Bordeaux Flashcards
What is the French for PDO
Appellation D’Origine Protegee
Can a single plot of land be covered by more than one appellation ?
Yes. Usually a generic one and a highly specific one
What is french for PGI
Indication Geographique Protegee ( Vin de Pays is also used )
What are French wines without a GI called
Vin de France
What is the climate of Bordeaux and what weather phenomenon does it benefit from
Moderate maritime climate benefiting from the warming effect of the Gulf Stream
What effect does the gulf stream have on grape growing
Extends the growing season, spring frost is rarely a problem and ripening can continue into October
What problems does proximity of the Atlantic bring
High rainfall and humidity
What protects the vineyards from the worst of the rainfall
Landes Forest and the coastal sand dunes
What specific problems does heavy rain cause
Disrupts flowing and bud burst, promotes rot and dilutes the flavor in the grapes
How have the top producers managed to minimise vintage variation
by rejecting sub optimal grapes and using improved canopy management techniques to reduce rot
How many grape varietals are permitted in Bordeaux
13
What 3 areas of Bordeaux are dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon - why ?
Haut Medoc, Bas Medoc and Graves. The stone / gravel soils warm the vines and are the only places in Bordeaux where Cabernet can ripen reliably
In the finest left bank bordeaux wines how much of the blend might comprise Cabernet
as much as 75%
What kind of soil is preferred by Cabernet Franc
Well drained warm stoney / gravel soils
Where is Cabernet Franc widely used
St Emillion, Medoc and Graves
What are Cab Franc’s flavor characteristics when ripe / unripe
Less Tannin and body than Cab Sauv. Can have Vegetal / stalky flavors when unripe but when ripe it contributes vibrant fruit and floral notes
What is the most widely planted grape in Bordeaux and where is it most important - why
Merlot. St Emillion and Pomerol because it can grow successfully in the cooler clay soils
High volume inexpensive wines from Bordeaux are predominantly which grape - why ?
Merlot because of its softness
Other than Merlot, Cab Franc and Cab Sauv what other black grape is often blended - what does it bring to the blend
Petite Verdot. Brings tannin, color and some spicy notes.
What kind of weather does Petite Verdot need to ripen
Hot
When are most Bordeaux wines blended
In the spring after the vintage
What is the highest level of appellation in Bordeaux - give an example
Commune - eg AOC Margaux
What do the leading chateaux do to maintain the quality of their top wines
They make a second and sometimes third wine from blends that are not suitable for the premier wine
What are the best wines from a producer called in Bordeaux
Grand Vin
How are the best wines matured compared to generic ones
in 100% new oak barriques. Generic wines unlikely to see oak at all
Which Bordeaux white grape has an affinity for noble rot
Semillon
which white grape is most important in the production of sweet wines
Semillon
Where is Semillon blended with Sauv Blanc - what does it bring to the blend
Graves and Pessac Leognan. Adds body
What flavor profile does Sauv Blanc from Bordeaux have
Citrus and green fruit
In a Bordeaux white blend what does Sauv Blanc bring. In what kind of wine is this especially important
High acid - important in sweet wines
What kind of flavor does Muscadelle have. Is it usually a large proportion of a dry or sweet wine blend ?
Grapey and floral. Small part.
Describe generic and premium whites from Bordeaux
Generic are fruity and fresh sometimes with a hint of oak. Premium wines are fermented and matured in new oak and have rich nutty flavor overlaying the fruit
How long might the best dry white blends from Pessac Leognan be aged in new oak
Up to 3 years
What are the 2 major rivers of Bordeaux and what do they combine to form
Garonne and Dordogne join to form the Gironde estuary
How many appellations are there in Bordeaux
over 50
True or False Bordeaux classification system is inside of the appellation system and ranks vineyards in the same way as Burgundy
False
When was the first Bordeaux classification and what event precipitated it. What are the Chateaux called which are listed
1855 - The Paris Universal Exhibition. Cru Classes
How many ranks on the left bank what are the first growth Chateaux
Lafite Rothschild, Latour, Margaux, Mouton Rothschild and Haut Brion from Graves
How many ranks are there in Sauternes and what are the top ranked Chateaux
3 ranks, Chateaux d’Yquem
True or False. Cru Bourgeois is associated with the Chateaux like Cru Classe
False. It is associated with a wine of a particular vintage hence application has to be made every year
How many ranks are there in Graves.
None there are no ranks. All the listed Chateaux can call themselves Cru Classe. All lie in Pessac as this appellation was created after the Graves classification
Described the classification system of St Emillion.
It is integrated into the appellation system. Within St Emillion there is a separate appellation called St Emillion Grand Cru and within this there is a classification of the best Chateaux. The lower tier is St Em Grand Cru Classe. Above this is St Em Premier Grand Cru Classe which is subdivided into A and B. Promotions and demotions occur every 10 years
Name the left bank appellation from NW to SE
Medoc, St Estephe, Pauillac. Haut Medoc, St Julien, Margaux. Pessac Leongnan, Graves, Barsac, Sauternes
Name the right bank appellations from NW to SE
Blaye, Cote de Bordeaux, Pomerol, St Emillion, Francs Cote de Bordeaux, Castillon Cote de Bordeaux
How are the red wines from the generic appellation labelled
Bordeaux and Bordeaux Superieur
How are the white and rose wines from the generic appellation labelled
Whites are Bordeaux. Roses are labelled Bordeaux Rose or Bordeaux Clairet
What is a general description of red Bordeaux and Bordeaux Superieur
Early drinking, medium bodied with ripe, red and black fruit sometimes with a hint of cedar from oak. Cheaper ones can be lighter and more astringent.
Described Rose and Clairet
Rose is fresh and fruity. Clairet is mainly popular in France and undergoes a longer maceration so it is a deeper color and fuller in body than regular rose
Described Sauvignon Blanc from Bordeaux
Grassy, citrus and green fruit
What is the name for the northern most part of the Medoc and what are wines from there called
Bas Medoc. Labelled Medoc
Described the soils and wines from Bas Medoc
Mostly clay, more Merlot in the blend. Early drinking
What are the 4 premier communes of Haut Medoc
St Estephe, Pauillac, St Julien, Margaux
Where is Pessac Leognan in relation to Graves. Describe the soil and the wines from here
Within Graves at the northern tip. Soil is gravelly like Haut Medoc. A little lighter in body and more fragrant than Haut Medoc
Described the red wines from Graves as compared to Haut Medoc
Similar in style to Haut Medoc but less concentrated and less complex. Usually a higher proportion of Merlot
Described the 3 subdivisions of St Emillion
Plateau to the North and and West of the town has well draining gravel limestone soil means inclusion of Cabernet Franc and sometimes Sauvignon. Escarpment to the east and south with clay limestone soil - these 2 areas have best wines. Wines from the sandy soil at the foot of the escarpment are lesser
Described reds from St Emillion
Med to High tannin but compared to Left back they have a softer mouthfeel with complex red berry fruit, plum developing tobacco and cedar notes as they evolve
Describe the reds of Pomerol compared to St Em
Richer with a spicier blackberry character
What are the full bodied incredibly ripe wines made in small quantities on the right bank
Vins de Garage ( garagiste )
What kind of reds are made in the small appellations surrounding the right bank
Merlot dominated stylistically similar to St Em and Pomerol
What are the appellations that comprise the Cote de Bordeaux. What kind of reds do they make
Blaye, Cadillac, Castillon and Francs. Merlot dominated early drinking
Which neighboring appellation chose not to join the Cote de Bordeaux
Cote de Bourg
What style of wine is made in Premieres Cotes de Bordeaux
sweet wine
What kind of wine is produced in Entre Deux Mers
White only - any reds must be labelled with a generic appellation name ( Bordeaux or Superieur )
What color wines do Graves and Pessac make
Whites and reds
What varietals are used in the whites of Graves and Entre deux Mers and how are they matured
Sauvignon Blanc - no oak
What style of white is produced in Pessac
Blend of SB and Semillon fermented and / or matured in oak some of it new. Med to full bodied and toasty oak flavors.
What style of wine is made in Sauternes and Barsac
Sweet wine and also dry whites though these must be labelled “Bordeaux”
Next to which rivers are the best sweet wine appellations of Bordeaux. Why are the rivers important
Garonne and Ciron. The rivers create the damp misty mornings that enable formation of noble rot
In sweet wine production what do growers do in vintages where there is little noble rot
Passerillage
True or False. Sauternes is within Barsac
False its the other way around
what grape dominates the sweet wine of Barsac and Sauternes - why. What is blended with this grape in sweet wines and what does it bring to the blend
Semillon. It’s thin skin makes it susceptible to noble rot. Blended with SB for acidity and freshness. Sometimes Muscadelle which brings perfume
Describe the sweet wines of Bordeaux
High alcohol, high acid balancing sweetness. Citrus peel, apriocot from noble rot and vanilla and toast from oak
