Bordeaux Flashcards
Explain the 1855 Classification of Bordeaux.
60 Chateaux in Medoc and one in Pessac Leognan (Graves) were ranked from Premier Crus/1st Growths down to Cinquiemes Crus/5th Growths.
Name the 1st growths of Bordeaux.
- Château Margaux
- Château Lafite-Rothschild
- Château Latour
- Château Haut-Brion
- Château Mouton-Rothschild **
**all but #5 est. in 1855 classification.
1973 - Mouton-Rothschild moved from 2nd to 1st growth.
What are the 2nd Growths of Bordeaux located in Margaux?
- Château Rauzan-Ségla
- Château Rauzan-Gassies
- Château Durfort-Vivens
- Château Lascombes
- Château Brane Cantenac
What are the 2nd Growths of Bordeaux located in St.-Julien?
- Château Gruard-Larose
- Château Ducru-Beaucaillou
The “Leos” - Château Léoville-Las Cases
- Château Léoville-Poyferré
- Château Léoville-Barton
What are the 2nd Growths of Bordeaux located in St.-Estephe?
- Château Cos d’Estournel
2. Château Montrose
What are the 2nd Growths of Bordeaux located in Pauillac?
- Château Pichon Longueville Baron
2. Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande
Describe the location and geography of the Medoc.
Starts at city of Bordeaux and stretches N 50 mi along left bank of Gironde.
Two appellations:
- Medóc - northern 1/3 of low-lying land by Atlantic
- Haut-Medóc - closest to the city of Bordeaux, at river’s gravelly edge. Farthest from Atlantic.
Name the 4 famous communes in Haut-Medóc.
- Margaux
- St.-Julien
- Pauillac
- St.-Estephe
Directly on the bank of Gironde. Cab Sauv dominates blends, does well in the stony soil.
Less important:
Listrac and Moulis. Heavier, less well-drained = less refined
Describe the geography and climate of Bordeaux.
Along the path of the Gironde Estuary and Dordogne and Garonne Rivers. Atlantic Ocean is a 1 hr drive. (Waterways contributed to early commercial success of the region).
Les Landes -2.5 mil HA of man made pine forest which protects from weather damage.
Vineyards somewhat flat with rolling hills.
Describe soil in Bordeaux.
Drainage = key. The region is very wet and Bordeaux varietals are water-sensitive.
Best vineyards are on well-draining soil of gravel, stone, and limestone.
However most soil in Bordeaux is clay.
How does clay soil affect grape growth?
Clay doesn’t drain as well so it stays cooler. This delays bud break and ripening.
Vines need lots of warm weather to compensate.
Which grape is planted in high clay areas of Bordeaux? Why?
Merlot is early ripening and less tannic. Grapes with higher tannin wouldn’t ripen fully in cooler clay soil.
Name the 6 permitted red varietals in Bordeaux.
1 or more of ... Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Franc Malbec Carmenere Petit Verdot
Merlot is 60% followed by Cav Sauv. Others mostly used as blending grapes.
Name the 7 permitted white varietals in Bordeaux.
Blends of 1 or more
Semillon
Sauvignon Blanc
Muscadelle
Ugni Blanc
Colombard
Merlot blanc
Sauvignon gris
Describe semillon.
Most widely planted Bordeaux white grape, originated there.
With age takes on a honey flavor and creamy, lanolin-like texture.
Name the 10 most important appellations of Bordeaux.
Indicate white or red.
Barsac - white, dry and sweet Graves - white and red Margaux - red Pauillac - red Pessac-Leognan - white and red Pomerol - red St.-Emilion - red St.-Estephe - red St.-Julien - red Sauternes - white, dry and sweet
What are other appellations of note in Bordeaux?
Red: Canon-Fronsac Côtes de Bordeaux Côtes de Bourg Côtes de Castillon Côtes de Francs Premieres Côtes de Blaye Fronsac Listrac Moulis
White: Entre-Deux-Mers
Name some renowned Châteaux in Margaux.
1st Growth Château Margaux
3rd Growth Château Palmer
Name some renowned Châteaux in St.-Julien.
The 3 Leo’s
Château Léoville-Barton
Château Léoville-Las Cases
Château Léoville-Poyferré
St. Julien has highest % of classified Growths - 95% are 2, 3, or 4 but no 1
Name some renowned Châteaux in Pauillac.
3 of the 5 1st Growths
Château Lafite-Rothschild
Château Mouton-Rothschild
Château Latour
Complex wines with notes of rich black currant, cranberry, cedar & graphite
Name some renowned Châteaux in St. Estephe.
Cos d’Estournel
Close to Pauillac border; notably elegant
Château Montrose
Château Calon-Ségur
A bit more rugged and hearty in style due to heavier soil closer to mouth of Gironde
What is unique about wine making in Graves?
It is the only part of Bordeaux where most Châteaux make both red and white wine.
Where are many of the best red and white wines in Graves produced?
Pessac-Leognan. 10 tiny communes grouped together in 1987.
What is the historical significance of the region of Graves?
It is the 1st Bordeaux to be known internationally. It was shipped to England as early as the 12th century. Famed Château Haut-Brion was fave of T. Jefferson.
Name some renowned Châteaux in Graves.
Red and White
1st Growth Château Haut-Brion
La Mission- Haut Brion
Domaine de Chevalier
Red
Pâpe-Clemént
Haut-Bailly
White
Ch. Carbonnieux
Name Bordeaux’s 5 sweet wine producing communes.
Sauternes Barsac Bommes Fargues Preignac
Name some renowned Châteaux in Sauternais.
Sauternes Château d’Yquem (1er Cru Supérieur Classé) Château Suduiraut Château Rieussec Ch. Lafaurie-Peyraguey Ch. Guiraud Ch. de Fargues
Barsac
Château Climens
How is sweet wine in Bordeaux made?
Vines -mostly semillon, some Sauv blanc- are infected with Botrytis. Region needs correct balance of humidity & warmth for fungus to take hold.
Botrytis punctures grape skins and uses moisture to germinate spores. The grapes lose water and concentrate sugar.
Explain the geography and name the soil types in the following appellations:
Medoc
Graves
St.-Emilion
Pomerol
Medoc and Graves
Left bank. Gravel. Medoc is closer to the mouth of Gironde and Grave is south of it.
St.-Emilion
Right bank. Gravel, limestone and sand
Pomerol
Right bank. Iron pan under sand and clay
Vinification: example of the typical style of wine blends in Left bank/Medoc
70% cab sauv
30% Merlot
Plus cab franc and petit Verdot
Usually aged in new French oak
Vinification: example of the typical style of wine blends in Right bank/St.-Emilion and Pomerol
70% Merlot
30% cab franc
Spends time in French oak typically
Vinification: example of the typical style of white wine blends in Graves (Pessac-Leognan) and Entre-deux-mers.
Dry white wines only. Inexpensive wines usually Entre-deux-mers; no new oak. Prestigious wines use new French barriques.
80% Sauvignon blanc
20% semillon
Vinification: example of the typical style of sweet white wine blends in Bordeaux.
Graves - Sauternes, Barsac, surrounding communes 80% semillon 20% Sauv blanc Muscadelle small % Many are new oak aged
Describe vineyards and chateaux in the right bank.
Tend to be smaller and more modest. Many small family operations.
What is the Jurade?
A coterie of men granted monastic rule in St.-Emilion through a charter in 1199 by King John of England. Part of mandate was ensuring quality & prominence of wine in the region.
Banned after French Rev in 1789 but revived in 1948 as a wine brotherhood
Describe the geography of St.-Emilion.
Hillsides (côtes) - limestone outcroppings, plateaus, gravelly terraces. Soil is clay, sand, quartz, chalk intermixed
A patchwork of varying terroir = a range in style and quality
Name the 4 Premier Grand Cru Classés in St. Emilion named in 2012.
Château Ausone
Château Angelus
Château Pavie
Château Cheval Blanc - arguably the v. best
Describe Cheval Blanc.
Highest % of cab franc in well known Bordeaux estates: 40-50% in recent vintages
Super elegant, deep, luxuriant
When young decadent blackberry laced with vanilla/creme anglaise
On a mostly gravelly terrace several mi north of St. Emilion almost in Pomerol
Name some other notable St. Emilion producers (besides the 1er Cru Grand Classés)
Château Canon
Château Magdelaine
Château Figeac
Describe winemaking in Pomerol.
Exclusively red - Merlot and cab franc
Merlot is 80% of all plantings - does well in gravel and clay beds
Cab Sauv is rarely part of blends
The best have a velvety texture, plum/cocoa/violet richness. Softness makes easy to drink young
Explain Pomerol’s rise to prominence, given that they were relatively irrelevant in the 19th century and were not classified in 1855.
Emerged from obscurity in 1940s and 50s. Jean-Pierre Moueix began buying exclusive sales and marketing rights to the best Chateau
In 1964 he bought a 50% share in Pétrus. Under his care it became a cult obsession by the 1960s.
Name other producers of note in Pomerol.
Château Le Pin Château La Conseillante Château La Fleur Château Trotanoy Château L’Evangile Château Certan de May
Explain the appellations in Bordeaux.
Commune AOPs: smallest in region with highest quality ex. Pauillac, Margaux, etc.
Sub-regional AOPs: May be highest attainable in region or encompass several communes ex. Haut-Medoc AOP, Entre-deux-mers AOP
Bordeaux AOP: largest in size and production. Grapes can come from anywhere in entire region. Lowest quality
