Bordeaux

Question 1

The classification of Graves

Answer 1

The Classification of Graves (1959): a commission of Bordeaux courtiers sanctioned by the INAO drafted a first list of châteaux in 1953, based on pricing, reputation, and tasting. The initial draft was revised, chateaux were added, and it was finalized in 1959. A single category, cru classe, was awarded to qualifying chateau for red, white or both. Originally 15 chateaux: 7 red, 2 white, 6 both. The Couhins (white) estate split in two in 1968, La Tour Haut-Brion (red) and Laville Haut-Brion (white) were absorbed by La Mission Haut-Brion after vintages 2005 & 2008. Today 14 chateau: 6 red, 2 white, 6 both

Question 2

The Classification of St Emilion

Answer 2

The Classification of St. Emilion (2012): introduced in 1954 w/ 3 new AOCs: St-E GC, St-E GC classe, & St-E 1er GC classe. The 2 classe AOC’s didn’t comply w/ EU AOP definitions and were eliminated, becoming merely classifications in 1984. Intended to be revised every decade, estates required to submit wines to the Saint-Émilion Wine Council (the winegrowers’ syndicat) for tasting, revisions could result in promotion or demotion. The 1st list of estates in each category was completed in 1955, legally enacted in 1958, w/ revisions in ‘69, ‘86, ‘96, ‘06, & ‘12. Demoted chateaux in the ‘06 revision sued and a compromise in ‘09 resulted in retaining promoted chateaux but invalidating demoted chateaux. To avoid further legal issues, the ‘12 revision shifted responsiblity from the syndicat to the INAO following the set principles: analyses of soil, topography, viticultural and winemaking techniques; an examination of the estate’s reputation; and a tasting spanning a decade of vintages. An appeal process was est. for demotions. Currently 4 - 1er GC classe A, 14 - 1er GC classe B, 64 - GC classe. Estates cannot add to holdings at will like Medoc and estates are not necessarily classified in total. Critics claim it’s still about brand and reputation rather than vineyard & wine as wines must sell thru the Place de Bordeaux in order to gain the visibility to be classfified, & and legal woes are still brewing

Question 3

Cru Bourgeois

Answer 3

originally introduced in 1932, divided 444 properties into three categories: Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel, Cru Bourgeois Supérieur, and Cru Bourgeois. The classification was not official until 2003, when only 247 châteaux retained their status. The resulting legal action nullified the entire classification. Cru Bourgeois was reinstated for the 2008 vintage, but the higher designations of Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel and Cru Bourgeois Supérieur were eliminated. In 2018, new legislation passed to reinstate the previously eliminated terms. Starting in 2018, châteaux may once again apply for Cru Bourgeois, Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel, and Cru Bourgeois Supérieur. The terms will appear on labels in 2020. The classification will be reviewed every five years, with a new list appearing in 2020 and then 2025.

Question 4

The 1855 Classification

Answer 4

The 1855 Classification: drawn up per Napoleon III’s request by the city’s courtiers in advance of the Universal Exposition in Paris. The ranking was based on price and thus only the most expensive wines, then from Medoc and Sauternes, were classified. Originaly 57 red and 21 white but division, multiplication, and disapperance of a few estates has altered the numbers today to 61 red and 27 white.

Question 5

Red only Graves cru classe

Answer 5

Haut Brion, La Mission Haut Brion, Pape-Clement, Haut Bailly, de Fieuzel, Smith-Haut-Lafite

Question 6

White only Graves cru Classe

Answer 6

Couhins, Couhins-Lurton

Question 7

Red and White Graves cru classe

Answer 7

Malartic-Lagraviere, Latour-Martillac, Olivier, Carbonnieux, Domaine de Chevalier, Bouscaut

Question 8

Sauternes 1er cru

Answer 8

11. Bommes: La Tour Blanche, Lafaurie-Peyraguey, Clos Haut-Peyraguey, de Rayne-Vigneau. Barsac: Climens, Coutet. Preignac: Suduiraut. Fargues: Rieussec. Sauternes: Guiraud

Question 9

communes of Sauternes

Answer 9

Sauternes, Barsac, Bommes, Preignac, Fargues

Question 10

communes of Pessac-Leognan

Answer 10

Pessac, Leognan, Cadaujac, Canejan, Gardignan, Martillac, Merignac, Saint-Medard-d’Eyrans, Talence, Villenave d’Ornons

Question 11

Communes of Margaux

Answer 11

Cantenac, Labarde, Arsac, Margaux, Soussans

Question 12

Bordeaux AOP

Answer 12

Rouge, Rose & Clairet: CS, CF, Merlot, PV, Cot, Carm; Blanc (sec or w/ RS): min 70% Semillon, SB, SG, Muscadelle, max 30% Ugni Blanc, Merlot Blanc, Colombard

Question 13

Haut Benauge

Answer 13

A style permitted under the Bordeaux AOP. Blanc only (sec or w/ RS): Semillon, SB, SG, Muscadelle; higher min must wts, lower max yields than basic AOP. A subzone designtion also used by the Entre-Deux-Mers AOP for Blanc Sec only; Directly E of Cadillac in Entre-Deux-Mers covering 9 communes: Arbis, Cantois, Escoussans, Gornac, Ladaux, Mourens, Saint-Pierre-de-Bat, Soulignac, Targon

Question 14

Bordeaux Superieur

Answer 14

Bordeaux AOP. Rouge: same encepagement as Bordeaux AOP, elevage till mid-June instead of mid-Jan, higher min vine density, lower max yield, higher min potential abv
Blanc: same encepagement as Bordeaux AOP, medium sweet only, higher min vine density, lower max yield, higher min potential abv

Question 15

Cremant de Bordeaux

Answer 15

Traditional method, min 9 mnths on lees. Blanc: all Rouge & Blanc grapes, max 30% Ugni Bl, Merlot Bl, Colombard; Rose: all Rouge grapes;

Question 16

Premieres Cotes de Bordeaux

Answer 16

EDM AOP. Sweet Blanc only: Sem, SB, SG, Muscdl; min 34 g/l RS; Sem is the dominant grape. Typically moelleux rather than truly dessert style. Machine harvesting allowed. Red wines released under the Cotes de Bordeaux AOP as of 2009.
Thin ribbon of hillsides on the right bank of the Garonne. Shares the same region as Cadillac Cotes de Bordeaux; Encompasses the 3 superior sweet wine appellations of Cadillac, Loupiac & Sainte-Croix-du-Mont

Question 17

Cadillac

Answer 17

EDM AOP. Sweet Blanc only: Semillon, SB, SG, Muscadelle; Botrytised &/or passerillage, hand harvesting in tries; min 51 g/l RS, lower max yields than PCdB; Higher quality than PCdB but less concentration than Sauternes/Barsac as such rigorous selection is cost prohibitive here.
Along the right bank of the Garonne, occupies the S half of the larger Cadillac/Premieres Cotes de Bordeaux area, on raised plateaus escalating sharply from the eastern bank of the Garonne

Question 18

Appellations for sweet wines in Graves

Answer 18

Graves Superieur, Sauternes, Barsac, Cerons

Question 19

Appellations for sweet wine in the Entre deux Mers

Answer 19

Premieres Cotes de Bordeaux, Cadillac, Loupiac, Ste Croix du Mont, Cotes de Bordeaux St Macaire

Question 20

Loupiac

Answer 20

EDM AOP. Sweet Blanc only: Semillon, SB, SG, Muscadelle; may be botrytised or passerillage, hand harvesting in tries; min 45 g/l RS, lower max yields than PCdB; Higher quality than PCdB but less concentration than Sauternes/Barsac as such rigorous selection is cost prohibitive here.
Small, w/in Cadillac, along the Garonne across from Barsac, N of Ste-Croix-du-Mont. on raised plateaus escalating sharply from the eastern bank of the Garonne

Question 21

Saint-Croix du Mont

Answer 21

EDM AOP. Sweet Blanc only: Semillon, SB, SG, Muscadelle; may be botrytised or passerillage, hand harvesting in tries; min 45 g/l RS, lower max yields than PCdB; Higher quality than PCdB but less concentration than Sauternes/Barsac as such rigorous selection is cost prohibitive here.
Small, w/in Cadillac, along the Garonne across from Sauternes, S of Loupiac, on raised plateaus escalating sharply from the eastern bank of the Garonne

Question 22

Cotes de Bordeaux Saint Macaire

Answer 22

EDM AOP. Blanc (sec, moelleux, liquoreux): Muscadlle, SB, SG, Semillon. Occasionally made w/ a touchof Botrytis
E of the S end of Cadillac, rising from the RB of the Garonne before the river turns from W to NW, across the river from Langon

Question 23

Cotes de Bordeaux Saint Foy

Answer 23

Cotes de Bordeaux subzone. Rouge & Blanc (sec, moelleux & liquoreux)
E of NE Entre-Deux-Mers, W of Bergerac along the Left bank of the Dordogne

Question 24

Graves de Vayres

Answer 24

EDM AOP. Rouge: all Rouge grapes: Blanc & Blanc Sec: Muscadelle, SB, SG, Semillon, + Merlot Bl; Blanc Sec: max 4 g/l RS; Blanc: min 4 g/l RS; Most producers release under the more recognizable regional AOPs
On the left bank of the Dordogne, across from Fronsac, just W of Libourne

Question 25

Cotes de Bordeaux

Answer 25

Umbrella AOP. Rouge only: CS, CF, Merlot, + Cot, + PV, Carmenere

Question 26

Cotes de Bordeaux Blaye

Answer 26

Cotes de Bordeaux subzone.
Rouge & Blanc Sec: Semillon, SB, SG, Muscadelle + Ugni Bl, Merlot Bl, Colombard; < 5% of the regions acreage dedicated to white wine
On the right bank of the Gironde, N of Cotes de Bourg; more expansive region than Bourg of mixed agriculture; rolling hills, clay & limestone

Question 27

Cotes de Bordeaux Francs

Answer 27

Cotes de Bordeaux subzone.
Rouge, Blanc, Blanc Liquoreux
N of Castillon, E of the St-Emilion satellites

Question 28

Cotes de Bordeaux Castillon

Answer 28

Cotes de Bordeaux subzone
Rouge only; Has been reinvigorated with new investment as Saint-Émilion winemakers flood the more affordable area with new projects.
S of Francs, E of St Emilion, site of the battle that brought the Hundred Years War to an end and an extension of the limestone côtes of Saint-Émilion

Question 29

Cotes de Bordeaux Cadillac

Answer 29

Cotes de Bordeaux subzone
Rouge only
In the Entre-Deux-Mers, along the right bank of the Garonne

Question 30

Cotes de Bordeaux subzones and AOPS

Answer 30

AOPS: Premieres Cotes de Bordeaux, Cotes de Bordeaux Saint Marcaire. Subzones: Blaye, Francs, Castillon, Cadillac, Saint Foy

Question 31

Bourg/Cotes de Bourg/Bourgeais

Answer 31

RB AOP. Mostly Rouge: CS, CF, Merl, Cot; Blanc: Sem, SB, SG, Muscdl, Colombard, rare @ 25 ha acreage. Merl is the domiant grape @ 2/3 acreage; CS @ 20%; More structure and tannin than Blaye b/c higher % CS; Malbec @ 10%, highest % in Bordeaux
Along the right bank of the Dordogne & the Gironde where the rivers merge; S of Blaye; Covers 15 communes; proximity to the river mitigates frost & hail risk but creates one of the windiest conditions in Bordeaux; more varied topo than Medoc or Blaye w/ dramatic hills, limestone cliffs, and sharp ridgelines, w/ some warm pockets of gravel

Question 32

Bourg Producers

Answer 32

Chateau Roc de Cambes

Question 33

Blaye

Answer 33

RB AOP. Red only: CS, CF, Merlot + Cot, PV, Carmenere; Merlot dominant, CS 2nd; Theoretically a stricter appellation requiring lower yields, a greater density of planting, and one of the lengthiest min élevage
Same geographical boundary as the Blaye geo des of Cotes de Bordeaux. Larger, N of Bourg, on the right bank of the Gironde; more expansive region than Bourg of mixed agriculture; rolling hills, clay & limestone
Many estates in this area are allying w/ the Cotes de Bordeaux concept rather than the local AOP

Question 34

Cotes de Blaye

Answer 34

Blanc Sec only: min 50% Colombard & Ugni Bl + Muscadelle, SB, SG, Semillon;
Same geographical boundary as the Blaye geo des of Cotes de Bordeaux. Larger, N of Bourg, on the right bank of the Gironde; more expansive region than Bourg of mixed agriculture; rolling hills, clay & limestone

Question 35

Fronsac

Answer 35

RB AOP. min 80% CS, CF, Merlot + Cot, max 10% PV, max 10% Carm. A cepage of 80-100% Merl common. Rustic at the lower end, best estates attempt to model Pomerol style
On the RB of the Dordogne, W of Pomerol & Lalande-de-Pomerol, separated by the Isle R

Question 36

Canon-Fronsac

Answer 36

RB AOP. The central heart of Fronsac, close to the Dordogne. Vineyards on S-facing hillsides over looking the Dordogne valley
Same cepage as Fronsac, similar in style, but typically held in higher regard to to it’s smaller size and more terroir uniformity

Question 37

St Emilion and Pomerol Satellites

Answer 37

St. E: St George, Montagne, Puisseguin, Lussac

Pomerol: Lalande