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Introductory Sommelier Exam (CMS) > Bordeaux > Flashcards

Bordeaux Flashcards

Learn the history, local geography + topography, major grapes + appellations, appellation hierarchy, and vinification methods for this iconic region.

1
Q

What are the 3 main white grapes of Bordeaux?

A
  1. Sauvignon Blanc
  2. Sémillon
  3. Muscadelle
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2
Q

What are the 6 main red grapes of Bordeaux?

A
  1. Merlot
  2. Cabernet Sauvignon
  3. Cabernet Franc
  4. Malbec
  5. Petit Verdot
  6. Carménère
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3
Q

What was the most important foreign market of Bordeaux wines in the Middle Ages?

A

England

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4
Q

A. 400 years ago, in the 17th century, what did Dutch merchants do to the marshes in Bordeaux, and why?

B. Their actions led to what important, beneficial trait to the soils of Bordeaux?

A

A. They built channels that drained marshes in Bordeaux – making the land more suitable for viticulture – to expand trade.

B. Drainage is the important soil trait – it allows roots to dig deeply for water, nutrients, and help ripen thick-skinned Cabernet Sauvignon on the Left Bank.

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5
Q

On which ocean is Bordeaux situated?

A

Atlantic Ocean

The ocean access made Bordeaux famous faster than other regions in France because the wines could be exported easily.

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6
Q

In what area of France can you find the Bordeaux wine region?

A

Southwest

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7
Q

What is the climate of Bordeaux?

A

Maritime

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8
Q

On what parallel is Bordeaux?

A

45th

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9
Q

What moderates the climate in Bordeaux?

A
  1. The Gulf Stream
    • warm waters carried up from the Caribbean keep Bdx mild (but humid)
  2. Coastal proximity + waterways
    • breezes off of both keep air circulating
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10
Q

What is the name of the pine forest that protects Bordeaux from strong winds + storms off the Atlantic Ocean?

A

Les Landes

Here’s a fun, easy-to-read article giving further background.

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11
Q

What are the 3 main waterways in Bordeaux?

Hint: two are rivers and one is an estuary.

A
  1. Gironde Estuary, which is formed by:
  2. Garonne River
  3. Dordogne River
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12
Q

In which direction does the Gironde Estuary flow: away from the Atlantic or into the Atlantic?

A

Into the Atlantic

Fun Fact: Banks of a river are named “left” or “right” according to the directional flow of that river. The Garonne, Dordogne + Gironde flow from southeast to northwest and so, drifting downstream, Pomerol and St.-Émilion will appear on your right and the Médoc on your left. Ergo, Médoc is located on the left bank and Pomerol + St.-Émilion are on the right bank.

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13
Q

What are the weather threats in Bordeaux?

A
  1. Rain at harvest
  2. Spring frost
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14
Q

Where is Entre-Deux-Mers in Bordeaux?

A

Between the Garonne and Dordogne Rivers

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15
Q

What are the 3 main soil types in Bordeaux?

A
  1. Gravel
  2. Gravel, limestone, sand
  3. Iron pan beneath sand + clay
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16
Q

What is the predominant soil type found on Bordeaux’s Left Bank (e.g. Médoc, Graves)?

Give an example of a grape that grows well here.

A
  • Soil: Gravel
  • Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon
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17
Q

What are the predominant soil types found in Saint-Émilion?

Give examples of grapes that grows well here.

A
  • Soil: Gravel, limestone, sand
  • Grape: Cabernet Franc, Merlot
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18
Q

What is the predominant soil type found in Pomerol?

Give an example of a grape that grows well here.

A
  • Soil: Iron pan beneath sand + clay
  • Grape: Merlot
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19
Q

What is Bordeaux’s most planted red grape?

A

Merlot

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20
Q

Merlot is mostly planted on which bank?

A

Right Bank

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21
Q

Cabernet Sauvignon is mostly planted on which bank?

A

Left Bank

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22
Q

Bordeaux wines, both red and white, are typically:

  • single varietals
  • blends
A

Blends

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23
Q

When you see a Right Bank red wine, the main grape in it is almost always going to be _____.

A

Merlot

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24
Q

When you see a Left Bank red wine, the main grape in it is almost always going to be _____.

A

Cabernet Sauvignon

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25
Q

Name 3 Bordeaux appellations that make dry white wine.

A
  1. Entre-Deux-Mers
  2. Graves
  3. Péssac-Léognan
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26
Q

Which grape will almost always be the dominant grape in the blend of a white Bordeaux wine?

A

Sauvignon Blanc

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27
Q

Do most red wines from Bordeaux see some new oak, or are most aged in stainless steel/neutral oak?

A

Most red Bordeaux wines will see at least some new oak.

Note: inexpensive supermarket wines will either see oak chips or just stainless steel. Oak barrels are reserved for middle and top-tier wines.

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28
Q

Vintage variation can be a really big deal in Bordeaux.

What causes the vintage variation and how do the Bordelaise manage it?

A

Causes

  • Spring frosts
  • Rain at harvest
  • Crappy weather during the growing season (rain, not a lot of sun = a cool vintage)
  • Super hot weather during the growing season (excessive temps = a hot vintage)

Management

  • Plant different grape varietals
    • all those grape varietals bud, flower and ripen at different times so an early-budding grape like Merlot could be affected by frost
  • Make blends
    • a late-ripening grape like Cabernet Sauvignon could get hit with rain at harvest
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29
Q

What is the Bordeaux AOP hierarchy from largest to smallest (both in terms of size and production)?

A
  1. Bordeaux AOP
  2. Sub-Regional / District Appellations
    • e.g. Haut-Médoc AOP
  3. Commune Appellation
    • e.g. Margaux AOP
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30
Q

Bordeaux AOP wines make up ____% of the Bordeaux region’s total production.

A

45%

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31
Q

What colors and styles of wine are allowed to be made under the Bordeaux AOP?

A

Dry + sweet styles of both red + white wines

32
Q

The highest level of quality wines in Bordeaux are found in the _____ appellations.

A

Commune

33
Q

Saint Estèphe, Pauillac, Saint Julien, and Margaux are commune appellations on which Bank of the Gironde in Bordeaux?

A

Left Bank

34
Q

Pomerol and Saint-Émilion are commune appellations on which Bank of the Gironde in Bordeaux?

A

Right Bank

35
Q

What size barrel is used in Bordeaux?

A

225L barrels called barriques

36
Q

When you see the word ‘château’ on a bottle of Bordeaux, what do you immediately know about the wine?

A
  • The estate is under single ownership
  • The château’s name isn’t the name of its vineyard(s), it’s the brand name
    • vineyard names don’t appear on Bordeaux wine labels!
37
Q

What is the predominant soil type found on the Left Bank of Bordeaux?

A

Gravel

38
Q

What is the only color and style of wine allowed to be made in the Médoc?

A

Red, dry wines

39
Q

What are the 2 sub-regional AOPs of The Médoc?

A
  1. Médoc AOP
  2. Haut-Médoc AOP
40
Q

What are the 4 Commune appellations of The Médoc?

Briefly describe the style of red wine each Commune is known for.

A
  1. Saint-Estèphe AOP
    • most tannic
  2. Pauillac AOP
    • most powerful
  3. Saint Julien AOP
    • most floral + elegant
  4. Margaux AOP
    • softest due to more Merlot
41
Q

What are the top Left Bank Bordeaux vintages between 2005-2016?

A
  • 2005
  • 2009
  • 2010
  • 2015
  • 2016
42
Q

What did the 1855 Classification classify?

How were the classifications determined (or, what were they based on)?

A

It ranked the top properties on the Left Bank of Bordeaux into growths, First through Fifth, for a world’s fair that was held in Paris in 1855. The classification was commissioned by Emperor Napoléon III, who wanted to show off France’s top wines at the fair.

The classifications were based on the prices each wine fetched at market. The people who ranked the wines were those who sold them: merchants and brokers.

43
Q

What are the 5 First Growths of Bordeaux?

A
  1. Château Latour
  2. Château Lafite-Rothschild
  3. Château Mouton-Rothschild (elevated 1973)
  4. Château Margaux
  5. Château Haut-Brion
44
Q

Of the 5 First Growths of Bordeaux, which 3 are found in Pauillac?

A
  1. Château Latour
  2. Château Lafite-Rothschild
  3. Château Mouton-Rothschild (elevated 1973)
45
Q

Which château was elevated to First Growth in 1973?

A

Château Mouton-Rothschild

46
Q

Which First Growth is found in Graves?

A

Château Haut-Brion

47
Q

Where is Graves located: to the north or south of the city of Bordeaux?

A

South of the city of Bordeaux

48
Q

What is the soil in Graves?

A

Gravel

49
Q

Graves can make:

  • red wines only
  • white wines only
  • both
A

Both

50
Q

What are the grapes used in Graves, for both red and white wines?

A

White wines

  • Sauvignon Blanc
  • Sémillon

Red Wines

  • Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Merlot
  • Cabernet Franc
51
Q

What is the sub-region of Graves AOP?

Where is it located within Graves AOP?

A

Péssac-Léognan AOP, located in the northernmost section of Graves AOP.

52
Q

What sub-regional AOP of Graves is located in its southernmost section?

Hint: it’s known for sweet wines.

A

Sauternes AOP

53
Q

What is the only style of wine allowed in Sauternes AOP?

A

Sweet white wines whose grapes have been affected by the Botrytis fungus (it’s humid in Sauternes, which encourages the fungus to grow).

54
Q

The sweet white wines of Sauternes AOP are known to be aged in:

  • new French barrique
  • neutral American oak
  • stainless steel
A

New French barrique

55
Q

What does Entre-Deux-Mers translate to in English?

A

Between two seas

56
Q

What is the soil type of Entre-Deux-Mers?

A

Fertile silt

57
Q

What is the color and style of wine allowed in Entre-Deux-Mers, and based on which grapes?

A

Dry white wines based on:

  • Sauvignon Blanc
  • Sémillon
  • Muscadelle
58
Q

If a red wine is made in Entre-Deux-Mers, what AOP does it take?

A

Bordeaux AOP

59
Q

Do the white wines of Entre-Deux-Mers typically see stainless steel or lots of new French barriques?

A

Stainless steel

This is an inexpensive appellation meant for early consumption so the wines are fresh + youthful and made in stainless steel (although there are always exceptions – some EDMs with a light touch of oak on them do exist).

60
Q

What are the 2 major AOPs of Right Bank Bordeaux?

A
  1. Pomerol AOP
  2. St.-Émilion AOP
61
Q

Wines from Pomerol AOP and Saint-Émilion AOP are allowed to be what color and style?

A

Dry red wines ONLY

62
Q

What are the 2 main red grapes in St.-Émilion?

A
  1. Merlot
  2. Cabernet Franc
63
Q

What are the soils of St.-Émilion AOP?

A

Largely a bed of silt, clay and gravel, but there is a limestone plateau and plots with more sand.

64
Q

What are the 2 AOPs of Saint-Émilion?

A
  1. Saint-Émilion AOP
  2. Saint-Émilion Grand Cru AOP
65
Q

What is the difference between Saint-Émilion Grand Cru AOP and Saint-Émilion AOP?

A

Saint-Émilion Grand Cru AOP must:

  • be aged longer
  • have an additional 0.5% abv
66
Q

Which is geographically smaller: Pomerol AOP or Saint-Émilion AOP?

A

Pomerol AOP

67
Q

In what year was the St.-Émilion Classification established?

When was its most recent review (or revision)?

A

1955

2022

68
Q

What are the 2 châteaux named as Premier Grands Crus Classé A?

A
  1. Château Figeac
  2. Château Pavie
69
Q

How many Premiers Grands Crus Classé B châteaux are there with the 2022 classification?

A

12

70
Q

How many Grands Crus Classé are there with the 2022 classification?

A

71

71
Q

Where is Pomerol AOP in relation to St.-Émilion AOP?

A

northwest

72
Q

What are the soils of Pomerol?

A
  • Sand
  • Clay
  • Gravel
  • Iron pan + rich clay subsoils
73
Q

Does Pomerol have a classification system?

A

No, Pomerol does NOT have a classification system.

74
Q

Name Pomerol’s arguably most famouse château.

A

Château Pétrus

If you were able to buy it retail, the most recent vintage would cost roughly US$4,000. On a wine list it’d be much, much higher.

75
Q

How are the wines of Bordeaux classified vs. those of Burgundy?

A

In Burgundy, the wines are classified by the place – they’re vineyard specific (village, 1er Cru, Grand Cru).

In Bordeaux, it’s the house, or château, that’s classified – not the vineyard or land itself.

Introductory Sommelier Exam (CMS) (40 decks)

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