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WSET3 > Bordeaux > Flashcards

Bordeaux Flashcards

1
Q

What is the French for PDO

A

Appellation D’Origine Protegee

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2
Q

Can a single plot of land be covered by more than one appellation ?

A

Yes. Usually a generic one and a highly specific one

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3
Q

What is french for PGI

A

Indication Geographique Protegee ( Vin de Pays is also used )

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4
Q

What are French wines without a GI called

A

Vin de France

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5
Q

What is the climate of Bordeaux and what weather phenomenon does it benefit from

A

Moderate maritime climate benefiting from the warming effect of the Gulf Stream

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6
Q

What effect does the gulf stream have on grape growing

A

Extends the growing season, spring frost is rarely a problem and ripening can continue into October

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7
Q

What problems does proximity of the Atlantic bring

A

High rainfall and humidity

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8
Q

What protects the vineyards from the worst of the rainfall

A

Landes Forest and the coastal sand dunes

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9
Q

What specific problems does heavy rain cause

A

Disrupts flowing and bud burst, promotes rot and dilutes the flavor in the grapes

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10
Q

How have the top producers managed to minimise vintage variation

A

by rejecting sub optimal grapes and using improved canopy management techniques to reduce rot

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11
Q

How many grape varietals are permitted in Bordeaux

A

13

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12
Q

What 3 areas of Bordeaux are dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon - why ?

A

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

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13
Q

In the finest left bank bordeaux wines how much of the blend might comprise Cabernet

A

as much as 75%

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14
Q

What kind of soil is preferred by Cabernet Franc

A

Well drained warm stoney / gravel soils

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15
Q

Where is Cabernet Franc widely used

A

St Emillion, Medoc and Graves

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16
Q

What are Cab Franc’s flavor characteristics when ripe / unripe

A

Less Tannin and body than Cab Sauv. Can have Vegetal / stalky flavors when unripe but when ripe it contributes vibrant fruit and floral notes

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17
Q

What is the most widely planted grape in Bordeaux and where is it most important - why

A

Merlot. St Emillion and Pomerol because it can grow successfully in the cooler clay soils

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18
Q

High volume inexpensive wines from Bordeaux are predominantly which grape - why ?

A

Merlot because of its softness

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19
Q

Other than Merlot, Cab Franc and Cab Sauv what other black grape is often blended - what does it bring to the blend

A

Petite Verdot. Brings tannin, color and some spicy notes.

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20
Q

What kind of weather does Petite Verdot need to ripen

A

Hot

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21
Q

When are most Bordeaux wines blended

A

In the spring after the vintage

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22
Q

What is the highest level of appellation in Bordeaux - give an example

A

Commune - eg AOC Margaux

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23
Q

What do the leading chateaux do to maintain the quality of their top wines

A

They make a second and sometimes third wine from blends that are not suitable for the premier wine

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24
Q

What are the best wines from a producer called in Bordeaux

A

Grand Vin

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25
Q

How are the best wines matured compared to generic ones

A

in 100% new oak barriques. Generic wines unlikely to see oak at all

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26
Q

Which Bordeaux white grape has an affinity for noble rot

A

Semillon

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27
Q

which white grape is most important in the production of sweet wines

A

Semillon

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28
Q

Where is Semillon blended with Sauv Blanc - what does it bring to the blend

A

Graves and Pessac Leognan. Adds body

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29
Q

What flavor profile does Sauv Blanc from Bordeaux have

A

Citrus and green fruit

30
Q

In a Bordeaux white blend what does Sauv Blanc bring. In what kind of wine is this especially important

A

High acid - important in sweet wines

31
Q

What kind of flavor does Muscadelle have. Is it usually a large proportion of a dry or sweet wine blend ?

A

Grapey and floral. Small part.

32
Q

Describe generic and premium whites from Bordeaux

A

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

33
Q

How long might the best dry white blends from Pessac Leognan be aged in new oak

A

Up to 3 years

34
Q

What are the 2 major rivers of Bordeaux and what do they combine to form

A

Garonne and Dordogne join to form the Gironde estuary

35
Q

How many appellations are there in Bordeaux

A

over 50

36
Q

True or False Bordeaux classification system is inside of the appellation system and ranks vineyards in the same way as Burgundy

A

False

37
Q

When was the first Bordeaux classification and what event precipitated it. What are the Chateaux called which are listed

A

1855 - The Paris Universal Exhibition. Cru Classes

38
Q

How many ranks on the left bank what are the first growth Chateaux

A

Lafite Rothschild, Latour, Margaux, Mouton Rothschild and Haut Brion from Graves

39
Q

How many ranks are there in Sauternes and what are the top ranked Chateaux

A

3 ranks, Chateaux d’Yquem

40
Q

True or False. Cru Bourgeois is associated with the Chateaux like Cru Classe

A

False. It is associated with a wine of a particular vintage hence application has to be made every year

41
Q

How many ranks are there in Graves.

A

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

42
Q

Described the classification system of St Emillion.

A

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

43
Q

Name the left bank appellation from NW to SE

A

Medoc, St Estephe, Pauillac. Haut Medoc, St Julien, Margaux. Pessac Leongnan, Graves, Barsac, Sauternes

44
Q

Name the right bank appellations from NW to SE

A

Blaye, Cote de Bordeaux, Pomerol, St Emillion, Francs Cote de Bordeaux, Castillon Cote de Bordeaux

45
Q

How are the red wines from the generic appellation labelled

A

Bordeaux and Bordeaux Superieur

46
Q

How are the white and rose wines from the generic appellation labelled

A

Whites are Bordeaux. Roses are labelled Bordeaux Rose or Bordeaux Clairet

47
Q

What is a general description of red Bordeaux and Bordeaux Superieur

A

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.

48
Q

Described Rose and Clairet

A

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

49
Q

Described Sauvignon Blanc from Bordeaux

A

Grassy, citrus and green fruit

50
Q

What is the name for the northern most part of the Medoc and what are wines from there called

A

Bas Medoc. Labelled Medoc

51
Q

Described the soils and wines from Bas Medoc

A

Mostly clay, more Merlot in the blend. Early drinking

52
Q

What are the 4 premier communes of Haut Medoc

A

St Estephe, Pauillac, St Julien, Margaux

53
Q

Where is Pessac Leognan in relation to Graves. Describe the soil and the wines from here

A

Within Graves at the northern tip. Soil is gravelly like Haut Medoc. A little lighter in body and more fragrant than Haut Medoc

54
Q

Described the red wines from Graves as compared to Haut Medoc

A

Similar in style to Haut Medoc but less concentrated and less complex. Usually a higher proportion of Merlot

55
Q

Described the 3 subdivisions of St Emillion

A

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

56
Q

Described reds from St Emillion

A

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

57
Q

Describe the reds of Pomerol compared to St Em

A

Richer with a spicier blackberry character

58
Q

What are the full bodied incredibly ripe wines made in small quantities on the right bank

A

Vins de Garage ( garagiste )

59
Q

What kind of reds are made in the small appellations surrounding the right bank

A

Merlot dominated stylistically similar to St Em and Pomerol

60
Q

What are the appellations that comprise the Cote de Bordeaux. What kind of reds do they make

A

Blaye, Cadillac, Castillon and Francs. Merlot dominated early drinking

61
Q

Which neighboring appellation chose not to join the Cote de Bordeaux

A

Cote de Bourg

62
Q

What style of wine is made in Premieres Cotes de Bordeaux

A

sweet wine

63
Q

What kind of wine is produced in Entre Deux Mers

A

White only - any reds must be labelled with a generic appellation name ( Bordeaux or Superieur )

64
Q

What color wines do Graves and Pessac make

A

Whites and reds

65
Q

What varietals are used in the whites of Graves and Entre deux Mers and how are they matured

A

Sauvignon Blanc - no oak

66
Q

What style of white is produced in Pessac

A

Blend of SB and Semillon fermented and / or matured in oak some of it new. Med to full bodied and toasty oak flavors.

67
Q

What style of wine is made in Sauternes and Barsac

A

Sweet wine and also dry whites though these must be labelled “Bordeaux”

68
Q

Next to which rivers are the best sweet wine appellations of Bordeaux. Why are the rivers important

A

Garonne and Ciron. The rivers create the damp misty mornings that enable formation of noble rot

69
Q

In sweet wine production what do growers do in vintages where there is little noble rot

A

Passerillage

70
Q

True or False. Sauternes is within Barsac

A

False its the other way around

71
Q

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

A

Semillon. It’s thin skin makes it susceptible to noble rot. Blended with SB for acidity and freshness. Sometimes Muscadelle which brings perfume

72
Q

Describe the sweet wines of Bordeaux

A

High alcohol, high acid balancing sweetness. Citrus peel, apriocot from noble rot and vanilla and toast from oak

WSET3 (25 decks)

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