Bordeaux Flashcards
In which 3 locations is Cabernet Franc widely grown?
1) Saint-Émilion
2) Medoc
3) Graves
What is a Cru Classé?
Any château listed in the 1855 Classification
What 2 climatic issues does the Atlantic create in Bordeaux?
1) Rain
2) Humidity
What is the soil type mostly found in Pessac-Léognan?
Gravel
Why are most red and white wines from Bordeaux made from blends of different grape varieties?
The level of vintage variation caused by differing annual weather patterns means producers can not rely too heavily on one single variety, in case that crop is poor
Which 4 appellations can call themselves Côtes de Bordeaux?
- Blaye
- Cadillac
- Castillon
- Francs
What 2 geographical features protect Bordeaux from the worst of the Atlantic storms?
1) The Landes Forest
2) Coastal sand dunes
The top sweet wine appellations of Bordeaux are grouped on the banks of which two rivers?
1) The Garonne
2) The Ciron
When and where did the Classification of Bordeaux take place?
- 1855
- At the Paris Universal Exhibition
In what sort of vessel would you expect a high-volume, inexpensive white Bordeaux to be fermented?
Temperature-controlled inert vessels
What are the 4 top châteaux within the Médoc’s top rank?
- Lafite Rothschild
- Latour
- Margaux
- Mouton Rothschild
What is the top-ranked château in Graves?
Château Haut-Brion
What attribute makes Sémillon ideal for sweet winemaking?
Thin skin - susceptible to botrytis
Where in Graves are 100% of the cru classé châteaux?
Pessac-Léognan
When are the majority of red wines blended in Bordeaux?
Why might there be exceptions?
1) In the spring following the harvest
2) Some winemakers choose to keep their parcels of wine separate until the end of maturation
What is the area north and east of the Gironde and Dordogne called?
What are its principal appellations?
1) The Right Bank
2) Saint-Émilion and Pomerol
Which are the 2 main Merlot-growing appellations in Bordeaux?
- Saint-Émilion
- Pomerol
Which Bordeaux wine:
- Dominated by Sauvignon Blanc
- Vibrant grassy character
Generic white Bordeaux
What soil type does Cabernet Sauvignon prefer, and why?
- High stone & gravel content
- Raises vineyard temperature & ensures reliable ripening
Outside of Pessac-Léognan, with which variety are most Graves reds made?
Merlot
What has resulted in healthier grapes and a decline in the use of fungal sprays in Bordeaux?
Improvements in canopy management techniques
What sort of wine is Premières Côtes de Bordeaux?
Sweet
It is not connected to the Côtes de Bordeaux group
Is spring frost a problem in Bordeaux?
Why?
- Rarely
- The warming Gulf Stream
What can wines from Barsac call themselves?
Either Barsac or Sauternes
What is the only place in Bordeaux which falls within France’s normal appellation system?
Saint-Émilion
Why is the Bordeaux Classification a source of ongoing debate?
It has never been reviewed or changed since 1855, and since then the châteaux have undergone many changes in number, size, ownership & quality
What is the one variety which is the exception to the general rule that Bordeaux wines are blends?
Sauvignon Blanc is often varietal
What is the advantage of having different varieties which flower and ripen at different times in Bordeaux?
One bad frost or heavy shower is unlikely to ruin an entire crop
What are ‘vins de garage’?
Wines made on the Right Bank from small plots of land in an incredibly ripe style by ‘garagistes’. No expense is spared in making these wines.
What 3 problems does rainfall throughout the year cause in Bordeaux?
1) Disrupts flowering and fruit set
2) Promotes fungal disease and rot
3) Dilutes flavours at harvest
How are premium dry whites from Médoc and Sauternes labelled?
As generic White Bordeaux
How is the awarding of a cru bourgeois different to that of a cru classé?
(2 points)
1) Cru bourgeois status is awarded to a specific vintage, not to a château
2) Wines from new vintages must be submitted each year to gain the cru bourgeois classification
What vessels are used to age top-quality red Bordeaux?
225-litre barriques
How often to reclassifications occur in Saint-Émilion?
At least once every 10 years
Which Bordeaux grape:
- Small plantings
- Only ripens fully in hot years
- Very deep colour
- High tannin
- Slow-ageing
- Spicy notes
Petit Verdot
What 2 terms are allowed for labelling generic Bordeaux rosé?
1) Bordeaux Rosé
2) Bordeaux Clairet
Which has higher tannins and fuller body:
1) Cabernet Sauvignon
2) Cabernet Franc
Cabernet Sauvignon
Where would you find Bordeaux wines with these characteristics:
- High % of Cabernet Sauvignon
- Blackcurrant fruit
- Cedar notes
- Grippy tannins when young
- Long ageing potential
The Haut-Médoc
Which 2 Bordeaux wines:
- Early drinking
- Medium body
- Ripe red & black fruit
- Cedar notes from oak
Red Bordeaux/Bordeaux Supérieur
Which grape variety is predominant in high-volume, inexpensive red Bordeaux?
Merlot
- Which 3 districts lie west and south of the Gironde Estuary and Garonne River?
- What is this entire area called?
- Médoc
- Graves
- Sauternes
- The Left Bank
What do most leading châteaux use to make their second and third wines?
Blends which did not make the cut for the Grand Vin
How are the wines of Graves classified?
With separate lists for reds and whites, with parallel rankings
What aromas are usually associated with Bordeaux Sauvignon Blanc?
(2 points)
1) Citrus
2) Green fruit
For how long are the best examples of Bordeaux sweet wines matured in new oak?
Anything up to 3 years
What is needed to help concentrate sugars in years when there is little noble rot?
Passerillage
Which variety dominates in Côtes de Bordeaux?
Merlot
What changes in Bordeaux have led to a marked rise in sugar levels and flavour development at harvest time?
Improvements to canopy management techniques
What are the 3 distinct topographies of the vineyard areas of Saint-Émilion?
What are their soil types?
1) The plateau:
Well-drained gravel & limestone soils
2) The escarpment:
Clay & limestone soils
3) Foot of the escarpment:
Sandy soils
In there areas where it grows best, what % of a Bordeaux blend can Cabernet Sauvignon account for?
Up to 75%
What makes Bordeaux Clairet different to a standard Bordeaux Rosé?
(2 points)
1) The grapes undergo a longer maceration
2) It has deeper colour & fuller body
What soil type does Merlot prefer in Bordeaux?
Cool, clay soil
Which appellation covers the area between the Dordogne and the Garonne?
Entre-Deux-Mers
What do some top Bordeaux producers do with excess wine?
Sell it to négociants
In which 2 areas is Sémillon blended with Sauvignon Blanc to add body to premium dry whites?
1) Pessac-Léognan
2) Graves
How many ranks are châteaux divided into in the Médoc?
Five
Pessac-Léognan dry whites:
1) Use which varieties?
2) Are eligible for what status?
3) Are fermented & matured in what sort of vessels?
1) Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc
2) Cru classé status
3) At least partly in new oak barrels
How do top Bordeaux producers minimise the effect of vintage variation in the winery?
They can afford to reject unripe and unhealthy grapes
Which Bordeaux wine:
- Rich
- Spicy
- Blackberry and red fruit
Pomerol
How many grape varieties are permitted under Bordeaux regulation?
13
Name the 4 most highly esteemed communes in the Haut-Médoc.
- Saint-Estèphe
- Pauillac
- Saint-Julien
- Margaux
Which Bordeaux grape:
- Unripe: herbaceous and stalky
- Ripe: vibrant fruit and floral notes
- Prefers warm, well-drained soils
Cabernet Franc
1) What are the 2 levels of generic appellation in Bordeaux?
2) What makes the 2nd stricter?
1) Bordeaux and Bordeaux Supérieur
2) Higher minimum alcohol level
What are the 4 predominant black grape varieties of Bordeaux?
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Merlot
- Cabernet Franc
- Petit Verdot
What are the 2 subdivisions of Saint-Émilion Premier Grand Cru Classé?
A and B (A is the best)
How much new oak might be used in a generic Bordeaux red?
None - they might not see any oak at all
What was the further classification later introduced for other châteaux, a step down from cru classé?
Cru bourgeois
What does Sauvignon Blanc bring to a sweet Bordeaux?
High acidity
What does the 1855 Classification list?
2 points
1) The best red wines from the Médoc
2) The best white wines from Sauternes
Which Bordeaux wine:
- Fermented and matured in new oak
- Rich and concentrated
- Nutty flavour overlaying fruit
Premium dry Sauvignon Blanc from Pessac-Léognan
What is a château?
An individual estate in Bordeaux
What do Bordeaux classifications rank?
The estate/château (not the vineyard)
Which Bordeaux wine:
- High alcohol
- High acidity
- Apricot and citrus peel
- Toast and vanilla
- Sweet
Sauternes
What is the climate of Bordeaux?
Moderate maritime
What extends the Bordeaux growing season?
The warmth of the Gulf Stream
Which large appellation is only permitted to produce white wines?
Entre-Deux-Mers
What is the main cause of vintage variation in Bordeaux?
Rainfall
Which Bordeaux wine:
- Medium to high tannins
- Soft, rich mouthfeel
- Complex red berry and plum
- Age: tobacco and cedar
Saint-Émilion
In which 3 broad areas of Bordeaux does Cabernet Sauvignon dominate?
1) Haut-Médoc
2) Bas-Médoc
3) Graves
How are wines from Bas-Médoc labelled?
Simply as ‘Médoc’
What is the soil type of the Bas-Médoc?
Clay with gravel outcrops
Which variety dominates in the Bas-Médoc blends?
Merlot
What is Bordeaux’s most widely planted variety?
Merlot
Roughly how many appellations are there in Bordeaux?
Over 50
What characterises red winemaking practises in Bordeaux?
Diversity - no consensus on the best techniques
What are the 3 Saint-Émilion appellations, ranked highest to lowest?
1) Saint-Émilion Premier Grand Cru Classé
2) Saint-Émilion Grand Cru
3) Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé
What are Bordeaux’s 3 principal white varieties?
- Sémillon
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Muscadelle
How many ranks of châteaux are there in Sauternes?
3
What is the top château of Sauternes?
Château d’Yquem
Which Bordeaux variety?
- Grapey, floral
- Supporting role in blends
- Sweet & dry production
- Small % of any blend
Muscadelle
How can the size of a château vary over the years?
Due to the purchase and sale of vineyard plots
