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Bordeaux Flashcards

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1
Q

Where is Bordeaux situated in France and how large is it?

A
  • Bordeaux is :
    • in the Southwest quadrant of France
    • stretches 63miles from North to South
    • stretches 78 Miles from East to West
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2
Q

What is the climate of Bordeaux and what are some elements that affect this climate?

A

Bordeaux has a Maritime climate and is effected by :

  • Atlantic’s Gulf Stream warms and regulates temperatures.
  • Les Landes is a 2.5 million acre Pine Forest that helps protects the vineyards of Bordeaux from inclimate weather and sand dunes. (Largest man made forest in Europe)
  • Gironde Estuary and other rivers (Dordogne and Garonne) helps to keep temperatures constant and moderate.
  • Bordeaux Receives an average of 37 inches of rain a year.
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3
Q

How do the four season effect Bordeaux?

A
  • Spring - wet and usually have frost.
  • Summer - warm and sunny. Often cloud cover due to oceanic influences. Bordeaux has difficulty ripening which is why they are sometimes described in non-fruit terms of cigar box, leather, tobacco, cocoa, herb, tea, and graphite.
  • Autumn - Variable. Sometimes there is rain which brings humidity which brings rot. Rain can also dilute flavors. Vintage variation is a big thing.
  • Winter -tend to be moderate but can be very cold. 1956 destroyed a quarter of all vineyards in Bordeaux. Malbec lost one-third of its acreage.
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4
Q

How does soil composition and varietals tie together in Bordeaux

A

The soils of Bordeaux dictate which grape variety should be grown. It is the soils which determine the nature of the blend for each chateau and the nature of the blend determines wine style.

  • Soil + Grape Variety = Blend/Wine Style
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5
Q

What age had a major impact on Bordeaux soils and in what way?

A

The last ice age and the period of inter-glacial melt (2 million to 10,000 BC) left extensive river deposits and marine sediments.

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6
Q

Bordeaux Soils are primarily what?

A

Bordeaux Soils are primarily:

  • Sedimentary,
    • featuring gravel terraces interspersed with
      • Sand,
      • Silt,
      • Clay,
      • Plus Fresh-water limestone
      • And salt-water limestones.
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7
Q

What are the warm soils of Bordeaux and how do they help grape maturity?

A

The warm soils are :

  • Gravel - wines with firm tannins and structure
  • Sand - opulent, soft and fruit forward wine with easy drinkability.
    • As these soils become sun-warmed, they radiate heat back up into the vine canopy and help ripen the grapes by keeping ambient temperature above 50F which is required for photosynthesis.
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8
Q

What are the cold soils of Bordeaux and how do they effect ripening?

A

The cold soils are:

  • Clay - iron-rich makes wines with notes of prune and English walnut.
  • Limestone - pronounced acidity and lean polished tannins.
    • These soils are dense and retain moisture and do not hasten the ripening process.
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9
Q

What are the 3 major white grapes of Bordeaux?

A

The 3 major white grapes are :

  • Sémillon : 49% of white plantins
  • Sauvignon Blanc : 43% of white plantings
  • Muscadelle : 6% of white plantings
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10
Q

What are the Secondary white grapes of Bordeaux?

A

The secondary white grapes of Bordeaux are :

  • Ugni Blanc
  • Colombard
  • Merlot Blanc
  • Chenin Blanc
  • Folle Blanche
  • Mauzac
  • Ondenc
    • Together these comprise only 2% of plantings
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11
Q

What are the primary red grapes of Bordeaux?

A

The primary red grapes of Bordeaux are :

  • Merlot - 65% of red plantings
  • Cabernet Sauvignon - 23% of red plantings
  • Cabernet Franc - 10% of red plantings
  • Together the following account for 2% :
    • Malbec (Côt, Noir de Pressac) - minor component. Winter freeze of 1956 killed many (temperature dropped to -15°F)
    • Petit Verdot - Fell out of favor until global warming helped it to ripen.
    • Carmenère - Fell out of favor but some are experimenting with it.
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12
Q

What are the 2 styles of Rose produced in Bordeaux?

A

The 2 styles of rose are :

  1. Rosé : which is pink
    • often made via saignée method with a very short maceration time.
  2. Clairet : which is semi-red
    • same basic wine-making as red wine but maceration is relatively short 24-36 hours. Made in the saignée method.

**Some producers make direct press rosé.

**Saignée is preferred because it helps elevate skin-to-juice ratio for regular wine.

**Always dry (unlike Loire). Always pink (unlike orange Rhone)

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13
Q

What is the AOC for Bordeaux Crémant and how is it made?

A

The AOC is Crémant de Bordeaux AOC:

  • AOC status occured in 1990.
  • Made in the méthode traditionnelle.
  • Can be :
    • White or Rosé
    • Extra Brut –> Doux
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14
Q

What are the different Crémant styles that can be made?

A

The 2 styles are White or Rose.

  • White Crémant uses:
    • Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon, Muscadelle, Ugni Blanc, and Colombard plus any of the red varietals when vinified as blanc de noirs
  • ​Rosé Crémant uses:
    • Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec, Petit Verdot, and Carmenère.
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15
Q

How long must Bordeaux Crémant rest on the lies?

A

They must have 9 months of ageing sur lie and may not be released for a minimum of 12 months after the date of tirage.

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16
Q

What do the AOC’s in Bordeaux monitor and what is regulated by law?

A
  • AOCs Monitor
    • Zone of Production
    • Varieties Used
    • Final Alcohol Levels
    • Viticultural and winemaking practices
    • Label Nomeclature
  • Law Regulates:
    • Planting Density
    • Pruning Technique
    • Start of Harvest
    • Yield
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17
Q

Who can use Bordeaux and Bordeaux Supérieur AOCs?

A

Any producer that meets the production standards but they may opt to use a smaller zone of production if they can. These two AOCs account for 50% of Bordeaux’s total production.

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18
Q

What makes Bordeaux Supérieur AOC different than Bordeaux AOC?

A

Bordeaux Supérieur must adhere to stricter production standards than the Bordeaux AOC such as:

  • Smaller Maximum yields
  • Higher Alcohol Levels.
    • Red wine must be aged for at least 9 months
    • White wines must fall into semi-sweet or Moelleux Category. (There are no dry white Bordeaux Supérieurs)
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19
Q

What are the Max yield and Min Alcohol for :

  1. Bordeaux AOC (White)?
  2. Bordeaux Supérieur (White with residual sugar)?
  3. Bordeaux AOC (Red)?
  4. Bordeaux Supérieur (Red)?
A

Bordeaux AOC (White)? :

  • Max Yield : 4 tons/acre 67 hl/ha
  • Min Alcohol : 10%

Bordeaux Supérieur (White with residual sugar)?

  • Max Yield : 2.9 tons/acre 49 hl/ha
  • Min Alcohol : 11%

Bordeaux AOC (Red)?

  • Max Yield : 3.6 tons/acre 60 hl/ha
  • Min Alcohol : 10.5%

Bordeaux Supérieur (Red)?

  • Max Yield : 3.5 tons/acre 59 hl/ha
  • Min Alcohol : 11%
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20
Q

What are the 3 different types of AOCs and give some examples?

A

The 3 different types of AOCs are :

  1. Regional
    • Bordeaux, Bordeaux Supérieur, Bordeaux Clairet, Bordeaux Crémant, and Bordeaux Rosé
  2. Sub-Regional
    • Médoc, Haut-Médoc, Graves, Entre-Deux-Mers
  3. Communal
    • Margaux, Saint Estephe, Pessac-Leognan, Barsac, Sauternes, Saint Emillion, Pomerol, Fronsac
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21
Q

What kind of wine does the Médoc produce?

A

The Médoc produces red wine only and overwhelming majority are to Cabernet Sauvignon due to the warm gravel soils here.

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22
Q

How many AOCs are in the Médoc?

A

There are 8 AOCs in the Médoc.

  1. Médoc
  2. Haut-Médoc
  3. St. Estèphe
  4. Pauillac
  5. St. Julien
  6. Margaux
  7. Moulis en Médoc
  8. Listract-Médoc
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23
Q

Where are the Médoc and what characterizes them?

A
  • The Médoc and Haut-Medoc cover a large portion of the west peninsula and its small gravel soils.
    • The Medoc AOC represents a small growing area located in the nothernmost tip of the peninsula
    • The Haut-Medoc is south of the Medoc which correlates to Upstream
  • Four communes (all AOCs) flank the east portion of the peninsula and its large gravel soils
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24
Q

Descirbe the St. Estephe AOC and its wines

A
  • The wines are historically extremely structured with tough tannins that have required significant time in bottle to mellow and soften.
  • Producers are now delivering wines that are more drinkable upon release by increasing the percentage of Merlot in the blend.
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25
Q

Describe the Pauillac AOC and its wines?

A
  • Pauillac wines have a signature core of dusty cocoa-like tannins that deliver wines of structure and power.
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26
Q

Describe the St. Julien AOC and its wines?

A
  • St. Julien is considered the most “Californian” of the Medoc Communes boasting wines that consistently deliver chocolate-covered-cherry fruit.
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27
Q

Describe the Margaux AOC and its wines?

A
  • Margaux is considered the most feminine and most perfumed of all the Medoc AOCs.
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28
Q

Describe the Moulis en Medoc AOC and its wines?

A
  • Located halfway between Margaux and St. Julien, it possesses 3 types of soils:
  1. Small Pyrenees gravel
  2. Large Garonnais Gravel
  3. Clay/Limestone Mix
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29
Q

Describe the Listrac-Medoc AOC and its wines?

A
  • Listrac-Medoc represents the highest point of elevation on the Medoc peninsula. It rises to the grand total of 129 feet above sea level. Like Moulis en Medoc it boasts :
  1. Pyrenees Gravel
  2. Garonnais Gravel
  3. Limeston Soils.
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30
Q

What is the importance of Graves and describes its wines?

A

Graves is important because it had the first Bordeaux vineyards

  • 2/3 of the production is Red
    • Predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon based blends as much of the soils has warm gravels.
  • 1/3 of the production is White (both dry and sweet).
    • Predominantly Sauvignon Blanc/Sémillon blends.
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31
Q

How many AOCs are in the Graves?

A

There are 6 AOCs in the Graves :

  1. Graves AOC - Red or Dry White
  2. Graves Supérieures - semi-sweet white: >1.8% sugar)
    • For the above 2 any wine from the region meeting the qualification can go by this.
  3. Pessac-Léognan - Red and White
  4. Cérons - Sweet white
  5. Barsac - Sweet white
  6. Sauternes - Sweet white
32
Q

Describe the Pessac-Leognan AOC and its wines?

A

Pessac-Leognan became an AOC in 1987

  • Reds
    • Northermost Portion of Graves and produces note-worthy Cabernet-Sauvignon based reds on deep gravel soils
    • Often have a unique hint of clove in the finish.
  • Whites
    • ​Based on Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon and often see oak. Crisp acidity helps to age for a decade or two.
33
Q

What is the Sauternais and how does geography determine the wine style?

A

The Sauternais sub-region gathers the appellations of Sauternes, Barsac, and Cérons.

  • Sweet White AOCS.
  • Southern most portion of Graves with poor soils.
  • Macro-Climate
    • Mornings are wet thanks to fog from the Ciron River (cool waters of Ciron meet warm waters of Garonne)
    • When followed by dry, warm afternoons, botrytis Cinerea develops and enables sweet wines.
34
Q

Describe the Sauternes AOC and its wines?

A
  • Encompasses 5 communes : Sauternes, Fargues, Bommes, Preignac, and Barsac.
  • Garonne River to the East.
  • Les Landes to the West and South.
  • Ciron River to the North and West (this seperates the commune of Barsac from the rest.)
  • Soils generally Sand, Gravel, Clay, Marl, and Limestone
    • 2/3 planted to Sémillon
    • 1/3 Suavignon Blanc.

*Dry whites and reds are bottled as Bordeaux/Bordeaux Supérieur

35
Q

Describe the Barsac AOC and its wines?

A
  • Lies at the confluence of the Ciron and Garonne.
  • Soils are mostly clay-limeston plateau and vineyards are typically bordered by low stone walls from rocks pulled from vineyards.
36
Q

Describe the Cérons AOC and its wines?

A
  • Soils have considerably more gravel and gravel/sand deposits.
    • Makes more red and bottles it under Bordeaux or Bordeaux Supérieur AOCs.
  • Crafts dry (Graves & Bordeaux AOC) and semi-sweet white wine (Graves Supérieur AOC) as well.
  • Only sweet wine is Cérons AOC
37
Q

Describe the Entre-Deux-Mers as a region?

A
  • Soils are quite complex
    • Alluvial Deposits Flank the Rivers.
    • Some slopes are Pure Gravel.
    • Plateaus are composites of Clay and Sand, and Clay and Limestone.
38
Q

What does the Entre-Deux-Mer region produce more of : Red or White wine?

A

The Entre-Deux-Mers produces more red wine.

  • Red wine production far outpaces white wine production. (was mostly white wine until 1950s and 1960s).
    • Most are blends comprised of Merlot and both Cabernets
  • White wines are almost exclusivel Sauvignon Blanc.
39
Q

What are the AOCs of the Entre-Deux-Mers and the type of wine they make?

A

AOC STYLE

  • Entre-Deux-Mers : Dry White
  • Entre-Deux-Mers-Haut-Benauge : Dry White
  • Bordeaux-Haut-Benauge : Semi-Sweet White
  • Cadillac : Sweet White
  • Loupiac : Sweet White
  • Sainte-Croix-Du-Mont : Sweet White
  • Sainte-Foy-Bordeaux : Red, Dry, Semi-Sweet White
  • Graves de Vayres : Red, Dry, Semi-Sweet White
  • Côtes de Bordeaux Saint-Macaire : Dry, Semi-Sweet, Sweet Whites
  • Premières Côtes de Bordeaux / Cadillac- Côtes de Bordeaux : Semi-Sweet White, Red
40
Q

What 3 communes are across the Garonne river from Sauternes, Barsac, and Cérons?

A

The 3 communes are Cadillac, Loupiac, and Sainte-Croix-du-Mont

  • This is why they make sweet wines.
41
Q

Describe the wines made in Sainte-Foy-Bordeaux?

A

Sainte-Foy-Bordeaux AOC produces dry reds and whites and semi-sweet whites.

  • **All other reds produced within Entre-Deux-Mers (besides Sainte-Foy-Bordeaux, Graves de Vayres, and Cadillac-Côtes de Bordeaux) carry the Bordeaux or Bordeaux Supérieuer AOC**
42
Q

Describe the wines of Graves De Vayres AOC?

A

Graves de Vayres AOC produces red, dry, and semi-sweet whites.

  • Whites mostle Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon Blends but can contain up to 30% Merlot Blanc.
  • Most production is red.
43
Q

Describe the wines of the Côtes de Bordeaux including the satellite of Cadillac?

A
  • CdB Saint-Macaire crafts dry, semi-sweet and sweet whites from Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon, and Muscadelle.
  • Premieres CdB produces semi-sweet white
  • Cadillac-CdB is a red appellation.

**Note that both CdB Saint-Macaire and Premieres CdB/Cadillac CdB are counted among the Côtes de Bordeaux but they are located in the Entre-Deux-Mers.

44
Q

Where is the Libournais and how is this region characterized?

A

Libournais is named after the principal city on the Right Bank of the Dordogne.

  • Libournais reds are predominantly Merlot and Cabernet Franc blends with a little Cabernet Sauvignon.
  • Because of the high proportion of Merlot in the Blend, they are silken in texture and less powerfully structured than their left bank counter parts.
45
Q

How many AOCs are in the Libournais?

A

There are 10 AOCs in the Libournais all producing Red wine.

  1. Fronsac
  2. Canon-Fronsac
  3. Pomeral
  4. Lalande de Pomerol
  5. Saint-Emilion
  6. Saint-Emilion Grand Cru
  7. Saint-Georges-Saint-Emilion
  8. Lussac-Saint-Emilion
  9. Montagne-Saint-Emilion
  10. Puisseguin-Saint-Emilion
46
Q

Describe the Fronsac and Canon Fronsac AOC and their wines?

A

Fronsac and Canon-Fronsac have Clay and Limestone soils

  • They are separated from the rest of the Libournais by the Isle River.
  • Wines are characterized by red Fruits and Black Pepper.
47
Q

Describe the Pomerol and Lalande-de-Pomeral AOC and their wines?

A

Both Pomerol and Lalande de Pomerol have iron-rich clays and gravels for soils.

  • Merlot and cabernet Franc express themselves with heady aromas and textures here because of the iron rich soils.
    • Characterized by notes of English walnut, truffle, and prune.
    • Lalande de Pomerol tend to be less aromatic and less structured than the Pomerols.
48
Q

Describe the St. Emilion and St. Emilion Grand Cru AOC and their wines?

A

These two AOCs cover the exact same area of production.

  • Soils are comprised of limestone and clay with some pockets of sand along the river.
  • There are also two islands of Pomerol soil.
    • Chateau Figeac and Chateau Cheval Blanc are located on them.
  • ​The soil variation leads to some wines with high acid and polished tannins (limestone) while others are more fruit forward (sand) and others mirror Pomerol (iron-rich clay and gravels
49
Q

What makes St. Emilion Grand Cru different?

A

Grand Cru has more stringent production standards.

  • Lower Yield and Higher minimum alcohol.
  • Must be bottled at the Chateau
  • 2 Tastings both before and after its mandatory one year period of ageing.
50
Q

What are the four satellites of St. Emilion?

A

The 4 satellites of St. Emilion are :

  1. St. Georges-St. Emilion AOC
  2. Lussac-St. Emilion AOC
  3. Montagne-St. Emilion AOC
  4. Puisseguin-St. Emilion AOC
51
Q

What does Côtes mean in French and what is their broad definition in Bordeaux?

A

Côtes means coast/slope. These slope to a river or estuary.

  • All Côtes are on the right banks of the rivers and are west facing.
  • All Côtes are principally clay and limeston soils.
  • Merlot and Cabernet Blends Prevail
  • AOC Côtes de Bordeaux was new in 2008
52
Q

Describe the wine made in CdB?

A

CdB is a dry red only AOC.

  • It can incorporate fruit from an of the old AOCs of :
    • Premieres Cote de Blaye,
    • Bordeaux-Cotes De Francs,
    • Cotes de Castillon
    • Premieres Cotes de Bordeaux
53
Q

What are the 4 sub appelations of CdB and what type of wines can they make?

A

The 4 sub appellations can product red, dry white, or Liquoreux white. They are:

  1. Blaye-Côtes de Bordeaux (for Premieres Cotes de Blaye) dry reds, dry whites
  2. Cadillac-Côtes de Bordeaux (for Premieres Cotes de Bordeaux) dry reds
  3. Castillon-Côtes de Bordeaux (for Cotes de Castillon) Dry reds
  4. Francs-Côtes de Bordeaux (for Bordeaux-Côtes de Francs) Dry Red, Dry whites, Liquoreux whites.
54
Q

What are the permitted grapes for Côtes de Bordeaux an its sub designations?

A

Principal Red Grapes : Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Merlot

  • Supplemental Reds : Carmenere (less than 10%), Petit Verdot (less than 15%)

Principle White Varieties : Sauvignon Blanc, Sauvignon Gris, Sémillon, Muscadelle

  • Supplemental Whites : Ugni Blanc, Colombard (alone or combined, equal to or less than 15%)
55
Q

Describe the Style and grape varietals used to produce Premieres Cotes de Bordeaux and Cadillac-Cotes de Bordeaux?

A
  • Style : semi-sweet white and reds
  • Grapes :
    • Whites - sémillon, sauvignon blanc, muscadelle
    • Reds - Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec
56
Q

Describe the Style and grape varietals used to produce Cotes de Bordeaux Saint-Macaire AOC?

A
  • Style : dry, semi-sweet, and Sweet Whites
  • Grapes :
    • Whites
      • Dry - Sauvignon Blanc dominates
      • Sweet, Semi-sweet - sémillon dominates
  • Soils are limestone or clay-limestone and clay-sand composites.
57
Q

Describe the Style and grape varietals used to produce Cotes de Bourg AOC and Bourg AOC?

A
  • Style : Red and Dry Whites
  • Grapes :
    • ​Red - Mostly Merlot (65%) of all reds planted. (with Cab. Sauv. (20%), Malbec (10%), and Cab. Franc(5%))
      • Tannic and can age 5-10 years.
      • Jammy, dark berry fruit with nuances of forest floor.
    • White - Mostly Sauv. Blanc (41%) (with Colombard (23%), Sémillon (23%), Muscadelle (8%), and Sauv. Gris (5%))
  • Soils are a combination of silt, sand, clay, and limestone which allows for any reds to be planted.
58
Q

Describe the Style and grape varietals used to produce Blaye AOC?

A
  • Style : Red
  • Grapes :
    • Red - Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot (50%)
      • Carmenere, Petit Verdot, and Malbec are blending partners
  • Soils are mixed - sandy gravel, clay, and limestone but merlot dominates.
59
Q

Describe the Style and grape varietals used to produce Blaye-CdB Blanc AOC and Blaye-CdB Rouge AOC?

A
  • Style : Dry white and Red
  • Grapes :
    • ​Whites - Mostly Sauv. Blanc with Sémillon and Muscadelle
    • Red - Mostly Merlot with Cab. Sauv, Cab. Franc, and Malbec.
60
Q

Describe the Style and grape varietals used to produce Cotes de Blaye AOC?

A
  • Style : Dry White
  • Grapes :
    • ​Mostly Colombard with Muscadelle, Sauv. Blanc, and Sémillon!
61
Q

Describe the Style and grape varietals used to produce Castillon-Cotes de Bordeaux?

A
  • Style - red
  • Grapes
    • Red - mostly Merlot with some Cab. Franc and Cab. Sauv.
62
Q

Describe the Style and grape varietals used to produce Francs-Côtes de Bordeaux AOC?

A
  • Style : Red, Dry and Liquoreux Whites
  • Grapes :
    • Reds - Mostly Merlot (50-60%) with Cab. Franc and Cab. Sauv. (40-50%)
      • Cabernet Franc is prominent thanks to limestone soils
      • Reds are characterized by sweet herb, autumn leaves, and red berry fruits.
    • Whites - Sémillon (60%) dominant with Sauv. Blanc and Muscadelle.
  • Production is mostly red (3,300,00) followed by dry white (19,000) and sweet white (8,000)
63
Q

Describe the Cadillac-Cotes de Bordeaux AOC and its wines?

A
  • Style : Red
  • Grapes :
    • Red - Merlot (55%) Dominant with significant additions of Cab. Sauv. (25%)
      • Cab. Franc (15%) and Malbec (5%) play minor roles
  • Soils are mixed - clay an limestone are interspersed with Gravel and/or gravel beds.
64
Q

Describe the Premieres CdB AOC and its wines?

A
  • Style : Semi-sweet whites - makes Moelleux and semi-sweet whites.
  • Grapes :
    • Whites - The semi-sweet whites are Sémillon-dominant (70%) with Sauv. Blanc (25%) Muscadelle (5%) as blending partners
  • The wines must finish with a minimum of 11.5% alcohol and 3.4% (34g/l) residiual sugar.
65
Q

What is the Classification of 1855?

A

The 1855 list places the top chateaux in Bordeaux into rankings of First through Fifth growths.

  • It was put together by the Union Of Commercial Brokers and served as a reference guide for setting pricing and/or paying taxes.
66
Q

How many chateaux were ranked in the original 1855 classification and where did the wines come from?

A

87 chateaux were ranked.

  • 1 Chateau from Pessac-Leognan
  • 26 Chateaux from Sauternes and Barsac
  • 60 Chateaux from the Medoc
    • (61 when Ch. Cantemerle was added during the exhibition)
    • biggest change was Ch. Mouton Rothschild being elevated to First Growth.
67
Q

What is the breakdown for the 1855 classification?

A

Of the 61 red wines there are :

  • 5 Premiers Grand Cru Classés
  • 14 Deuxiemes Grand Cru Classés
  • 14 Troisiemes Grand Cru Classés
  • 10 Quartriemes Grand Cru Classés
  • 18 Cinquiemes Grand Cru Classés

Of the 27 Sauternes and Barsac Sweet Wines

  • 1 Premier Cru Superieur
  • 11 Premier Crus
  • 15 Deuxiemes Crus
68
Q

What is a Cru Bourgeois?

A

Originally begun in 1932 with 444 domains, it was suppose to be a recognition of quality but was never officially ratified by the National Department of Agriculture.

  • In 2003, a new list of 247 estates failed to pass and was rescinded in 2007.
  • Now it is a member organization : The Alliance des Crus Bourgeois.
  • ** A Petit Chateau is any unranked or unclassified property. All Crus Bourgeois are Petit Chateau.
69
Q

What is a Cru Artisan?

A

Cru Artisans are identified as small (2.5-12.5 acres) estates that are entirely responsible for their own production process from vineyard-barrel-bottle.

  • Today there are 50 Crus Artisans.
70
Q

What is the Graves Classification?

A

Graves established a classification system in 1953 and revised it in 1959.

  • 6 estates for both red and whites
  • 3 estates for white wine only
  • 7 estates for red wine only

All wines ranked fall within the Pessac Leognan AOC and are entitled to “Grand Cru Classé de Graves”

71
Q

What is the St. Emilion Classification?

A

Started in 1955 and was set to be updated every 10 years. This hasn’t happened. Now Chateaux will be graded on the

  • Quality and condition of the winery and its equipment
  • the standing of the estate in the marketplace (50%)
  • and on the quality of the wine (50%)

**St. Emilion Grand Cru is an AOC, St. Emilion Grand Cru Classé is a ranking within the classification.

72
Q

In the Saint Emilion Classification what are the two most important estates?

A

The 2 most important estates are :

  • Chateaux Ausone
  • Chateaux Cheval Blanc
73
Q

Where is most Bordeaux consumed?

A

Most Bordeaux is consumed in France

  • 58% in France, 42% exported.
74
Q

What are some of the important dates of Bordeaux’s History?

A

In Bordeaux’s History, they were inhabited for the past 20-30 thousand years but it was the Roman Empire who discovered the Bituriges Vivisci tribe and the town of Burdigala.

  • Pliny the Elder mentions them and Biturica vinein 77 BC
  • Originally prized for Tin and Lead
  • Ausonius (310-393AD) mentions the wine and Ch. Ausuone is named after him.
  • Bordeaux was then sacked by the Vandals, Visigoths, and Franks.
  • Late 7th Century the Merovingian kings revived its fortunes.
75
Q

What took place during the Middle Ages in Bordeaux?

A

in 1152 Duchess Eleanor of Aquitaine Married Henry Plantagenet, Count of Anjou. He became King Henry II of England and Duke of Normandy.

  • This helped establish maritime trade with England and Bordeaux wine flourished.
  • King Edward III of England refused to pay personal homage to Philip of Valois, which started the 100 years war. France reclaimed Bordeaux in 1453.
  • The Dutch then drained the Medoc in the 1600s\
  • Bordeaux was saved by French revolution because estates were sold by shares.
76
Q

What took place in Bordeaux During the 1800s?

A

The railroad came to Bordeaux and helped trade to inland France but then devistation hit.

  • 1852 Powdery Mildew hit
  • 1865 Phylloxera hit
  • 1880 Downy Mildew hit.
  • Jean Capus separated Bordeaux into 57 AOCs in 1935
  • Emile Peynaud encouraged second labels.

French Wine Scholar (8 decks)

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