Bordeaux Flashcards
Where is Bordeaux located?
Southwest France, along the Atlantic coast
What climate does Bordeaux have?
Maritime to continental moving from the coast inland.
What’s the geography like in Bordeaux?
Importance of bodies of water: The Atlantic Ocean, Gironde Estuary, Garonne River, Dordogne River
Note the location of bodies of water relative to major appellations and how those bodies of water affect grape growing.
What are white grape variety names?
Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon. Small amounts of Muscadelle.
What are red grape variety names?
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc. Small Amounts of: Malbec, Petit Verdot, Carménère.
Connect major Bordeaux AOPs listed with the grapes that are grown and the styles of wine made.
Name soil type(s) in Bordeaux.
Gravel, Clay, Limestone, SandBordeaux grape varieties are matched to and purposely grown in the soil type that best suits its needs.
*Example: Cabernet Sauvignon in gravel and Merlot in clay
Connect grape Bordeaux grape varieties with their regions and ideal/primary soil type.
How do large bodies of water influence grape growing in Bordeaux?
Evaporation from large bodies of water and springtime precipitation contribute to humidity, mold, and rot. Humidity is beneficial for the formation of noble rot in sweet wine production, especially in Sauternes.
Black and Grey Rot (not good) / Noble Rot (good for making sweet wines)
What are springtime frosts in Bordeaux?
What is Bordeaux mixture?
What style of wines are made in Bordeaux?
Region/ Sub-Region/Appellation dependent:
Blends of grape varieties
Dry white wines
Dry red wines
Botrytis-affected, lusciously sweet white wines
Use of new French oak for red and white wines
What are the wine laws/ appellations in Bordeaux?
Regional Appellation: Bordeaux AOC
“Left Bank”
Subregional Appellation: Médoc AOP
Subregional Appellation: Haut-Médoc AOP
Commune Appellations: Margaux AOP, Pauillac AOP, St-Estèphe AOP, St-Julien AOP
Graves AOP
- Pessac-Léognan AOP
- Sauternes AOP
- Barsac AOP
Entre-Deux-Mers AOP
“Right Bank”
- Pomerol AOP
- St-Émilion AOP
- St-Émilion Grand Cru AOP
- Lalande-de-Pomerol AOP
- Montagne-St-Émilion AOP
Identify locations on a map of Bordeaux and the type(s) of wines made in each appellation.
What’s the 1855 Classification?
Explain history of this classification.
*Only one change: The elevation of Château Mouton Rothschild from second growth to first in 1973.
Name the First Growths (château and commune)
- Château Lafite Rothschild
- Château Latour
- Château Mouton Rothschild
- Château Margaux
- Château Haut-Brion
What’s Pomerol and what’s its classification?
Pomerol is ________________ and has no official classification.
What’s St-Émilion and what’s its classification?
Classification exists, it is multi-tiered, revised periodically, highly controversial.
St-Émilion Classification (1959)
Multi-tiered
St-Émilion Premiers Grands Crus Classés A St-Émilion Premiers Grands Crus Classés B St-Émilion Grands Crus Classés
What’s Cru Bourgeois?
Created in 1930s. Three levels of classification.
Why was Haut Brion included in 1855 classification?
Name the Second Growths (château and commune)
What’s the Classification of Graves (1959)?
Classification for both red and white winesTop Producer: Château Haut Brion
What’s the Classification of Sauternes (1855)?
Superior First Growth (Premier Cru Supérieur)
Can you recognize the labels and style of these wines?
Château Lafite Rothschild (Pauillac) Château Latour (Pauillac)
Château Mouton Rothschild (Pauillac) Château Margaux (Margaux)
Château Haut-Brion (Graves)
Château d’Yquem (Sauternes)
Château Petrus (Pomerol)
Château Ausone (St-Émilion)
Château Cheval- Blanc (St-Émilion)
Name the 5 First Growths of the 1855 Classification (château and commune)
Name the 14 Second Growths (château and commune)
Who is the top producer in Graves and why?
Château Haut Brion
Who is the top Sauternes producer and why?
Château d’Yquem
Name 5 top Pomerol producers
Château Pétrus
Château Lafleur
Le Pin
Clos l’Eglise
Name 5 top St-Émilion top Producers
Château Angélus
Château Ausone
Château Cheval-Blanc
Château Pavie
Château Figeac
What’s a barrique?
What’s a château?
What role does a vintage play in Bordeaux?
Every vintage is very different. Yearly weather affects the wine style and the selling price.
What’s the connection between yearly weather/vintage variation/wine style/and wine selling price?
What are the top vintages of the last 15 years. Why are they are top vintages?
What was the Marriage of Eleanor of Aquitaine?
What’s the relevance of Dutch innovation and exportation in Bordeaux?
What’s the history of the slave trade port in Bordeaux?
Is Bordeaux the largest region of AOP wine production in France? How so?
What’s Bordeaux’s global image and how has its market and style evolved?
Highly regarded ratings. How has the perception of Bordeaux changed?
Explain deeper knowledge of the history of Bordeaux to create a better understanding of the region as it is today.
How to serve Bordeaux wines?
Decanting young Bordeaux for aeration, decanting aged Bordeaux for sediment.
What’s sediment?
What service temperature to serve Bordeaux wines?
What to pair with Bordeaux wines?
Bold red wines with beef and lamb, rich sweet wines with dessert and foie gras.
What are the important classic pairings with the various styles of Bordeaux. Why do they pair well?
How do Bordeaux vintages and styles effect price differences, appropriate purchasing and recommendations tableside in a restaurant?
