Bordeaux Flashcards
There are warm soils and cold soils in Bordeaux, name the warm soils.
Gravel and sand are warm soils in Bordeaux
There are warm soils and cold soils in Bordeaux, name the cold soils.
Clay and limestone are cold soils in Bordeaux.
What is the climate of Bordeaux?
Bordeaux has a maritime climate.
The Bordeaux blend is mandated by law, true or false?
False, while almost all Bordeaux wine is a blended product it is not mandated by law.
Bordeaux is riddled with a network of rivers that empty into the _________ Estuary
Gironde
What is Les Landes?
Les Landes is a man-made forest which serves as a windbreak against Atlantic storms and also blocks migrating sand dunes.
The Gironde is tidal up to how many miles inland?
75 miles
With benchmark flavors of apricot and fig, this grape dominates sweet wine blends and represents 49% of white plantings in Bordeaux.
Sémillon
With benchmark notes of pineapple this grape dominates the dry white blends and represents 43% of white plantings in Bordeaux.
Sauvignon Blanc
What role does Muscadelle play in Bordeaux?
Muscadelle represents just 6% of white plantings and plays a minor role in white blends.
Which Bordeaux grape displays the following traits:
Early ripening, prefers clay, moderate tannins, Low acidity, and high alcohol?
Merlot
Which grape represents 65% of the red plantings of Bordeaux?
Merlot
Which Bordeaux grape displays the following characteristics:
Late ripening, prefers gravel and sand, High acidity, high pigments, high tannins, moderate alcohol?
Cabernet Sauvignon
Which grape represents 23% of red plantings in Bordeaux?
Cabernet Sauvignon
Which Bordeaux grape displays the following characteristics:
Early ripening, prefers limestone, moderate tannins, moderate acidity, moderate pigments, moderate alcohol?
Cabernet Franc
Which grape represents 10% of red plantings in Bordeaux?
Cabernet Franc
Which grape was featured prominently in the Bordeaux blend before the winter freeze of 1956 killed most of the vines which were not replanted?
Malbec
Côt and Noir de Pressac are synonyms for which grape?
Malbec
What does Moelleux mean in Bordeaux?
Moelleux is semi-sweet wine containing residual sugar between 1.2-4.5%
What does Liquoreux mean in Bordeaux?
Liquoreux is sweet wine made from ONLY botrytis infected grapes with sugar levels over 4.5%
True or False, in Bordeaux it is common for different grape varieties to be harvested and fermented together.
False, grape varieties are harvested and fermented separately and blended after.
What is Clairet in Bordeaux?
Clairet is a ‘semi-red’ rosé wine made in the same method as regular rosé but with a longer maceration period.
What is the minimum sur lie aging requirement for Crémant in Bordeaux?
9 months
Bordeaux is divided into 3 sections, name them.
Left Bank, Right Bank, and Entre-Deux-Mers
The lands West of the Gironde Estuary and Garonne River is called ____________
Left Bank
Which section of Bordeaux spreads from the Médoc Peninsula to Graves in a relatively flat and level expanse?
Left Bank
Which section of Bordeaux has mostly gravel soils and produces Cabernet Sauvignon based blends?
Left Bank
The lands East of the Gironde Estuary and the Dordogne River are called ________
Right Bank
Which section of Bordeaux is a string of small hills stretching from Castillon to Blaye?
Right Bank
Which section of Bordeaux has mostly Clay and Limestones soils and focuses on blends made from Merlot and Cabernet Franc?
Right Bank
What is the name of the section in Bordeaux which lies between the Garonne and Dordogne Rivers?
Entre-Deux-Mers
Which section of Bordeaux boasts the highest elevations?
Entre-Deux-Mers
- Traditionally, very structured wines with tough tannins
- Modern versions have more merlot in the blend, making the wines softer and more drinkable upon release.
- Located on the Left Bank
Saint-Estèphe
- Signature core of dusty cocoa-like tannins
- Wines of structure and power
- Located on the Left Bank
Pauillac
- Considered the most “Californian” of the Médoc AOCs
- Delivers chocolate covered cherry fruit.
Saint Julien
-Considered the most “feminine” and perfumed of all the Médoc AOCs
Margaux
- Represents the highest point of the Médoc Peninsula
- Has Pyrénées gravel, Garonnais gravel, and Limestone soils
Listrac-Médoc
- Located halfway between Margaux and Saint-Julien
- Has Pyrénées gravel, Garonnais gravel, and Limestone soils.
Moulis en Médoc
Does Graves produce more white or red wine?
2/3 of Graves production is red.
What grapes are primarily used in production of whites Graves wine?
Whites from Graves are predominantly Sauvignon Blanc/Sémillon Blends
Is Graves a red or white AOC?
Both! Red and White wines can be labeled Graves AOC
Name the 3 sweet white wine AOCs within Graves.
Cérons
Barsac
Sauternes
Where is Pessac-Leognan located and what type of wines are produced there?
Pessac-Leognan is a Communal AOC in Graves and produces both red and white wine.
Which region received AOC status in 1987, is in the northern-most portion of Graves, and has deep gravel soil?
Pessac-Leognan
What is Sauternais?
Sauternais is the sub-region of Graves containing Sauternes, Barsac, and Cérons.
They all make sweet white wine using botrytis (noble rot)
Name the 5 communes of Sauternes.
Sauternes Fargues Bommes Preignac Barsac (has its own AOC)
What river frames Sauternes to the north and west?
the Ciron River
What is the dominant grape of Sauternes?
Sauternes is 2/3 planted to Sémillon.
Barsac lies at the confluence of what two rivers?
Barsac lies at the confluence of the Ciron and Garonne Rivers
Where can Cadillac be found and what does it produce?
Cadillac is in the Entre-Deux-Mers and produces sweet, white wines
Where can Loupiac be found and what does it produce?
Loupiac is in the Entre-Deux-Mers and produces sweet, white wine.
Where can Sainte-Croix-du-Mont be found and what does it produce?
Sainte-Croix-du-Mont is in the Entre-Duex-Mers and produces sweet, white wine.
Cadillac-Côtes de Bordeaux, Sainte-Foy-Bordeaux, and Graves de Vayres all have what in common?
All three are Entre-Deux-Mers AOCs who can produce red wine.
What is The Libournais?
The area surrounding the city of Libourne on the right bank of Bordeaux.
What unique soils are in Pomerol and LaLande-de-Pomerol?
Iron-rich clay soils
What is the geographic difference between St. Emilion and St. Emilion Grand Cru AOCs?
There is none. St. Emilion Grand Cru merely has stricter production standards including lower yield, higher alcohol, chateaux bottling, and taste tests.
Where is the wine producing area of Libournais?
On the Right Bank around the city of Liborne
What style of wine is produced in the Cadillac, Loupiac, and Ste-Croix-Du-Mont AOCs?
Sweet whites affected by noble rot.
What Medoc AOC is considered the most “feminine and perfumed”?
Margaux AOC
What Right Bank sub-region has a classification system?
St. Emilion
Does Graves AOC classify wines or estates?
Graves AOC ranks wines, not estates.
Arrange the following from North to South: Saint-Julien Listrac-Médoc Pauillac Saint-Estèphe Margaux
Saint-Estèphe Pauillac Saint-Julien Listrac-Médon Margaux
I Côtes de Bourg AOC, Left Bank, Right Bank or Entre-Deux-Mers?
Côtes de Bourg AOC is Right Bank
Entre-Duex-Mers AOC is allowed to produce red wines, True or False?
False, Entre-Duex-Mers AOC only produces dry, white wines.
Cabernet Sauvignon is a cross of what two grapes?
Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Franc
Where is Pessac-Leognan AOC located?
Pessac-Leognan is the Northernmost AOC of Graves on the Left Bank
What practice was found to rob Sauvignon Blanc of its aromatics?
Copper-Sulfite sprays
Which Bordeaux grape is characterized by Indian Spice Aromas?
Carmenère
Côtes de Blaye AOC makes white wines using what grape?
Colombard
True or False, The Médoc region only produces red wines?
TRUE
Which of the following is not an approved sub-regional designation for the Côtes de Bordeaux AOC: Francs Castillon Blaye Bourg
Bourg
Which of the following appellations is located in Entre-Deux-Mers: Graves-de-Vayres Sainte-Croix-du-Mont Cadillac Loupiac Cérons Graves
Graves-de-Vayres
Sainte-Croix-du-Mont
Cadillac
Loupiac
What are Crus Artisan?
Recognizes boutique wineries of quality who are entirely responsible for their own production process; from vineyard, to barrel, to bottle.
There are 50.
