Bordeaux (France) Flashcards
What type of soils will you find in Pomerol on the Right Bank?
Iron pan under san and clay.
Where would you find Chateau Petrus?
Pomerol.
What grapes/styles of wine are made in Saint-Emilion?
Merlot, Cabernet Franc.
Dry reds only.
What was the major factor for success for international trade from/in Bordeaux?
The proximity to the Atlantic Ocean.
What body of water brings warm water from the Caribbean creating a mild, yet humid climate in Bordeaux?
The Gulf Stream.
What is the Bordeaux appellation hierarchy?
Bordeaux AOP (Regional appellations)
Sub-Regional/District appellations
Commune appellations
Describe Cabernet Franc (Bordeaux).
Fragrance, Black and Red Fruit, Freshness
Describe Sauvignon Blanc (Bordeaux).
Grassiness, High acid
Bordeaux is the largest region of AOP production in France. True or False?
True.
What was the important of the 1855 Classification?
It ranked 61 properties into first-fifth growths.
They used historical records of prices each wine commanded in that year.
Communes on the Right Bank were not included.
It is not a party of the AOP system, but still stands today.
What is the classification system of Saint-Emilion?
Instituted in 1955 and revised every 10 years (last in 2012)
Based on the reputation and tasting of the wines.
Wines are designated either as ‘premiers grand crus classe’ or ‘grand crus classe’.
What does Entre-Deux-Mers translate to?
Land Between Two Seas
Where is Graves located?
South of the Medoc.
Left Bank
Sub-Regional/District appellations?
Highest appellations attainable in a particular locale.
Can encompass a number of separate commune appellations.
(ex. Haut-Medoc)
What are the primary grape varietals of Bordeaux?
Sauvignon Blanc
Semillon
Muscadelle (small %)
Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Franc Petit Verdot (small %) Malbec (small %) Carmenere (small %)
Example of a typical wine from Saint-Emilion/Pomerol?
70% Merlot
30% Cabernet Franc
(usually some time in French oak barrels)
What kind of soil is found in Entre-Deux-Mers?
Very fertile silt.
Where is Bordeaux located?
Southwestern France.
Example of a sweet wine from Sauternes?
80% Semillon
20% Sauvignon Blanc
+ Muscadelle in small quantities
(Most aged in new French oak)
Where is Pomerol located?
Along the Dordogne River near the town of Libourne.
Northwest of Saint-Emilion.
Right Bank.
What are the 5 first growths of Bordeaux?
Chateau Lafita-Rothschild Chateau Latour Chateau Mouton-Rothschild (elevated in 1973) Chateau Margaux Chateau Haut-Brion (Graves)
What grape varietal grows best in gravel soils?
Cabernet Sauvignon.
What are some concerns during harvest in Bordeaux?
Region can suffer from excessive rain and frost.
What is the important soil type found in Medoc/Graves on the Left Bank?
Gravel.
What did Dutch Merchants do in Bordeaux in the 1600’s?
Sought to expand trade and drained the marshes which revealed gravel soils underneath.
What are the climate moderators for Bordeaux?
Large pine forest along the coast protects from Atlantic weather.
Gulf Stream brings warm water from Caribbean.
Garonne and Dordogne Rivers form Gironde Estuary and divide the area into three sections.
Where is Saint-Emilion located?
Along the Dordogne River near the town of Libourne.
Right Bank.
Example of a typical wine from Medoc?
70% Cabernet Sauvignon
30% Merlot
+ some Cabernet France/Petit Verdot
(Usually some time in French oak barrels)
What are top recent vintages of the Medoc?
Red = 2005, 2009, 2010, 2015
White = 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
What are the main grape varietals of Graves?
Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon (white)
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc (red)
Where is Pessac-Leognan AOP located?
Northernmost part of Graves.
Includes most highly regarded chateaux.
Bordeaux AOP
Regional appellation.
Largest in size and production.
Grapes can come from anywhere in region.
Includes dry and sweet reds/whites.
What kind of soils are found in Pomerol?
Sand, clay, gravel, subsoil of iron pan and rich clay.
Describe Muscadelle (Bordeaux).
Floral Intensity, Fruitiness
What are the three main areas of Bordeaux?
Left Bank
Right Bank
Entre-Deux-Mers
How many liters are in a French barrique?
225-liters
Who was Bordeaux’s largest market for wine in the Middle Ages?
England.
What kind of soil is in Graves?
Gravel.
What is the climate in Bordeaux?
Maritime - 45th parallel.
What grapes/styles of wine are made in Entre-Deux-Mers?
Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Muscadelle
Dry whites only - stainless steel, no oak.
Who commissioned the 1855 Classification in Bordeaux?
Emperor Napoleon III
What grape varietal does well in clay soils?
Merlot
What grapes/styles of wine are made in Pomerol?
Merlot and Cabernet Franc based blends.
Commune appellations
Smallest AOP’s in the region.
Highest wuality wines.
(Ex. Paulliac)
What style of wines are made in Sauternes?
Botrytis affected sweet wines.
aged in new French barriques
What is the most widely planted grape in Bordeaux?
Merlot
What century does wine making in Bordeaux date back to?
4th Century
Where is the Medoc located?
North of the city of Bordeaux on the Gironde Estuary.
Left Bank.
What are the “Premiers Grands Crus Classes A” Chateaus?
Chateau Austen
Chateau Angelus
Chateau Pavie
Chateau Cheval-Blanc
What are the AOP’s of Saint-Emilion?
Saint-Emilion AOP
Saint Emilion Grand Cru AOP
wines have 0.5% higher alcohol and must be aged longer - appellation, NOT a classification
Pomerol has its own classification system. True or False?
False.
What kind of soil will you find in Saint-Emilion on the Right Bank?
Gravel, limestone, and sand.
What kind of soil is found in Saint-Emilion?
Large beds of silt, clay, and gravel.
Limestone plateau and sand.
Where is Entre-Deux-Mers located?
Between the Garonne and Dordogne rivers.
Describe Merlot (Bordeaux).
Plushness, Texture, Higher Alcohol, Blue and Red Fruit
Describe Cabernet Sauvignon (Bordeaux).
Power, Austerity, Deep Color, High Tannin, Black Fruit
Describe Petit Verdot (Bordeaux).
Floral perfume, Deep Color, High Tannin
What are the AOP’s of Graves?
Pessac-Leognan AOP
Sauternes AOP
Trade in Bordeaux boomed in the during what?
The Middle Ages
How many “Premiers Grands Crus Classe B” chateaus are there in Saint-Emilion?
14 named chateau
Describe Semillon (Bordeaux)
Texture and weight
Where is Sauternes AOP located?
Southernmost part of Graves.
Bordered by the Garonne and Ciron rivers.
What are the Medoc AOP communes?
Saint-Estephe AOP
Pauillac AOP
Saint-Julien AOP
Margaux AOP
(north to south)
How many Grands Crus Classe chateaus are there in Saint-Emilion?
64 named chateau
What styles of wine are made in Pessac-Leognan?
Dry reds
Dry Whites
(aged in French new oak)
What are the major regions of Bordeaux?
Medoc (Left Bank) Graves (Left Bank) Entre-Deux-Mers St. Emilion (Right Bank) Pomerol (Right Bank)
Example of dry white wine from Entre-Deux-Mers?
80% Sauvignon Blanc
20% Semillon
(majority are not made with oak, only for prestigious wines)
