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Certified Sommelier Exam > Bordeaux > Flashcards

Bordeaux Flashcards

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1
Q

Explain the 1855 Classification of Bordeaux.

A

60 Chateaux in Medoc and one in Pessac Leognan (Graves) were ranked from Premier Crus/1st Growths down to Cinquiemes Crus/5th Growths.

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2
Q

Name the 1st growths of Bordeaux.

A
  1. Château Margaux
  2. Château Lafite-Rothschild
  3. Château Latour
  4. Château Haut-Brion
  5. Château Mouton-Rothschild **

**all but #5 est. in 1855 classification.
1973 - Mouton-Rothschild moved from 2nd to 1st growth.

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3
Q

What are the 2nd Growths of Bordeaux located in Margaux?

A
  1. Château Rauzan-Ségla
  2. Château Rauzan-Gassies
  3. Château Durfort-Vivens
  4. Château Lascombes
  5. Château Brane Cantenac
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4
Q

What are the 2nd Growths of Bordeaux located in St.-Julien?

A
  1. Château Gruard-Larose
  2. Château Ducru-Beaucaillou
    The “Leos”
  3. Château Léoville-Las Cases
  4. Château Léoville-Poyferré
  5. Château Léoville-Barton
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5
Q

What are the 2nd Growths of Bordeaux located in St.-Estephe?

A
  1. Château Cos d’Estournel

2. Château Montrose

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6
Q

What are the 2nd Growths of Bordeaux located in Pauillac?

A
  1. Château Pichon Longueville Baron

2. Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande

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7
Q

Describe the location and geography of the Medoc.

A

Starts at city of Bordeaux and stretches N 50 mi along left bank of Gironde.

Two appellations:

  1. Medóc - northern 1/3 of low-lying land by Atlantic
  2. Haut-Medóc - closest to the city of Bordeaux, at river’s gravelly edge. Farthest from Atlantic.
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8
Q

Name the 4 famous communes in Haut-Medóc.

A
  1. Margaux
  2. St.-Julien
  3. Pauillac
  4. 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

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9
Q

Describe the geography and climate of Bordeaux.

A

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.

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10
Q

Describe soil in Bordeaux.

A

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.

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11
Q

How does clay soil affect grape growth?

A

Clay doesn’t drain as well so it stays cooler. This delays bud break and ripening.

Vines need lots of warm weather to compensate.

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12
Q

Which grape is planted in high clay areas of Bordeaux? Why?

A

Merlot is early ripening and less tannic. Grapes with higher tannin wouldn’t ripen fully in cooler clay soil.

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13
Q

Name the 6 permitted red varietals in Bordeaux.

A 
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.

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14
Q

Name the 7 permitted white varietals in Bordeaux.

A

Blends of 1 or more

Semillon
Sauvignon Blanc
Muscadelle

Ugni Blanc
Colombard
Merlot blanc
Sauvignon gris

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15
Q

Describe semillon.

A

Most widely planted Bordeaux white grape, originated there.

With age takes on a honey flavor and creamy, lanolin-like texture.

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16
Q

Name the 10 most important appellations of Bordeaux.

Indicate white or red.

A 
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
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17
Q

What are other appellations of note in Bordeaux?

A 
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

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18
Q

Name some renowned Châteaux in Margaux.

A

1st Growth Château Margaux

3rd Growth Château Palmer

19
Q

Name some renowned Châteaux in St.-Julien.

A

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

20
Q

Name some renowned Châteaux in Pauillac.

A

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

21
Q

Name some renowned Châteaux in St. Estephe.

A

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

22
Q

What is unique about wine making in Graves?

A

It is the only part of Bordeaux where most Châteaux make both red and white wine.

23
Q

Where are many of the best red and white wines in Graves produced?

A

Pessac-Leognan. 10 tiny communes grouped together in 1987.

24
Q

What is the historical significance of the region of Graves?

A

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.

25
Q

Name some renowned Châteaux in Graves.

A

Red and White
1st Growth Château Haut-Brion
La Mission- Haut Brion
Domaine de Chevalier

Red
Pâpe-Clemént
Haut-Bailly

White
Ch. Carbonnieux

26
Q

Name Bordeaux’s 5 sweet wine producing communes.

A 
Sauternes 
Barsac 
Bommes 
Fargues 
Preignac
27
Q

Name some renowned Châteaux in Sauternais.

A 
Sauternes
Château d’Yquem (1er Cru Supérieur Classé)
Château Suduiraut
Château Rieussec
Ch. Lafaurie-Peyraguey
Ch. Guiraud 
Ch. de Fargues

Barsac
Château Climens

28
Q

How is sweet wine in Bordeaux made?

A

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.

29
Q

Explain the geography and name the soil types in the following appellations:

Medoc
Graves
St.-Emilion
Pomerol

A

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

30
Q

Vinification: example of the typical style of wine blends in Left bank/Medoc

A

70% cab sauv
30% Merlot
Plus cab franc and petit Verdot
Usually aged in new French oak

31
Q

Vinification: example of the typical style of wine blends in Right bank/St.-Emilion and Pomerol

A

70% Merlot
30% cab franc
Spends time in French oak typically

32
Q

Vinification: example of the typical style of white wine blends in Graves (Pessac-Leognan) and Entre-deux-mers.

A

Dry white wines only. Inexpensive wines usually Entre-deux-mers; no new oak. Prestigious wines use new French barriques.
80% Sauvignon blanc
20% semillon

33
Q

Vinification: example of the typical style of sweet white wine blends in Bordeaux.

A 
Graves - Sauternes, Barsac, surrounding communes
80% semillon
20% Sauv blanc 
Muscadelle small %
Many are new oak aged
34
Q

Describe vineyards and chateaux in the right bank.

A

Tend to be smaller and more modest. Many small family operations.

35
Q

What is the Jurade?

A

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

36
Q

Describe the geography of St.-Emilion.

A

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

37
Q

Name the 4 Premier Grand Cru Classés in St. Emilion named in 2012.

A

Château Ausone
Château Angelus
Château Pavie
Château Cheval Blanc - arguably the v. best

38
Q

Describe Cheval Blanc.

A

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

39
Q

Name some other notable St. Emilion producers (besides the 1er Cru Grand Classés)

A

Château Canon
Château Magdelaine
Château Figeac

40
Q

Describe winemaking in Pomerol.

A

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

41
Q

Explain Pomerol’s rise to prominence, given that they were relatively irrelevant in the 19th century and were not classified in 1855.

A

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.

42
Q

Name other producers of note in Pomerol.

A 
Château Le Pin
Château La Conseillante 
Château La Fleur
Château Trotanoy
Château L’Evangile 
Château Certan de May
43
Q

Explain the appellations in Bordeaux.

A

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

Certified Sommelier Exam (10 decks)

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