  8. Olivier
  9. Malartic Lagraviere
  10. La Tour Martillac
48
Q

Fill in the blank.

Chateau d’Yquem is the only Sauternes classified as _________.

A

Premier Cru Supérieur

49
Q

What are the eleven Premier Crus of Sauternes and Barsac?

A
  1. La Tour Blanche
  2. Lafaurie-Peyraguey
  3. Clos Haut Peyraguey
  4. Rayne Vigneau
  5. Suduiraut
  6. Coutet
  7. Climens
  8. Guiraud
  9. Rieussec
  10. Raubaud Promis
  11. Sigalas Rabaud
50
Q

As of 2022, what are the two St-Émilion Premiers Grands Crus Classés A?

A
  1. Château FIGEAC
  2. Château PAVIE
51
Q

As of 2022, what are the twelve St-Émilion Premiers Grands Crus Classés B?

A
  1. Château Beau-Séjour Bécot
  2. Château Beauséjour Héritiers Duffau-Lagarrosse
  3. Château Bélair Monange
  4. Château Canon
  5. Château Canon-la-Gaffelière
  6. Château Larcis Ducasse
  7. Château Pavie Macquin
  8. Château Troplong Mondot
  9. Château Trottevieille
  10. Château Valandraud
  11. Clos Fourtet
  12. La Mondotte
52
Q

Name the three houses that left the St-Émilion Premiers Grands Crus Classés A in 2022.

A
  1. Château Angélus
  2. Château Ausone
  3. Château Cheval-Blanc
53
Q

Name the top four producers of Pomerol.

A
  1. Château Pétrus
  2. Château Lafleur
  3. Le Pin
  4. Clos l’Eglise
54
Q

What are the three First Growths of Bordeaux located in Pauillac?

A
  1. Château Lafite Rothschild
  2. Château Latour
  3. Château Mouton Rothschild
55
Q

2007 - 2022
Top Bordeaux Vintages

A
  • 2022
  • 2016
  • 2010
  • 2009

Great vintages typically have very warm and dry weather continuing from the beginning of the season all the way through harvest, punctuated by well-timed rains in June and August.

56
Q

2007 - 2022
Worst Bordeaux Vintages

A
  • 2021
  • 2013
  • 2012
  • 2008
  • 2007

All these saw a variety of severe spring frost, heavy midsummer rains, cooler than normal summers (which makes for a more austere wine).

57
Q

Why was the marriage of Eleanor of Aquitaine important for Bordeaux?

A

Through her second marriage to the English Duke Henry Curtmantle (Plantagenet) she introduced wine from Bordeaux to England, specifically claret.

58
Q

What is important about the Dutch draining the Gironde Estuary?

A

The Dutch loved wine from Bordeaux, and Dutch engineers came up with the idea to drain the marshes and swamps which allowed for quicker transportation. Once drained, all of a sudden there was a lot more vineyard land that was perfect for growing grapes to make more Bordeaux wine.

The Dutch engineer who was placed in charge of creating the plan to drain Bordeaux’s swamps was Jan Adriaasz Leeghwater, (1575-1650).

59
Q

Fill in the blank.

Bordeaux was the most important French slave-trading port after _______.

A

Nantes

From 1672 to 1837, 180 shipowners in Bordeaux led 480 expeditions that transported as many as 150,000 Africans to France’s Caribbean colonies.

60
Q

Fill in the blank.

The largest region of AOP wine production in France is _______.

A

Bordeaux

61
Q

How has the perception of Bordeaux changed since 2010?

Touch on 5 phases.

A
  • Since 2010 there has been a continuing debate about whether the en primeur system still works.
  • In the boom period of the 2000s, in particular due to increased interest from China, en primeur prices rose considerably.
  • Châteaux became accustomed to offering their wines at ever-higher prices even in relatively poor vintages such as 2011.
  • In the end, this led to Bordeaux prices starting to fall, meaning that some of those who had invested in en primeur lost money.
  • Various leading critics have expressed concern at how much their reviews influence the price of the wine, especially given that the wines they taste are often not even the final wine, simply a representation of what the producer expects it to be like after blending etc.
62
Q

Why would a sommelier decant a young Bordeaux?

A

For aeration.

63
Q

Why would a sommelier decant an aged Bordeaux?

A

To remove the wine off its sediment.

64
Q

What proteins would you pair with red Bordeaux?

A

Beef and lamb.

65
Q

What foods might you pair with Sauternes or Barsac?

A

Dessert (crème brûlée and apple desserts), foie gras

66
Q

Name the 2 second growths of Bordeaux in St-Estèphe.

A
  1. Château Cos d’Estournel
  2. Château Montrose
67
Q

Name the 2 second growths of Bordeaux in Pauillac.

A
  1. Château Pichon Longueville Baron
  2. Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande
68
Q

Name the 5 second growths in St-Julien.

A
  1. Château Ducru-Beaucaillou
  2. Château Gruaud-Larose
  3. Château Leoville-Las Cases
  4. Château Leoville-Poyferre
  5. Château Leoville-Barton
69
Q

Name the 5 second growths of Bordeaux in Margaux.

A
  1. Château Brane-Cantenac
  2. Château Durfort-Vivens
  3. Château Lascombes
  4. Château Rauzan-Segla
  5. Château Rauzan-Gassies

Certified Sommelier Exam (CMS 2) (49 decks)

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