Bordeaux Flashcards
What are the key climatic influences in Bordeaux?
Maritime climate, influenced by the Atlantic Ocean and the Gironde estuary.
Atlantic
Landes Forest
Dordogne River (north)
Garonne River (south)
Gironde Estuary
What are the main soil types in Bordeaux?
Gravel (Medoc, Graves), Clay (Right Bank), Limestone (St-Emilion).
What is the traditional red wine production method in Bordeaux?
Fermentation in stainless steel or concrete, aged in barriques (225L oak barrels).
What is Botrytis and how does it affect wine?
A noble rot that concentrates sugars in grapes, used in Sauternes and Barsac sweet wines.
What is barrique fermentation/aging?
Fermentation and/or aging in 225L oak barrels to enhance structure and complexity.
What are the major wine districts of Bordeaux?
Medoc, Graves, Sauternes, St-Emilion, Pomerol, Entre-Deux-Mers, Blaye, Bourg.
What is the 1855 Classification of Bordeaux?
A ranking of the top Medoc and Sauternes estates into five growths (1st-5th), created for the Paris Exhibition.
What are the five First Growths of the Medoc?
Chateau Lafite Rothschild, Chateau Latour, Chateau Margaux, Chateau Haut-Brion (Graves), Chateau Mouton Rothschild (added in 1973).
What is the St-Emilion Classification?
A ranking of wines into Premier Grand Cru Classe A & B, and Grand Cru Classe, updated periodically.
Which chateaux are classified as Premier Grand Cru Classe A in St-Emilion?
Pavie and Figeac as of 2022
Cheval Blanc and Ausone (OG 1955) both withdrew in 2022
What are the top Pomerol chateaux?
Chateau Petrus
Chateau Le Pin
Chateau Lafleur
Chateau Trotanoy.
What are the main red grape varieties in Bordeaux?
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec.
What are the main white grape varieties in Bordeaux?
Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc, Muscadelle.
Why is blending important in Bordeaux?
Varietal combinations balance structure, tannin, acidity, and aging potential. Different varietals ripen at different times.
What are the principal styles of Bordeaux wines?
Red (Medoc, Right Bank), Dry White (Graves, Pessac-Leognan), Sweet White (Sauternes, Barsac).
What are the Bordeaux wine quality levels?
AOP (highest, including regional, sub-regional, and communal levels), IGP (Vin de Pays, broader regional wines).
What do Bordeaux labeling terms like ‘Grand Vin’ indicate?
The main wine of a chateau, often its best bottling.
What is En Primeur?
A system of selling Bordeaux wines as futures before they are bottled.
What is the role of negociants in Bordeaux?
Merchants who buy, age, and distribute wines from various chateaux.
What are well-known classified growths from Medoc?
1st-5th Growths including Chateau Margaux, Chateau Pichon Baron, Chateau Palmer, etc.
What are well-known classified growths from Medoc?
Chateau d’Yquem (Premier Cru Superieur), Chateau Climens, Chateau Rieussec.
What are the top classified growths from St-Emilion?
Chateau Cheval Blanc, Chateau Figeac, Chateau Pavie, Chateau Angelus.
What are the top classified growths from Pessac-Laognan?
Chateau Haut-Brion, Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion, Chateau Pape Clement.
What is the Cru Bourgeois classification?
A quality classification for Medoc chateaux outside the 1855 ranking, revised periodically.
What styles of wine come from smaller Bordeaux districts?
Sweet wines (Loupiac, Cadillac)
Red wines (Fronsac, Canon-Fronsac)
White wines (Entre-Deux-Mers).
What are some lesser-known Bordeaux sub-districts?
Loupiac, Cadillac, St-Croix-du-Mont, Fronsac, Bourg, Blaye, Cotes de Bordeaux.
What are the principal communes of the Medoc?
Pauillac, Margaux, St-Julien, St-Estephe, Listrac, Moulis.
What are the principal communes of St-Emilion?
St-Emilion, St-Christophe-des-Bardes, St-Sulpice-de-Faleyrens, Montagne-St-Emilion.
What are some classic vintages in Bordeaux?
Recent great vintages: 2005, 2009, 2010, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2020.
