Bordeaux Flashcards
Who created a complex system of drainage channels throughout the Medoc and when?
The Dutch, 1600’s
What is a Courtier?
Broker of wine, financially backing Chateau
Climate of Bordeaux
Maritime, with both the Atlantic and the Gironde estuary acting as moderating influences, protecting the vines from winter freezes and spring frost. Winters are short, springtime is usually damp and summers can reach high temperatures. Coastal pine forests protect the Médoc vineyards from harsh west and northwesterly winds, but rain is a worry, especially at harvest. The climate becomes more continental toward St-Émilion and Pomerol.
4 Styles of Bordeaux AOP
Red, Rose, White, Clairet
What is Clairet?
A darker, more aromatic style of rosé that evokes the original claret wines shipped to England in the Middle Ages
6 Grapes allowed for Bordeaux AOP Reds
Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot Cabernet Franc Petit Verdot Malbec Carmènere
Most widely planted grape in Bordeaux
Merlot
Preferred soil type of Merlot
prefers clay-based soils, as they delay its natural vigor
Preferred soil type of Cabernet Sauvignon
well-drained gravel, which allows the vine’s root system to dig deeply while slight water stress adds concentration to the fruit
Preferred soil type of Cabernet Franc
Cabernet Franc excels in limestone-based soils, which promote acidity and freshness in the wines
Why does planting so many different grapes and blending them help in Bordeaux?
It gives insurance against specific types of weather events. Cabernet Sauvignon, for instance, may avoid late spring frosts that can spell disaster for Merlot as it buds later, but the grape may fall prey to heavy fall rains after the Merlot is safely harvested.
Cabernet Sauvignon contributes this to a blend
structure, power, and longevity
Merlot contributes this to a blend
fleshy, juicy texture that can soften the austerity of Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Franc contributes this to a blend
a more tannic grape than Merlot but less muscular or weighty than Cabernet Sauvignon, imparts herbal spice and red fruit aromatics
Dominant Grape of the left bank
Cabernet Sauvignon
Dominant Grapes of the right bank
Merlot and Cabernet Franc
Grapes of Bordeaux AOP White
Sémillon
Sauvignon Blanc
Muscadelle
3 grapes restricted to 30% or less of the blend in Bordeaux AOP White
Ugni Blanc
Merlot Blanc
Colombard
What wines qualify for Bordeaux Superior AOP
Reds and Off-Dry Whites with higher minimum alcohol content
How is Cremant de Bordeaux AOP made?
Tradtional Method
Medoc AOP covers
Entire 50 mile stretch of the left bank of the Gironde from the city of Bordeaux Northward
Who labels their wines Medoc AOP
those located in the marshy region north of St-Estèphe, the Bas Medoc
How many acres of white grapes are planted in Medoc AOP
123
What must white wine be labeled if from Medoc AOP?
Bordeaux AOP
Soils of the Bas Medoc
More clay, so they grow more Merlot
Best Vineyards in the Haut Medoc are characterized but what type of Soil?
Well drained Gravel, unearthed in the 1600’s by the Dutch while draining the swamp that used to be there
6 Quality Appellations in the Haut Medoc, north to south
St. Estephe Pauillac St. Julien Listrac Moulis Margaux
What part of an Estate holds status?
The Name, as vineyards change hands, they change status.
Only Chateau to move its classification after 1855.
Mouton-Rothschild in 1973 from 2eme to 1er
What is Cru Artisan?
A designation that has been in use for nearly a century and a half, was formally recognized in 2002. From the 2005 vintage forward, 44 small producers throughout the Médoc’s appellations have the right to use the designation, denoting their place as exceptional stewards of the land and craft of winemaking, without the financing or apparatus of large-scale operations.
What is Cru Bourgeois?
An embattled classification originally introduced in 1932, divided 444 properties into three categories: Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel, Cru Bourgeois Supérieur, and Cru Bourgeois. The classification was not official until 2003, when only 247 châteaux retained their status. The resulting legal action nullified the entire classification. Cru Bourgeois has been reinstated for the 2008 vintage, but it is no longer a specific classification; rather, the term acts as a guarantor of quality and châteaux must apply for it regularly, submitting their wines to a blind tasting panel.
St-Estephe AOP
The wines are sturdy and full-bodied reds with a slightly higher percentage of Merlot, due to a higher proportion of clay amongst the gravel. St-Estèphe does not contain any first growths, and it hosts only five classified growths overall. Château Cos d’Estournel, a “super-second” growth, is the most notable, making powerful wines in a polished modern style.
Pauillac AOP
Considered classic claret and boasts three first growths: Château Lafite Rothschild, Château Mouton-Rothschild, and Château Latour. In Pauillac the gravel topsoil of the Haut-Médoc is at its deepest point, and the Cabernet Sauvignon-based wines are structured and long-lived. Lafite and Latour represent the pinnacle of Pauillac: Latour produces wines of brooding depth and concentration and Lafite emphasizes aromatics and elegance.
St-Julien AOP
Produces less wine than the other communes, but the quality is very good: approximately 80% of the AOP is cru classé wine. There are no first growths, but St-Julien has five second growths, including the “super-seconds” of Château Léoville Las Cases and Château Ducru-Beaucaillou. Both can produce wine on par with premier cru estates. St-Julien reds typically demonstrate an elegant style.
Listrac AOP and Moulis AOP
Lesser appellations without classified growths, but can be the source of good value—especially in better vintages. Château Chasse-Spleen in Moulis is the most famous estate of either commune.
Margaux AOP
The largest communal appellation of the Haut-Médoc and is spread throughout five villages: Soussans, Margaux, Cantenac, Labarde and Arsac. The village of Margaux itself rests on thin, sandy gravel deposited over limestone, although the croupes in this appellation are typically shallow in comparison with those of St-Julien or Pauillac. Overall, the appellation contains a greater diversity of soil types than its northern counterparts, with more clay in the outlying areas. Margaux has a larger number of classified growths than any other commune (21) and includes one first growth, Château Margaux. Although Margaux’s second growths are often underperformers, the third growth Château Palmer is an excellent estate, commanding high prices. The wines of Margaux are often described as feminine, with an emphasis on floral bouquet, exotic character and finesse.
5 Villages of Margaux AOP
Soussans Margaux Cantenac Labarde Arsac
Number of Classified Growths in Margaux
21
First Growths and AOPs
Château Lafite Rothschild, Pauillac Château Latour, Pauillac Château Margaux, Margaux Château Haut-Brion, Graves Château Mouton Rothschild, Pauillac
St-Estephe second growths
Château Cos d’Estournel
Château Montrose
Pauillac second growths
Château Pichon Longueville Baron
Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande
St-Julien second growths
Château Léoville-Las Cases Château Léoville-Poyferré Château Léoville Barton Château Gruaud-Larose Château Ducru-Beaucaillou
Margaux second growths
Château Rauzan-Ségla Château Rauzan-Gassies Château Durfort-Vivens Château Lascombes Château Brane-Cantenac, Cantenac-Margaux
St-Estephe third growth
Château Calon-Ségur
St-Julien third growths
Château Lagrange
Château Langoa Barton
Margaux third growths
Château Malescot-Saint-Exupéry, Margaux Château Desmirail, Margaux Château Ferrière, Margaux Château Marquis d'Alesme Becker, Margaux Château Kirwan, Cantenac-Margaux Château d'Issan, Cantenac-Margaux Château Boyd-Cantenac, Cantenac-Margaux Château Cantenac-Brown, Cantenac-Margaux Château Palmer, Cantenac-Margaux Château Giscours, Labarde-Margaux
Haut-Medoc third growth and Village
Château La Lagune, Ludon
St-Estephe fourth growth
Château Lafon-Rochet
Pauillac fourth growth
Château Duhart-Milon-Rothschild
St-Julien fourth growth
Château Saint-Pierre
Château Talbot
Château Branaire-Ducru
Château Beychevelle
St-Estephe fifth growth
Château Saint-Pierre
Château Talbot
Château Branaire-Ducru
Château Beychevelle
Pauillac fifth growths
Château Pontet-Canet Château Batailley Château Haut-Batailley Château Haut-Bages-Libéral Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste Château Grand-Puy-Ducasse Château Lynch-Bages Château Lynch-Moussas Château d'Armailhac, Pauillac: This estate was known as Mouton-Baronne-Philippe from 1933-1988. Château Pédesclaux Château Clerc-Milon Château Croizet Bages
Margaux fifth growths and Villages
Château Dauzac, Labarde
Château du Tertre, Arsac
Haut Medoc fifth growths and Villages
Château Belgrave, Saint-Laurent
Château de Camensac, Saint-Laurent
Château Cantemerle, Macau
What can be labeled Graves AOP?
Both dry red and white wines
When was Pessac-Leognan AOP created?
1987, effectively becoming the prestige appellation for dry red and white wines
Communes in Pessac-Leognan
Pessac Léognan Cadaujac Canéjan Gradignan Martillac Mérignac Saint-Médard-d'Eyrans Talence Villenave-d'Ornons
Where may sweet wine be produced in Graves and what is it labeled as?
Anywhere
Graves Superieur AOP
What is Graves Superieur AOP?
Always sweet white wine.
3 quality appellation in Graves for sweet white wines?
Cérons
Barsac
Sauternes
Where is Sauternes?
Confluence of Ciron and Garonne rivers, hence the propensity towards Botrytis.
What about the confluence of the rivers makes botrytis possible in good years?
Cool morning mists blow off the Ciron and encounter the warmer waters of the Garonne, producing autumn afternoon humidity perfect for incubating the Botrytis spores.
Vintages where they did not produce Yquem
1974, 1992
How do they pick grapes in Sauternes and why?
In tries because botrytis does not affect grapes evenly
Classification if Chateau d’Yquem?
Premier Cru Supérieur
What is the name of Yquem’s white wine and what do they label it?
“Y” (“Ygrec”), labeled as Bordeaux or Bordeaux Supérieur
Five villages covered under Sauternes AOP
Sauternes Barsac Fargues Preignac Bommes
What can wines from Barsac be labeled as?
Sauternes AOP or Barsac AOP
Must weight and final RS for Sauternes?
The grapes are harvested at a minimum must weight of 221 grams per liter, and the finished wines must contains at least 45 grams per liter of residual sugar
Right bank chateau that uses a majority Cabernet Sauvignon
Chateau Figeac
How many tiers are there to St-Emilion Classifications? and what are they?
3
St-Émilion Premiers Grands Crus Classés A
St-Émilion Premiers Grands Crus Classés B
St-Émilion Premiers Grands Crus Classés
St-Emilion Premiers Grands Crus Classes A
Château Angélus*
Château Ausone
Château Cheval-Blanc
Château Pavie
St-Emilion Premiers Grands Crus Classes B
Château Beau-Séjour Bécot Château Beauséjour (Duffau-Lagarrosse) Château Bélair-Monange (known simply as Belair until the 2008 vintage) Château Canon Château Canon-la-Gaffelière*** Château Figeac Clos Fourtet Château La Gaffelière Château Larcis-Ducasse*** La Mondotte*** Château Pavie-Macquin* Château Troplong-Mondot* Château Trottevieille Château Valandraud***
What is St-Emilion Grand Cru?
The misleading St-Émilion Grand Cru AOP is an appellation, rather than a classificaiton. Wines labeled St-Émilion Grand Cru are required to show an additional + 0.5% alcohol and must undergo a longer élevage than wines simply labeled St-Émilion AOP. All Grand Cru Classé wines must meet the requirements of the St-Émilion Grand Cru AOP.
How big is Pomerol?
five square miles and 1,930 acres of vineyards
Soil of Pomerol
sand, clay and gravel, with a subsoil of iron pan and rich clay
Grape that does best in Pomerol
Merlot
What Chateau does best with Merlot in Pomerol and why?
Chateau Petrus, Clay soils rise very close the surface
What is Cabernet Franc known as in Pomerol?
Bouchet
Best Properties Pomerol
Château Pétrus Vieux-Château-Certan Château Lafleur Château Le Pin Château Trotanoy
4 satellites of St-Emilion
Lussac
St-Georges
Montagne
Puisseguin
Communes of Laland-de-Pomerol
Lalande-de-Pomerol
Néac
Fronsac AOP
Canon-Fronsac AOP
