Bordeaux Flashcards
The Institut National des Appellations d’Origine (INAO) was created to delimit and enforce France’s wine appellation system in?
1935
Which are the Current French Wine Classifications?
Appellation d’Origine Contrôlee / Protégée (AOC/AOP)
Vin de Pays / Indication Géographique Protégée (IGP)
Vin de France (formerly Table Wine)
How many hectares is Bordeaux?
nearly 111,500 hectares
Bordeaux produces which styles?
Red, white, rosé, sweet, and sparkling wines are produced.
Six grapes are allowed for Bordeaux AOP red wines:
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec, and Carmènere
Malbec is known as?
Pressac on the Right Bank
Château Mouton-Rothschild was elevated from second growth to first in?
1973
Name the growths of Saint Estephe
Cos d’Estournel and Montrose 2nd Growth
Calon Segur 3d Growth
Lafon-Rochet 4th Growth
Cos Labory 5th Growth
Name the growths of Paillac
1st growths: Lafite, Mouton, Latour
2nd: Pichon Longueville Baron, Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande
3d: ————-
4th: Duhart-Milon
5th: Clerk Milon, Lynch Bages, Pontet Canet, Bailly, Haut-Bataille, Haut-Bages-Libéral, Grand-Puy-Lacoste, Grand-Puy-Ducasse, Lynch-Moussas, Château d’Armailhac, Pédesclaux, Croizet Bages
Name the growths of St-Julien
2nd: Leoville Barton, Poyferre, las Cases, Gruaud-Larose, Ducru Beaucaillou
3d: Lagrange, Langoa Barton,
4th: Beychevelle, Talbot, Saint-Pierre, Branaire-Ducru
5th: ————
Name the growths of Margaux
1st: Margaux
2nd: Rauzan-Ségla, Gassies, Durfort Vivens, Brane Cantenac, Lascombes
3rd: Palmer, d’Issan, Giscours, Kirwan, Malescot-Saint-Exupéry, Desmirail, Ferriere, Marquis d’Alesme Becker, Boyd Cantenac, Cantenac-Brown
4th: Pouget, Marquis de Terme, Prieuré-Lichine
5th: Dauzac, Château du Tertre
Name the growths of Haut-Medoc
3d: Château La Lagune
4th: La Tour Carnet
5th: Cantemerle, Belgrave, Château de Camensac
Name the communes of Margaux
Margaux, Cantenac, Soussans, Labarde, Arsac
Name the growths of Margaux commune
1st: Margaux
2nd: Rauzan Segla/Gassies, , Durfort and Lascombes
3d: Malescot-Saint-Exupéry, Ferrière, Marquis d’Alesme Becker
4th: Marquis de Terme
Name the growths of Arsac
5th: Chateau du Tertre
Name the growths if Labarde
3rd: Giscours
5th: Dauzac
Name the growths of Cantenac
2nd: Brane-Cantenac
3d: Palmer, Desmirail, Kirwan, d’Issan, Cantenac Brown, Boyd Cantenac
4th: Prieuré-Lichine
5th: ———–
Yields for Haut-Medoc communes?
57hl/ha
Which was the first Chateau of Bordeaux?
Pape Clement in 1305
The mixture of sand, gravel and light clay in Graves is known as?
boulbenes
When was Chateau Cantemerle classified?
1856
Who owns château d’Armailhac?
Purchased by Baron Philippe de Rothschild in 1934, the estate is currently owned by the Mouton Rothschild branch of the Rothschild family.
Name the second labels of the 1st growths
Lafite: Carruades de Lafite
Latour: Forts de Latour
Margaux: Pavillon Rouge
Mouton: Petit Mouton
Haut-Brion: Le Clarence and Le Clarte
Name the second wine of Ducru Beaucaillou
La Croix Ducru-Beaucaillou
Name the second wine of Cos d’Estournel
Pagodes de Cos
Name the second wine of Montrose
La Dame de Montrose
Name the second wine of Leoville las Cases
Le Petit Lion
Name the second wine of Leoville Barton
La Réserve de Léoville Barton
Name the second wine of Leoville Poyferre
Pavillon de Léoville Poyferré
Name the second wine of Pichon Longueville Baron
Les Tourelles de Longueville
Name the second wine of Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande
Pichon Comtesse Réserve
Name the second wine of Durfort-Vivens
There is a second wine that is sold under two names, Vivens, and Le Relais de Durfort Vivens
Name the second wine of Brane-Cantenac
Le Baron de Brane
Name the second wine of Rauzan-Segla
Segla
Name the second wine of Rauzan-Gassies
Gassies
Name the second wine of Gruaud-Larose
Sarget de Gruaud Larose
Name the second wine of Chateau Lascombes
Chevalier de Lascombes
Name the second label of Palmer
Alter Ego
Name the scond label of Calon Segur
Le Marquis de Calon Ségur
Name the scond label of Lagrange
Les Fiefs de Lagrange
Name the scond label of Kirwan
Les Charmes de Kirwan
Name the scond label of Lagune
Moulin de la Lagune
Name the scond label of d’Issan
Blason d’Issan
Name the scond label of Giscours
La Sirène de Giscours
Name the scond label of Malescot ST Exupery
La Dame de Malescot
Name the scond label of Cantenac Brown
BriO de Cantenac Brown
Name the scond label of Talbot
Connetable de Talbot
Name the scond label of Beychevelle
Amiral de Beychevelle
Name the scond label of Lafon Rochet
There are 2 second wines, Les Pelerins de Lafon Rochet and Les Secrets de Lafon Rochet
Name the scond label of Duhart-Milon
Moulin de Duhart
Name the scond label of Lascombes
Chevalier de Lascombes
Name the scond label of Prieure Lichine
Confidences de Prieure Lichine, and Le Cloitre du Chateau Prieure Lichine
Name the scond label of Brainaire Ducru
Duluc de Branaire Ducru
This estate was known as Mouton-Baronne-Philippe from 1933-1988
Château d’Armailhac
Cremant de Bordeaux ageing sur lie?
9 months
Phylloxera arrived in Bordeaux in?
1869
Name the top vintages of 1940s
1945 was one of the all-time great vintages of Bordeaux, followed by 1947 and 1949
Château bottling finally became compulsory for classified estates in the Médoc in?
1972
Which was a breakout vintage in the 1980s?
The 1982 vintage was a breakout, particularly in the mind of the new American critic Robert Parker. Fruit, concentration, and the desirability of new oak increasingly stood out as chief attributes, and the wines of the right bank finally began to take their place next to the great wines of the Médoc
Name the trio dry and warm vintages of 80s
1988-1990
Name some wine consultants from Bodreaux
Emile Peynaud were Michel Rolland, Stéphane Derenoncourt, Denis Dubourdieu, and others.
Chateau Latour left en primeur in?
2013
Name the second label of Cos Labory
Le Saint Estèphe de Cos Labory
Name the second label of Batailley
Lions de Batailley
Name the second label of Clerc Milon
Pastourelle de Clerc-Milon
Which Chateaus does not have a second label?
Château d’Armailhac, Château Marquis d’Alesme-Becker
Name the second label of Pontet Canet
Les Hauts de Pontet-Canet
Name the second label of Graud-Larose
Sarget de Gruaud-Larose
Name the second label of Chateau du Tertre
Les Hauts du Tertre
Cru Artisan, a designation that has been in use for nearly a century and a half, was formally recognized in?
2002
The crus artisans work an average of six hectares each. Following a review in 2023, the number of producers has decreased to 33, reflecting changes in ownership. Rankings will now be updated every 5 years, as opposed to every 10 as previously required.
Cru Bourgeois, originally introduced in ?
1932 gave 444 properties
cru bourgeois exceptionnel, cru bourgeois supérieur, and the basic cru bourgeois
Graves AOP authorises?
Dry reds and whites
Graves Supérieures AOP authorises?
only sweet wines
Graves Classification was made official in?
1959
Name the classified Chateaux of Graves for both colors
Château Bouscaut
Château Carbonnieux
Domaine de Chevalier
Château Malartic-Lagravière
Château La Tour-Haut-Brion
Château Olivier
Name the classified Chateaux of Graves for reds
Château de Fieuzal
Château Haut-Bailly
Château Haut-Brion
Château La Mission Haut-Brion
Château Pape-Clément
Château Smith-Haut-Lafitte
Name the classified Chateaux of Graves for whites
Château Couhins
Château Couhins-Lurton
Château Latour-Martillac
Château Laville-Haut-Brion
About 80% of Pessac-Léognan production today is ?
red
Name the communes of production of Sauternes
Barsac, Sauternes, Fargues, Preignac, Bommes
Barsac and Sauternes became AOC in?
1936
Max yields for Sauternes and Barsac?
25hl/ha
Minimum Potential Alcohol, must weight and RS for Sautenes and Barsac?
Minimum Potential Alcohol: 15% (12% acquired)
Minimum Must Weight: 221 g/l
Minimum Residual Sugar: 45 g/l
Minimum Planting Density and elevage for Sauternes and Barsac?
Élevage: The wines may not be released until June 30 of the year following the harvest
Minimum Planting Density: 6,500 vines per hectare
Sauternes’ vineyards are situated near the confluence of two rivers:
the Ciron and the Garonne
Sauternes can hit a finished alcohol level and RS of?
14% while climbing into a residual sugar range of 120-160 g/l
“Ygrec” white first debuted in?
1959
Name the styles and the communes of Cerons AOP
Cerons, Illats, Podensac
sweet white wines under the Cérons AOP or dry white and red wines labeled Graves
There are a few white grape vineyards in the Right Bank in?
Blaye and Bourg
This small graves zone, on Saint-Émilion’s perimeter, is home to ?
Château Figeac, one of the few Saint-Émilion properties with a substantial amount of Cabernet Sauvignon planted, and Château Cheval Blanc, a property that often blends more Cabernet Franc than Merlot into the grand vin
The first list of premier grand cru classé (divided into A and B tiers), grand cru classé, and grand cru estates was completed in?
1955
Pomerol max yields?
49hl/ha
Pomerol’s soils?
The surface gravels of Pomerol’s plateau are laid over, and often amalgamated with, clay and interweaved with bands of crasse de fer—iron-rich sand deposits celebrated by some producers as part of the “magic” of Pomerol’s terroir. The third terrace, located at a higher elevation in eastern Pomerol, consists of purer, water-retaining clay with some gravel. This is clearest at the buttonière (“buttonhole”), an area of deep blue clay at Pomerol’s highest and easternmost point, spanning just 20 hectares.
Fronsac and Canon Fronsac produces which styles?
Rouge:
Principal Varieties: Min. 80% combined Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot
Accessory Varieties: Cot (Malbec), max. 10% Petit Verdot, max. 10% Carmenère
The best hillside sites in Fronsac are in the communes of?
Saillans and La Rivière
Red wines of Fronsac and Canon Fronsac include in the blends mostly?
80-100% Merlot
Canon Fronsac is typically held in higher regard
Name the top producers of Fronsac and Canon Fronsac
Château Grand-Renouil and Château Gaby are among the top tier of properties in Canon Fronsac. Some of the best estates in Fronsac today include Château Dalem, Château de La Dauphine and the Michel Rolland-owned Château Fontenil. The largest property in the region is Château de La Rivière
Name the rivers of Pomerol
Encircled by the Isle and Barbanne rivers and the town of Libourne
Four satellite appellations are located to the north of Saint-Émilion itself:
Lussac-Saint-Émilion AOP, Puisseguin-Saint-Émilion AOP, Montagne-Saint-Émilion AOP, and Saint-Georges-Saint-Émilion AOP
Merlot is the dominant grape
Saint-Georges is the smallest
Montagne produces the most
Lussac is the northernmost satellite
Puisseguin is the highest in elevation
Pomerol has one satellite of its own:
Lalande-de-Pomerol AOP
Merlot dominates
Entre-Deux Mers achieved AOC status solely for white wines back in 1937—further restricted to dry whites in 1953
Principal Varieties: Min. 70% combined Sauvignon Blanc, Sauvignon Gris, Muscadelle, and Sémillon
Accessory Varieties: Colombard, and Ugni Blanc
but Merlot dominates the region’s vineyards today, destined for Bordeaux and Bordeaux Supérieur AOP wines
Côtes de Bordeaux-Saint-Macaire produces?
dry and sweet white wines, occasionally with a touch of botrytis
The Haut-Benauge designation may also be applied to?
off-dry Bordeaux AOP whites from the same area
subzone of Entre deux Mers
Three superior sweet wine appellations lie within the Premières Côtes:
—Cadillac, Loupiac, and Sainte-Croix-du-Mont—
Premières Côtes de Bordeaux AOP, a thin ribbon of hillsides on the right bank of the Garonne, was re-envisioned with the launch of the Côtes de Bordeaux AOP in 2009 as a?
sweet white wine-only appellation, mandating at least 34 g/l of residual sugar. Sémillon is the appellation’s dominant grape
Graves de Vayres AOP produces?
Blanc: Muscadelle, Sauvignon Blanc, Sauvignon Gris, and Sémillon; plus max. 30% Merlot Blanc
Rouge: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Cot, Petit Verdot, Carmenère
Name the subzones of Côtes de Bordeaux AOP
Francs, Cadillac, Castillon, Blaye, Sainte Foy
debuted in 2009 to rebrand and unify numerous outlying appellations in Bordeaux under a common banner in the marketplace
Castillon and Cadillac Côtes de Bordeaux are reserved for?
red wines
Blaye, Francs, and Sainte-Foy produce?
reds but some whites as well
Cadillac AOP produces?
sweet white wines
Bourg AOP produces?
reds Merlot based
few whites
The region also has the highest concentration of Malbec vines anywhere in Bordeaux
Name a top producer from Bourg
Château Roc de Cambes: a Saint-Émilion vigneron named François Mitjaville bought the run-down property in 1987 and showed the world the potential of Bourg
Blaye AOP produces which styles?
Merlot is the dominant grape here, too. Cabernet Sauvignon performs less reliably in Blaye than Bourg, but it is still the second-most planted red grape
Red wines may be labeled either as Blaye AOP or Côtes de Bordeaux AOP
Dry white wines composed of the standard Bordeaux complement of Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon are released under the Blaye geographic designation of Côtes de Bordeaux AOP
a few rare white blends based on the Cognac grapes Ugni Blanc and Colombard are released as Côtes de Blaye AOP
Which Chateaux of Pomerol has the highest Cabernet Franc in the blend?
Chateau de Beauregard
Name the top Chateaux of Pomerol
Petrus
Le Pin
Clos du Closer
La Conseillante
La Croix de Gay
l’Eglise Clinet
l’Evangile
Trotanoy
La Fleur Petrus
Gazin
Hosanna (Moueix)
Lafleur
Rouget
VCC
Who were influencial for Pomerol wines?
Moueix who introduced green harvesting in the 80s
Michel Rolland
Thienpont Families
Some top vintages for Pomerol?
2009,2015,2016
Cheval Blanc size, location, soils, grape composition, viticulture and winemaking, style, second labels, vine age and owners?
39ha
probably the first estate in the Right Bank to install this type of drainage system
At first, Chateau Cheval Blanc sold their wine under the Figeac label
In 2009, LVMH purchased the shares owned by Bernard Arnault in a private transaction
Second wine, Le Petit Cheval
In 2009, 2010, and again in 2015, they produced candidates for wine of the vintage
Located on the Pomerol border in the northwest portion of Saint Emilion
Their vines abut those of Chateau LEvangile. When you look closely, it is easy to see that close to 30% of their terroir resembles that of the top Pomerol estates
Cheval Blanc is planted to 52% Cabernet Franc and 43% Merlot, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon today, but the goal is to return to the original mix of 55% Cabernet Franc, 40% Merlot, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. The addition of Cabernet Sauvignon represents a change in the vineyard plantings
The vines at Cheval Blanc are old, averaging 45 years of age. They have 8 hectares of Cabernet Franc planted in the 1950s
However, some of the older parcels of Cabernet Franc are close to 100 years of age, as they were planted in 1920! The old vines are the source of their massal selection program
Their best parcel is well placed in the middle of their vineyards directly in front of the chateau, with the deep, blue clay soils, where you find their older Cabernet Franc vines.
Cheval Blanc has a complex terroir that consists of 3 different soils. Even though the vineyards are in one large parcel, this can be divided up as follows: 40% of their soils are gravel over multiple types of clay, including blue clay.
Another 40% of their terroir has deep gravel soils, while the remaining 20% of their soils consist of sandy clay in the soil
vinification takes place in 67 different temperature-controlled, cement vats that vary in size
Malolactic takes place in tanks
The wines are aged in 100% new, French oak barrels for close to 18 months before bottling
Le Petit Cheval Bordeaux Blanc in 2015 was 100% Sauvignon Blanc but in 2018 includes a 20% Semillon and is barrel fermented and aged
Cheval Blanc also maintains an interest in the Mendoza region of Argentina where they produce the wine Cheval des Andes
Chateau Ausone size, location, soils, grape composition, viticulture and winemaking, style, second labels, vine age and owners?
7ha
Chateau Ausone is one of the few famed Bordeaux estates that has remained a family vineyard. In fact, only 3 different families have owned the vineyard since it was originally created
Alain Vauthier is the manager of the Chateau
It is expected that Pauline Vauthier will eventually become fully in charge of the property in the years to come
The style of wine at Chateau Ausone is unlike most other wines. Minerality, from the massive limestone deposits in the soil, is what most tasters notice. The fruit retains a beautiful purity.
The wine is rich, full-bodied, and concentrated, yet it is not heavy. There is a lot of tannins, but the tannins are ripe. The wine offers powerful aromatics, filled with ripe black, blue and dark red fruits, accompanied by licorice, floral and crushed rock scents. Ausone is built to age
55% Cabernet Franc, 40% Merlot, 45 Cabernet Sauvignon, and 1% Petit Verdot
Cabernet Sauvignon is only included in the second wine
There is a second wine, La Chapelle d’Ausone, which made its debut in 1995. La Chapelle d’Ausone is on average a blend of 50% Merlot and 50% Cabernet Franc. Although a very minor portion of Cabernet Sauvignon can be added as well in select vintages
The vines are old, in fact, the average age of the vines is 50 years. However, Chateau Ausone also has some of the oldest vines in St. Emilion. There are Cabernet Franc vines that are more than 100 years of age. The oldest vines were planted in 1906
Yields are low 33hl/ha
The Grand Vin is aged in 100% new, French oak barrels up to 24 months, depending on the character and richness of the vintage
Much of the vineyard enjoys southeast exposure. At its peak, the plateau reaches up to 85 meters in elevation with limestone and clay soils
Chateau Angelus size, location, soils, grape composition, viticulture and winemaking, style, second labels, vine age and owners?
42ha
Chateau Angelus has one of the longest histories in the St. Emilion appellation and is still owned by the de Bouard family
The family has been in Bordeaux since 1544
In 1922, Elisabeth Bouchet, the second wife of Maurice de Bouard de La Forest purchased a 3.5-hectare parcel of vines known as Clos L’Angelus and the estate was born
Hubert de Bouard was one of the first Bordeaux vignerons to embrace fermenting in open-top vats and conducting malolactic fermentation in small barrels. He started employing other techniques that were popular in Burgundy but were not widely used at the time in Bordeaux. This included fermenting with whole berries, aging on the lees, harvesting, and vinifying on a parcel by parcel basis.
To further improve the wines of Chateau Angelus, Hubert de Bouard lowered yields, increased the leaf canopies, began green harvesting, improved the selection, and started aging the wines in new, French oak barrels. He changed the rootstocks to lower-yielding, increased the density in the vineyard, and improved the drainage system. While all of these practices are standard at all well-managed vineyards today, at the time, they were almost revolutionary!
50% Merlot, 47% Cabernet Franc and 3% Cabernet Sauvignon
Merlot is planted in soils with more clay and limestone, while the Cabernet Franc is planted in gravel, limestone, and sand terroir. Chateau Angelus was one of the earliest proponents of Cabernet Franc in Saint Emilion
12 hectares of vines are used for Le Carillon de l’Angelus and No 3
The estate has old vines dating all the way back to 1918. While the oldest vines are Merlot, the estate has 10 hectares of Cabernet Franc that are more than 60 years of age
Certified organic in 2021
Today, 50% of the Cabernet Franc is aged in neutral foudres, adding more freshness and purity to the wine.
The wine is aged in 100% new, French oak barrels for between 18-24 months
Starting with the 2016 vintage, they debuted a wine produced from 100% Cabernet Franc, Hommage à Elisabeth Bouchet
and only produced in the best vintages
comes from some of the estate’s oldest Cabernet Franc vines ranging in age from 65 to 85 years of age, with some vines that are more than 100 years old. The oldest vines were planted by Maurice de Bouard
The 2016 vintage of Hommage à Elisabeth Bouchet was aged in 100% new, French oak, while the 2018 was aged in 80% new, French oak barrels, with the remaining 20% of the wine aged in foudres. But things changed in 2019 when they began aging the wine in 80% foudres and 20% new, French oak barrels. 2022 was aged in 100% foudres. So as you can see, the aging varies depending on the vintage and the needs of the wine. The wine is aged for 22 months before bottling
he production is quite small as only 5 barrels are produced. The bottles are numbered and packaged in individual, wood cases with roughly only 1200 bottles, 300 magnums and a few double magnums being produced
Starting with the 2020 vintage, the estate began producing a small amount of white Bordeaux wine, Angelus Grand Vin Blanc, which is made from a blend of 40% Chardonnay, 30% Sauvignon Blanc and 30% Semillon
The style of Chateau Angelus is pure silk and velvet. It’s a rich, full-bodied and concentrated, Bordeaux wine, offering silky, cashmere textures that are filled with luscious, opulent, spicy dark fruit, licorice, spice, and truffle that ages extremely well
Name the St. Emilion Premier Grand Cru Classe B
Château Beausejour Duffau-Lagarrosse
Château Beau-Sejour Becot
Château Belair-Monange
Château Canon
Château Canon La Gaffeliere
Clos Fourtet
Château Larcis Ducasse
La Mondotte
Château Pavie Macquin
Château Troplong Mondot
Château Trotte Vieille
Valandraud
Chateau Figeac size, location, soils, grape composition, viticulture and winemaking, style, second labels, vine age and owners?
42ha
Figeac is an ancient Bordeaux vineyard! In fact, the genesis of the estate can be dated as far back as the second century during the ancient Gallo-Roman period. At that time, the owner of the property, Figeacus gave his name to the villa he built in the same location.
Thierry Manoncourt took over managing the property starting in 1946
Thierry Manoncourt made the then-bold move of having Figeac be the first major estate in the Right Bank to use temperature-controlled, stainless steel vats in the fermentation room. This took place in 1971. It was also the idea of Thierry Manoncourt to have Chateau Figeac become the first important estate in the Right Bank to produce a second wine
He passed away in 2010
Premier Cru Classe A
2015 one of the best vintages
35% Cabernet Franc, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Merlot
Average age of vines 45y with some 100y old
Figeac is situated in the graves region of Saint Emilion, which takes its name as you might guess, from the gravel in the soil
at the northwest part
Chateau Figeac is then aged in 100% new, French oak barrels for between 14 to 18 months before bottling
Second wine called Petit Figeac
Style resembles more of a Left Bank Bordeaux Wine structured, tannic, ageworthy
Chateau Pavie size, location, soils, grape composition, viticulture and winemaking, style, second labels, vine age and owners?
The slopes of Chateau Pavie and Ausone were first planted by the ancient Romans in the fourth century
Premier Grand Cru Classe A
The 50-hectare St. Emilion vineyard of Chateau Pavie is planted with 50% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon
The vines are old, averaging close to 50 years of age.
At Pavie, the terroir does not promote early ripening. In fact, Chateau Pavie is often one of the last Saint Emilion estates to finish harvesting. Pavie is also the largest of all the Premier Cru Classe A vineyards at 42 hectares
The wine of Chateau Pavie is aged in 75% new, French oak barrels for 18 to 24 months
There is a second wine, Aromes de Pavie
Chateau Pavie is a unique style of Bordeaux wine. The wine is deeply colored. In fact, it’s often opaque in the best years. Chateau Pavie is rich, filled with minerality and a special purity of fruit that only comes from the world’s best wines.
It’s mouth-filling with its density, offering a fabulous intensity of flavors that often resemble plums, blackberry, truffle, chocolate, licorice, blueberry, and spice, with minerality. Pavie pairs elegance with power and concentration with the ability to age and evolve for decades. In fact, Pavie is not a great wine to drink young. Chateau Pavie often requires more than 15 years of age to soften and develop its complexities
Chateau Canon size, location, soils, grape composition, viticulture and winemaking, style, second labels, vine age and owners?
34ha
Located on the top of the Saint Emilion limestone
In 1760, when the Saint Emilion vineyard was much smaller than it is today at 13 hectares, it was purchased by Jacques Kanon
In 2012, the chateau began an extensive renovation, which was completed in 2015. In 2014, Nicolas Audebert, the former winemaker at Cheval des Andes, the LVMH property in Mendoza Argentina, was hired to slowly replace the outgoing John Kolasa
Once Nicolas Audebert was placed fully in charge, another change took place later that year when they brought in Thomas Duclos as their consultant
Chateau Canon is a stylish Bordeaux wine. With a real sensation of minerality, ripe dark berries, licorice, and spicy scents, coupled with an opulent personality. It is a wine for consumers with patience. That is because Chateau Canon often takes at least 10-15 or more years before it’s open and ready to drink
2015 Canon is clearly the best wine along with the 2018, 2019 and 2020
70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc
The average age of the vines is now close to 30 years of age. There are old vines, some of which date back to the end of the 1930s
The wine is aged for an average of 18 months in 50% to 60% new, French oak barrels.
second wine, Croix Canon
Chateau Troplong-Mondot size, location, soils, grape composition, viticulture and winemaking, style, second labels, vine age and owners?
37ha
Constructed in 1745
In 1850, Raymond Troplong became the owner of this Right Bank estate. Following the custom of the time, the new owner, Troplong combined the name of the land with his last name and came up with Troplong Mondot.
Eventually, the estate was sold to the well-known negociant, Georges Thienpont from Belgium.
Three years later, Georges Thienpont purchased another property, Vieux Chateau Certan in the neighboring appellation of Pomerol. Needing money after obtaining Vieux Chateau Certan, in 1936, Thienpont was forced to sell Troplong Mondot.
The property at that time passed into the hands of Alexander Valette. Like Georges Thienpont, Alexander Valette was a well known Bordeaux negociant. Chateau Troplong Mondot remained a family-owned property from 1936, until 2017.
Christine Valette also hired Michel Rolland. Things changed again when Jean-Philippe Fort began to consult the estate in 2000. They changed consultants again with the 2017 vintage when they brought in Thomas Duclos as the consultant.
The first vintage that really stood out for Troplong Mondot was 1989, which was followed by the stunning and exotic, 1990 Troplong Mondot. The decade of the 1990s was mixed for Chateau Troplong Mondot, with 1998 standing out as the best wine of the decade.
Things once again changed for the better with the 2000 Troplong Mondot. From that point forward, the chateau could do no wrong. Vintage after vintage produced great wines. 2005, 2009, and 2010 are all remarkable wines that were overseen by Christine Valette and Xavier Pariente.
85% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Cabernet Franc
The elevation at the highest point reaches over 100 meters at the top of the plateau, which is the highest point in the entire Saint Emilion appellation
The average age of the vines is about 30 years. But there are old vines that are close to 100 years old
The wine is now aged in on average, 65% new, French oak barrels for 16 to 24 months, but this can vary, depending on the strength and character of the vintage
second wine Mondot
its the last wine to be harvested due to cooler terroir
It’s thick and rich in the mouth, but never heavy. The sensuous wine offers scents of dark plums, licorice, blackberries, coffee, spice, dark cherries, stone, chocolate, flowers, and blackberry liqueur. More sensuous than elegant on the palate, there is an intensity of flavors, coupled with the ability to age and evolve
Which vintages Chateau d’Yquem was not produced?
Chateau d’Yquem ended up declassifying the entire harvest and did not make wine in the following vintages, 1910, 1915, 1930, 1951, 1952, 1964, 1972, 1974, 1992, and 2012
Which was the first vintage of Ygrec?
1959
produced 33 vintages and since 2004 each year
Name the Premier Crus Classes of Sauternes
Chateau Giraud
65% Semillon and 35% Sauvignon Blanc
maintains one of the highest percentages of Sauvignon Blanc in the Sauternes appellation
Name the Premier Crus Classes of Bommes
Chateau La Tour Blanche
Chateau Lafaurie-Peyraguey
Chateau Rayne-Vigneau
Chateau Rabaud-Promis
Chateau Sigalas-Rabaud
Name the Premier Crus Classes of Fargues
Chateau Rieussec
Name the Premier Crus Classes of Barsac
Chateau Climens
Chateau Coutet
Name the Premier Crus Classes of Preignac
Chateau Suduiraut
Which are the best Second Growths (Deuxièmes Crus) of Sauternes and Barsac
Sauternes: Chateau d’Arche
Barsac: Chateau Myrat, Chateau Doisy-Daëne/Védrines/Dubroca, Chateau Nairac, Chateau Broustet and Chateau Caillou
Chateau Doisy-Daene (exceptional quality)
Which is the second label of Chateau Suduiraut?
Castelnau de Suduiraut (99% Semillon in some vintages)
Which is the second label of Chateau Climens?
Cypres de Climens (one of the best)
Which is the second label of Giraud?
In 2011, the property renamed its second wine, Le Dauphin de Chateau Guiraud. Previously, the second wine was known as Petit Guiraud. Chateau Guiraud also produces dry white Bordeaux wines named G and in select vintages
One of the freshest sweet wines of the appellation and certified organic and some of the oldest Sauvignon vines in Bordeaux
Which is the second wine of Chateau de Fargues?
There is no second wine. However, in select vintages, the estate produces a dry, white Bordeaux wine, Guilhem de Fargues
unclassified
Which is the second wine of Chateau Coutet?
La Chartreuse de Coutet
Which is the second wine of Chateau Rieussec?
Carmes de Rieussec
Which is the second wine of Chateau Doisy-Daëne ?
La Demoiselle de Doisy
Which is the second wine of Chateau Doisy-Védrines?
Petit Védrines
Name the best vintages of Sauternes/Barsac
1960s: 1962 and 1967
1970s: 1970, 1975(legendary), 1979
1980s: 1983(second best), 1986, 1988, 1989(legendary)
1990s: 1990(legendary), 1995/6/7/9(legendary)
2000s: 2001(legendary), 2003, 2005(legendary), 2007, 2009(legendary, among the best ever),
2010s: 2010(outstanding a bit more delicate thatn 09 and 11), 2011 and 2014(legendary), followed by 2017 and 2019
Name the other sweet wine AOCs apart from Sauternes and Barsac
Cerons (sits in Graves and makes also red and white)
St-Macaire
Cadillac
Graves Superieures
Loupiac
ST-Croix-du-Mont
Bordeaux Superieur
Premieres Cotes
Francs Cotes de Bordeaux and Ste-Foy Cotes de Bordeaux make mouelleux or semi-sweet wines in tiny quantities
Soils and elevations of Sauternes and Barsac?
Barsac is the only one of the five AOC Sauternes to lie north of the Ciron river on limestone soils covered with red loam and is flat up to 25m
Sauternes’s highest point is 75m (Yquem), peyrosol gravel soils from the Quaternary and some patches of planosol clays underpinning gravel in the case of yquem.
AOC Barsac and Sauternes date back to?
1936
Pruning method of Sauternes?
known as eventail (gobelet a cot de Sauternais) for Semillon and Muscadelle
single or double Guyot for Sauvignon
Minimun densities/yields/alc/sugars for Sauternes/Barsac?
6,500vines
25hl/ha and around 40hl for other AOCs
sugar richness 221g/litre
15% min potential alc at picking and min 12%abv after fermentation
Residual sugar at least 45g/l
Name some top dry Sauternes/Barsac?
Ygrec
S de Suduiraut
G de Giraud (one of the best)
Opalie at Coutet (Barsac)
Semillante de Sigalas
Name a biodynamic Chateau of Barsac
Climens
Food pairings with Sauternes/Barsac?
Foie Gras
Why it works: The richness and savory depth of foie gras balance beautifully with the sweetness and acidity of Sauternes and Barsac. The wine’s acidity cuts through the fattiness of the foie gras, while the sweetness complements its rich, unctuous texture.
Pairing tips: Serve foie gras as a terrine, pâté, or seared. Try it with a fruit compote or fig chutney for added contrast
Blue Cheese
Why it works: The salty, tangy flavors of blue cheeses like Roquefort, Stilton, or Gorgonzola contrast wonderfully with the sweetness of the wine. The wine’s acidity also helps to balance the creaminess and intensity of the cheese.
Pairing tips: Blue cheese served with honey, figs, or nuts enhances the pairing experience
Roasted or Grilled Poultry (especially Duck)
Why it works: Roasted or grilled duck, particularly with a fruit-based sauce (like orange or cherry), pairs beautifully with the fruity, honeyed notes of Sauternes and Barsac. The wine’s richness enhances the flavor of the meat, while the acidity provides balance.
Pairing tips: Try duck with a berry compote or a rich sauce made from figs or balsamic vinegar
Lobster or Shellfish
Why it works: The delicate sweetness of Sauternes and Barsac complements the sweet, briny flavor of lobster or shellfish. The acidity in the wine refreshes the palate between bites of rich, buttery seafood.
Pairing tips: Lobster with butter sauce, shrimp, or scallops with citrus and herbs work particularly well with the wine’s flavor profile
Rich, Spicy Asian Dishes
Why it works: The sweet, full-bodied character of Sauternes and Barsac can handle the heat and spices of many Asian cuisines, such as Thai or Indian. The wine’s sweetness contrasts with the heat and enhances the umami flavors.
Pairing tips: Pair with dishes like Thai curry, tandoori chicken, or spicy stir-fries with a touch of sweetness
Nut-Based Sweets and Pastries
Why it works: The wine’s fruitiness and sweetness balance beautifully with the rich, toasty flavors of nuts. Pairing with nut-based desserts also complements the wine’s own nutty undertones.
Pairing tips: Pair with almond cakes, walnut tarts, or a hazelnut dacquoise for a delightful contrast.
Name some challenging vintages for Sauternes/Barsac
1960, 1969, 1970, 1972 1973, 1974 1977 (poor)
1980, 1982, 1984 and 1987(poor)
1991 and1992(poor),1993,1994
2000
2002
2004
2012 (yquem did not produce)
2016
2018
Which Chateau produces Cuvee Madame?
Small amounts only in exceptional vintages from Chateau Coutet
Which Chateau’s of Barsac and Sauternes use high proportion of Semillon?
Chateau Climes in Barsac 100% Semillon
Chateau Haut-Peyraguey in Bommes 99% Semillon 1% Sauv
at the highest point of Bommes
Castelnau de Suduiraut
Name the second wine of Chateau Haut-Peyraguey
Symphonie de Haut-Peyraguey
No dry wine
Name the second wine of Chateau Lafaurie-Peyraguey in Bommes
La Chapelle de Lafaurie-Peyraguey
Chateau Rieussec is owned by?
Lafite since 1984
lies below Yquem
Name the dry wine of Chateau Rieussec?
R de Rieussec (50-50)
Name some top Chateaus of Sauternes outside the classification of exceptional quality
Domaine de l’Alliance
Chateau Bastor-Lamontagne
Clos Dady
Chateau Gilette
The key communes (villages) within Pessac-Léognan include:
Pessac – Home to the famous Château Haut-Brion and Château Pape Clément.
Léognan – Includes top estates like Château Domaine de Chevalier and Château Malartic-Lagravière.
Talence – Features Château La Mission Haut-Brion.
Mérignac – Contains a few vineyards, though it is largely urban.
Cadaujac – Hosts estates such as Château Baret.
Canéjan – A smaller commune with limited vineyards.
Martillac – Includes Château Smith Haut Lafitte.
Saint-Médard-d’Eyrans – Home to Château de Rochemorin.
Villenave-d’Ornon – Features Château Olivier.
