Bordeaux Flashcards
What is the overall climate of Bordeaux?
Moderate Maritime
What climate effects affect Bordeaux wine?
- Warming from Gulf Stream
- High Rainfall
- High Humidity
- Significant Cloud Cover
What determines which grapes are most planted in Bordeaux Vineyards?
The water and heat retention of vineyard soils
What is the purpose of the Bordeaux Blend?
To limit the effect of a variable climate on crop production
What are the 6 permitted red grapes in Bordeaux?
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Cabernet Franc
- Merlot
- Petit Verdot
- Malbec
- Carmenere
What is the most planted variety in Bordeaux?
Merlot
What are the main white varieties in Bordeaux?
- Semillon
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Muscadelle
What is the term for the Small oak barrel used for ageing in bordeaux?
Barrique
What allows the production of the great sweet wines of Bordeaux (Sauternes)?
Noble Rot/Botrytis Cinerea
What is the major estuary in Bordeaux?
The Gironde Estuary
Which 2 rivers combine near the city of bordeaux to form the Gironde Estuary?
Dordogne and Garonne
Which river is associated with Bordeaux’s right bank?
Dordogne
Which River is associated with Bordeaux’s Left Bank
Garonne
What is the region between the Garonne and Dordogne rivers called?
Entre-deux-mers
What are the major Generic appellations of Bordeaux?
Bordeaux, Bordeaux Superieur, Bordeaux Rose and Bordeaux Clairet
Which forest protects Bordeaux from the worst effects of the atlantic ocean
The Landes Forest
Wines from the Medoc Appellation come from where and on which bank?
Bordeaux, Northern Portion of Left Bank
Where in the Medoc would we find the Haut-Medoc? What is different?
Southern portion of Medoc, Better soils and growing conditions
Which are the most 4 most important communal AOP’s in the Haut-Medoc?
- Saint-Estephe
- Pauillac
- Saint-Julien
- Margaux
What is the northernmost of the the Quality communes in the Haut-Medoc?
Saint-Estephe
Which is the southernmost of the quality communes in the Haut-Medoc
Margaux
In which appellation are all of the cru classes de graves located?
Pessac Leognan
What is the style difference between Pessac-Leognan and the Haut-Medoc?
Pessac Leognan is still suited to Cabernet Sauvignon but producers lighter more aromatic wines
What is the primary soil in the Medoc?
Clay with small gravek outcroppings
What is the primary soil in Pessac-Leognan and Graves?
Gravel
What is the dominant grape of red left bank bordeaux?
Typically Cabernet Sauvignon
What is the dominant grape of red right bank bordeaux?
Merlot
What are the 3 major appellations of the Right Bank of Bordeaux from East to West?
- Saint-Emilion
- Pomerol
- Fronsac
What is the primary soil of Saint-Emilion?
- Gravel and Limestone are the most important
- Clay Limestone is found on the escarpment and sandy soils at the base of the escarpment.
Where are you most likely to find a garagiste wine?
Pomerol or the Right Bank in General
Which 4 villages can add their name to Saint-Emilion?
Lussac, Montagne, Puisseguin and Saint-Georges
What appellation is a satellite of Pomerol?
Lalande de Pomerol
Where are Fronsac and Canon-Fronsac Located?
Right Bank, West of Libourne
Which appellation was created in 2008 to group together lesser known Bordeaux appellations?
Cotes de Bordeaux
Which 4 areas can now add their name to Cotes de Bordeaux?
Blaye, Cadillac, Castillon and Francs
Where are the best quality dry white wines found in Bordeaux?
Pessac-Leognan
A dry white wine from Sauternes would be labeled as what?
Bordeaux AC
What is usually the dominant grape in white wines from Graves and Entre-deux-mers?
Sauvignon Blanc
The traditional botrytis affected sweet wines of Bordeaux are located around which rivers?
Garonne and Ciron
What is the Classic sweet wine region of Brodeaux?
Sauternes
What appellation can be sold under its own appellation or as sauternes?
Barsac
Which grape dominates the sweet wines of Bordeaux? Why?
Semillon because it is more susceptible to Botrytis
Name 2 lesser sweet wine appellations in Bordeaux
- Cerons
- Loupiac
- St-Croix-du-Mont
- Premieres cotes de bordeaux
Which is the only Bordeaux region who’s classification is part of the AOC system?
Saint-Emilion
What is unique about Bordeaux Classifications?
They aren’t based on vineyards but on producers. If a classified producer buys or sells a vineyard it gains or loses the classification.
What is the dominant classification for Medoc and Sauternes?
The 1855 Classification
How many 1855 First Growths are there? How many were there originally?
The are 5, originally there were 4 until Mouton-Rothschild was added
What are the 5 1855 first growths?
Chateau Margaux, Chateau Latour, Chateau Haut Brion, Chateau Mouton Rothschild, Chateau Lafite Rothschild
Which is the only 1855 First growth not in the Medoc?
Chateau Haut-Brion in Graves/Pessac Leognan
When was Chateau Mouton Rothschild promoted to first growth?
1973
When was the original cru bourgeois system created?
1932
What is the cru bourgeois system now? Why?
A quality assessment by tasting panel given to specific wines from specific vintages. This was done following legal challenges to the classification.
When was the Graves Classification created?
1959
What is the difference between Saint-Emilion Grand Cru and Saint Emilion Grand Cru Classe?
Grand Cru refers only to a wine meeting higher standards of alcohol. Grand Cru Classe refers to a wine in the St. Emilion Classification
What are the 3 levels of the St. Emilion Classification from Highest to Lowest?
Premier Grand Cru Classe A
Premier Grand Cru Classe B
Grand Cru Classe
When was the St. Emilion Classification first created?
1955
What is the name for the Trade Structure in Bordeaux?
La Place de Bordeaux
What are the 3 elements of the Bordeaux trade?
Producers/Growers, Courtiers (Brokers) and Negociants (Merchants)
What is the name for the system of pre-sales in bordeaux?
En-Primeur
