Bordeaux Flashcards
Bordeaux is ranked second in volume of production (in France) only to ________.
Languedoc
Bordeaux is France’s _________ wine appellation.
Largest
What is the climate of Bordeaux and what two bodies of water help regulate it?
Maritime climate. Atlantic Ocean and the Gironde estuary act as moderating influences, protecting the vines.
What wines are allowed in the standard Bordeaux AOP?
Red, white, rose, or clairet (darker, more aromatic style of rose)
What are the 6 red grapes allowed on Bordeaux AOP?
Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Malbec, and Carmenere.
What is the most widely planted grape in Bordeaux?
Merlot
What soil type does Merlot prefer?
Clay-based
Well drained gravel soils is preferred by which grape?
Cabernet Sauvignon
Why does _____ thrive in limestone soils when ______ does not?
Cabernet Franc vines grow well in limestone soils, leading to acidity and freshness. Cabernet Sauvignon cannot ripen well in limestone/clay soils because the soil is too cold.
What grapes are most prominent on the Left Bank?
Cabernet Sauvignon (2/3 of a blend) and Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and others make up the rest.
What grapes are most prominent on the Right Bank?
Merlot (3/4) and Cabernet Franc (1/4) dominate blends. Petit Verdot is essentially non-existent.
What are the white grapes in the standard Bordeaux AOP blend?
Primary: Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc, Muscadelle
Secondary (limited to under 30%): Ugni Blanc, Merlot Blanc, Colombard.
What wines can qualify for Bordeaux Superieur AOP?
Red or off dry whites with a higher minimum alcohol content.
What are the two main regions of the Left Bank?
Medoc and Graves
What areas/AOPs does the Medoc AOP include?
The entire wine-producing region on the left bank of the Gironde Estuary.
Includes Bas Medoc, St-Estephe AOP, Haut-Medoc AOP, Pauillac AOP, St-Julien AOP, Listrac-Medoc AOP, Moulis-en-Medoc AOP, Margaux AOP.
To be labeled Medoc AOP, wines must be ____.
Red
What grape is planted more prominently in the Bas-Medoc due to the soil composition there?
Merlot, due to the waterlogged clay soils in the marshy Bas-Medoc and St-Estephe AOP.
What soil, and therefore, what grape varietal, is found in Haut-Medoc?
Well-drained gravelly soils–>Cabernet Sauvignon
Where is the Haut-Medoc?
Southern part of the Medoc, along the left bank of the Gironde
What communes are located within the Haut-Medoc?
St. Estephe, Pauillac, St. Julien, Listrac-Medoc, Moulis-en-Medoc, and Margaux
What is the 1855 Classification of Bordeaux?
Ranked the chateaux of Medoc (and Chateau Haut-Brion in Graves) by price into first through fifth growths.
What are the first growths and what year was the most recent one added?
Chateau Lafite-Rothschild, Chateau Mouton-Rothschild (added in 1973), Chateau Latour, Chateau Margaux, and Chateau Haut-Brion (only one outside of Medoc)
What is the northern most commune appellation in Haut-Medoc?
St. Estephe
Does St. Estephe have any first or second growths?
No first growths and only 5 second growths, most notably Chateau Cos d’Estournel
What is special about the soils of Pauillac?
The gravel topsoil is at its deepest, making the Cabernet Sauvignon structured and long-lived.
What are the first growths of Pauillac?
Chateau Lafite-Rothschild, Chateau Mouton-Rothschild, and Chateau Latour.
What percentage of St. Julien AOP wines are cru classe? How many first and second growths does it have?
80% cru classe.
No first growths.
5 second growths–including Chateau Leoville Las Cases and Chateau Ducru-Beaucaillou.
What is the largest communal appellation of the Haut-Medoc?
Margaux AOP
What are the 5 villages of Margaux AOP?
Soussans, Margaux, Cantenac, Labarde, and Arsac
What commune has the highest number of classified growths?
Margaux, with 21 classified growths.
What is the first growth of Margaux and is there another important growth to be familiar with?
Chateau Margaux (1st growth) and Chateau Palmer (3rd growth)
What is the soil type called in Graves?
Boulbenes–mixture of sand, gravel, and light clay
What wines can be labeled Graves AOP?
Red and white dry wines
What is the prestige appellation in Graves? When was it created?
Pessac-Leognan AOP created in 1987. All 13 cru classe properties are located within the communes of Pessac-Leognan AOP.
What are the sweet wine appellations in Graves?
Graves Superieur AOP, Cerons, Barsac, and Sauternes
What grapes are allowed in Sauternes?
Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, and Muscadelle
Where is Sauternes located and what about its geography makes it perfect for botrytis?
In Graves at the conflux of the Ciron and Garonne rivers, the damp breezes off the rivers encourages botrytis.
How were sweet wines classified in the Classification of 1855?
The wines from Sauternes were classified alongside the Medoc wines, into first and second growths.
What was Chateau d’Yquem ranked in the 1855 classification?
Premier Cru Superieur
What labels can wines of Barsac use on their bottle?
Barsac AOP or Sauternes AOP
What are the five villages in Sauternes AOP?
Sauternes, Barsac, Fargues, Preignac, and Bommes
What are the two primary AOPs of the Right Bank?
St. Emilion and Pomerol
What are the two types of soil found in St. Emilion?
Cotes (steep limestone slopes) and Graves (gravelly limestone plateau)
To label a wine as St. Emilion Grand Cru AOP, what is required?
A wine must have an additional .5% alcohol and undergo a longer elevage than simply St. Emilion AOP.
All Grand Cru Classe wines must meet these requirements, as well.
What soil types are found in Pomerol and why is it significant?
Sand, clay, and gravel with a deep subsoil of crasse de fer (clay). Merlot is very successful in this area due to the clay soils.
What Chateau has made Pomerol famous?
Chateau Petrus
What Chateaux are ranked St. Emilion Premiers Grands Crus Classes A?
Chateau Angelus
Chateau Ausone
Chateau Cheval-Blanc
Chateau Pavie
Name 3 St. Emilion Premiers Grands Crus Classes B?
Chateau Figeac
Chateau Troplong-Mondot
Chateau Valandraud
What are the St. Emilion satellites?
Lussac-St. Emilion
Montagne-St. Emilion
Puisseguin-St. Emilion
St. Georges-St. Emilion
What producers in Pomerol are 100% Merlot?
Chateau Petrus
Chateau Le Pin
Where are Vieux-Chateau-Certan, Chateau Lafleur, and Chateau Le Gay located?
Pomerol
Where are Chateau Trotanoy, Chateau Clinet, Chateau La Conseillante, Chateau l’Evangile, Chateau Certan de May located?
Pomerol
Where are Chateau Cos d’Estournel and Chateau Montrose located? What is their classification?
St. Estephe
Both 2nd growths
What are the 1st growths of Pauillac?
Chateau Lafite Rothschild
Chateau Latour
Chateau Mouton Rothschild (1973)
Where are Chateau Pichon Longueville Baron and Chateau Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande ocated? What is their classification?
Pauillac
Both 2nd growths
Where are Chateau Grand-Puy-Lacoste, Chateau Grand-Puy-Ducasse, and Chateau Lynch-Bages located? What is their classification?
Pauillac
All 5th growths
Where are Chateau Leoville-Las Cases and Chateau Graud-Larose located? What is their classification?
St. Julien
Both 2nd growths
