BORDEAUX Flashcards
BORDEAUX > GEOGRAPHY
Western France on the Atlantic
BORDEAUX > CLIMATE
Maritime / Atlantic Influenced
Rives & Gironde Estuary
BORDEAUX > RED GRAPES
CABERNET SAUVIGNON MERLOT CABERNET FRANC MALBEC PETIT VERDOT CARMERE
BORDEAUX > WHITE GRAPES
- Dry and sweet wines)
SEMILLON
SAUVIGNON BLANC
MUSCADELLE
BORDEAUX > TYPICAL BLENDS
MEDOC COMMUNES
LEFT BANK
70% CABERNET SAUVIGNON
30% MERLOT
PLUS CABERNET FRANC AND PETIT VERDOT
BORDEAUX > TYPICAL BLENDS
ST-EMILION & POMEROL
RIGHT BANK
70% MERLOT
30% CABERNET FRANC
BORDEAUX > VINIFICATION
New 225-liter French oak barrique
-For whites and reds
$$$
BORDEAUX > VINTAGE VARIATION
- Inconsistent weather
- Rainfall during growing season
- Humidity (potential for mold)
BORDEAUX > SOIL
MEDOC & GRAVES
Gravel
BORDEAUX > SOIL
SAINT-EMILION
Gravel
Limestone
sand
BORDEAUX > SOIL
POMEROL
Iron pan
under sand & clay
BORDEAUX > HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
- winemaking dates to 4th Century AD
- Dutch 1600s
- Relationship with England : Claret
- Global image / distribution
BORDEAUX > TODAY
LARGEST AOP IN FRANCE
- 950 MILLION BOTTLES / YEAR
- 50+ APPELLATIONS
- 10,000 PRODUCERS
BORDEAUX > REGIONAL LAWS & LABELING
REGIONAL APPELLATIONS:
- Bordeaux
- Bordeaux Superieur
- 45% of total production
COMMUNE APPELLATIONS:
- smallest AOCs in each region
- Generally highest quality
- PAUILLAC / MARGAUX / POMEROL
BORDEAUX > TERMINOLOGY
CHATEAU
- estate under single ownership
- size of estate varies and can change
- Importance of chateau brand name
BORDEAUX > MEDOC
GRAPES
Red wines only
CABERNET SAUVIGNON