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