Bordeaux Flashcards
What latitude does Bordeaux lie at?
45• latitude
What is the climate moderated by in Bordeaux?
The Maritime influence.
Frost is not generally a problem, although can occasionally cause severe damage (April 1991).
humidity is high not only because of proximity to the sea but also the major rivers that flow through the region. This encourages both noble rot and grey rot, a particular problem for red wine
Landes dunes and forests offer protection from prevailing western Atlantic winds
What impact do the pine forests and mountainous coastal sand dunes have on winemaking in Bordeaux?
They offer protection against the strong Atlantic winds
Why are Vintages particularly important in Bordeaux?
Because it is a moderate climate.
Being in a temperature Zone the vintages of Bordeaux wine can vary considerably from year to year.
What kind of soil is there borders of the rivers in Bordeaux?
Rich, alluvial soil, only the lowest appellation wines are produced from here
What is the soil in the finest vineyards found on in Bordeaux?
Well draining gravel. Where quartz and flint pebbles lie over a subsoil of sand.
Such as is found in the commune villages of Haut-Médoc
Bordeaux: single varietals or blends?
Almost all red Bordeaux wines and most Bordeaux whites are produced from a blend of grape varieties.
Why is Bordeaux denominated by blends rather than single varietal wines?
Because of the big variations in weather conditions from year to year. Different grape varieties respond differently to the weather.
Allows producers to hedge their bets and enable production even if the conditions of a vintage were unfavourable.
Resist rot better, ripen later, flier earlier.
Are these characteristics of a thick skinned grape or thin skinned grape?
Thick skinned
How many grape varieties are permitted under AC regulations in Bordeaux?
- 14 grape varieties are permitted
- In practice no more than five black grapes and three white grapes are used
- Reds: Cab Sav, Cab Franc, Merlot Malbec, Petit Verdot
- Whites: Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle
What is the classic grape of the Médoc?
Cabernet Sauvignon - it accounts for ~ 3/4 of the blend in the Médoc
What does Cabernet Sauvignon add to a Bordeaux blend?
Cabernet Sauvignon produces quality, tannic wine with a black currant aroma when fully ripe
It is difficult to ripen and can produce some very tough vegetal wines which are usable only if softened with Merlot
It gives moderate yields of concentrated fruit with sufficient structure that it can last and develop with age.
Why is Cabernet Franc added to a Bordeaux blend? And what are the watch outs?
- It gives bigger yields than Cabernet Sauvignon
- The wine natures more rapidly (useful for early drinking wines)
- The wine has less body and finesse
- The flavours can be herbaceous or stalky
Why is Merlot added to a Bordeaux blend?
- Merlot produces medium yield of full bodied moderately tannic wines which mature earlier than Cabernet Sauvignon.
- It adds softness, richness and body to the austere Cabernet Sauvignon
- Particularly important in Saint Emilion and Pomerol on the right bank of Bordeaux
- On its own can lack character unless yields are very low.
- Cabernet Sauvignon added to provide aromatic fruit, colour and tannin
What is Malbec’s role in Bordeaux?
- Mainly used for early drinking red wines
- such as those from Bourg and Blaye
- Suffers particularly from Coulure (poor fruit set)
- It’s importance is small and declining
What is Petit Verdot’s role in Bordeaux?
- A minor role
- Ripens fully only in very hot years, giving a very deep coloured, tannic wine which ages slowly
- Never plays more than a minor role in a blend
- Where used it mainly is to add tannin, colour and some exotic spicy notes to great wines
What is Sémillon‘s role in Bordeaux?
- It is the most widely planted white grape variety in Bordeaux
- Given its thin skin and its attraction for noble rot, it is used widely in sweet wines
- It gives wines with a golden colour and plenty of body
What is Sauvignon Blanc’s role in Bordeaux?
- It is the one exception to the generalisation that all Bordeaux wines are blends as increasingly it is used for single varietal, dry white wines
- When blended, it’s high acidity acts as a counterbalance to the potential flabbiness of Sémillon
- It produces wines with distinctly vegetal, grass and elderflower aromas
What is Muscadelle’s role in Bordeaux?
- Had a distinctive grapey Muscat flavour and is therefore used as a minor constituent in sweet wines
How are vines training in Bordeaux?
- Densely planted wines are training along low wires to benefit from reflected heat from the ground
Why are vineyards in Bordeaux often trained low to the ground?
To benefit from reflected heat from the ground.
Is machine harvesting permitted in Bordeaux?
- Yes and it is widely practice in all but a few of the top growths of the Médoc
- It gives lower costs and greater flexibility at vintage especially if bad weather threatens
- Hand picking is necessary for finest sweet wines as pickers need to select individual bunches as they pass through the vineyard on a number of occasions
If you are making a Bordeaux wine for early maturation, sale and consumption what would be the more dominant grape?
Merlot, as it adds softness and richness and matures earlier than Cabernet Sauvignon.
If you are making a long-lasting, later maturing wine in Bordeaux, what would generally be the dominant grape and why?
Cabernet Sauvignon
It’s moderate yield give concentrated, quality, tannic wines that can develop with age
What is Vendange Verte and why is it often practiced at top estates in Bordeaux?
- Vendange Verte is a green harvest
- It is a word for crop thinning, when some bunches are removed from the vine at generally at veraison
- This serves to reduce the overall yield, concentrate sugars and help remaining fruit ripen earlier
What is top quality red Bordeaux traditionally aged in?
Small oak barriques of 225L
What is the hierarchy of appellations in Bordeaux?
- Generic appellations
(AC wines produced anywhere in the Gironde, e.g. Bordeaux AC and Bordeaux Superior AC)
> - District appellations
The highest appellation attainable in a particular locality for example Entre-Deux Mers AC or embrace a number of superior communes as in Haut-Médoc AC
> - Commune appellations
Are the highest appellations in Bordeaux e.g Pauillac AC, Margaux AC, Saint Julien AC
except in the particular case of Saint Emilion Grand Cru AC
Which bank in Bordeaux is Médoc AC?
Left Bank
Which bank in Bordeaux is Haut-Médoc AC?
Left bank
Which bank in Bordeaux is Saint-Estèphe AC?
The Left Bank
Which bank in Bordeaux is Paulliac AC?
The Left Bank
Which bank in Bordeaux is Saint-Julien AC?
The Left Bank
Which bank in Bordeaux is Margaux AC?
The Left Bank
With one exception all wines in the 1855 Classification came from which Bordeaux district?
Haut-Médoc AC
What is Saint-Croix-du-Mont AC?
- An Commune between the Garonne and the Dordogne
- A sweet wine made in a Sauternes style
- The experience similar Misty autumns but lower levels of botrytis and so the wines tend to have less concentration and complexity
- Prices are much lower than Sauternes and doesn’t always cover the cost of ensuring each grape is picked at the optimal stage of botrytis influence
What is Premíeres Cotes du Bordeaux?
- A key district AC in Bordeaux
2. A dry red wine made in a similar style to Bordeaux AC, although medium sweet wines are made
What are the three roles of a Négociant in Bordeaux?
- Buys, blends and sells generic wines in bulk or bottle
- Buys individual château wine to sell either in bulk or bottle
- Buys individual château wines to trade and sell at different maturity levels
What is the role of a broker or ‘Courtier’ in Bordeaux?
Submits samples to négociant, obtains the best price and arranges the deal
What is a ‘Courtier’
A term used in Bordeaux for a Broker who submits samples to a négociant, obtains the best price and arranges the deal
What are the six different ways of buying fine Bordeaux?
- Sur Sourche (before harvest - a gamble)
- En Primeur First or second offer, first year after vintage from late March
- By hectolitre (e.g. road tanker)
- By Tonneau (900 L = 100 cases
- By barrel (baroque) 225 litres = 25 cases
- By case
Why does a Château sell En Primeur?
To free up case tied up in stock
When is En Primeur in Bordeaux?
March after harvest
When do En Primeur Sales do best?
In times of financial boom as investors have excess money
How are En Primeur sales released?
- Small quantities of shock released the March after harvest by top Châteaux
- Released in tranches
- Price increases with each tranche