Bordeaux Flashcards
T/F Bdx produces more AOC wine than anywhere else in France?
T
Chateau Ausone is named for who?
Bdx native Ausonius
What/when was Battle of Castillon?
1453; French expelled English and reclaimed Bdx
When did the Dutch drain the Médoc?
1600s
What house started the Châteaux tradition?
Haut Brion
Who requested a ranking of Bdx top château for the World Fair in Paris?
Napoleon III
When did powdery mildew arrive?
1852
What is odium?
Powdery mildew. Reduces yields, retards pigment development, stunts cluster growth
When did phylloxera come to Bdx?
1865
What is peronospera?
Downy mildew. A fungal disease that germinates in warm, humid weather. Vines loose leaves and delay ripening
When did peronospera come to Bdx?
1880 (Downy mildew)
When did the “deep freeze” happen?
- Killing 1/4 of vines in Bdx
Who is Emile Peynaud?
Uni of Bdx professor, encouraged vignerons to use young fruit in “2nd wines”
How much rain does Bdx get on average yearlY?
37 inches
What ocean stream warms and regulates temperatures?
Gulf Stream
What is the largest man-made forest in Europe?
Les Landes
What 2 important rivers flow into the Gironde Estuary?
Dordogne and Garonne
What cause 1/3 of Malbec acreage to be replanted to Merlot?
Freeze of 1956
What are the warm soils in Bdx?
Gravel (firmly structured) and sand (fruit forward)
What are the cold soils in Bdx?
Clay (prune, English walnut), limestone (pronounced acidity, polished tannins)
Gravel is better for what Bdx grapes?
CS, PV
Limestone is better for what Bdx grapes?
ML, CF
The Gironde is tidal up to how many miles inland?
75 miles
Semillon accounts for what percent of white plantings?
49%
SB accounts for what percent of white plantings?
43%
Muscadelle accounts for what percent of white plantings?
6%
Merlot is what percent of red plantings?
65%
CS is what percent of red plantings?
23%
CF is what percent of red plantings?
10%
Petite Verdot prefers what kind of soils?
Gravel and sand
Bdx molleaux has what level of sugar?
12-45 g/l
Bdx liquoreaux has what level of sugar?
45+ g/l
What are the lightly pigmented wines produced in Bdx?
Rose and claret
How is clairet produced?
Short maceration
How is Bdx rosé produced?
Typically saignee
What is the futures market?
Wine is pre-sold while still in barrel
What are tranches?
Stages that Bdx wines are pre sold in
How many co-ops are in Bdx?
36
Co-ops bottle how much of Bdx harvest every year?
25%
T/F Chemical analysis and blind tasting is mandatory for all Bdx AOC wines?
T