Bordeaux Flashcards
How would you describe Bordeaux climate?
Moderate Maritime
Which Ocean Current warms Bordeaux?
The Gulf Stream
What are the three major and one minor Red grape varieties grown in Bordeaux?
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc
Minor - Petit Verdot
What are the two major and one minor White grape varieties grown in Bordeaux?
Semillon and Sauvignon BlancMinor - Muscadelle
What is the name of the original classification of the best red and white wines of The Medoc and Sauternes?.How are wines in this classification referred?
1855 Classification
Crus Classé
How many ranks in the historical Medoc and Sauternes classification system
Red wine?White wine?
Red - 5
White 3
What term can be applied to wines outside the Crus Classé classification?
What condition is attached to wines having this term?
Cru Bourgeois
Only awarded to wines in a specific vintage, wines from new vintages must be submitted each year to gain classification
Put the following wines in order of price and quality, lowest to highest
St Emilion, St Emilion Satellites, St Emilion Grand Cru Classé , St Emilion Premier Grand Cru Classé A, St Emilion Premier Grand Cru Classé B
St Emilion Satellites, St Emilion, St Emilion Grand Cru Classé, St Emilion Premier Grand Cru Classé B, St Emilion Premier Grand Cru Classé A
What is the main difference between Bordeaux and Bordeaux Superior
Superior has slightly stricter appelation rules and has a higher alcohol content than plain Bordeaux
What is ‘Clairet’?
A deeper coloured Rose wine with fuller body made by longer maceration
From north to south name the four leading appelations (communes’ of Haut-Medoc)
Saint-Estephe, Pauillac, Saint-Julian, Margeaux
Name the most highly rated area in Graves
Pessac-Leognan
What name is given to the most northerly part of Medoc?
Bas-Medoc
What aromas and flavours would you expect from wines of Haut-Medoc?
A core of blackcurrant fruit with cedar notes from Oak. Grippy Tannins
What type of soil would you expect in Haut-Medoc and Pessac-Leognan?
Gravelly
Name two benefits of Gravel soil
Good drainage, so doesn’t hold water
Gravel soils tend to be warming
Name the two leading appelations of the ‘right bank’.
St. Emilion and Pomerol
Name the four regions that make up Côtes de Bordeaux
Blaye, Francs, Castillon, Cadillac
Where are you likely to find the very best white wines in Bordeaux?
Pessac-Leognan
Name the two best Sweet Wine appelations.
Sauternes and Barsac
Name the two main and one minor grapes used in Sweet wine production
Semillon, Sauvignan Blanc
Minor - Muscadelle
What is the process of ‘Passerillage’?
French term for leaving grapes on the vine past normal harvest so that they dry up and concentrate their flavours
The climate in Bordeaux is maritime. What does that mean?
Low continentality, low diurnal, rain all year long
The soil of the ‘right bank’ are predominantly made up of what three components?
Clay, Limestone and Sand
What is the main taste difference of Pomerol Vs Saint Emilion wine?
Pomerol tends to be richer with a spicier blackberry fruit character
Generally speaking what is the main difference between the soils of the left bank and the right bank?
Left bank predominately gravelly
Right bank predominately clay / limestone although there are gravelly outcrops
The Atlantic brings high levels of rainfall and humidity to Bordeaux, what 3 risks does this bring?
Rain can disrupt flowering and fruit set risking Coulure and Millerandage
Dampness can promote rot
Rain at harvest time can dilute flavours and/or split grapes if they swell quickly
How is Rosé wine labelled in Bordeaux?
Bordeaux Rosé or Bordeaux Clairet
What is the most northerly part of Medoc and how are these wines labelled?
Bas Medoc
Labelled Medoc
How are the best Bordeaux reds aged?
In 225 ltr Barriques, usually a mix of new and old oak.
In what, and for how long, are the best sweet wines fermented and matured?
In new oak barrels for up to 3 years
Working clockwise name the the four regions that make up Côtes de Bordeaux
Blaye, Francs, Castillon and Cadillac
List the 4 Human factors of wine
Grape Growing, Wine Making, Maturation, Market Forces
Within the context of Bordeaux, what is unique about the classification system in St-Emilion?
It forms part of the appellation system
