Bordeaux 2 Flashcards
Château Cantemerle- Region of Production:
Haut-Médoc AOC
Château Cantemerle- Winery Location:
Macau
Château Cantemerle- Year Established:
14th Century
Château Cantemerle- Classification:
fifth growth, Médoc 1855
Château Cantemerle- Summary:
An old estate, Cantemerle claims records of winegrowing dating back to the early 1300s, but by the 19th century the wines of Cantemerle were relatively unknown in Bordeaux—the estate bypassed the Place de Bordeaux completely by selling its entire crop to Dutch merchants. In 1854 owner Caroline de Villeneuve-Durfort, likely spurred by an 1845 lawsuit over the misappropriation of the Cantemerle name and a desire to get the wine classified, bucked tradition and offered her wines to the local négociants instead. Despite a price that merited inclusion, the original 1855 roster did not include Cantemerle and Villeneuve-Durfort petitioned the brokers for a change. She prevailed, and in September 1855 Cantemerle was added to the list—the first of only two changes to the classification since its release.
The Villeneuve-Durfort family sold the property to Théophile-Jean Dubos, whose family continued to manage the estate for nearly a century. In 1980 a French insurance company swooped in and “diversified its holdings” by buying the estate. The SMABTP Group made history and set a trend—it was the first insurance company to acquire a Bordeaux vineyard. The new owners replanted the vineyards in the 1980s and restored Cantemerle’s dwindling acreage under vine to its original size of 90 hectares (now 94).
Château Cantemerle- Vineyard Holdings:
94 ha
60% Cabernet Sauvignon
30% Merlot
6% Cabernet Franc
4% Petit Verdot
Château Cantemerle- Wines Produced:
Château Cantemerle
Les Allées de Cantemerle
Château Cantemerle- Inaugural Vintages:
Les Allées de Cantemerle: 1995
Château Cantemerle- Average Total Production:
560,000 bottles
Château Cantemerle- Style / Vinification Techniques:
Cantemerle produces a consistent and classic style of Bordeaux. The assemblage for the grand vin typically mirrors the vineyard mix, and the wine is treated to 12-16 months in 50% new oak. Fining with gelatin occurs prior to bottling, but the wine is not filtered.
Château Mouton-Rothschild- Region of Production:
Pauillac AOC
Château Mouton-Rothschild- Year Established:
18th Century
Château Mouton-Rothschild- Summary:
As a marquee wine-producing property, the story of Château Mouton-Rothschild begins in the early 18th century, when Joseph de Brane acquired the property. (Previously, like Latour and Lafite, it had been part of the Ségur family’s holdings.) The new owner attached his name to the estate, and Château Brane-Mouton ascended in price and reputation by the end of the century. In 1830 a banker named Isaac Thuret bought the estate but failed to maintain its quality, resulting in a disappointing second-place finish behind Lafite, Latour, Margaux, and Haut-Brion in 1855.
In 1853, on the eve of the classification, Baron Nathaniel de Rothschild purchased Château Mouton. (15 years later, Nathaniel’s uncle bought Lafite.) The new reigning family built the estate’s château in 1870 and improved the vineyards and the wine. In 1922, the 20-year-old Baron Philippe de Rothschild assumed management of the estate, beginning a lifelong quest to raise its status. From 1924 on, Baron Philippe bottled the entire production at the château—an unheard-of practice at the time. For the 1924 vintage he also commissioned cubist artist Jean Carlu to design the label, an advance indication of the unique artist labels adorning every new vintage of the grand vin from 1945 forward. In the 1930s Baron Philippe created Mouton-Cadet as an early second wine to raise the quality of the first. In 1973 his efforts finally bore fruit as Mouton was elevated to Premier Grand Cru Classé by decree of the minister of agriculture. He died in 1988, leaving his daughter Philippine to helm the château. With her death in 2014, her three children—Philippe, Camille, and Julien—jointly preside over the first growth and the family’s other Pauillac properties, Château d’Armailhac and Château Clerc-Milon. Philippe Dhalluim is the technical director for all three estates.
Mouton means “sheep,” an animal that appears on many of its labels, but the word here derives from the old motte, or mound. Like Lafite, it is named for its elevated position atop a 27-meter-high croupe.
Château Mouton-Rothschild- Vineyard Holdings:
90 ha, principally split into two blocks: the Grand Plateau and the Carruades Plateau (adjacent to Lafite).
81% Cabernet Sauvignon
15% Merlot
3% Cabernet Franc
1% Petit Verdot
Château Mouton-Rothschild- Wines Produced:
Château Mouton-Rothschild
Le Petit Mouton de Mouton-Rothschild
Aile d’Argent: Bordeaux AOC white wine
Château Mouton-Rothschild- Inaugural Vintages:
Le Petit Mouton de Mouton-Rothschild: 1993 (as Le Second Vin de Mouton-Rothschild, 1994 under the current name)
Aile d’Argent: 1991
Château Mouton-Rothschild- Average Total Production:
320,000 bottles (The grand vin usually represents 40-60% of production.)
Château Mouton-Rothschild- Style / Vinification Techniques:
Mouton-Rothschild characterizations usually flutter into the realm of the sensual; the wine is often described as fleshy, rich, opulent, and showy. Modern vintages tend to show more oak sweetness and up-front spice than the other first growths. For the grand vin, Cabernet Sauvignon usually exceeds 80% of the blend, with Merlot making up most of the remainder. For example, Cabernet Sauvignon composed 90% of the wine in both 2011 and 2012. Fermentation occurs in wooden vats and élevage in new oak lasts for around 18 months prior to fining and light filtration. Lots of expensive gadgetry in the winery (optical sorting, must concentration), and in the vineyards Mouton is making some progress toward organic and biodynamic cultivation.
The Mouton Cadet branded wines are not made at the château.
Where does the word Semillon come from?
Thought to be an old pronouncation of St Emilion
What grape typically dominates the wines of Pomerol?
Merlot
Which of the following appellations is located within Graves?
Pessac-Léognan
Where is Château Lafite-Rothschild located?
Pauillac
Which of the following appellations is not located within the Médoc? Pauillac, St-Julien, Pomerol, Listrac, Margaux
Pomerol
Which of the following first growths is not located in the Haut-Médoc- Château Margaux, Château Haut-Brion, Château Latour, Château Lafite-Rothschild, Château Mouton-Rothschild?
Château Haut-Brion
Which of the following is a sweet wine appellation of Bordeaux- Fronsac, Bordeaux Sec, Barsac, St-Émilion, Moulis?
Barsac
Which of the following styles of wine is produced as Haut-Médoc AOP- dry whites, sweet whites, dry reds, sparkling whites, rosés?
Dry Reds
Which of the following appellations produces dry white wines- Sauternes, Loupiac, Pomerol, Médoc, Entre-Deux-Mers?
Entre-Deux-Mers
What is Botrytis cinerea?
A fungus responsible for development of noble rot
What soil type is most well suited for cabernet sauvignon grapes?
Gravel
Which of the following is not a satellite appellation of St-Émilion: St-Georges, Montagne, Francs, Puisseguin, Lussac?
Francs
What Château was ranked as “Premier Cru Supérieur” in 1855?
Château d’Yquem
Where can boulbenes soil be found?
Graves
How was Château Cos d’Estournel ranked in the 1855 Médoc Classification?
2ème Cru
What is the appellation of Château Lafleur?
Pomerol
What is Cérons?
a sweet white wine appellation in southern Graves
How many châteaux are currently ranked as “premier cru classé A” in St-Émilion?
4
What is Bouchet?
a synonym for Cabernet Franc in the Right Bank
Which of the following grapes is not included in the Bordeaux AOP encépagement- Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Malbec, Merlot, Syrah?
Syrah
The Cru Classé properties of Graves are located in which of the following subappellations?
Pessac-Léognan
Which of the following is not a subzone of the Côtes de Bordeaux appellation: Castillon, Blaye, Bourg, Cadillac, Francs?
Bourg
True or False: Château Chasse-Spleen is a fifth growth in Moulis-en-Médoc.
False
In which of the following years did Château d’Yquem not release Sauternes: 2001, 1992, 1975, 1988, 1994?
1992
Neac is a commune within the Lalande-de-Pomerol AOP.
True
Where is Preignac?
Sauternes
What is the appellation of Château Grand Puy Ducasse?
Pauillac
Ste-Croix du Mont is a sweet white wine appellation in Graves.
False
What does “St-Émilion Grand Cru” indicate on a label?
The wine is required to show a higher minimum alcohol than St-Émilion
What Grand Cru Classé château in Graves produced its final vintage in 2005?
Latour Haut-Brion
Which of the following is not a village in Margaux AOP: Arsac, Labarde, Cantenac, Soussans, Loupiac?
Loupiac
Chateau Montrose- Region of Production:
Saint-Estèphe
Chateau Montrose- Year Established:
1815
Chateau Montrose- Classification:
second growth, Médoc 1855
Chateau Montrose- Summary:
Etienne Dumoulin, owner of Château Calon-Ségur, bought the land that would house Château Montrose in 1778, but it was his son Théodore who would first recognize its potential for great wines. He broke ground on the château building in 1815 and planted a few hectares of vines in the years to follow. By 1855 its reputation was sufficiently established to gain the status of second growth. Yet Dumoulin died in 1861, and his children elected not to carry his passion forward and sold the estate five years later. The Charmolüe family controlled the estate throughout the entire 20th century; in 2006 French billionaires Martin and Olivier Bouygues added the château to their already Forbes list-worthy portfolio.
The château itself lies in view of the Gironde, with its vineyards sloping down toward the water’s edge. Unusually for the Médoc, its vines lie within one single parcel.
Chateau Montrose- Vineyard Holdings:
95 ha
65% Cabernet Sauvignon
30% Merlot
4% Cabernet Franc
1% Petit Verdot
Chateau Montrose- Wines Produced:
Château Montrose
Dame de Montrose
Chateau Montrose- Average Total Production:
320,000 Bottles
Chateau Montrose- Style / Vinification Techniques:
Unlike Cos d’Estournel, Château Montrose has historically maintained a style congruent with that of Saint-Estèphe as a whole: tough in youth, with austere tannin and submerged fruit; a true vin de garde. It remains a powerful wine in modern vintages, but a more approachable bottle. The estate does not believe in using concentrators, but the ripeness levels are nonetheless high. Élevage lasts for 18 months in about 60% new oak. The amount of Merlot in the grand vin hovers between 25-40%.
What year did Pessac- Leognan become an appellation?
1987
Château Beychevelle- Region of Production:
Saint-Julien
Château Beychevelle- Year Established:
-
Château Beychevelle- Classification:
fourth growth, Médoc 1855
Château Beychevelle- Summary:
The histories of Château Beychevelle, Château Ducru-Beaucaillou, and Château Branaire-Ducru are intertwined—they were once joined as the estate of the Duc d’Epernon, Admiral of France. He acquired the estate and its château through marriage in 1587. Baisse voile, now Beychevelle, means “lower the sails”—a supposed gesture of respect from passing boats to the high-ranking naval officer, depicted on the grand vin label today. The Beaucaillou and Branaire properties were carved off with the duke’s demise in the late 1600s, and the remaining Beychevelle property was confiscated by the state during the revolution a century later. After multiple changes of ownership in the 19th and 20th centuries, a partnership between Japanese whisky company Suntory and French wine conglomerate Castel Group now controls the estate.
Château Beychevelle is located just south of Ducru-Beaucaillou, east of the hamlet of Beychevelle in the southern part of the appellation. The proprietors also own the Haut-Médoc property Château Beaumont. The label features a “dragon boat,” and has thus experienced a recent surge of popularity in China.
Château Beychevelle- Vineyard Holdings:
90 ha (75 ha in Saint-Julien, the remainder in Haut-Médoc)
62% Cabernet Sauvignon
31% Merlot
5% Cabernet Franc
2% Petit Verdot
Château Beychevelle- Wines Produced:
Château Beychevelle
Amiral de Beychevelle: Second wine
Les Brulières de Beychevelle: Haut-Médoc AOC wine from a separate property, Château Beaumont.
Château Beychevelle- Average Total Production:
600,000 bottles
Château Beychevelle- Style / Vinification Techniques:
Château Beychevelle has in recent years modernized its facilities and intensified its attention to the estate vineyards. Increasingly, the estate is adding Cabernet Sauvignon vines in place of Merlot and shifting toward organic farming practices. The wines are traditionally styled, but are gaining weight in recent vintages with a more severe fruit selection and higher levels of ripeness. The grand vin sees 50% new oak.
Château Sociando-Mallet- Region of Production:
Haut-Médoc AOC
Château Sociando-Mallet- Winery Location:
St-Seurin-de-Cadourne (north of Saint-Estèphe)
Château Sociando-Mallet- Year Established:
1969
Château Sociando-Mallet- Classification:
none
Château Sociando-Mallet- Summary:
Sociando-Mallet, named after two former owners—a 17th-century aristocrat (Sociando) and a 19th-century naval captain (Mallet)—was a winemaking property of minor importance in the 1855, when it failed to earn classification. Conventional thinking places it too far north for good soil or good wine in the Médoc, but an ex-négociant named Jean Gautreau gave convention pause with his purchase of the estate in 1969. He found a vein of gravel, expanded the vineyard from 5 ha to its present size, and began releasing a string of increasingly quality wines.
Château Sociando-Mallet- Vineyard Holdings:
85 ha
48% Cabernet Sauvignon
47% Merlot
5% Cabernet Franc
Château Sociando-Mallet- Wines Produced:
Château Sociando-Mallet
La Damoiselle de Sociando-Mallet: Second wine
Jean Gautreau: Barrel selection of top lots
Château Sociando-Mallet- Inaugural Vintages:
Château Sociando-Mallet: 1969
La Damoiselle de Sociando-Mallet: 1989
Jean Gautreau: 1995
Château Sociando-Mallet- Average Total Production:
500,000 bottles
Château Sociando-Mallet- Style / Vinification Techniques:
From its breakout vintages in the 1980s through the modern day, Sociando-Mallet has proven itself as a rich, luscious wine of classed-growth quality, yet it wears oak, ripe fruit, and modern tannic texture on its sleeve. The grand vin is the product of unabashedly high yields, but it easily maintains concentration through must concentration and/or saignée. The top wine is usually split between Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, while the second wine may contain 75% Merlot. The grand vin is treated to 12 months of mostly new oak, and the barrel selection “Jean Gautreau” spends an additional six months in barrique.
Château Malescot-Saint-Exupéry- Region of Production::
Margaux AOC
Château Malescot-Saint-Exupéry- Winery Location:
Margaux
Château Malescot-Saint-Exupéry- Year Established:
17th Century
Château Malescot-Saint-Exupéry- Classification:
third growth, Médoc 1855
Château Malescot-Saint-Exupéry- Summary:
Simon Malescot and his descendants owned this estate from 1697 to 1827, when Comte Jean-Baptiste de St-Exupéry purchased it and added his name to the sign above the door. His name remained but he did not; upon his death in 1853 and shortly before the official announcement of its ranking as a third growth, his widow sold the property. New owners built the château in 1870 and absorbed the adjacent Château Dubigny, an 1855 third growth. In 1955, Malescot’s estate manager Paul Zuger bought the property from its then-British owners, and his grandson Jean-Luc is now in charge, with Michel Rolland consulting.
Château Malescot-Saint-Exupéry- Vineyard Holdings:
23.5 ha (Margaux), 6.5 ha (Bordeaux AOC)
50% Cabernet Sauvignon
35% Merlot
10% Cabernet Franc
5% Petit Verdot
Château Malescot-Saint-Exupéry- Wines Produced:
Château Malescot-St-Exupéry
La Dame de Malescot
Château Malescot-Saint-Exupéry- Average Total Production:
6,500 ha
Château Malescot-Saint-Exupéry- Style / Vinification Techniques:
The wines of Malescot-St-Exupéry are ripe, dark in color, thickly textured, and concentrated—the estate is one of the last in Margaux to harvest, and the team is well-known for the use of concentration through reverse osmosis. 100% new oak is employed for the grand vin.
Château Pichon-Longueville- Region of Production:
Paulliac AOC
Château Pichon-Longueville- Year Established:
1694
Château Pichon-Longueville- Classification:
Second growth, Médoc 1855