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