Bordeaux Flashcards
Historically important foreign buyers of Bordeaux wine
English and Dutch. The Dutch drained the Medoc and funded building of channels
Where is Bordeaux
Southwestern part of France. Inland from the Atlantic on 45 degree parallel
Climate and vine risks
Maritime. Rain and Frost
What protects vines from the Atlantic
Man made pine forest. Gulf stream warms vines
Two rivers that form the Gironde Estuary near Bordeaux
Dordogne and Garonne
Where does Entre Deux Mers lie
Between the two rivers
Soil types
Medoc and Graves (left bank) GRAVEL. St. Emillion (right bank) silt, clay, gravel, limestone, sand. Pomerol (right bank) iron rich clay
Minor grapes of Bordeaux
Carmanere, Malbec, Petite Verdot
Why are most Bordeaux wines traditionally blended
To allow varietals to ripen at different times. Minimize crop loss.
Left Bank red wine styles are typically
70% Cab Sauv. 30% Merlot plus minor varietal and New French Oak aged.
Right bank red wine styles are typically
70% Merlot. 30% Cab Franc. Wines spend some time in French Oak
Dry White Wine styles from Graves Primarily Pessac-Leonan
Dry white. 80% Sauv. Blanc 20%Semillion. Only upper tier priced wines are oaked in New French Oak
Sweet wite wines from Sauternes are primarily
80% Semillion and 20% Sauv. Blanc. Small percentages of Muscadelle. Many are aged in New French Oak
Yearly weather and vintages
vary due to climate variances
Largest Regional Appellation in Bordeaux
Bordeaux AOP. Wines can comes from anywhere in the region and be dry or sweet
Sub-Regional or District Appellations
Haut-Medoc AOP, Entre Deux Mers AOP (smaller more specific Commune)
COMMUNE APPELLATIONS
Small prestigous high quality communes, St. Esteph, St. Julienne, St. Emillion, Pomeral, Margaux
Definition of a chateau in Bordeaux
Single vineyard ownership
Bordeaux’s most famous red wine area
Medoc
The soils of the Medoc are comprised of
Gravel
What are the two main regions or subregons of the Medoc
Medoc, Haut-Medoc AOP
What are the four most famous communes of the Medoc
St. Esteph, St. Julienne, Paulliiac, Margaux
Who comissioned the ranking of wines in 1855
Napoleon II
Which bank was excluded from the ranking
Right
What was the only Chateau south of the Medoc inclued in the classification
Chateau Haut-Brion in Graves
Is this classification system part of the AOP?
No
What are the top first growths in order of rank
Chateau Lafit Rothschild, Chateau Latour, Chateau Mouton Rothschild, Chateau Margaux, Chateau Haut Brion
What are the most recent top vintages
Every year from 2005 to 2015
Where is Graves and what wines and soils are typical
Graves south of and around the city of Bordeaux. Soils are gravel. Wines primarily WHITE and dry. Can be oaked. There are dry red wines too.
Most highly regarded chateau in Graves AOP
Pessaac-Leonan,
Second sub-region of Graves AOP famous for it’s sweet white wines
Sauternes
What are wines like out of Entre deux Mers AOP
Dry only red and white, stainless steel, little to NO OAK, soils are silty
Describe St. Emillion from Right Bank
Close to town of Liournais, along the Dordogne River
Soils of St. Emillion
Silt, clay, gravel, sand, limestone
What is uniques about wines from St. Emillion
They are RED only (merlot and cab franc) and not part of the 1855 classification system. Rather there is St. Emillion AOP and St. Emillion Grand Cru (longer aging, .5 higher alc.) AOP
In 1955 St. Emillion created it’s own classification system Premiers Grands Crus Classes A. This is superior to a Grand Cru
Chateau Ausone, Chateau Angeles, Chateau Pavie, Chateau Cheval Blanc. These are the most famous 4 of the 18.
Premier Grands Crus Classes B This is superior to a Grand Cru.
14 qualify
Grand Crus Classes
64 qualify. This level is still part of the St. Emillion classification and not the regular Grand Cru AOP.
Wines of Pomerol
Merlot and Cab Franc. Pomerol sits near the town of Libournais along the Dordonge River. A small plot only 3 hectares
Soils and appellations of Pomeral
Iron rich clay, sand, gravel, Pomerol AOC. Red wines only. Dry
Does Pomerol have a classification
No. Only St. Emillion on the Right Bank
