Bordeaux Flashcards
What forest separates graves from the sea. What type of trees?
Landes forest
Pine
What regulates the climate of Bordeaux?
Gironde estuary- regulate temp
Atlantic Ocean- regulate temp
Girone/dordogne- regulate temp
Landes forest- shield from n/nw wind
Pyrenees mtns- shield west weather
How much rainfall does Bordeaux experience?
Moderate rainfall
Evenly spread through year
How is Bordeaux’s climate classified?
Maritime
Becomes more continental inland toward st emillion/pomerol
Describe Bordeaux’s seasons
Short winter
Damp spring
Hot summer
What is Bordeaux mixture?
What is it used for?
A mixture of lime, copper sulfate and water.
Used to combat fungal problems
Does Bordeaux have a consistent climate?
Bordeaux has a variable climate
Causing Significant vintage variation
How much rain does the medoc receive?
~950mm/year more than any other French region
How is Bordeaux classified on the winkler scale
Region II
How much land is under vine in Bordeaux?
~111,500 hectares
(As of 2017)
Down from 117,500 in 2011
T/F Bordeaux is expanding vineyard plantings
False,
Bordeaux went from 117,500 ha in 2011 to 111,500 in 2017
T/F Bordeaux has more acreage under vine than any other French wine growing region
True, ~111,500 ha
What % of French vineyard land is located in Bordeaux?
~14%
How much wine is produced annually in Bordeaux?
5-6 million hectolitres
How many winegrowers are there in Bordeaux?
Over 8000
What latitude is Bordeaux
Located just south of the 45th parallel
What % of Bordeaux vineyard plantings are red?
~ 89%
(mostly merlot, cab sauv, cab franc)
What is the most planted grape in Bordeaux?
Merlot
What is the most planted white grape in Bordeaux?
Semillon
What type of soil does Merlot prefer?
Clay based soils
What type of soil does Cabernet Sauvignon prefer? Why?
Gravel soils
Favorable drainage
Heat retention to extend growing hours
T/f Merlot and Malbec are half siblings
True
From Magdelaine noir des cherentes
What % of Bordeaux vineyard plantings are Merlot?
63%
What % of Bordeaux plantings are Cabernet Sauvignon?
~25%
T/f Merlot is more susceptible to rot than Cabernet
True, Merlot has thinner skins increasing risk for rot
What % of Bordeaux plantings are Cabernet franc?
11%
What qualities does Cabernet franc bring to blends?
Adds acidity and aromatics to Merlot based wines
Blank
Blank
What is Malbecs historic name?
Pressac noir
How much petite Verdot is found in blends?
Rarely more than 5% of a wine
What does Petit Verdot add to blends?
Color, exotic spice, floral perfume and tannin.
Common in Cabernet Sauvignon blends
T/f petit Verdot is mostly found on left bank
True, it as almost nonexistent in right bank
What % of white plantings are semillon?
~45%
What % of white plantings are Sauvignon blanc?
~43%
T/f Sauvignon gris is genetically identical to Sauvignon Blanc
True, but it is listed as seperate variety in cahiers de charges