Bordeaux Flashcards
Bordeaux - location
Southwest of France on the Atlantic Ocean, Maritime climate (warm days and cool nights)
Easy access to/for British Empire
Bordeaux history
- Winemaking dates to 4th century
- 1152 Eleanore of Aquitaine married Henry II of England, Bordeaux was her dowry
- 17th-19th century slavery led to wealth, success and expansion
Bordeaux Dutch history
Dutch built system of canals to drain the marsh area of the Gironde, creating the Medoc region of Bordeaux
Bordeaux geography
SW of France on the Atlantic, maritime climate moderated by the Gironde estuary
Gentle difference between summer and winter
Bordeaux - wine districts (map)
Left Bank (of Gironde) moving north to south
* Medoc (Dutch drained)
* Graves
Enter-deux-Mers (between two seas) in the middle at the bottom
Right Bank
Bordeaux soil
Medoc and Graves - gravel, provides drainage - better for Cabernet Sauvignon
Saint-Emilion (right bank) - Gravel, limestone, sand - Better for Merlot and Cabernet Franc
Pomerol (right bank) - Iron Pan under sand & Clay - perfect for Merlot
Bordeaux grapes
Red
* Merlot (ripens first, so ripe before the rains
* Cabernet Sauvignon
* Cabernet Franc
* Malbec
* Petit Verdot
* Carmeniere
White
* Sauvignon Blanc
* Semillon (great for sweet wines, attracts Botrytis)
* Muscadelle (small quantities)
Bordeaux - Typical blends (Red)
Medoc Communes
* 70% Cabernet Sauvignon
* 30% Merlot
St-Emillion & Pomerol
* 70% Merlot
* 30% Cabernet Franc
Bordeaux - Typical blends (White)
Dry White Wines (Pessac Leognon and Ente-Deux_Mer)
* 80% Sauvignon Blanc
* 20% Semillon
Sweet White Wines (Sauternes and nearby)
* 80% Semillon
* 20% Sauvignon Blanc
Bordeaux - Vinification
New Oak in 225 Liter barrique, very expensive barrels
For whites and reds
Vintage Variation due to inconsistent weather, rainfall during growing season, humidity
Bordeaux Laws and labeling
Regional - Bordeaux
Districts
* Haut-Medoc
* Entire-Deux-Mer
Commune Appelations
Smallest AOP’s
Poullac, Margaux, Pomerol, St. Emillion
Bordeaux - Chateau concept
Chateau
* Estate under single ownership
* Varies in size and can change
* Importance of brand name
Medoc
North of Bordeaux
Soil - gravel
Grapes - Cabernet Sauvignon, red wines only
Bordeaux - 1855 classification
Purely a “marketing” designation
Classification
* 61 properties or Chateau
* Rated and categorized by price
* First through fifth growth
Bordeaux - First Growth Chateau
Lafite-Rothschild
Latour
Mouton-Rothschild
Margeaux
Haut-Brion (Graves)
Bordeaux - Graves
South of Medoc and city of Bordeaux
Soil - gravel
Grapes - RED - Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, WHITE - Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon
Graves - Sub Regions
Pessac-Leognan
Dry White wines
Dry Red wines
Sauternes
Sweet White wines
Entre-Deux-Mers
Soil - very fertile silt
Grapes - Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Muscadelle
Bordeaux - Right Bank
Along the Dordogne River
Soils - Clay, gravel, silt, Limestone plateau, sand
Grapes - Merlot and Cabernet Franc
St. Emillion Classification
St. Emillion AOP
St. Emillion Grand Cru AOP
Classifications
* Premier Grand Cru Classe A
* Premier Grand Cru Classe B
* Grand Cru Classe
Pomerol
No classification system, very small appelation of only 3 square miles
Soils - Sand, clay, gravel, sub-soil of iron pan and clay
Grapes - Merlot and Cabernet Franc
Red wines only
Idenitfy the bank and wine style for Margeaux
Left Bank
Dry Red Wine
Idenitfy the bank and wine style for Pomerol
Right Bank
Dry Red Wine
Idenitfy the bank and wine style for Sauternes
Left Bank
Sweet White Wine
Idenitfy the bank and wine style for Pessac-Leognan
Left Bank
Dry Red or Dry White Wine
Idenitfy the bank and wine style for Entre-Deux-Mers
It is in the middleLeft Bank
Dry White Wine
