Bordeaux Flashcards
What are the Bordeaux wine classification levels?
- 1st growths (premier cru)
- 2nd growths (deuxièmes cru)
- 3rd growths (troisiemes cru)
- 4th growths (quatriemes cru)
- 5th growths (cinguiemes cru)
What two areas of Bordeaux utilize a unique or separate classification?
Graves which are solely dessert wines and St. Emilion on the right bank of Bordeaux.
What are the wine classifications of Graves?
- Superior First Growth (premier cru superieur)
- First growths (premier cru)
- Second growths (deuxieme cru)
What is a famous first growth vineyard of Graves?
Chateau d’Yquem
What are the classification levels for St. Emilion?
- 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”.
T or F: Bordeaux wines focus on single varietal.
False. The winemaking philosophy of Bordeaux is blending, which is done to mitigate unstable climate conditions and vintage variation in the wines.
What are terroir and winemaking characteristics of Bordeaux?
- 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
What are the four districts of Bordeaux?
- Left bank ( Medoc, Haute Medoc)
- Right bank (St. Emilion, Pomerol)
- Entre Deux Mers (white wine only)
- Graves ( whites and reds)
http://winefolly.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/bordeaux-wine-map-by-wine-folly.jpg#
What are the grapes of Bordeaux?
- Red: •Cabernet Sauvignon • Cab Franc •Merlot •Petit Verdot •Carmenere
- White: •Sauvignon Blanc •Semillon •Ugni Blanc (Trebbiano) •Colombard
What characteristics does Merlot impart to a Bordeaux blend?
It gives color and richness of alcohol
What characteristics does Cabernet Sauvignon impart to the Bordeaux blend?
It provides tannic backbone and structure.
What characteristics does Cabernet Franc impart to the Bordeaux blend?
Gentleness and fresh summer aromas of red fruits, vegetal characteristics
What characteristics does Sauvignon Blanc impart to the Bordeaux blend?
Acidity and sugar, aromatic grassy, citrus
What characteristics does Semillon impart to the Bordeaux blends?
Apricot and peach aromas
What characters does Muscadelle impart to the Bordeaux blend?
Musky, floral aromas
T or F: there is no official classification for Pomerol wines.
True
Facts about Entre-Deux-Mers
- Produces white wine only
- Not a good area for red because soil is missing gravel
Facts about the Graves region
- Original wine area of Bordeaux Produces white and red Wines have a high level of minerality
- The best of Graves is Pessac-Leognan
Facts about the Left Bank of Bordeaux
- Most significant/important Bordeaux district
- Gravelly soil best for producing ripeness in red wine grapes
- Medoc wine is considered secondary quality
What are six villages of Haut Medoc?
- St. Estephe
- Pauillac
- St. Julien
- Margaux
- Moulis En Medoc
- Listrac Medoc
What are the terroir and characteristics of Right Bank.
- 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
What are characteristics and terroir of St. Estephe AOC?
- 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
What are important vineyards of St. Estephe?
- Ch. Cos D’Estournel
- Ch. Montrose
- Ch. Calon-Segur
What are characteristics and terroir of St. Emilion AOC?
- 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
What are the St. Emilion classification levels?
- 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.
What are the 1A* - Premier Grand Cru Classes A of St. Emilion?
- Chateau Cheval Blanc
- Chateau Angelus
- Chateau Ausone
- Chateau Pavie
Facts about Pomerol AOC.
- 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
What are the first growth vineyards established by the 1855 wine classification law?
- Chateau Lafite-Rothschild
- Chateau Mouton-Rothschild
- Chateau Latour
- Chateau Margaux
- Chateau Haut-Brion
Facts about the Left Bank.
- 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)
What is the basic difference between Medoc and Haute Medoc wines?
Medoc wines are simpler, while Haut-Medoc wines are considered to be the best.
Facts about Haut-Medoc.
*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.
Describe the terroir of the Left Bank.
*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
Characteristics of St. Julien AOC.
*smallest of the AOCs
*highest % of classified growths
*known for precision and refinement
What are the some important Chateaus of St. Julien?
Chateau Beychevelle, Chateau Leoville Barton, Chateau Gloria(?)
What are characteristics of Pauillac AOC?
*highest number of Premier Crus/First Growth (3 of 5 from the Left Bank)
*most complex in Bordeaux (soils=variable)
*known for complexity/aging
What are the Premier Crus of Pauillac AOC?
- Chateau Lafite-Rothschild (largest of all Premier Crus/First Growth)
- Chateau Mouton-Rothschild (1973 elevated from 2nd to 1st growth)
- Chateau Latour
What are characteristics of the Margaux AOC?
*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
What are the Premeir Cru of Margaux AOC?
Chateau Margaux
What are characteristics of Listrac-Medoc AOC?
*less prestigious wines
*more clay and less gravel in soils
*shallow soils
*further from the river (Gironde)
What are characteristics of Moulis En Medoc AOC?
*Better than Listrac
*Important chateau is Chateau Chasse-Spleen
Facts about Graves.
*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
What is the best quality level for Graves wine?
Passac-Leognan AOC, which is the only independent appellation in Graves. All other wines are simply “Graves”
What are characteristics of Sauternes and Barsac AOCs?
*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
What is the Premeir Cru Superier Chateau of Sauternes?
Chateau d’Yquem
What are characteristics of Entre-deux-Mers AOC?
*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
T or F: the 1855 classification of Bordeaux has remained unchanged since its inception.
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.
T or F: The original Bordeaux wine classification was based on varietal.
False. The original Bordeaux wine classification was based on price, with the he most expensive wine being considered the highest level of quality.
