Bordeaux - Certified Sommelier Exam Flashcards

1
Q

What is the climate of Bordeaux?

A

Maritime with the atlantic and gironde estuary acting as moderating infiences. Short winters, damp spring, and more contental towards St Emilion and Pomerol

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2
Q

What are the generic Bordeaux AOP appellations>

A

Bordeaux AOP
Bordeaux Superieur AOP
Cremant de Bordeaux AOP - Method Tradl sparkler

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3
Q

How would a drine wine from Bordeaux AOP be labeled?

A

As Sec

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4
Q

What are the 6 grapes allowed in Bordeaux AOP red wines

A
Cab Sauv
Merlot
Cab Franc
Petite Verdot
Malbec
Carmenere (rare)
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5
Q

What type of soil does Bordeaux Merlot prefer?

A

most widley planted and earliest to ripen, Merlot prefers Clay based soil as it delays natural vigor

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6
Q

What type of soil does Bordeaux Cabernet Sauvignon prefer?

A

well-draining Gravel

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7
Q

What soil does Bordeaux Cab Franc prefer?

A

limestone based soil which promotes acidity and freshness

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8
Q

What qualities does Cab Sauv give to a Bordeaux Blend

A

the highly pigmented and tannic cab sauv gives structure, power, and longevity

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9
Q

What characteristcs does Merlot bring to a Bordeaux blend wine?

A

a fleshy, juicy texture that can soften the austerity of Cab Sauv

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10
Q

What characteristics does Cab Franc bring to Bordeaux Blends?

A

more tannic than merlot, less weighty or masculine that Cab Sauv, lends a herbal spice and red fruit aromatics

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11
Q

What does petit verdot add to a bordeaux blend and where is it found

A

Found on the left bank, adds color, depth and exotic perfume

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12
Q

What does malbec add to a Bordeaux blend, and where is it found?

A

Known as pressac on the right bank, performs similar to merlot - is infrequently found in Bordeaux

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13
Q

What are the appellations of the Medoc in Bordeaux

A
Medoc AOP
Haut-Medoc AOP
St Estephe AOP
Pauillac AOP
Listract-Medoc AOP
Moulis-en-Medoc AOP
Margeaux AOP
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14
Q

What are the 6 communes of Bordeaux’s Haut-Medoc

A
St-Estephe
Pauillac
St-Julien
Listrac
Moulis
Margeaux
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15
Q

What are the 5 first growths of Bordeaux

A
Chateau Latour - Pauillac
Chateau Lafite-Rothschild - Pauillac
Chateau Mouton-Rothschild - Pauillac
Chateau Haut-Brion - Graves
Chateau Margeaux - Margeaux
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16
Q

How many Grand Cru Classe properties are there?

A
1er - 5 (orig 4)
2eme - 14
3eme - 14
4eme - 10
5eme - 18
(61)
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17
Q

Describe the wines of St-Estephe AOP and CHateau of Note

A

Ther wines are sturdy and full bodied reds with a slightly higher % of merlot due to higher clay w gravel. Only 5 classified growths:
Ch Cos d’Estournel is a “super 2nd growth” making powerful polished modern wines

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18
Q

Describe the wines of Pauillac AOP and chateau of note

A

Cab Sauv based wines are structed and long lived. Home to 3 1st growths
-Ch Lafite-Rothschild: brooding depth & concentration
-Ch Mouton-Rothschild
-Ch Latour: Aroma and Elegance
deepest gravel topsoil

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19
Q

Describe the wines of St Julien AOP and Ch of Note

A

Reds are typically elegant. Produces less wine than other AOP, but 80% is cru classe quality-very good
5 2nd growths, incl “Super Second”
-CH Leoville Las Cases
-CH Ducru-Beaucaillou

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20
Q

Describe the wines of Listrac-Medoc AOP and Moulis-en-Medoc AOP, and any Chateau of note

A

No classified growth, sources of good value in good wines

Ch Chasse-Spleen in Moulis is most famous

21
Q

Describe the wines of Margeaux AOP and Ch of note

A

Largest communal appellation spreading through 5 villages of: Soussans, Margeaux, Contanna, Laborde, Arsac

Margeaux on thin sandy gravel over Limestone
21 classified growths including 1er Ch Margeaux
3rd Growth Ch Palmer is Excellent
Wines are feminine, floral bouquet, exotic char, finesse

22
Q

What was the first identifiable Chateau in the left bank?

A

Ch Pape-Clemant, 1305, a papal gift in Graves

23
Q

What is the soil composition of Graves AOP

A

Boulbenes-mixture of sand, gravel & light claw - sandier to the south
White wine = 25% of graves production

24
Q

Apart from Chateau Haut-Brion, when were Graves wines Classified?

A

Reds in 1953, with whites in 1959

25
Q

What is the prestige appellation of Graves

A

Communal sub-appellation of Pessac-Leognan AOP in northern graves. Created 1987, all cru classe w/in communes:
Pessac, Léognan, Cadaujac, Canéjan, Gradignan, Martillac, Mérignac, Saint-Médard-d’Eyrans, Talence, and Villenave-d’Ornons.

26
Q

What are the 3 sweet wine appellations of Graves

A

Sauternes, Barsac, Cerons

27
Q

What grapes are used in the production of Sauternes

A

Semillion, Sauv Blanc, Muscadelle

28
Q

When were the wines of Sauternes classified? Ch of note?

A

Classified in 1855, w the Medoc, divided into 1st and 2nd growth, Ch d’Yquem is 1er Cru

29
Q

What are the appellations of Graves?

A
Graves AOP
Graves Superieur AOP
Pessac-Leognan AOP
Cerons AOP
Barsac AOP
Sauternes AOP
30
Q

Most wines of Right Bank are Merlot Based. What is the notable exception?

A

Ch Figeac is St Emilion is Cab Sauv Based

31
Q

What is the soil composition of Right Bank St-Emilion

A

St-Émilion contains a diversity of soils broadly categorized into two types: the côtes and graves. As a simplification, the hillside côtes are steep limestone slopes and graves is a gravelly limestone plateau resembling soils of the Médoc.

32
Q

What are the right bank Bordeaux Appellations?

A
St-Emilion AOP
Lussac-St-Emilion AOP
Montagne-St-Emilion AOP
St-Georges-St-Emlion AOP
St-Emilion Grand Cru AOP (Addl 0.5% alch/Longer elevage)
Pomerol AOP
Lalanda-de-Pomerol AOP
Fransac AOP
Canon-Fransac AOP
33
Q

When were the wines of St-Emilion Classified

A

1955

34
Q

What is the soil of Pomerol

A

5 sq miles - dominated by sand, clay and gravel, subsoil of iron pan and rich clay

35
Q
When were the wines of the following areas classified
Medoc
Pomerol
St Emilion
Sauternes
Graves White
Graves Red
A
Medoc - 1855
Pomerol - not
St Emilion - 1955
Sauternes - 1855
Graves White - 1959
Graves Red - 1953
36
Q

What are some notable Pomerol Ch?

A
Ch Petrus
Ch Lafleur
Vieux-Chateau-Carton
Ch Le Pin
Ch Trotanoy
La Consiellante
37
Q

What is France’s appellation system called?

A

It was the AOC til 09 - Appellation d’Origine Controlee and was changed to AOP - Appellation d’Origine Protegee - two are complimentary

38
Q

What is France’s classification for regional wines?

A

29% of Frances Wines are Regional and released as Vin De Pays

39
Q

What gov’t agency oversees the Vin de Pays regulations?

A

VINIFLHOR

40
Q

What are the yields for Vin de Pays wines?

A

90 hl/ha white
85 hl/ha Red and Rose
Min alch 9-10%

41
Q

What is an alternate category to Vin de Pays

A

IGP - Indication Geographiqe Protegee

42
Q

What % of grapes must be sourced from the stated area in Vin de Pays/IGP wine?

A

85%

43
Q

What are the three levels of IGP zones

A
  • Regional
  • Departmental
  • Local
44
Q

What are the regional Vin de Pays Zones?

A
  • Pays d’Oc IGP, Languedoc-Roussillon
  • Val de Loire IGP, Loire
  • Comtés Rhodaniens IGP, N Rhône Valley, Jura & Savoie
  • Méditerranée IGP, Southeast France
  • Atlantique IGP, Bordeaux and Charente
  • Comté Tolosan IGP, Sud-Ouest
45
Q

T or F: Vin de France/Vin de Table/Vin Ordinare can state Vintage and Varietal

A

True as of 2009

46
Q

What are the 3 French wine Classifications

A

AOC/AOP
Vin de Pays/IGP
Vin de France/Table Wine

47
Q

What is the role of Bordeaux Negociants

A

Buy grapes or wine in barrel and store/blend/age/sell

48
Q

What is the role of a courtier in Bordeaux wine trade?

A

Financier - also res for en preimur

49
Q

What are the appellations of Cotes de Bordeaux, Entre-deux-Mers- Bourg and Blaye a

A

-Bourg/Cotes de Bourg/Bourgeais AOP
-Blaye AOP
-Cotes de Blaye AOP
-Cotes de Bordeaux AOP
-Cotes de Bordeaux-Saint-Macaire AOP
-Cadillac AOP (Sweet)
-Loupiac AOP (Sweet)
-Sainte-Croix_du_mont AOP (Sweet)
Premières Côtes de Bordeaux AOP
Graves de Vayres AOP
Sainte-Foy-Bordeaux AOP
Entre-Deux-Mers AOP