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Bordeaux Flashcards

1
Q

Bordeaux Location/Geography

A

Southwestern France, inland from the Atlantic Ocean

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2
Q

Bordeaux Climate

A

Maritime, Bordeaux is located on the 45th parallel.

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3
Q

The region can suffer from…

A

…rain and frost

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4
Q

Bordeaux Geography and Climate Influences

A

A large pine forest along the coast to the west protects the region from harsh storms and winds from the Atlantic.

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5
Q

Two rivers, the ______ and ______, meet north of the city of Bordeaux and form the ______, which flows into the Atlantic.

A

Garonne, Dordogne, Gironde Estuary

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6
Q

The climate is moderated by…

A

…its waterways and its proximity to the Atlantic coast. The Gulf Stream current brings warm waters up from the Caribbean, keeping the weather mild yet humid.

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7
Q

The Left Bank is west of…

A

Garonne and Gironde

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8
Q

The Right Bank is East and north of…

A

the Dordogne

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9
Q

Entre-Deux-Mers is located…

A

…Between the Garonne and Dordogne

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10
Q

Soil: Medoc and Graves on the Left Bank

A

Gravel

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11
Q

Soil: Saint-Emilion on the Right Bank

A

Gravel, limestone, sand

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12
Q

Soil: Pomerol on the Right Bank

A

Iron pan under sand and clay

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13
Q

Bordeaux White Grape Varieties

A

Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Muscadelle

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14
Q

Bordeaux Red Grape Varieties

A

Merlot (the most widely planted), Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot (small quantities), Malbec (allowed but rarely seen today), Carmenere (also allowed but rarely seen)

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15
Q

This region suffers from…

A

… rain at harvest and frost

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16
Q

Typical Wine Style of the Left Bank

A

70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, plus Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, these wines are usually aged in new French oak barrels

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17
Q

Typical Wine Style: Red Wines from Saint-Emilion and Pomerol (Right Bank)

A

70% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc, these wines spend some time in French oak barrels

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18
Q

Typical Wine Style: Dry White Wines mainly from Graves (Pessac-Leognan) on the Left Bank and Entre-Deux-Mers

A

80% Sauvignon Blanc, 20% Semillon, the majority of inexpensive white wines from Bordeaux are made without oak. Prestigious wines in the upper price tiers, however, tend to be aged in new French oak barriques.

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19
Q

Typical Wine Style: Sweet Wines mainly from Sauternes and nearby communes

A

80% Semillon, 20% Sauvignon Blanc, Muscadelle (small percentage), many sweet wines of Bordeaux are aged in new French oak barrels

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20
Q

Bordeaux AOP

A

Largest appellation in size and production, grapes can come from anywhere in the entire region, an appellation for red and white wines in both sweet and dry styles

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21
Q

Sub Regional or District Appellations

A

These may be the highest appellations attainable in a particular locale or they may encompass a number of separate commune appellations. Examples: Haut Medoc AOP and Entre-Deux-Mers

22
Q

Commune Appellations

A

These are the smallest AOPs in each region, with generally the highest quality wines. Examples: Pauillac, Margaux, Pomerol, Saint Julien, Saint Estephe, St. Emilion

23
Q

The Medoc Location

A

North of the city of Bordeaux along the Gironde Estuary

24
Q

The Medoc Soil

A

Gravel, with great moisture draining properties. Perfect for Cabernet Sauvignon

25
The Medoc Grape Varieties
Cabernet Sauvignon based blends, red wines only
26
Medoc AOPs
Sub regions: Medoc AOP, Haut-Medoc AOP. Communes: Saint-Estephe AOP, Pauillac AOP, Saint-Julien AOP, Margaux AOP
27
1855 Classification
Emperor Napoleon III commissioned a ranking of Bordeaux's top chateaux for the Universal Exposition in Paris. Merchants and brokers ranked 61 properties in five tiers: first growth through fifth growth. To do so, they used the historical record of the prices that each property's wines commanded in the marketplace; the higher the price, the higher the ranking. Communes in the right bank were not part of this classification. One property in the Pessac-Leognan commune in Graves was included, largely because the wine grown and made at Chateau Haut-Brion had long fetched a very high price in the market. This classification system still stands today and remains important to many consumers, but it is NOT part of the AOP system.
28
First Growth Chateaux of the 1855 Classification
Chateau Lafite-Rothschild, Chateau Latour, Chateau Mouton-Rothschild (elevated to 1st growth in 1973), Chateau Margaux, Chateau Haut-Brion (Graves)
29
Top Recent Vintages of the Medoc
2005, 2009, 2010, 2015
30
Graves Location/Geography
South of the Medoc and directly south and around the city of Bordeaux
31
Graves Soil
Gravel
32
Graves White Grape Varieties
Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon
33
Graves Red Grape Varieties
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc
34
Graves Sub-Region: Pessac-Leognan AOP
Northernmost part of Graves, including the most highly regarded chateaux. Vinification: dry white wines, dry red wines, new french oak.
35
Graves Sub-Region: Sauternes AOP
Southernmost portion of Graves, bordered by the Garonne and Ciron Rivers. Vinification: botrytis-affected sweet wines, oak aged, often in new French barrique.
36
Entre-Deux-Mers AOP Location/Geography
Translates to "land between two seas," a large area between the Garonne and Dordogne Rivers
37
Entre-Deux-Mers Soil
Very fertile silt
38
Entre-Deux-Mers White Grape Varieties
Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Muscadelle
39
Entre-Deux-Mers Vinification
Dry white wines only, little to no oak, stainless steel, red wines made in this area fall under the Bordeaux AOP appellation.
40
Saint-Emilion Location/Geography
Along the Dordogne River near the town of Libourne
41
Saint-Emilion Soils
Proportions vary depending on the location, large bed of silt, clay, and gravel, Limestone plateau, sand
42
Saint-Emilion Red Grape Varieties
Merlot, Cabernet Franc, AOP for red wines only
43
Saint-Emilion Appellations
Saint-Emilion AOP, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru AOP (an appellation, not a classification. Wines have an additional 0.5% alcohol and must undergo a longer aging than wines labeled Saint-Emilion AOP.
44
Saint-Emilion Classification System
Instituted in 1955, with a goal of revision every 10 years. The most recent revision was in 2012.
45
Saint-Emilion Premiers Grands Cru Classe A
4 named chateaux: Chateau Ausone, Chateau Angelus, Chateau Pavie, Chateau Cheval-Blanc
46
Saint-Emilion Premiers Grands Crus Classe B
14 named chateaux
47
Saint-Emilion Grands Crus Classe
64 named chateaux
48
Pomerol Location/Geography
Along the Dordogne River near the town of Libourne to the northwest of Saint Emilion. A very small appellation, only 3 square miles.
49
Pomerol Soils
Sand, clay, gravel, subsoil of iron pan and rich clay
50
Pomerol Red Grape Varieties
Merlot and Cabernet Franc-based blends, red wines only

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