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Bordeaux - France - CMS Intro Somm Flashcards

1
Q

When does evidence of wine production in the greater Bordeaux region date back to?

A

4th century AD

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2
Q

Which foreign market became the most important for Bordeaux wine in the Middle Ages?

A

England

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3
Q

What did Dutch merchants create in the mid-1600s to expand trade in Bordeaux?

A

A complex series of channels that drained marshes

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4
Q

What was the impact of the new vineyards created by Dutch merchants in Bordeaux?

A

Wines from these vineyards were shipped worldwide and became famous

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5
Q

What are the two main factors linked to the commercial success and international renown of Bordeaux wine?

A
  • The region’s importance as a center of trade
  • Easy access to the Atlantic Ocean
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6
Q

True or False: The wine trade in Bordeaux boomed during the Middle Ages.

A

True

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7
Q

Bordeaux

Fill in the blank: In the mid-1600s in Bordeaux, Dutch merchants drained _______ to create more land suitable for viticulture.

A

marshes

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8
Q

Where is Bordeaux located?

A

Southwestern France, inland from the Atlantic Ocean

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9
Q

What type of climate does Bordeaux have?

A

Maritime

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10
Q

Which parallel is Bordeaux located on?

A

45th parallel

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11
Q

What moderates the climate of Bordeaux?

A

Its waterways and its proximity to the Atlantic coast

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12
Q

What current brings warm waters to Bordeaux?

A

Gulf Stream current, from the Caribbean

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13
Q

What helps keep the weather in Bordeaux mild yet humid?

A

The Gulf Stream current

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14
Q

What weather conditions can the region of Bordeaux suffer from?

A

Rain and frost

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15
Q

What protects the Bordeaux region from harsh storms and winds from the Atlantic?

A

A large pine forest along the coast to the west

This natural barrier helps mitigate the impact of severe weather.

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16
Q

Which two rivers meet north of Bordeaux to form the Gironde Estuary?

A

Garonne and Dordogne

The estuary flows into the Atlantic Ocean.

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17
Q

What are the three sections into which the area around Bordeaux is divided?

A
  • Left Bank West of Garonne and Gironde
  • Right Bank East and north of the Dordogne and Gironde
  • Entre-Deux-Mers Between the Garonne and Dordogne

The bodies of water are what divide this area into three sections.

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18
Q

What is key to the soil types in Bordeaux regions?

A

Water drainage

Each of the regions of Bordeaux is known for a specific soil type that is matched with the grape variety that grows best there.

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19
Q

What type of soil is found in Médoc and Graves on the Left Bank of Bordeaux?

A

Gravel

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20
Q

What soil types are present in Saint-Émilion on the Right Bank of Bordeaux?

A

Gravel, limestone, sand

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21
Q

What type of soil is found in Pomerol on the Right Bank of Bordeaux?

A

Iron pan under sand and clay

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22
Q

What are the white grape varieties from Bordeaux?

A
  • Sauvignon Blanc
  • Sémillon
  • Muscadelle (small quantities)
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23
Q

What is the most widely planted red grape variety in Bordeaux?

A

Merlot

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24
Q

List the red grape varieties found in Bordeaux.

A
  • Merlot (most widely planted)
  • Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Cabernet Franc
  • Petit Verdot (small quantities)
  • Malbec (rarely seen)
  • Carmenère (rarely seen)

Malbec and Carmenère are permitted but not commonly cultivated in modern Bordeaux.

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25
Q

What climatic challenges does Bordeaux viticulture face?

A

Rain at harvest and frost

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26
Q

Fill in the blank: The grape variety _______ is known as the most widely planted in Bordeaux.

A

Merlot

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27
Q

Fill in the blank: Bordeaux’s Muscadelle grape variety is typically found in _______ quantities.

A

small

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28
Q

What is a typical blend composition of Red Wines from Médoc communes?

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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29
Q

What is a typical blend composition of Red Wines from Saint-Émilion and Pomerol?

A

70% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc

These wines spend some time in French oak barrels.

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30
Q

What is a typical blend composition of Dry White Wines from Graves?

A

80% Sauvignon Blanc, 20% Sémillon

Most inexpensive white wines from Bordeaux are made without oak.

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31
Q

What is a typical blend composition of Sweet Wines from Sauternes?

A

80% Sémillon, 20% Sauvignon Blanc, Muscadelle (small percentage)

Many sweet wines of Bordeaux are aged in new French oak barrels.

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32
Q

What are the biggest weather-related challenges faced by Bordeaux wine producers?

A

Spring frosts and excessive rainfall at harvest

Bordeaux is well protected from some harsher influences of the Atlantic but still experiences inconsistent weather.

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33
Q

True or False: Bordeaux wines are typically made from single grape varieties.

A

False

Wines from Bordeaux are usually blends of two or more grape varieties.

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34
Q

Fill in the blank: Red Wines from Médoc communes are usually aged in _______.

A

new French oak barrels

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35
Q

What is the primary grape variety in the inexpensive white wines from Bordeaux?

A

Sauvignon Blanc

These wines are mainly from Graves (Pessac-Léognan) on the left bank and Entre-Deux-Mers; they are often made without oak aging.

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36
Q

What does the term ‘vintage variation’ refer to in Bordeaux winemaking?

A

The differences in weather conditions from year to year affecting wine quality

Different vintages of the same wine can show vastly different characteristics.

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37
Q

What is the largest appellation in size and production in Bordeaux?

A

Bordeaux AOP

Bordeaux AOP allows grapes from anywhere in the entire region and includes red and white wines in both sweet and dry styles.

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38
Q

What are the types of Bordeaux appellations?

A
  • Regional Appellations
  • Sub-Regional or District Appellations
  • Commune Appellations
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39
Q

What are two examples of Sub-Regional or District Appellations in Bordeaux?

A
  • Haut Médoc AOP
  • Entre-Deux-Mers AOP

Sub-Regional or District Appellations may be the highest appellations attainable in a particular locale or they may encompass a number of separate commune appellations.

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40
Q

What are the smallest AOPs in each region of Bordeaux known for?

A

Generally the highest quality wines

These are referred to as Commune Appellations.

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41
Q

List three examples of Commune Appellations in Bordeaux.

A
  • Pauillac
  • Margaux
  • Pomerol

Other examples include Saint Julien, Saint Estèphe, and St. Émilion.

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42
Q

True or False: Bordeaux AOP includes only red wines.

A

False

Bordeaux AOP encompasses both red and white wines in sweet and dry styles.

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43
Q

Fill in the blank: The _______ appellation in Bordeaux allows grapes from anywhere in the entire region.

A

Bordeaux AOP

This appellation is the largest in terms of size and production.

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44
Q

What distinguishes commune appellations from other types of appellations?

A

They are the smallest AOPs with the highest quality wines

Commune appellations focus on specific areas within Bordeaux.

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45
Q

How are Bordeaux vineyards typically known?

A

By names of châteaux

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46
Q

What is the French word for castles or manor houses?

A

Châteaux

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47
Q

What is a Bordeaux château?

A

An estate under a single ownership

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48
Q

Can the size of a Bordeaux château change over time?

A

Yes, with the sale and purchase of vineyards and land

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49
Q

What is a prime example of a Bordeaux château that has increased in vineyard land?

A

Château Pétrus in Pomerol

This Château has 50% more vineyard land today than it did 50 years ago.

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50
Q

What does a château name represent in Bordeaux?

A

More a brand than a specific vineyard location

51
Q

True or False: Not all Bordeaux châteaux are architecturally grand.

52
Q

Fill in the blank: Bordeaux vineyards are not known by names attached to specific plots of land, as they are in _______.

53
Q

What is a routine practice in Bordeaux for aging wine?

A

Aging wine in 225-liter oak barrels (barriques)

54
Q

What type of barrels are commonly used for aging wine in Bordeaux?

A

225-liter oak barrels (barriques)

55
Q

What is the typical proportion of new barrels used for prestigious wines?

A

Larger proportions of new barrels

This is true whether red or white, dry or sweet

56
Q

What aromas are lent to wines aged in new barrels in Bordeaux?

A
  • Vanilla
  • Toasted cedar
  • Spice
57
Q

What is the Médoc (Left Bank, Bordeaux) known for?

A

Bordeaux’s most renowned red wine area

58
Q

What was the Médoc (Left Bank, Bordeaux) before the mid-17th century?

A

A salt marsh and pine forest

59
Q

Who drained the marshes in the Médoc (Left Bank, Bordeaux)?

A

Dutch engineers

60
Q

What did the drainage of the marshes in the Médoc (Left Bank, Bordeaux) reveal?

A

Beds of gravel

61
Q

What grape variety became associated with the Médoc (Left Bank, Bordeaux)?

A

Cabernet Sauvignon

62
Q

What impact did Médoc (Left Bank, Bordeaux) wines have globally?

A

Became the benchmark for wines made with Cabernet Sauvignon worldwide

63
Q

What type of buildings were constructed in the Médoc (Left Bank, Bordeaux)?

A

Majestic mansions, or châteaux

64
Q

What do the châteaux in the Médoc (Left Bank, Bordeaux) represent?

A

The very idea of Bordeaux wine

65
Q

Where is the Médoc (Left Bank, Bordeaux) located?

A

North of the city of Bordeaux along the Gironde Estuary

66
Q

What type of soil is found in the Médoc (Left Bank, Bordeaux)?

A

Gravel, with great moisture draining properties

This soil type is particularly beneficial for growing Cabernet Sauvignon grapes.

67
Q

What grape variety is primarily associated with the Médoc (Left Bank, Bordeaux)?

A

Cabernet Sauvignon – based blends

68
Q

What type of wines are produced in the Médoc (Left Bank, Bordeaux)?

A

Red wines only

The region is renowned for its high-quality red wines, mainly utilizing Cabernet Sauvignon.

69
Q

What are the main sub-regions of Médoc AOP (Left Bank, Bordeaux)?

A

Médoc AOP and Haut-Médoc AOP

70
Q

Name four communes within the Médoc AOP (Left Bank, Bordeaux).

A
  • Saint-Estèphe AOP
  • Pauillac AOP
  • Saint-Julien AOP
  • Margaux AOP
71
Q

What year was the Bordeaux classification commissioned by Emperor Napoléon III?

A

1855

The classification was for the Universal Exposition in Paris

72
Q

How many properties were ranked in the 1855 Bordeaux classification?

A

61 properties

73
Q

What were the five tiers used in the 1855 Bordeaux classification?

A

First growth through fifth growth

74
Q

What criteria was used to rank the properties in the 1855 classification?

A

Historical record of the prices that each property’s wines commanded in the marketplace

The higher the price, the higher the ranking

75
Q

Which communes were excluded from the 1855 Bordeaux classification?

A

Communes in the Right Bank

76
Q

Which property in the Pessac-Léognan commune was included in the classification?

A

Château Haut-Brion

77
Q

Why was Château Haut-Brion included in the 1855 classification?

A

Because the wine grown and made at Château Haut-Brion had long fetched a very high price in the market

78
Q

Is the 1855 Bordeaux classification part of the AOP system?

79
Q

Which château was elevated to first growth status in 1973?

A

Château Mouton-Rothschild

80
Q

List all the First Growth Châteaux of the 1855 classification.

A
  • Château Lafite-Rothschild
  • Château Latour
  • Château Mouton-Rothschild (elevated to first growth status in 1973)
  • Château Margaux
  • Château Haut-Brion
81
Q

What are the top recent red vintages of the Médoc (Left Bank, Bordeaux)

A
  • 2005
  • 2009
  • 2010
  • 2015
82
Q

What are the top recent white vintages of the Médoc (Left Bank, Bordeaux)?

A
  • 2006
  • 2007
  • 2008
  • 2011
  • 2012
  • 2013
  • 2014
83
Q

Where is Graves AOP located?

A

South of the Médoc and directly south and around of the city of Bordeaux

84
Q

What type of soil is found in Graves AOP (Left Bank, Bordeaux)?

85
Q

Name the white grape varieties used in Graves AOP (Left Bank, Bordeaux).

A
  • Sauvignon Blanc
  • Sémillon
86
Q

Name the red grape varieties used in Graves AOP (Left Bank, Bordeaux).

A
  • Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Merlot
  • Cabernet Franc
87
Q

What is the northernmost sub-region of Graves AOP (Left Bank, Bordeaux)?

A

Pessac-Léognan AOP

88
Q

What is significant about Pessac-Léognan AOP (Graves AOP, Left Bank, Bordeaux)?

A

It includes the most highly regarded châteaux

89
Q

What types of wines are vinified in Graves AOP (Left Bank, Bordeaux)?

A
  • Dry white wines
  • Dry red wines
90
Q

What type of oak is often used in the vinification of Graves AOP (Left Bank, Bordeaux) wines?

A

New French oak

91
Q

Where is Sauternes AOP (Left Bank, Bordeaux) located?

A

Southernmost portion of Graves

92
Q

What geographical feature borders Sauternes AOP (Left Bank, Bordeaux)?

A

The Garonne and Ciron Rivers

93
Q

What type of wines are produced in Sauternes AOP (Left Bank, Bordeaux)?

A

Botrytis-affected sweet wines

94
Q

How are Sauternes AOP (Left Bank, Bordeaux) wines typically aged?

A

Oak aged, often in new French barrique

95
Q

What does Entre-Deux-Mers translate to?

A

Land between two seas

96
Q

What/where is the Entre-Deux-Mers AOP, Bordeaux?

A

A large area between the Garonne and Dordogne rivers

97
Q

What type of soil is found in Entre-Deux-Mers, Bordeaux?

A

Very fertile silt

98
Q

Name three white grape varieties grown in Entre-Deux-Mers, Bordeaux.

A
  • Sauvignon Blanc
  • Sémillon
  • Muscadelle
99
Q

What type of wines are produced in Entre-Deux-Mers, Bordeaux?

A

Dry white wines only

100
Q

What vinification techniques are used in Entre-Deux-Mers, Bordeaux?

A
  • Little to no oak
  • Stainless steel
101
Q

What appellation do red wines made in Entre-Deux-Mers fall under?

A

Bordeaux AOP appellation

102
Q

What is the primary appellation of Entre-Deux-Mers, Bordeaux?

A

Entre-Deux-Mers AOP

103
Q

Does Entre-Deux-Mers, Bordeaux have a classification system?

104
Q

What is the location Saint-Émilion (Right Bank, Bordeaux)?

A

Along the Dordogne River near the town of Libourne

105
Q

What are the main soil types found in Saint-Émilion (Right Bank, Bordeaux)?

A

Proportions vary depending on the location, including:
* Large bed of silt, clay, and gravel
* Limestone plateau
* Sand

106
Q

What are the primary grape varieties used in Saint-Émilion (Right Bank, Bordeaux) red wines?

A

Merlot, Cabernet Franc

These are the main grape varieties for red wines in the Saint-Émilion region.

107
Q

What style of wine is allowed in Saint-Émilion AOP (Right Bank, Bordeaux)?

A

Red wines only

108
Q

Name the two main appellations in Saint-Émilion (Right Bank, Bordeaux).

A
  • Saint-Émilion AOP
  • Saint-Émilion Grand Cru AOP

Saint-Émilion Grand Cru AOP is an appellation, not a classification.

109
Q

What is a key characteristic of wines labeled as Saint-Émilion Grand Cru AOP?

A

They have an additional 0.5% alcohol and must undergo longer aging than Saint-Émilion AOP wines.

110
Q

When was the classification system for Saint-Émilion instituted?

A

1955

The classification system helps to categorize the quality of wines in the Saint-Émilion region.

111
Q

How often is the classification system for Saint-Émilion revised?

A

Every 10 years

The most recent revision of the classification system occurred in 2012.

112
Q

True or False: Saint-Émilion Grand Cru is a classification.

A

False

It is an appellation, not a classification.

113
Q

What is the classification of Château Ausone?

A

Premiers Grands Crus Classé A

Part of the top tier in the Saint-Émilion Classification 2012.

114
Q

How many châteaux are classified as Premiers Grands Crus Classé A in the Saint-Émilion Classification of 2012?

A

4 named châteaux

The top tier includes Château Ausone, Château Angélus, Château Pavie, and Château Cheval-Blanc.

115
Q

List the châteaux classified as Premiers Grands Crus Classé A in the Saint-Émilion Classification of 2012.

A
  • Château Ausone
  • Château Angélus
  • Château Pavie
  • Château Cheval-Blanc

These are the only châteaux in this top classification.

116
Q

How many châteaux are classified as Premiers Grands Crus Classé B in the Saint Émilion Classification of 2012?

A

14 named châteaux

This classification is the second tier in the Saint-Émilion classification system.

117
Q

What is the total number of châteaux classified as Grands Crus Classé in the Saint-Émilion Classification of 2012?

A

64 named châteaux

118
Q

Where is Pomerol AOP located (Right Bank, Bordeaux)?

A

Along the Dordogne River near the town of Libourne to the northwest of Saint Émilion

119
Q

What is the size of the Pomerol AOP appellation (Right Bank, Bordeaux)?

A

Only 3 square miles

A very small appellation

120
Q

What types of soil are found in Pomerol AOP (Right Bank, Bordeaux)?

A
  • Sand
  • Clay
  • Gravel
  • Subsoil of iron pan and rich clay
121
Q

What grape varieties are primarily used in Pomerol AOP (Right Bank, Bordeaux)?

A

Merlot and Cabernet Franc-based blends

122
Q

What type of wines does Pomerol AOP produce (Right Bank, Bordeaux)?

A

Red wines only

123
Q

Does Pomerol AOP have a classification system (Right Bank, Bordeaux)?

CMS - Intro Somm (8 decks)

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