Bordeaux Flashcards
Name Medoc first growths
Lafite-Rothschild, Mouton-Rothschild, Margaux, Latour, Haut-Brion
Notable Bordeaux vintages
2000, 2005, 2009, 2010
Name St. Emilion Class A sites
Ausone, Cheval Blanc, Angelus, Pavie
Name top Pomerol chateaux
Trotanoy, Petrus, Lafleur Petrus, LaPin, La Conseillante, Vieux Ch Certan
Name satellite appellations of St. Emilion
Montagne, Lussac, Puisseguin, St.-George’s
Name sub districts of Graves AOC
Leognan, Talence, Pessac, Ceron, Sauternes, Barsac
Name sub districts of Sauternes
Sauternes, Fargue, Bommes, Preignac, Barsac
Name AOCs of Medoc and dominant varietal
St. Estephe, Pauillac, St. Julien, Listrac, Moulis, Margaux…CS dominant, Merlot, CF
Describe white varietals of Bordeaux
Semillion: most important in botrytized and fine dry, rich in flavor, high alcohol, low acidity, good structure and aroma
Sauv Blanc: support role in sweet, 100% dry value wines, delicate easy drinking
Muscadelle: only other permitted varietal in AOC Bordeaux
Describe vin de presse
Characteristic in Bordeaux, after wine is drawn off lees, skins and pips are pressed for extra body and tannin for longevity in oak matured wines
Describe oak use in Bordeaux
Creamy, smoky vanilla charcoal should be prevalent.
Stainless fermentation except Ch Margaux.
Best reds matured in 225 liter barriques, Premier Cru 18-24 months, 100% new oak. Lower crus usually 12-18 months with 30-50% new oak.
Describe Bordeaux climate
Rivers and Atlantic regulate heat, create microclimate. Mild winter, warm summers, long autumns.
Protected from winds by parallel coastal strip of pines.
Right bank less maritime, higher diurnal temperature flux.
Describe soils of Bordeaux
Outcrops of gravel with sand and siliceous gravel, subsoils of sand, limestone, and clay becoming sandier towards Graves
