Bordeaux Flashcards
What is France’s largest AOP?
Bordeaux, while not the largest wine growing region in France it is its largest AOP at nearly 300,000 acres
What are the grapes of Bordeaux?
Red Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot Cabernet Franc Petit Verdot Malbec Carmènere
White
Sémillon
Sauvignon Blanc
Muscadelle
What is En primeur?
En Primeur or wine futures is the act of selling and buying wines that are still maturing (usually around 12-18 months in advance). This was popularised by the Courtiers in Bordeaux but the practice is also common in burgundy, the Rhône valley and in port but is adopted by many wineries in high demand
What is a Bordeaux Grand Vin?
The grand Vin is the chateau’s greatest wine from all parcels they determine as their best. The second wine is comprised of the grapes that do not make the cut
What is the climate of Bordeaux?
The climate of Bordeaux is maritime. The Atlantic and the Grionde estuary act as moderating influences. Short winters and damp springs followed by summers with potentially high temperatures. The climate becomes more continental towards st Emilion and Pomerol.
What are the major vineyard problems in Bordeaux?
Mold and Rot due to wet springs and autumns.
What is a claret wine?
It is the British term for Bordeaux blend wines. Originally used to describe lighter wines from the region the term is now a catch all
What is Asemblage?
The blend of a wine, referring to its grape make up
What is the historic reason for the multi grape blends in Bordeaux?
Different grapes with different ripening times allowed chateaus to not hedge there bets on a single harvest. If a storm devastated the merlot grapes that year, the blend could be can sauv dominate
What are the major regions of Bordeaux?
5 major regions Médoc Graves Right bank Cotes de Bordeaux Entre-deux-Mers
What is the different preferences in soil for the main red grapes of Bordeaux and where are they found?
Cabernet Sauvignon- Well draining gravel, allows roots to dig in deep while water stress adds to concentration in fruit. Prefers left bank
Merlot- clay, earliest grapes to ripen so it delays its natural vigor. Right bank
Cabernet Franc- limestone as this adds to the acid and freshness of the grape. Right bank
What is Encépagement?
French term that directly translates to grape varieties. It is used to discuss the varietals in a single area or vineyard
What does each of the main 4 red grapes of Bordeaux bring to the blend?
Cab sauv: High tannin and colour, brings structure and longevity
Merlot: fleshy, juicy texture that softens can sauv
Cab franc: more tannic than Merlot, less muscular and weighty than can sauv, brings herbal spice and red fruits.
Petit Verdot: smallest percentage and occasionally added on the left bank for colour, depth and exotic perfume
What is the word for Malbec in Bordeaux?
Pressac, used in the same way as Merlot when blending
What are the 3 minor white grapes of Bordeaux?
Ugni Blanc
Merlot Blanc
Colombard
These can only make up a maximum of 30% of the total blend in a Bordeaux AOP white blend
What does each of the 3 major white grapes of Bordeaux bring to the blend?
Sauvignon Blanc brings sharpness and acidity
Semillon brings roundness body and longevity, this is also rounded with oak
Muscadelle is used sparingly because of its intense floral character can overpower a wines balance
Beat wines (dry and off dry) achieve a creamy, waxy texture with an aroma of honey and beeswax
What is the general amount of time a top cuvée from Bordeaux will spend in oak (white and red)
Red- often up to 2 years in a large percentage of new oak
White- changes from producer to producer but 12-16 months with some of the top wines of graves seeing a percentage of new oak
What is Bordeaux Supérieur?
Bordeaux superieur is a classification in Bordeaux for red or off dry white wines with a higher alcohol content, level of quality and have spent at least 12 months in oak
Name the Medoc’s sub appellations (north to south)?
8 in total
Medoc
Haut Medoc
Appellations Saint Estephe Pauillac Saint Julien Margaux
Lesser appellations
Listrac-Medoc
Moulis-en-Medoc
What is Medoc and what kind of wine does it produce?
Medoc is the entire wine producing area of the left bank of the Grionde estuary, stretching 50 miles north of the city of Bordeaux. This area contains the most prestigious wines in the region but wines labeled as Medoc are generally wines that do not qualify for more prestigious areas. Medoc AOP wines must be red, they often are best after 5 years but do not have the aging potential and concentration of the more famous regions.
Normally Merlot heavy, can show great value and offer simple, pleasant fruit and earth flavours. Normally lack oak
What is Bas-Medoc and what kind of wine does it produce?
The most northern appellation of Bordeaux above st estephe, the vineyards are sparse and intermingled with trees in land barely not a swamp. The heavier clay soils favour Merlot heavy blends. Provide good value in warm vintages, low to no oak, simple fruit and earth flavours.
What is Haut-Medoc and what kind of wine does it produce?
Haut Medoc is the narrow corridor of the southern Medoc in Bordeaux. The regions well drained gravelly soils work best with cab sauv. This region contains the communes of Saint-Estephe, Pauillac, St-Julien, Listrac-Medoc, Moulis-en-Medoc and Margaux
Name all the first growths of Bordeaux and the commune they are found in)
- Chateau Lafite Rothschild (Pauillac)
- Chateau Latour(Pauillac)
- Chateau Margaux(Margaux)
- Chateau Haut-Brion(Graves)
- Chateau Mouton Rothschild (Pauillac) originally a second growth, reclassed in 1973
What year was the classification of Bordeaux?
1855
What is Cru Artisan?
Cru Artisan is a Bordeaux classification that labels a winery as exceptional stewards of the land and craft of wine making, without the financing or apparatus of large scale operations.
Cru artisans work an average of 6ha each.
The classification has been used for over 150 years but was formalised in 2002 with 44 qualifying vineyards. A review in 2018 decreased it to 36
Reviews happen every 5 years
What is Cru Bourgeois?
Cru Bourgeois is a Bordeaux classification designed to classify those vineyards not apart of the 1855 classification. The 3 categories where Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel, Cru Bourgeois Superieur and Cru Bourgeois.
The classification was introduced in 1932 with 444 properties. It was made offical in 2003 and reduced the number to 247, then resulting legal action nullified entire classification. It came back in 2008 with just Cru Bourgeois and has finally been reinstated in full in 2018. 2020 will be the first vintage with the classification
What is St Estéphe and what kind of wine does it produce?
Saint Estèphe (saint es-teph) is the most northern commune appellation of the haut Medoc in Bordeaux. The wines are sturdy, full bodied reds with a higher percent of Merlot due to higher clay in the gravel soils.
Chateau Cos d’Estournel is a super second growth that is the most famous in the region. It makes powerful wines in a polished modern style
What is Chateau Cos d’Estournel and what kind of wines does it produce?
Chateau Cos d’Estournel is a super second growth from Saint-Estephe in the northern haut Medoc in Bordeaux. It is the most famous in the region. It makes powerful wines in a polished modern style
What is Pauillac and what kind of wines does it produce?
Pauillac (Poi-ac) is the second most northern commune appellation of the Haut Medoc in Bordeaux. It boast 3 of the 5 first growths. It has the deepest gravel topsoil of the region. The wines are structured and long lived.
First growths
•Chateau Mouton-Rothschild
•Chateau Lafite Rothschild(aromatics and elegance)
•Chateau Latour(brooding depth and concentration)
What is Saint Julien and what kind of wine does it produce?
Saint Julien is the central commune appellation of the Haut Medoc in Bordeaux. Although it produces less wine that the other communes and has no first growths it’s quality level is high. It has 5 second growths and 2 super second growths. The wines typically demonstrate an elegant style
Chateau Leoville Las Cases
Chateau Ducru-Beaucaillou
What is Listrac-Medoc and what kind of wine does it produce?
Listrac Medoc is a lesser appellation of the Medoc in northern Bordeaux. Can be a source of great value especially in better vintages
What is Moulis-en-Medoc and what kind of wine does it produce?
Moulis-en-Medoc (Mou-Li) is a lesser appellation in the Medoc of northern bordeaux. The wines can represent excellent value especially in strong vintages.
Chateau Chasse-Spleen is the most famous estate
What is Margaux and what kind of wine does it produce?
Margaux is the largest and most southern commune appellation of the haut Medoc in Bordeaux. The region has the greatest diversity of soils in the region and with more clay in the outlying areas. Margaux itself rests on thin sandy gravel over limestone. Margaux has the largest number of classified growths (21) but its second growths are known as under performers. Wines are delicate with an emphasis on florals, exotic character and finesse.
First growth- chateau Margaux
Third growth-Chateau Palmer, excellent estate commanding high prices.
What are the 5 villages of Margaux?
Soussans Margaux Cantenac Labarde Arsac
What is Graves and what kind of wine does it produce?
Graves (Grav) is the white and red producing region at the south of Bordeaux. Having the first growth chateau haut brion. The region contains the premium dry white region of pessac-Leognan and the sweet wine regions of Sauternes, cerons and barsac
What is boulbenes?
Boulbenes is the term used for the mix of sand, gravel and light clay founded in the soils of Graves, Bordeaux
How many classified crus are in Graves?
Graves has 16 crus in total
13 for red
9 for white
Although chateau la tour haut brion (classified for red) produced last vintage in 2005 and chateau Lavalle haut brion (classified white wine) in 2008. Both properties produce fruit for a second wine of chateau la mission haut brion
What is the only non Medoc first growth?
Chateau Haut Brion (Graves)
What chateaus in Grave where classified as both red and white producers in 1959?
5 in total
Chateau Bouscaut Chateau Carbonnieux Domaine de Chevalier Chateau Latour-Martillac Chateau Olivier
What is Pessac-Leognan and what kind of wine does it produce?
Pessac-Leognan(Pe-sac Le-og-nan) is a prestigious dry white and red wine producing appellation from the northern area of Graves in Bordeaux. It contains 10 cru classé properties
What name can sweet white wines be produced under in Graves outside of its major sweet wine regions?
Graves Superieur AOP
What are the 3 sweet white wine appellations of Graves?
Cérons (Cer-ho)
Barsac
Sauternes
What is the most important producer in Sauternes?
Chateau d’Yquem (D-kem)as the superior first growth. (Premier Cru Supérieur). They are known for not producing in poor years such as 1992 or 1974
What are the 2 rivers that meet in Sauternes? Which is warmer and which is cooler?
Ciron (cooler, forms mist) and Garonne (warmer, creates afternoon humidity from the mist) rivers
What is the name for a pass over a botrytis affected area of grapes to harvest those that are ready?
Tries. A famously expensive process, chateau d’Yquem is known to do more than a dozen tries but it has the resources to do so
What is the dry white wine of chateau d’Yquem?
The dry white wine of chateau d’Yquem is known as “Y” (Ygrec) and is labeled as either Bordeaux or Bordeaux superieur.
What are the 5 villages of Sauternes?
Sauternes Barsac Fargues Preignac Bommes
Barsac May produce under either barsac AOP or Sauternes AOP
What is the oak treatment of a sweet wine from Graves?
Normally moderate to high percentage of new oak for up to 2 years. Although unclassified Chateau Gilette releases the remarkable Creme de Tête after a decade of maturation in concrete vats
What is the expected residual levels of sugar from a Sauternes?
120-220g/L
What are some great vintages from Bordeaux in recent memory?
In order of ranking 2009, 2016, 2018, 2010, 2015, 2005, 2000, 2014
What is the best vintage of Bordeaux since 2000?
2009 potentially vintage of the century. Especially in left bank
What is the main river that splits the left and right banks of Bordeaux?
The Dordogne river
What are the dominate grapes of the right bank of Bordeaux?
Merlot and cab franc.
Cab Sauv is rarely the dominate grape.
Chateau Figeac of st Emilion is the notable exception
Who on the right bank of Bordeaux creates a cab sauv heavy blend?
Chateau Figeac in St Emilion
What are the main communes of the right bank of Bordeaux?
St Emilion and Pomerol
What are the 2 broad classifications for the soil types of St Emilion?
The côtes - the slopes of steep limestone
The Graves - the gravelly limestone plateaus resembling the Medoc
What is the short synopsis of the history of St-Emilion classification?
In 1954 (published in 1955) St Emilion creates its own three tier ranking of chateauxs. The system was intended to be reviewed every 10 years by peer-reviewed tastings of wines.
2006- a group of demoted chateauxs scuttled 2006 reviews and caused them to be tied up in French courts for years.
2009- legality resolves in compromise that allows promoted chateauxs to retain their status while ignoring any demotions
2012- announcements of new, rather generous classification run by INAO (outside party) rather than local producer syndicate
What is St Emilion Grand cru?
Saint Emilion grand cru is is an appellation rather than a classification. Wines must have a additional 0.5% alcohol and longer élevage than base st Emilion.
What is Pomerol and what kind of wine does it produce?
Pomerol is a tiny appellation of 5 square miles on the right bank of Bordeaux. The soils are sand, clay, gravel and a subsoil of iron pan and rich clay. Merlot is the dominate grape producing hedonistic, plump, opulent wines. The normal make up is 70-80% Merlot, 20-25% cab franc. There are no classifications in Pomerol.
Chateau Pétrus
What is Bouchet and what kind of wine does it produce?
Bouchet is the local name for the Bordeaux blend of Pomerol that is 70-80% Merlot and 20-25% cab franc. These wine are hedonistic, plump and opulent
What is the difference between Pomerol and Pommard?
Pomerol is a left bank appellation of Bordeaux that makes rich, plump wines of mostly Merlot and cab franc.
Pommard is the central Cote de Beaune village in burgundy that produces the second most structured Pinot noirs of the region.
What does Garagistes mean in Bordeaux?
Garagistes or microchateau is a movement in Bordeaux of small winery’s making powerful ripe and polished modern style wines. Normally producing around 6000 bottles. The movement was most famous in the left bank but died out mostly.
Famous names include:
Le Pin(Pomerol)
Valandraud(st Emilion)
La Mondotte(st Emilion)
What is Bourg and what kind of wine does it produce?
Bourg is a left bank appellation of Bordeaux across the Dordogne river from Margaux. It was the first region of Bordeaux but it’s wines have since been eclipsed by Medoc and Graves in the 1600s. Produces a majority red wine.
Chateau Roc de Cambes is the most well known producer of the region
What is Blaye and what kind of wine does it produce?
Blaye (blay) is a red wine producing region of the right bank of Bordeaux, across the river Dordogne from the haut Medoc and north of Bourg AOP
What is Cotes de Blaye and what kind of wine does it produce?
Cote de Blaye is the most northern left bank Bordeaux appellation. It produces red and white wines and it’s dry whites contain a high percentage of ugni Blanc and Colombard. Like many estates of northern Bordeaux many are adopting the new Cotes de Bordeaux AOP
What is Cotes de Bordeaux and what kind of wine does it produce?
Cotes de Bordeaux is a AOP created in 2008 to consolidate several Bordeaux appellations to simplify marketing and labeling and offer alternatives to luxuary priced grand-vins Bordeaux was known for. The region is predominately red and May list the area of origin.
Francs Castillon Blaye Cadillac Sainte Foy
What is Entre-Deux-Mers and what kind of wine does it produce?
Enter-Deux-Mers(en-tre du mer) or the land between 2 seas is one of Bordeaux largest appellations. It is in the south between the Dordogne and Garonne rivers. The region exclusively produces dry white wine.
What are the sweet wine regions on the east shore of Garonne river?
On the east side of the Garonne river in south Bordeaux lies the sweet white regions of:
Loupiac
Ste-Croix-du-Mont
Cadillc
These wines can be or not be affected by botrytis
What is Premieres Cotes de Bordeaux and what kind of wine does it produce?
Premières Côte de Bordeaux is a blanket appellation that was designed to simplify labeling of non Sauternes/Barsac/Ciron sweet wines of Bordeaux
What is Cote de Bordeaux Saint-Macaire and what kind of wine does it produce?
Cote de Bordeaux Saint-Macaire(San Mar-ca-ir) is a small appellation south of Loupiac on the south eastern corner of Bordeaux. The appellation produces white wines in sec, moelleux (soft, mellow, slightly sweet) and liquoreux (luscious, rich) styles
What is Crasse de fer?
Crasse de Fer is a famous soil type of Pomerol in Bordeaux. The soil is iron rich bands of sand
What IGP encompasses Bordeaux and it’s nearby regions?
Charentais IGP
What is the climate of Bordeaux?
Maratime
What is the difference between pressac and pessac?
Presac- Bordeaux local name for Malbec
Pessac- village of pessac-leognan, premium dry white wine commune of Graves
What is Chateau Angelus and what kind of wine does it produce?
Chateau Angelus is a premier grand cru classé A, chateau in St Emilion, Bordeaux
What is Chateau Lafleur and what kind of wine does it produce?
Chateau Lafleur is widely considered one of the best chateaus in Pomerol. It’s wines often rank among the worlds rarest and most expensive.
Second label
Les Pensées de Lafleur
What is chateau Palmer and what kind of wine does it produce?
Chateau Palmer is one of the top chateaus in Margaux, Bordeaux. It is a third growth but is known for outstanding quality.
Grows a second wine (not second label) from the same fruit as the first called “Alter ego de Palmer” where the wine is made to be more approachable at a younger age. Roughly 40% production is made into this wine
For the 1st, 2nd and 3rd growths of Bordeaux name how many are there and where are they?
1st - 5 sites
•3 in Pauillac
•1 in Margaux
•1 in Graves
2nd - 14 sites(originally 15) •2 in Saint Estephe •2 in Pauillac •5 in St Julien •5 in Margaux
3rd -14 sites •1 in Saint Estephe •2 in Saint Julien •10 in Margaux •1 in Haut Medoc
What are the satellite appellations of st Emilion and what kind of wine do they produce?
4 appellations that can append their name to st Emilion. •Montagne •Lussac •Puisseguin •St-George
The wines often feel to be a rustic blend of st Emilion and Bergerac
