Bordeaux: Appellations Part 2 Flashcards
What is the name of the principal city on the right bank of the Dordogne?
Liborne
What is the collective term for the wine regions surrounding the city of Libourne?
Libournais
What style of wine is produced in the Libournais?
Red: predominantly Merlot & Cabernet Franc blends with a little Cabernet Sauvignon added if soils allow.
How do the red wines of the Libournais compare to those of the Left Bank in Bordeaux?
Because of the high concentration of Merlot in the blend, Libournais wines are silken in texture and less powerfully structured.
Which grape varieties are permitted in the wines of the Libournais?
9 of the 10 red AOCs in this sub-region (except Pomerol) allow the use of the following varieties:
* [P] Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cot
* [S] Petit Verdot, Carmenere
Note: there is some variation on which varieties are primary vs. secondary in each AOC.
Name the appellations of the Libournais.
- Fronsac AOC (1937)
- Canon Fronsac AOC (1939)
- Pomerol AOC (1936)
- Lalande-de-Pomerol AOC (1936)
- Saint-Emilion AOC (1936)
- Saint-Emilion Grand Cru AOC (1954)
- Lussac Saint-Emilion AOC (1936)
- Montagne-Saint-Emilion AOC (1936)
- Puisseguin Saint-Emilion AOC (1936)
- Saint-Georges-Saint-Emilion AOC (1936)
Where is Fronsac AOC located?
This appellation is situated on the right bank of the Dordogne River, opposite of the Graves de Vayres AOC.
Which appellations are the only 2 Libournais AOCs that lie on the right bank of the Isle River?
- Fronsac AOC
- Canon-Fronsac AOC: this AOC nests within Fronsac along the Dordogne River.
What are the soil types in Fronsac AOC and Canon-Fronsac AOC
Clay & limestone
Which grape varieties do the Fronsac AOC and Canon-Fronsac AOC specialize in ?
- Merlot
- Cabernet Franc
Due to the clay & limestone soils.
What are the characteristics of red wines from Fronsac AOC and Canon-Fronsac AOC?
Red fruits and black pepper.
Which grape varieties are permitted in the Pomerol AOC?
- [P] Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Cot
How do the soils in Pomerol AOC and Lalande-de-Pomerol AOC influence the wines?
The unique iron-rich soils are ideal for Merlot & Cabernet Franc which express themselves with heady aromas and rich textures.
How do the wines of Pomerol AOC compare to those of Lalande-de-Pomerol AOC?
- Pomeral: soft, velvety, round & generous
- Lalande-de-Pomerol: tends to be less aromatic, less structured & more characterized by bright berry fruit
Name the appellations of Saint-Emilion.
- Saint-Emilion AOC
- Saint-Emilion Grand Cru AOC
- Lussac Saint-Emilion AOC
- Montagne-Saint-Emilion AOC
- Puisseguin Saint-Emilion AOC
- Saint-Georges-Saint-Emilion AOC
What area do the Saint-Emilion AOC and Saint-Emilion Grand Cru AOC cover?
These 2 AOCs cover exactly the same area of production. It is situated on the Right Bank of the Dordogne River, to the east of Libourne.
What are the restrictions for wines from Saint-Emilion Grand Cru AOC?
Tougher production standards compared to Saint-Emilion AOC:
* Lower yield
* Higher min. alcohol
* All wines must be bottled at the chateau
* must undergo 2 tastings, both before and after its mandatory one-year period of aging
What is the size of production in Saint-Emilion Grand Cru AOC compared with Saint-Emilion AOC?
Saint-Emilion Grand Cru AOC is over 3 times the production of Saint-Emilion AOC (2018).
What soil types are found in Saint-Emilion?
Most are comprised of limestone & clay.
There are pockets of sand along the river.
There are 2 “islands” of Pomerol soil within this sub-region (Chateau Figeac & Chateau Cheval Blanc are located on them).
How do the varied soils influence the wines in Saint-Emilion?
- Limestone: high acidity & polished tannins
- Sand: Fruit-forward
- Pomerol soil (iron-rich): Velvet tannins & hints of walnut & prune (Pomerol flavours)
How do the wines of the four Saint-Emilion satellites compare to those of Saint-Emilion AOC/Saint-Emilion Grand Cru AOC?
These wines boast the same flavours & aromas but in a more delicate structure.
What does Cotes mean in French?
Coast/slope
Where are the Cotes located in Bordeaux?
Most of the Cotes are located on the right banks and are southwest-facing. These areas slope to the rivers or the estuary.
What soil types are found in the Cotes?
Principally clay & limestone
What are the prevalent grapes in the wines of the Cotes?
- Merlot
- Cabernet Franc
Name the appellations of the Cotes in Bordeaux.
- Cotes de Bordeaux AOC (2009)
- Blaye AOC (1936)
- Cotes de Blaye (1936)
- Bourg/Cotes de Bourg/Bourgeais AOC (1936, Dry White 1941) (this AOC goes by 3 names)
What style of wine is produced under Cotes de Bordeaux AOC?
Red only
Which grape varieties are permitted in Cotes de Bordeaux AOC wines?
Red:
* [P] Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cot
* [S] Petit Verdot, Carmenere
Name the 5 DGCs of the Cotes de Bordeaux AOC.
- Blaye Cotes de Bordeaux DGC (2009
- Cadillac Cotes de Bordeaux DGC (2009)
- Castillon Cotes de Bordeaux DGC (2009)
- Francs Cotes de Bordeaux DGC (2009)
- Sainte-Foy Cotes de Bordeaux DGC (2016)
This AOC can incorporate the fruit from any of these DGCs into their wines.
Note: some DGCs are allowed to make more wine styles than just red.
What styles of wine are produced under Blaye Cotes de Bordeaux DGC?
- Dry White: produces 3% of all the dry white wine made in Bordeaux (2018)
- Red: Merlot-based; only 40% of its production is red