Bordeaux Flashcards
What is climate in Bordeaux?
Maritime, but it has Atlantic gulf stream to help
What is the ocean barrior in Bordeaux?
Les Landes Forest. Man made forrest.
Left Bank geography and soil
Gravel mounds. Soil is gravel and sand
Right Bank geography and soil
string of small hills. Clay and Limestone
Entre Deux Mers geography and soil
significant slopes. some gravel sand in some spots and Clay and limestone on the hillsides
What grapes like gravel and sand
Cab and Peitit Verdot. They need the warm from the soil since they are late ripening
What grapes like clay and limestone
Merlot, Cot and Cab franc. Moisture retaining soil so not an issue for early riping grapes.
Bordeaux’s climate is fundamentally maritime - but which phenomenon regulates and tempers the climatic conditions?
The Gulf Stream
What is the name of the large man-made forest to the west of Bordeaux which provides a barrier to ocean winds and storms, so protecting the region’s vineyards?
Les Landes
Who helped get Bordeaux into England?
Eleanor of Aquitaine married Henry Plantagenet – the future Henry II. He controlled the western part of france from the english channel tot he pyrenees. Creating a strong trade of wine to England.
100 year war? whats the significants
Final battle was in Castillon near Saint Emilion, and the French were victorious in expelling the English and reclaiming Bordeaux.
How were the Dutch involved with Bordeaux?
Sweet white wines ship to Netherlands. they also wanted to distill white wine for Brandy “Eau de Vie”. The dutch drained the Medoc, which meant exposing the gravel and reclaiming the land to grow wine. Medoc did not grow wine until this point.
French revolution?
Most of the mobs didnt go for the chateaus since they were independently owned, but they did go for merchants. The port was avoided due to the mobs.
What did Napoleon do?
helped restablish ties to UK.
The big freeze
Cot didnt do well in the freeze in 1956, so they replanted those with Merlot. Replaced most of the whites to reds as well.
Who is Emile Peynaud?
He helped Bordeaux Chateaus to create second lables using young vines. This gave a boost of quality of the Grand Vin - the primary label of the chateaus.
Robert Parker
Launched the Wine Advocate and giving high scores to the 1982 vintages. This brought world attention to Bordeaux.
What is the role of the Trader “Negociant”?
70% of the wine sold in bordeaux goes through a network of 300 wine trading houses. 165 countries get Boreadux. They create a future market, pre-sold while in the barrel. Then in stages “tranches” they sell the wine for more after each tranche. This does create inconsistency with the prices at market. 56% of the wine is sold in France and drank.
What is important about co-ops?
Cruical part of Boradeaux wine trade. 29 co-ops and 3 co-op unions. Almost half of the all the growers belong to a co-op body. They bottle 23% of the wine.
Which French duchess married Henry Plantagenet in 1152, bringing her lands under English rule?
Eleanor of Aquitaine
In which year did the extreme winter destroy much of the Côt crop in Bordeaux and South-West France – causing many producers to replace the grape with Merlot?
1956
White wines planted in Bordeaux?
semillon, sauv b, Muscadelle.
others are: Colombard, Merlot Blanc, Mauzac Blanc and Ugni Blanc. Newly approved: Alvarinho and Liliorila.
What rose grape?
Sauvignon Gris
Which grape variety is the most widely planted in Bordeaux?
Merlot
Red Grapes?
Merlot, Cab Sauv, Cab Franc, Cot, Petit Verdot, Carmenere.
Newly added: Arinarnoa, Castets, Marselan, Touriga Nacional
Which white grape is the primary variety for sweet wines from Bordeaux?
Sémillon
60% of Bordeaux winegrowers are working towrads?
The Conseil InterProfessionnel du Vin de Bordeaux (CIVB) is commited to having 100% of its producers achive environmental certifications such as “Terra Vitis” or “High Enviromental Value. Going towrds organic or biodynamic certs. Boradeaux has decreaes their carbon foot print by 20%.
What is french word for Punch down?
Pigeage
What is the french word for pump over
remontage
what is the french word for rack and return
Délestage
How many AOCs?
Three regional AOCs cover the entire Bordeaux wine region.
- Bordeaux AOC
- Bordeaux Superieur AOC - stricter then Bordeaux AOC and Alvarinho is not permitted since whites have to be semi sweet “moelleux”.
- Cremant de Bordeaux AOC
The Medoc
The Médoc sub-region of Bordeaux sits on a peninsula to the north of the city of Bordeaux and only red. Cab, Merlot, Cab Franc, Petit Verdot, cot and carmenere. If white wine is made here it is labled Bordeaux AOC.
vineyards are moderating effects from Gironde Estuary.
Soils: Gravel Mounds and Limestone in Haut Medoc and 6 communes which is great for Cab sauv. Except in the Medoc has some gravel and clay which suits merlot
The medoc sub region contains” 8 AOCS, two districs: Medoc and Haut Medoc and 6 communes.
Graves
First vineyards were planted here. Both red and whites.
vineyards protected by the atlantic from the les landes
Soils: Gravel Mounds and Limestone.
The Sauternais
Sub region produces sweet white wines from 3 AOCs: Sauternes, Barsac and Cerons.. Microclimate helps promot botrytis growth due to the morning mist. Cooler temps from the Ciron River meet the warm waters of the Garonne River.
red wines here are labeled Bordeaux Superieur AOC or Bordeaux AOC. Dry whites are Bordeaux AOC
Entre Deux Mers
sits betwen the Dordogne and Garonne. Entre Deux MErs means “Between two seas”. 7 AOCs
Sauv B is dominate grape and of the AOCS make dry and sweet white wines.
soil: alluvial deposits near rivers and slopes are gravel. plateaus and hillsides are sand/clay/limestone.
The Libournais
Named after the city of Libourne, all 10 AOCs make red wine.
Pomerol does not permit Carmenere. They use all six traditional red bordeaux grapes.
The Cotes
This is not a geographical sub region, but a grouping of vineyard areas that slope towrads the rivers in bordeaux.
soil: clay and limestone
merlot and cab franc most important.
Only red wine AOC and can be blended from fruit across the vineyard areas, but there are three DGCs that make white wines and two that make sweet styles.
Medoc AOC
within the area called “Medoc”. Covers the Northern Third of the vineyards. More clay and limestone here, and less gravels. Merlot dominates, 40%.
Which wine style is not included in the regional Bordeaux AOC?
Sparkling
Bordeaux AOC rosés can only be made from red grape varieties. True or False?
False
Haut Medoc AOC
In Medoc, covers th southern two thirds of the medoc peninsula. soil is gravel and top fo various sub soils. has many mesoclimates since it runs 36 miles/60 km long.
many wines here are classified as Cru Bourgeois.
Saint Estephe AOC
in the Medoc. Most notherly of the Medocs Commune AOCs. higher % of clay in soil and more windier and cooler then the other communes. Higher % of Merlot in the dominate blends (usually cab), this helps soften the tannins.
Pauillac AOC
in the Medoc. Most famous commune AOC. it has gravelly soil with excellent natural drainage. the blends are cab dominate and the grapes ripen fully giving powerful structure and ageability. Dusty Cocoa. 17 Classified growths, and home to 3 Premier Cru Classes out of five.
Saint Julien AOC
in medoc and is well drained area of gravel mounds over subsoils of clay, marl and iron pan. cab dominates here and often shows chocolate and cherry.
Margaux AOC
in the Medoc, most sotherly of the communes. more sand in the subsoil below the gravel. quick to warm but not very water retentive. wines here are delicate, perfumed. Margaux has 1 of the 5 Premier Crus Classes.
Listrac Medoc and Moulis en Medoc AOCs
in Medoc, both communes are located in land away from the Gironde so the climate is cooler. Listrac means Fringe or Edge, which describes this AOCs location on the edge of the vineyard area where it meets the Les Landes.
Listrac Medoc AOC - more clay, sand and limestone, Merlot is predominate. heavier and denser wines. Benefit from a few years in the cellar.
Moulis en Medoc/ Moulis AOC - clay and marls, less moderate temps like Listrac, Merlot dominate, full bodied. they express themselves best with age in the bottle.
Which style of wine is produced in the AOCs of the Médoc?
Red
Graves AOC
In Graves. red blends based on cab sauv and dry whites on sauv b and semillon.
85% of production is red. whites can be oaked or non oaked.
Graves Superieures AOC
in Graves, makes semi sweet white wines. minimum sweetness of 3/4% IRS. Grapes are concentrated with noble rot or Passerillage.
Pessac Leognan AOC
in Graves. Produces fine cab sauv based reds. deel gravel soils.
whites are based on sauv b and semillon, often oaked. Crips acidity keeps them aging for a decade or two.
Sauternes AOC
within Sauternais, most famous sweet wine. the wines are sweet, complex and great aging. apricot, pineapple, honey and almond, whereas aged wines typically see dried apricot, grilled pineapple and spice/nuts.
soils are gravel, clay, marl and limestone. 2/3 is semillon, and 1/3 is sauv b. Muscadelle has largely fallen out of favor.
Cerons AOc
within Sauternais, tine area of the vineyards and similar to Sauternes and Barsac. higher gravel and sand, can label their dry reds and whites as graves and its semi sweet white wines as graves superieures.
Barsac AOC
within Sauternais, left bank of Ciron river. clay/limestone vineyards are borded by low stone walls out of rocks pulled from the vineyard. distinc lemony freshness that may attribute to the limestone. They can label the wines sauternes if desired.
Which river separates Sauternes from Barsac and helps create the humid conditions that lead to botrytis developing?
The Ciron
What styles of wine is made in Graves Supérieures AOC?
Semi-Sweet White
Entre Deux Mers Haut Benauge DGC
DGC of the entre deux mers AOC. Produces dry white wines as the same grapes as entre deux mers AOC.
Bordeaux Haut Benauge DGC
DGC of the entre deux mers AOC, produces dry and semi sweet wines largely from Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc.
Cadillac AOC
in the the entre deux mer, across from the Garonne from Sauternes vineyards ( 1 of 3 AOCs). sweet white wines, minimum sweetness of 5.1. Shares same macroclimate as the Sauternais, less morning fog less potential for botrytis.
Loupiac AOC
in the the entre deux mer, across from the Garonne from Sauternes vineyards (1 of 3 AOCs) . sweet white wines, minimum sweetness is 4.5. Shares same macroclimate as the Sauternais, less morning fog less potential for botrytis.
Sainte Croix du Mont AOC
in the the entre deux mer, across from the Garonne from Sauternes vineyards (1 of 3 AOCs) . sweet white wines, minimum sweetness is 4.5. Shares same macroclimate as the Sauternais, less morning fog less potential for botrytis. Most prestigious of the three due to the larger concentration of gravels in the soil.
Graves de Vayres AOC
in the the entre deux mer, produces dry white, red and semi sweet white wines. named after the gravel beds that produce the its soils. roudned pebbles were deposited from the Isle River. whites are largely sauv g and semillon blends, but can have up to 35% merlot blanc.
Many Entre-deux-Mers châteaux also produce red wines – which AOCs can appear on the label of these wines?
Bordeaux and Bordeaux Supérieur
Saint Emilion AOC
located in Libournais, most famous. soils are limestone and clay with pockets of sand alnog the local rivers.
iron rich soils are found in pomerol chateau figeac and chateau cheval blanc.
the results of these varied soils is that some wines are higher acidity and polished tannins (limestone), while others are fruit forward (sand). Similar flavor profile to pomerol (velvet tannins, hints of wanut and prunes).
Saint Emilion Grand Cru
covers the same as Saint Emilion AOC.
To get Grand Cru statues, the wine must have lower yields and higher minimum alcohol than Saint Emilion AOC. Wines must be bottled as a chteau and undergo two tastings before and after their mandatory one year aging period. Over 3 times the production of Saint Emilion AOC.
The Saint Emilion Satellites
The outlying areas to the North of Saint Emilion AOC. Produce wines very similar to Saint Emilion add their village/area name to the label.
Pomerol AOc
located in Libournais. One of the most famous in Libournais and Bordeaux.
Made using all the bordeaux grapes except for carmenere.
soft, velvety, round and generous. They have heady aromas and rich textured due to the iron rich soils.
LaLande de Pomerol AOC
is satellite AOC of Pomerol. The wines tend to be less aromatic, less structured and show more bright berry.
Cotes de Bordeaux AOC
red wine only. any fruit form the five vineyards.
Fronsac AOC
located in Libournais. only two Libournais AOC to the west of the Isle River. Clay and Limestone soils make merlot and cab franc territory. show red fruit and black pepper.
Canon Fronsac AOC
much smaller then Fronsac, but very similar. Clay and Limestone soils make merlot and cab franc territory. show red fruit and black pepper.
What is the dominant blend in the Libournais wines?
Merlot and Cabernet Franc
Castillon Cotes de Bordeaux DGC
only makes red. Geographically apart of Libournais and has clay soil. 70-80% Merlot similar to Saint Emilion style.
Blaye Cotes de Bordeaux DGC
Dry whites and reds. Merlot based, makes 3% of Bordeaux’s production.
Cadillac Cotes de Bordeaux DGC
only makes red wines. soils are clay and limestone and merlot is dominate. pockets of gravel so cabernet is there too.
Francs Cotes de Bordeaux DGC
makes small amount od fry and sweet wines 5.1 and most production is red wines. with lots of limestone is cab franc and component of the merlot dominate blend.
Sainte Foy Cotes de Bordeaux DGC
makes small amount of dry, semi sweet and sweet whites 1.7 - 4.5, as well as reds.
The Blaye and Bourg AOCs
Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux covers the entire territory of Blaye. However there are two other AOCs – Blaye and Côtes de Blaye – here as well. Like the nearby Bourg AOC, these are not part of the Côtes de Bordeaux AOC.
Bourg/Cotes de Bourg/ Bourgeais AOC
all three names are officially recognized. Dry red and white wines. Merlot 65%, 40% is Sauv Blanc wiht a blanace split between colombard and semillon.
Blaye AOC
red grape, mix of soils sandy gravel clay and limestone… great for diversity in vine planting. Most planted grape is merlot, wines must be 50% Merlot, cab franc and or cab sauv.
Graves Classification
Graves – including Pessac–Léognan – is the only Bordeaux sub-region whose whose classification ranks both red and white wines. All the wines in this classification are part of the Pessac-Léognan AOC and are entitled to “Grand Cru Classé de Graves” status – they may also be labeled “Cru Classé de Graves.”
est 1953, unchanged since 1959 revision. 13 red, 9 whites that afall into one single classification “grand cru classe de graves” Only classification that ranks the wines NOT the estates.
Cru Bourgeois
This became a formal classification in 2020, when 249 chateaux were ranked in three levels:
1. cru bourgeois exceptionnels
2. crus bourgeois superieurs
3. crus bourgeois
rankings are reviewed every 5 years
If a bottle of wine is labeled as Côtes de Bordeaux AOC – with no qualifying DGC mentioned – what style of wine will the bottle contain?
Red only
The Classification of Saint-Émilion
The original Saint-Émilion classification was established in 1955 and was intended to be revised every ten years. Estates that achieve Grand Cru Classé status must first be part of the Saint-Émilion Grand Cru AOC.
est in 1955, most recent revisions were 2012. 82 estates ranked:
1. premiers grands cru classes A
2. premiers grands crus classes B
3. Grands cru classes
Cru Artisan
small estates that are entirely responsible for their own red wine production from vineyard to bottle. 36 cru artisans are in the 2018 classification, which recognizes boutique wineries of quality.
Which areas of Bordeaux have classifications?
Médoc, Graves and Pessac-Léognan, Sauternes and Barsac, Saint-Émilion
Originally the 1855 Classification had just four Premiers Crus. However in 1973 a Deuxième Cru was promoted to make it five Premiers Crus. Which Châteaux was promoted?
Château Mouton-Rothschild
1855 Universal Exhibition in Pari
With one exception, the classification only included châteaux in the Médoc and Sauternes – the exception was Château Haut-Brion, which is in Pessac–Léognan (in Graves). The fact that the list includes just one estate from Graves, no wines from the Right Bank and no dry whites at all, illustrates how little they were regarded at the time.
Chateau Lafite, Chateau Latour, Chateau Margaux, Chateau Haut Brion.
ranking:
1. premier cru
2. deuxieme cru
3. troisieme cru
4. quatrieme cru
5. cinqueime cru
