Bordeaux

Question 1

Soil

Answer 1

Left bank: High stone/gravel. Temperature raise

Right bank: Clay, wetter, cooler

Question 2

Black grapes

Answer 2

Cabernet Sauvignon: Cassis Left bank
Cabernet Franc: Ripe; vibrant fruit and floral. Widely at right bank
Merlot: Right bank. High alcohol, fuller body
Petit Verdot: Ripe in very hot years. Add tannin, colour and spicy notes

Question 3

Climate

Answer 3

Moderate maritime. Gulf Stream-> warm ocean extend the growing season (spring frost is rarely a problem, long autumn)
High level of rainfall og humidity. Rain falls trough the year and can disrupt flowering, fruit set and can promote rot, dilute the flavours in harvest

Question 4

Viticulture

Answer 4

Canopy management

Question 5

Winemaking

Answer 5

Varied. Some ferment in vessels others in barrels
Most are blended the following spring
Top quality is aged in small oak barriques of 225L. New oak
Generics rarely see new oak

Question 6

Quality

Answer 6

Depend on the level. Premium wines are among the tope wines in the world. Age worthy. High price

Question 7

Name the four highest rated communes in Haut Medoc (style)

Answer 7

Saint-Estephe, Pauillac, Saint-Julien and Margaux (cabernet based, full-body, high tannin, cassis, age worthy)

Question 8

Name the highset rated commune in Graves (style)

Answer 8

Pessac-Leognan (a little lighter in body and more fragant than Haut-Medoc)

Question 9

The style of Saint-Emilion and Pomerol

Answer 9

Saint-Emilion (medium to high tannins, soft and rich mouthfeel. Red berries and plums. Tobacco and cedar notes as they age)
Pomerol (richer, spicier, blackberry fruit)

Question 10

Generic appellations and style

Answer 10

Bordeaux or Bordeaux Superieur. Higher in alcohol. Early drinking medium body, ripe red and black fruit, sometimes cedar from oak. Cheapest can be light in body and have more astringent tannis than the better ones.

Question 11

Premium dry white

Answer 11

Entre-Deux-Mers. Graves and Pessac-Leognan. Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon. Matured in new oak. Medium to full body toasty oak flavours.

Question 12

Sweet wines

Answer 12

Sauternes. Noble rot. Semillon dominates. Sauvignon Blac adds acidity and fruity aromas. Muscadelle adds perfume. Best tends to be high in alcohol, sweet balanced high acidity. Apricot, cirtus peel, noble rot aroma, cedar and vanilla from oak fermentation and/or maturation