Bordeaux ❤️ Flashcards by Kevin Egan

What river contributes to the needed climate for Sauternes?

Ciron dumping into the Garonne

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Soil type of St Estephe?

Heavy clay
Highly heat resistant to hot summers
Slower drainage

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Second Growths of St. Estephe

Cos d’Estournel
Chateau Montrose
Cos Labory
Lafon-Rochet
Calon Ségur

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Second Growths of Pauillac

Château Pichon Baron
Château Pichon Longueville Comptesse de Lalande

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Soil characteristics of Pauillac

Gravel mounds called «croupes»
Very deep soil, vines tends to dig up to 6 meters

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Soil characteristics of St Julien

Gravel mounds (croupes) but not as deep as Pauillac
Most have extremely good southern exposure with great drainage from the Jalle du Nord

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Second Growths of St Julien

Ducru Beaucaillou
Gruaud-Larose
Léoville-Barton
Léoville-Las-Cases
Léovile-Poyferré

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Soil characteristics of Margeaux

Deepest, thinnest gravel of the Médoc

Vines can penetrate up to 23ft

Especially important to know vintages

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Second Growths of Margeaux

Brane-Cantenac
Durfort-Vivens
Lascombes
Rauzan-Gassies
Rauzan-Ségla
Chateau Palmer is basically one of the

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AOC Sauternes and Barsac

Mostly Sémillon with Sauvignon Blanc

100-150 g of RS

2 years of aging

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Cru Bourgeois classifications Médoc

Classified in: 1932 and retested every 5 years

1) Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel (14)
2) Cru Bourgeois Supérieur (56)
3) Cru Bourgeois (179)

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Listrac and Moulis

Easterly from 4 communes

Primarily Cab Sauv

Typically less polished as soil retains water and is heavier

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Entre-Deux-Mers

Whites made primarily from Sauv Blanc

Small amounts of Sémillon and Muscadelle

Reds from here are called Bordeaux or Bordeaux Superior

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Fronsac and Canon-Fronsac

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Fronsac and Canon-Fronsac

West of Pomerol on hillsides

Clay/Sand with some limestone

Merlot dominant w/Cab Franc + Cab Sauv

Black Raspberry, edgy power (fruity/rustic)

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Côtes de Bordeaux

Castillon and Francs (E of Pomerol)

Blaye and Bourg (West of St Emillion)

Some of the oldest wine regions in Bordeaux - Roman plantings

Merlot dominant blends

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Bordeaux First Growths

Château Haut Brion (Graves)
Château Margeaux
Chateau Latour (Pauillac)
Château Lafite-Rothschild (Pauillac)
Château Mouton-Rothschild (Pauillac)

Médoc Soils / Appellations

Gravel

2 sub apps: Haut Médoc and Bas Médoc

Graves

Typical blends of right bank Bordeaux

70% Merlot min.

Typical blends of left bank Bordeaux

70% Cab Sauv

30% Merlot, Cab Franc and Petit Verdot

Mourvèdre

Monastrell/Mataró in Spain

Used in GSM blends to add intensity/bitterness

Bandol’s major variety

Albariño

Known as Alvarinho in Portugal

Med High Acidity

Used in Bordeaux in white blends

Chief «Founder Varieties» of grapes

Pinot Noir

Gouais Blanc

Savagnin

Différences in Pauillac First Growths

Lafite-Rothschild: smoothness and finesse

Latour: austere, firm, robust (need 20+ years)

Mouton-Rothschild: strong, dark ripe black currents, exotic, opulent

St Estephe soil and characteristics

Stronger mix of clay Heavier soil: more resistant to bad weather More acidity, fuller body, less perfumed Most need more aging

St Julien characteristics

Transition between Pauillac’s heavy hitters and Margaux’s elegance Round and gentil when aged, rough and tannic when young

Margaux’s soil / characteristics

Thinnest and most gravel of left bank Forces vines to go extra deep Delicate and perfumed Especially vulnerable to bad weather

Nobel Rot

Botrytis Cinerca / Pourriture Nobel Dehydrates grapes, concentrates flavors Ex: Sauternes, Beernauslese, Trockenbeerenauslese, Tokai

Pomerol characteristics

Merlot dominant wines (75%) Iron pan and clay soils Don’t need as much age as left bank

St Emilion characteristics

Very complex soil variation - Acolian sand and gravel on Pomerol side Plateau is clay, rich in limestone

Château Petrus

Smectite clay (blue, very dense) 100% Merlot with very short roots

5 Classified Growths of St Estephe

Chateau Cos d’Estournel (S slope facing Pauillac) Cos Labory (S slope facing Pauillac) Lafon-Rochet (S slope facing Pauillac) Chat. Montrose (SW along river) Chat. Calom-Segur

Pessac-Leognan Growth and characteristics

Chat. Haut-Brion Honorable mention: Chat Pape Clement, Domaine de Chavalier, Chat Laville, La Misson Haut-Brion Deep gravel soils Mix of force and finesse

Graves classification system

1953, revised in 1959 All in pessac-leognan - no hierarchy

Classification of the médoc

Implemented in 1855 From Premier cru to cinquième cru Revised in 1973 to add Mouton Rothschild

Chateau - Cuverie - Chai

Chateau: building attached to vineyard Cuverie: building where the wine is made Chai: cellar where the wine will be stored and aged

8 principal white varieties

1) muscadelle 2) sauv. Blanc 3) sémillon 4) ugni blanc 5) colombard 6) mauzac 7) merlot blanc 8) sauvignon gris

2 adaptive white varieties

Alvarinho: used for aroma and acidity Liliorila: floral side

Principal red varieties

Cabernet Franc Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot Carmenère (Grande Vidure) Malbec (Côt) Petit Verdot

Adaptive red varieties

Arinaroa: 1956 - color, acid, tannin Castets: from SW France Marselan (late ripening) Touriga Nacional