Bordeaux Flashcards
What is the largest appellation in France?
Bordeaux. Both in volume and value.
What is the climate of Bordeaux?
Moderate maritime. The warming ocean current of the Gulf Stream extends the growing season. Spring frost is rarely a problem. Grape ripening can continue well into October. The downside is high levels of rainfall and humidity. It is protected from The Atlantic by the Landes Forrest and costal sand dunes. Rain falls throoughout the year and can disrupt flowering and fruit set and promote and dilute the flavors at harvest. Therefore vintage variation is an important consideration.
What are some of the ways Bordeaux can cope with vintage variation?
Rejecting unhealthy and unripe grapes. Changes in canopy management have resulted in healthier grapes (plus a decline in sprays) and a rise in sugar and flavor development at harvest.
How does Bordeaux cope with the variability in weather?
By making wines from a blend of grape varieties. 13 grape varieties are permitted, but three black and two white predominate.
Name the 4 main black varieties in Bordeaux.
Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petite Verdot.
Why does cabernet Sauvignon dominate in the Haut Medoc, Bas-Medoc and Graves?
The stone/gravel content of the soils raises vineyard temperature so cab can reliable ripen.
Where is Cab Franc widely used in Bordeaux?
Saint-Emilion and to a lesser extent, Medoc and Graves.
Describe the flavor characteristics of Cab Franc?
Less body and tannin than cab. Can have herbaceous or stalky flavors when unripe. When ripe it contributes ripe fruit and floral notes to a blend. It prefers well drained, warm soils (similar to cab’s).
What is the most widely planted variety in Bordeaux?
Merlot.
What appellations is Merlot most important in?
Saint-Emilion and Pomerol as it can successfully grow on the cooler clay soils of these areas.
Why is Merlot generally predominate in high volume, inexpensive wines?
Due to its softness.
What are the characteristics of Petit Verdot and why is it used?
A very deep colored, tannic wine that only ripens fully in very hot years. Ages slowly. Mainly adds tannin, color and some spice.
What fermentation vessels are used in Bordeaux?
Traditional oak vats, steel or concrete. Top quality is aged in small oak barriques of 225 liters. The finest chateaux use new oak. Generic Bordeaux are unlikely to see oak at all.
What is the most important white variety for sweet wines
Semillon.
What variety is semillon blended with in Pessac-Leognan and Graves and why?
Sauv Blanc to add body.
What are the aromas of Sauvignon Blanc in Bordeaux?
Citrus and green fruit. It can be an exception to Bordeaux blended wines. But when blended, provides the high acidity.necessary for sweet wines.
What minor white variety plays a supporting role in sweet and dry white wine production?
Muscadelle, with a pronounced grapey, floral flavor.
Discuss the range of styles for white Bordeaux?
They range from fresh and fruity at the lower end but still showing toasty hints of oak, to concentrated nutty flavor overlays in the dry whites from Pessac-Leognan.
How are the sweet wines from Bordeaux made?
From fruit that has been infected by noble rot and matured in new oak barrels for up to 3 years.
What is Bordeaux’s classification system?
Outside of Saint-Emilion, it lies outside the appellation system. It does not rank vineyards, but estates, known as chateaux.
What is the 1855 classification?
The Bordeaux Chamber of Commerce made a list of their best wines from the Medoc and white wines from Sauternes. They are referred to as crus classes. In the Medoc, they were divided into five ranks.
