Bordeaux Flashcards

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1
Q

What are the Bordeaux wine classification levels?

A
  • 1st growths (premier cru)
  • 2nd growths (deuxièmes cru)
  • 3rd growths (troisiemes cru)
  • 4th growths (quatriemes cru)
  • 5th growths (cinguiemes cru)
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2
Q

What two areas of Bordeaux utilize a unique or separate classification?

A

Graves which are solely dessert wines and St. Emilion on the right bank of Bordeaux.

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3
Q

What are the wine classifications of Graves?

A
  • Superior First Growth (premier cru superieur)
  • First growths (premier cru)
  • Second growths (deuxieme cru)
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4
Q

What is a famous first growth vineyard of Graves?

A

Chateau d’Yquem

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5
Q

What are the classification levels for St. Emilion?

A
  • Premier grand cru classes A
  • Premier grand cru classes B
  • Grand cru classes Cru classes

This classification is updated every 10 yrs. Monks made this “Bordeaux wine”.

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6
Q

T or F: Bordeaux wines focus on single varietal.

A

False. The winemaking philosophy of Bordeaux is blending, which is done to mitigate unstable climate conditions and vintage variation in the wines.

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7
Q

What are terroir and winemaking characteristics of Bordeaux?

A
  • Soil is poor in fertility
  • Soil is high in organic matter.
  • Soil is alluvial, from rivers (GRAVEL, sandstone, and clay)
  • Atlantic influence
  • The soils reflect light and maintain warmth, which helps to ripen the grapes
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8
Q

What are the four districts of Bordeaux?

A
  1. Left bank ( Medoc, Haute Medoc)
  2. Right bank (St. Emilion, Pomerol)
  3. Entre Deux Mers (white wine only)
  4. Graves ( whites and reds)

http://winefolly.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/bordeaux-wine-map-by-wine-folly.jpg#

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9
Q

What are the grapes of Bordeaux?

A
  • Red: •Cabernet Sauvignon • Cab Franc •Merlot •Petit Verdot •Carmenere
  • White: •Sauvignon Blanc •Semillon •Ugni Blanc (Trebbiano) •Colombard
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10
Q

What characteristics does Merlot impart to a Bordeaux blend?

A

It gives color and richness of alcohol

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11
Q

What characteristics does Cabernet Sauvignon impart to the Bordeaux blend?

A

It provides tannic backbone and structure.

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12
Q

What characteristics does Cabernet Franc impart to the Bordeaux blend?

A

Gentleness and fresh summer aromas of red fruits, vegetal characteristics

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13
Q

What characteristics does Sauvignon Blanc impart to the Bordeaux blend?

A

Acidity and sugar, aromatic grassy, citrus

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14
Q

What characteristics does Semillon impart to the Bordeaux blends?

A

Apricot and peach aromas

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15
Q

What characters does Muscadelle impart to the Bordeaux blend?

A

Musky, floral aromas

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16
Q

T or F: there is no official classification for Pomerol wines.

A

True

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17
Q

Facts about Entre-Deux-Mers

A
  • Produces white wine only
  • Not a good area for red because soil is missing gravel
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18
Q

Facts about the Graves region

A
  • Original wine area of Bordeaux Produces white and red Wines have a high level of minerality
  • The best of Graves is Pessac-Leognan
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19
Q

Facts about the Left Bank of Bordeaux

A
  • Most significant/important Bordeaux district
  • Gravelly soil best for producing ripeness in red wine grapes
  • Medoc wine is considered secondary quality
20
Q

What are six villages of Haut Medoc?

A
  • St. Estephe
  • Pauillac
  • St. Julien
  • Margaux
  • Moulis En Medoc
  • Listrac Medoc
21
Q

What are the terroir and characteristics of Right Bank.

A
  • Limestone and gravel soils
  • Merlot heavy Softer and readier wines/no whites
  • Separate Classification
  • No alluvial soils/colder climate
  • THE IMPORTANT AREAS are ST. EMILION (AOC), Pomerol
  • Merlot is king in the area
22
Q

What are characteristics and terroir of St. Estephe AOC?

A
  • Less stony soils (further from river deposits), more clay
  • known for higher acidity, higher tannins, longevity
  • more merlot than others in left bank
  • No premier cru
23
Q

What are important vineyards of St. Estephe?

A
  • Ch. Cos D’Estournel
  • Ch. Montrose
  • Ch. Calon-Segur
24
Q

What are characteristics and terroir of St. Emilion AOC?

A
  • it is the oldest wine producing region of Bordeaux
  • wines are generally fruitier and higher in color
  • cooler than left bank due to hills
  • alluvial, pebbly, limestone soils
25
Q

What are the St. Emilion classification levels?

A
  • 1A* - Premier Grand Cru Classe A
  • 1B* - Premier Grand Cru Classe B
  • Grand Cru Classes
  • Cru Classes
  • Monk made this “Bordeaux wine”, updated every 10 yrs.
26
Q

What are the 1A* - Premier Grand Cru Classes A of St. Emilion?

A
  1. Chateau Cheval Blanc
  2. Chateau Angelus
  3. Chateau Ausone
  4. Chateau Pavie
27
Q

Facts about Pomerol AOC.

A
  • 100% Merlot, no blending
  • Done by CHATEAU PETRUS originally
  • No classification system
  • Very susceptible to vintages
  • Rich, smooth, succulent, approachable wines
  • SMALLEST appellation of Bordeaux
  • Soils are iron oxide, limestone, with alluvial deposits
28
Q

What are the first growth vineyards established by the 1855 wine classification law?

A
  1. Chateau Lafite-Rothschild
  2. Chateau Mouton-Rothschild
  3. Chateau Latour
  4. Chateau Margaux
  5. Chateau Haut-Brion
29
Q

Facts about the Left Bank.

A
  • cabernet Sauvignon central
  • less ripe wine; need longer aging
  • soils are more complex; gravel limestone, clay, sand
  • light reflective, heat-retaining soils
  • warmer climate than Right Bank (lower altitude, closer to the sea)
30
Q

What is the basic difference between Medoc and Haute Medoc wines?

A

Medoc wines are simpler, while Haut-Medoc wines are considered to be the best.

31
Q

Facts about Haut-Medoc.

A

*Grapes can be blended from any of the 6 towns in the region and the wine will be generically called Haut Medoc.

*Any of the 6 towns can use the town name on the label if the grapes are 100% for that area.

32
Q

Describe the terroir of the Left Bank.

A

*Soils = the meeting point of many factors: ocean and 2 rivers

*maritime pine trees shield/protect Medoc from cold/salty wind from the Atlantic

*there are 2 wider appellations: Medoc and Haut Medoc

*there are 6 sub-appellations

33
Q

Characteristics of St. Julien AOC.

A

*smallest of the AOCs

*highest % of classified growths

*known for precision and refinement

34
Q

What are the some important Chateaus of St. Julien?

A

Chateau Beychevelle, Chateau Leoville Barton, Chateau Gloria(?)

35
Q

What are characteristics of Pauillac AOC?

A

*highest number of Premier Crus/First Growth (3 of 5 from the Left Bank)

*most complex in Bordeaux (soils=variable)

*known for complexity/aging

36
Q

What are the Premier Crus of Pauillac AOC?

A
  • Chateau Lafite-Rothschild (largest of all Premier Crus/First Growth)
  • Chateau Mouton-Rothschild (1973 elevated from 2nd to 1st growth)
  • Chateau Latour
37
Q

What are characteristics of the Margaux AOC?

A

*largest most regulated region in Bordeaux

*The vineyards overlap = more diluted terroir

*wines are based more on winemaking

*perfumed, well-rounded wines

*light and delicate in cooler years

38
Q

What are the Premeir Cru of Margaux AOC?

A

Chateau Margaux

39
Q

What are characteristics of Listrac-Medoc AOC?

A

*less prestigious wines

*more clay and less gravel in soils

*shallow soils

*further from the river (Gironde)

40
Q

What are characteristics of Moulis En Medoc AOC?

A

*Better than Listrac

*Important chateau is Chateau Chasse-Spleen

41
Q

Facts about Graves.

A

*located south of Left Bank

*older winemaking area

*wines are more mineral

*soils are gravel + morainic influence

*produces sweet wine and white wines made with Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc

42
Q

What is the best quality level for Graves wine?

A

Passac-Leognan AOC, which is the only independent appellation in Graves. All other wines are simply “Graves”

43
Q

What are characteristics of Sauternes and Barsac AOCs?

A

*Sauternes and Barsac are dessert wines

*made from Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc, and Muscadelle grapes that have been affected by botrytis

*sauternes is one of the few wine regions where infection with noble rot is a very frequent occurrence due to its climate

* high production costs

44
Q

What is the Premeir Cru Superier Chateau of Sauternes?

A

Chateau d’Yquem

45
Q

What are characteristics of Entre-deux-Mers AOC?

A

*lies between Garonne and the Dordogne rivers

*applies to only dry white wines

*most wine made here is labeled generic Bordeaux AOC

*mostly fertile and green, with sand and clay soils

*simple, enjoyable and non-age worthy wines

46
Q

T or F: the 1855 classification of Bordeaux has remained unchanged since its inception.

A

False. The were originally four Premier Cru chateau: Chateau Lafite-Rothschild, Chateau Latour, Chateau Margaux, and Chateau Haut-Brion. In 1973 Chateau Mouton-Rothschild was elevated from a 2nd growth to 1st growth vineyard.

47
Q

T or F: The original Bordeaux wine classification was based on varietal.

A

False. The original Bordeaux wine classification was based on price, with the he most expensive wine being considered the highest level of quality.