BORDEAUX Flashcards
What 3 bodies of water moderate the temperature of Bordeaux?
- The Atlantic ocean
- Garonne and Dordogne rivers meet to form Gironde Estuary which flows into the Atlantic
Which people drained Bordeaux?
- The dutch: 1600’s
When century A.D did wine production begin in Bordeaux?
- 4th century AD
What is the forest called that shield boredeaux from the Atlantic (coastal forest)
- Les Landes: 2.5 million acres
Left bank: Medoc and Graves are known for what soil type?
- Gravel
Right bank: Soil type for Saint Emillion?
- Gravel
- Limestone
- Sand
- Right bank: Soil type for Pomerol
- Which region in Burgundy does this match?
- Clay/Sand + iron pan under
- Matches pommard
Iron pan soil is a hard layer of soil that is cemented together by iron oxides and is typically made up of sand or sand and gravel
What white grape varities are found in Bordeaux (3)
What red grape varities around found in bordeaux (6)
Left bank: Medoc communes have what traditional blend of the 5 grapes? (4)
70% Cabernet Sauvignon
– 30% Merlot
– Plus Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot
– These wines are usually aged in new French oak barrels
Right Bank: Saint Emilion and Pomerol have what blend of grapes?
70% Merlot
– 30% Cabernet Franc
– These wines also spend some time in French oak barrels
What two styles of white wine are produced in Bordeaux?
- Sweet white (semillion forward)
- Dry white (Sauv Blanc forward)
The two, each use the other in the blend to round out the flavor profile and sweetness.
Dry White wines in bordeaux hail from what regions? (2)
- Graves (Pessac-Leognan)
- Entre-Deux-Mers
What is the grape composition of Dry white wine in Bordeaux? (2)
– 80% Sauvignon Blanc
– 20% Sémillon
The majority of inexpensive white wines from Bordeaux are
made without oak. Prestigious wines in the upper price tiers, however,
tend to be aged in new French oak barriques.
What is the grape composition for sweet white wine in Bordeaux? (3)
– 80% Sémillon
– 20% Sauvignon Blanc
– Muscadelle (small percentage)
Many sweet wines of Bordeaux are aged in new French oak barrels
What are the three regional appellations (hierarchy)
What is the signifigance of Medoc vs Haut medoc vs the 4 major communes?
Big picture down to commune
- Medoc is the whole area
- Haut-Medoc is the smaller, western part
- Haut-Medoc contains the 4 famous communes (AKA appellations) that most think of (St.Estephe, Pauillac, St. Jullian, Margaux)
There are other communes that are popular in this area: Listrac-Médoc
Moulis-en-Médoc and others im sure
- is Medoc or its subset, Haut Medoc more prestigous?
- Haut-Medoc: home to the 4 most prestigous communes (appellations) in the world
Reminder: commune and appellation are the same thing, right bank does not use this term.
What is the soil difference between Medoc and Haut Medoc?
- Medoc: closer to the atlantic has more clay, sand often less desired because clay/sand hold onto water
- Haut Medoc: Gravel-based soil drains and helps harvest time.
Atlanti(c): clay. When close to the atlanti(C): you get clay. Closer to Graves: you get Gravel (Graves means gravel)