Bordeaux - General Study Guide Flashcards
Classify me: Château Couhins
1959 Graves, white only
When was St Emilion first classified and in what subsequent years was it revised?
1955, 1969, 1985, 1996, 2006, 2012
What is the maximum yield for Barsac, Sauternes, and Cerons?
25 hl/ha for Barsac and Sauternes; 40 hl/ha for Cerons
Which vintage of Bordeaux produced 8 wines that scored 100 points by Wine Spectator upon release? Can you name four of them? Which was the most expensive and which was the least expensive for release prices?
- Château Pétrus ($4975), Château Ausone ($2000), Château Lafleur ($2000), Château Margaux ($1080), Château Haut-Brion ($930), Château Pavie ($405), Château Léoville Las Cases ($315), Château L’Evangile ($260)
When are en primeur tastings generally held?
The first week of April
Classify me: Château Suduiraut
1855 Sauternes, 1eme Cru (Preignac)
When can Pomerol wines be released? Could they be 100% Petit Verdot? What about Lalande-de-Pomerol?
15 of November of the year following the harvest - yes (non min / max mandatory) Lalande can be released the 31th of March following the harvest CS, CF, Merlot, Malbec must represent a min of 70% of the blend Carmenere and PV a max of 10% (+ the yield are different, 49 vs 53)
What is the only estate on the right bank to use a significant proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon?
Figeac, in St Emilion
Classify me: Château Haut-Batailley
1855, 5eme Pauillac
Besides Haut Brion, no Chateaux in Graves were classified until what year?
1953
What is the third wine of Chateau Latour?
Paulliac de Latour
Where in Bordeaux can the boulbenes soil be found? What is it?
Graves; a mixture of clay, sand, and gravel
Classify me: Château Coutet
1855 Sauternes, 1eme Cru (Barsac)
What was the first vintage of Le Petit Mouton?
1993
Domaine Barons de Rothschild (Lafite) owns other estates in Bordeaux - which ones? Give their commnune and rank. Bonus - which winery do they own in Chile? Where?
Duhart-Milon - Pauillac, 4th Rieussec - Sauternes AOP Fargues 1st L’Evangile - Pomerol, none Paradis-Casseuil - Entre-deux-Mers, none Peyre-Labade - Haut-Medoc, none Los Vascos, Cochalgua
Describe the 2012 growing season in Bordeaux.
Rainy and cold throughout flowering with drought in August. Low yields and small berries with thick skins. Made for irradic wines with toothy tannins. Merlot fared better than Cabernet Sauvignon as clay soils retained water better than gravel.
Classify me: Château de Chevalier
1959 Graves, red and white
When was Cru Bourgeois first drawn up and how many properties did it originally have?
1932; 444
Why do you find very few Chateaux in northern Pessac-Leognan? Which ones are there?
Near the communes of Merignac, Pessac, and Talence in northern Pessac-Leognan, there are only few Chateaux remaining, including Haut Brion, Pape Clement, and La Mission Haut Brion. The city of Bordeaux lies directly north of this area and urban sprawl has swallowed up a lot of estates (the BDX airport is in Merignac!). As a result, the remaining estates are the ones who were financially viable enough to withstand development.
Second Wine: Cantenac-Brown
Brio de Cantenac Brown
Classify me: Château Grand-Puy-Ducasse
1855, 5eme Pauillac
Name three cru Bourgeois sites of St Estephe?
Ormes de Pez Phelan-Segur Meyney Beau-Site
Name the satellite appellations of St. Emilion.
Lussac Montagne St. Georges Puisseguin
What Bordeaux grape has parent/off-spring relationship with two Basque grapes?
Cabernet Franc
Name the 5 villages that Margaux is spread over. Which of them have classified growths? What is the largest and what is the smallest?
Soussans, Margaux, Cantenac, Labarde and Arsac. Margaux and Cantenac have classified growths. Labarde is the smallest, Arsac is the largest.
What is the minimum alcohol for Cotes de Bordeaux with and without subzone designate?
11/11.5
Which bank of the Garonne is St. Croix du Mont on?
Northeast
Name the five communes of Sauternes from north to south.
Barsac, Preignac, Bommes, Fargues, Sauternes
Classify me: Château Rauzan-Segla
1855, 2eme Margaux
Classify me: Château Romer du Hayot
1855 Sauternes, 2eme Cru (Fargues)
What separates St. Estephe from the Medoc?
The Chenal de Calon
What are the best vintages of the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, 00s, 10s, 20s for Sauternes and Barsac?
- 60s – 1962, 1967
- 70s – 1970, 1975, 1976, 1979
- 80s – 1983, 1986, 1988, 1989
- 90s – 1990, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999
- 00s – 2001, 2005
- 10s
- 20s
Classify me: Château Climens
1855 Sauternes, 1eme Cru (Barsac)
What is Paulliac’s only 4th growth?
Duhart-Milon
What are the Premier Cru Classe estates of Fargues?
Just one – Rieussec
Describe the soil type of Sauternes.
Gunzian and colluvial gravel with sand and clay.
Some areas of calcaire a asteries (limestone/clay) – more prominent in Barsac.
Classify me: Château Batailley
1855, 5eme Pauillac
Can producers from the communal appellations of the Medoc (Margaux, St. Estephe, etc.) release wines as Medoc AOP?
No – they may release as Haut-Medoc, not Medoc.
How many classified growths are there of St-Estephe? Name them.
2nd: Cos d’Estournel, Montrose 3rd: Calon Segur 4th: Lafon-Rochet 5th: Cos Labory
Classify me: Château Clos Haut-Peyraguey
1855 Sauternes, 1eme Cru (Bommes)
Classify me: Château Gruaud Larose
1855, 2eme St. Julien
Where is Graves de Vayres and what style of wine is made there?
On the Dordogne river, across from Fronsac (between the Dordogne and the Garonne). Blanc, blanc sec, and rouge are made.
Why is Haut Brion not classified for its white as well as its red?
Haut Brion did not ask for classification for its white wine, as it makes too little
Classify me: Château Pape-Clement
1959 Graves, red only
Which appellation of Bordeaux forbids chaptalization?
Cotes de Bordeaux St Macaire
Who owns Chateau Pape Clement, and what other Chateaux in Bordeaux does he own?
Bernard Magrez Ch. Fombrauge in St. Emilion (Grand Cru Classe) Ch. La Tour Carnet in the Haut Medoc (4th growth) Clos Haut Peyraguey in Sauternes (1st growth)
Classify me: Château Calon Segur
1855, 3eme St. Estephe
Where is Cotes de Bordeaux Saint-Macaire, and what styles of wine can be made there?
SouthEast of Loupiac, Cadillac, along the Garonne Blanc sec, moelleux, and liquoreux
Second Wine: Ducru-Beaucaillou
Croix de Beaucaillou
Classify me: Château La Tour-Haut-Brion
1959 Graves, red only (final vintage 2005)
Which estates were classified for white only in the 1959 Graves Classification? Which are still in production?
Couhins, Couhins-Lurton, and Laville-Haut-Brion (Laville is now La Mission Blanc)
Classify me: Château Palmer
1855, 3eme Margaux
What does limestone become as it erodes, and how does this affect the soil composition of St Emilion?
Limestone becomes clay as it erodes; the limestone plateau of St-Emilion has slopes of clay
Classify me: Château La Mission Haut-Brion
1959 Graves, red only
When was the appellation Pessac-Leognan established?
1987
Second Wine: Brane Cantenac
Baron de Brane
What châteaux are classified Crus Classé for only white wines in Graves?
Château Couhins Château Couhins-Lurton Château Laville-Haut-Brion
Who makes “Historical XIXth Century Wine” and what is it?
Chateau Palmer’s homage to the “Hermitaged” style of wine made in the 19th century. Includes a small percentage of Syrah. Non-vintage.
Classify me: Château Haut-Brion
1959 Graves, red only 1855 1eme
Second Wine: Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de Lalande
Réserve de la Comtesse
Classify me: Clos Fourtet
1955 St. Emilion Grand Cru Classe B
Name the second growths of St. Julien.
Leoville-Poyferre Leoville-Las Cases Leoville-Barton Gruad Larose Ducru Beaucaillou
What are the classified growths of Labarde?
Chateau Dauzac (5eme cru) Chateau Giscours (5eme cru)
What is the difference in RS and yield between Graves Superieures and Cerons?
Graves Superieures = 34 g/l RS, 40 hl/ha - MW 221 Cerons = 45 g/l RS, 40 hl/ha - MW 221
What is Malbec known as on the right bank?
Pressac
In what year did it become compulsory for classed Chateaux to estate bottle?
1972
Name the Chateaux in Graves that are only classified as Cru Classe for dry red wines.
Ch. Haut Bailly Ch. de Fieuzal Ch. Smith-Haut-Lafitte Ch. Haut Brion Ch. La Mission Haut Brion Ch. Pape Clement Ch. La Tour Haut Brion
Why are spring frosts a greater concern in Pomerol than elsewhere in Bordeaux?
Merlot ripens earlier and is more susceptible to spring frosts. Dominance of Merlot in Pomerol makes it particularly risky.
What is “sur souche”?
Practice of negociants buying grapes while they were still on the vine. Fell out of favor with the 1961 vintage which was sold off cheap and ended up being magnificent.
Classify me: Château de Myrat
1855 Sauternes 2eme Cru (Barsac)
Classify me: Château Duhart-Milon
1855, 4eme Pauillac
Classify me: Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste
1855 5eme Pauillac
Classify me: Château Romer
1855 Sauternes 2eme Cru (Fargues)
What styles of wine are made in Blaye AOP? Cotes de Blaye?
Rouge only; Blanc sec only
How is the soil different in St-Estephe and name two effects.
Richer in clay – gives greater richness and structure as well as provides an advantage in hot, dry years because of moisture retention
What is the cepage of Cheval Blanc?
57% Cab Franc, 39% Merlot, 3% Cab, 1% Malbec
What are the five villages that Sauternes covers?
N > S Barsac, Preignac, Bommes, Fargues, Sauternes
Classify me: Château La Lagune
1855 3eme Haut-Medoc
What is the only classified growth in Arsac?
Chateau du Tertre (5eme cru)
What are the Premier Cru Classe estates of Sauternes?
Just one - Ch Guiraud (as Chateau d’Yquem is Premier Cru Superieur)
Describe the soil type of Cheval Blanc vs. Ausone.
Cheval Blanc is on the gravel outposts on the western edge of St. Emilion, bordering Pomerol. The soil is a combination of gravel and clay with sand and iron. Ausone is on the cotes surrounding the plateau near the city of St. Emilion itself. The soil here is dominated by clay and limestone.
Where is Ste-Croix-du-Mont AOP and what style of wine is made there?
On the eastern shore of the Garonne; sweet white wine
Most red grapes from the Médoc and neighboring communes have a minimum must weight of 180 g/l. Which grape has a higher minimum must weight and what the heck is that minimum must weight?
Merlot has a minimum must weight of 189 g/l
What is coupage?
“Cutting” – practice of adding Spanish wine and Hermitage to Bordeaux in the 18th century. Very common for up to 15% to be added. Referred to us “vins coupes” vs. “vins purs”
Classify me: Château Clerc Milon
1855 5eme Pauillac
How many communes of Pessac-Leognan are there? Name 5.
Ten Pessac, Leognan, Cadaujac, Canéjan, Gradignan, Martillac, Mérignac, Saint-Médard-d’Eyrans, Talence, Villenave-d’Ornon
Classify me: Château Cos Labory
1855 5eme St. Estephe
Classify me: Château Belgrave
1855 5eme Haut Medoc
What is the name of Chateau d’Yquem’s dry white wine?
Y or Ygrec
Classify me: Château Lafon-Rochet
1855 4eme St. Estephe
How many St. Emilion Grand Cru Classe B estates were there before 2012? How many after?
10; 14 (4 were promoted in 2012)
Classify me: Château Sigalas-Rabaud
1855 Sauternes 1eme Cru (Bommes)
Classify me: Château Rieussec
1855 Sauternes 1eme Cru (Fargues)
What is the last of the Bordelais grapes to ripen?
Petite Verdot!
Give 3 estates of Moulis and Listrac-Medoc.
Moulis = Chasse-Spleen, Poujeaux, Clarke Listrac-Medoc = Fourcas Dupre, Fourcas Hostens, Grand Listrac
What Chateaux in Pessac-Leognan are owned by SA Clarence Dillon?
Haut Brion, La Mission Haut Brion, Laville Haut Brion, and La Tour Haut Brion (the later two now making wine for La Mission Haut Brion)
What vintage of Bordeaux produced 19 wines scored 100 points by Parker? What was the only fifth growth?
2009 The full list: Beausejour Duffau Lagarrosse Bellevue Mondotte Clinet Clos Fourtet Cos D’Estournel Ducru Beaucaillou L’Evangile Haut Brion Latour Leoville Poyferre La Mission Haut Brion Mondotte Montrose Pavie Petrus Le Pin Pontet-Canet Smith Haut Lafitte Rouge Pontet-Canet
Define the climate of Bordeaux.
Maritime climate, influenced by the Atlantic and Girone Estuary. Winters are short, spring is damp, and summers can be hot. Rot and mold are big problems.
What style of wine may be made in Entre-deux-Mers?
Exclusively dry white wine.
Where is Cadillac AOP and what style of wine is made there?
On the eastern shore of the Garonne; sweet white wine
How does soil type differ from one side of Pomerol to the next and how does this affect the wine?
Western side is sandier, lesser quality. Eastern side has more gravel with clay.
Where is Sainte-Foy-Bordeaux and what styles of wine are made there?
Further upriver (east) of the major right bank appellations, south of the Dordogne. Blanc sec, moelleux, and liquoreux as well as rouge.
Classify me: Château Kirwan
1855, 3eme Margaux
Classify me: Château La Gaffeliere
1955 St. Emilion Grand Cru Classe B
Who currently owns Chateau d’Yquem?
LVMH
What style of wine is Graves Superieures?
Off-dry white, min. 34 g/L RS
Define assemblage vs. encépagement.
Assemblage is the blend of a wine; encépagement is the varietal make-up of a vineyard.
Which two rivers have the greatest influence on the sweet wines of Graves?
The Garonne and Ciron
What classed growth was once known as Chateau Mouton Baron Phillipe?
Chateau d’Armhailac; Mouton-Rothschild bought d’Armhailac in the 1920s and renamed it Mouton Baron Phillipe. d’Armhailac is still under the ownership of Mouton, but was changed back to its original name (if anyone knows the year in which this happened, please share!)
Name two estates that disappeared from the 2012 St. Emilion Grand Cru Classe classification because they merged with other estates.
Chateau Magdelaine, formerly a B, merged with Chateau Belair-Monagne, a B as well Chateau Berget merged with Chateau Trottevieille
What style of wine can be made in the Medoc AOP?
Dry red wine
Classify me: Château Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de Lalande
1855 2eme Paulliac
In what AOP would you find Chateau Petrus?
Pomerol
What are the two northernmost Cru Classé of Pessac-Leognan?
Châteaux Haut-Brion (Pessac) and La Mission Haut-Brion (Talence)
What borders St Emilion on the north, west, south, and east?
N – Route Nationale 10 W – towns of Libourne and Pomerol S – the Ruisseua la Capelle & Dordogne E – Cotes de Castillon
Second Wine: Cos d’Estournel
Les Pagodes de Cos
Classify me: Château Langoa Barton
1855, 3eme St. Julien
Name three of the most common weather hazards in Bordeaux.
- Winter & Spring frosts (yields) - Hail in July & August (yields) - Rain at harvest causing rot, mold, and dilution
Why does Merlot thrive in clay based soils?
Clay delays natural vigor.
Where is Cotes de Bordeaux-Saint-Macaire AOP and what styles of wine are made here?
Just east of Premiers Cotes de Bordeaux, on the north side of the river, as the Garonne flattens out and runs east/west. White wine can be made in sec, moelleux, and liquoreux styles.
What are the four subzones of Cotes de Bordeaux AOP? What styles of wine can be made in each?
Cadillac, Francs, Castillon & Blaye No subzone designation Castillon & Cadillac – rouge only Blaye – Blanc sec and rouge Francs – Blanc sec and blanc liquoreux
What are the communes of Pomerol.
Libourne, Pomerol
In what year was Mouton Rothschild upgraded to a 1st growth.
1973
What are the classified growths of the Haut Medoc?
La Lagune (3rd) La Tour Carnet (4th) Cantermerle (5th) Camensac (5th) Belgrave (5th)
Which famous aperitif is produced in Podensac?
Lillet
What is the difference in potential alcohol between Barsac, Sauternes, and Cerons?
Barsac and Sauternes are both 15%, Cerons is 14.5% (all three require 12% acquired)
What two natural features separates Barsac, Sauternes, and Cerons from the rest of Graves?
The Ciron River Valley and Les Landes (forest!)
Second Wine: Lagrange
Les Fiefs de Lagrange
Classify me: Château Suau
1855 Sauternes, 2eme Cru (Preignac)
What estates border Chateau Latour on the north and south?
North – Haut Bages Liberal; South – Leoville-las-Cases
Classify me: Château Brane-Cantenac
1855, 2eme Margaux
Classify me: Château Ausone
1955 St. Emilion, Grand Cru Classe A
Each of the satellites of St-Emilion have their own commune except one. Name it.
St. Georges is within the Montagne commune.
Starting with what vintage has “Y” – Chateau d’Yquem’s dry wine – been produced every year?
2004, under the direction of LVMH
Classify me: Château Latour-Martillac
1959 Graves, red and white
What are the three main white grapes of Bordeaux AOP? What other grapes are allowed and in what amounts?
Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon & Muscadelle; Ugni Blanc, Merlot Blanc, and Colombard can make up no more than 30% of the blend collectively
What are the difference in yield between St Emilion and St Emilion Grand Cru?
53hl/ha vs 46hl/ha (and 11 vs 11.5% // release 15th of April vs 15th of May of the year following the harvest)
Classify me: Château La Tour Carnet
1855, 4eme Haut Medoc
Classify me: Château Branaire-Ducru
1855, 4eme St. Julien
What appellation lies directly across the Gironde Estuary from Marguax?
Cotes de Bourg
What first growth removed itself from en primeur sales in 2012?
Chateau Latour
Classify me: Château Giscours
1855, 3eme Margaux
What commune lies directly across the Ciron from Barsac?
Preignac
What is the subzone of Entre-deux-Mers?
Haut-Benauge
Classify me: Château Rauzan-Gassies
1855, 2eme Margaux
What other Chateau has vineyards contiguous with Latour’s l’Enclos?
Leoville-las-Cases
What are Sauvignon Gris and Muscadelle said to contribute to a white Bordeaux blend?
SG – plush, pink-skinned, floral, perfumed Muscadelle – fresh and perfumed vibrancy
When did it become common for consumers to be involved in en primeur tastings?
In the 1970s. As estate bottling became ubiquitous, consumers invested in futures rather than merchants who bought barrels from negociants.
Classify me: Château Saint-Pierre
1855, 4eme St. Julien
Which of the classified chateaux of Pessac-Leognan are located inside the city of Bordeaux (which includes the surrounding communes of Merignac, Talence, Pessac) ?
Château Pape-Clement - Pessac Château Haut-Brion - Pessac Chateau La Mission Haut Brion - Talence Chateau Laville-Haut Brion, now part of Haut Brion / La Mission - Talence Chateau La Tour Haut Brion - Talence
What is crasse de fer?
The iron and clay rich soil of Pomerol
Which bank of the Garonne is Loupiac on?
Northeast
Second Wine: Montrose
La Dame de Montrose
Classify me: Château Smith-Haut Lafitte
1959 Graves, red only
Classify me: Château de Rayne-Vigneau
1855 Sauternes, 1eme Cru (Bommes)
Classify me: Château Malescot Saint-Exupery
1855, 3eme Margaux
In what AOP would you find Le Pin?
Pomerol
What steps were taken in the 2012 classification of St Emilion to avoid the accusations of partiality that plagued the 2006 classification?
The Syndicat Viticole of St Emilion passed all authority to the INAO who appointed a board of judges from outside of Bordeaux
Describe the ways in which the classification of St Emilion was structured differently than the 1855 classification of the Medoc.
Three main ways: 1) Inclusion would depend on submitted requests, not a ranking of local merchants 2) Ranking would be based on tasting and analysis of the estate rather than market value of the wines 3) It would be reassessed periodically rather than set in stone
Can you make sweet wine in Cotes-de-Bordeaux Cadilliac?
No
How many estates were originally classified in Graves in 1953? How many are there today?
10 were originally classified in 1953, with 6 more being added in 1959. Two are no longer in operation (Laville Haut Brion and La Tour Haut Brion), bringing the number to 14.
Where is Ch. Sociando-Mallet?
Located just north of St. Estephe in the Haut Medoc.
Classify me: Château Filhot
1855 Sauternes, 2eme Cru (Sauternes)
What is the difference between “petite vidure” and “grosse vidure”?
petite vidure = CF, grosse vidure = CS
Classify me: Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey
1855 Sauternes, 1eme Cru (Bommes)
What are the 6 AOPs for Graves?
Graves AOP, Graves Superieures AOP, Pessac-Leognan AOP, Barsac AOP, Cerons AOP, Sauternes AOP
What is the parentage of Carmenere?
Cabernet Franc x Gros Cabernet
What producer in Margaux is known for using a significant amount of Petite Verdot?
Palmer (5-8%)
When did Malbec plantings significantly decrease in Bordeaux?
After the frost of 1956, few Malbec vines were replanted. It fufills the same purpose as Merlot and is less demanding.
Second Wine: Rauzan-Segla
Segla
Classify me: Château Lafite-Rothschild
1855, 1eme Paulliac
What are the assemblage requirements for Fronsac?
Merlot, Cab, Cab Franc, and Malbec must make up at least 50% of the blend.
Second Wine: Château Haut Brion (white)
La Clarte de Haut-Brion (as of 2009)
In what kind of years can you expect there to be less tries in Sauternes?
In particularly ripe/botrytis infected years, when a certain level of healthy grapes are desired to impart freshness to the wine, less tries are generally performed.
Second Wine: Leoville Las Cases
Le Petit Lion du Marquis de Las Cases
What was the first vintage of Ygrec?
The first year for d’Yquem’s dry white wine was 1959.
Name three influences that Emile Peynaud had in Bordeaux.
Stainless steel fermentations, new oak elevage, hygiene and temperature control, inducing MLF, promotion of second wines.
What styles of wine can be made in Cotes de Bourg? What appellation surrounds it?
dry red and white wine; Cotes de Blaye/Blaye
When in relation to the Medoc is the harvest in Graves?
Usually earlier, sometimes by up to two weeks.
For these wines give their usual blend (the one usually annouced by the estate) Le Pin Valandraud La Mondotte Ausone Angelus Pavie Cheval blanc Petrus Lafleur Trotanoy VCC
Le Pin = 100% merlot Valandraud = 65% Merlot 25% CF 5% CS 4% Malbec (different sources and % for this one) La Mondotte = 75% M 25% CF Ausone = 55% CF 45% M Angelus = 50% M 45%CF 5%CS Pavie = 60% M 30% CF 10% CS Cheval blanc = 60% CF 40% M Petrus = 95% M 5 %CF Lafleur = 50% M 50% CF Trotanoy = 90% M 10% CF VCC = 60%M 30% CF 10% CSw
What tributary of the Garonne separates Barsac and Sauternes?
The Ciron
In what AOP would you find Chateau Trotanoy?
Pomerol
Classify me: ChâteauBouscat
1959 Graves, red and white
Classify me: Château Trottevieille
1955 St. Emilion, Grand Cru Classe B
What river separates Cerons and Barsac?
Saint-Cricq
What commune has the most Premier Cru Classe estates in Sauternes? How many? What are they?
What commune has the most Premier Cru Classe estates in Sauternes? How many? What are they?
What are winemaker’s options for halting sweet wine fermentations in Sauternes/Barsac in order to leave the desired amount of residual sugar/alcohol?
Refrigeration and/or sulphur dioxide.
Classify me: Château Broustet
1855 Sauternes, 2eme Cru (Barsac)
Name five vintages in which Chateau d’Yquem was not produced.
1910, 1915, 1930, 1951, 1952, 1964, 1972, 1974, 1992, 2012
Second Wine: Leoville Poyferré
Pavillon de Leoville Poyferré
In what commune are the wines of St. Julien concentrated? What are the other three communes that cover St. Julien?
Saint-Julien-Beychevelle; Cussac-Fort-Médoc, Pauillac, Saint-Laurent-Médoc
What is the difference in terroir between Pessac-Leognan and Graves du Sud?
Graves du Sud is warmer, with less consistency of soil – gravel with clay and limestone
What is the minimum alcohol for wines of the Medoc? Does this differ from the communal appellations (St. Estephe, Paulliac, etc.)?
11%, and nope – it’s 11% down the board throughout the Medoc.
Which is the smallest of St Emilion Satellites?
St Georges, which is included inside Montagne St Emilion
Why are stuck fermentations common in making Sauternes?
Sugar acts as a preservative and bacteria and yeast do not survive well. Botrytis is also thought to inhibit the activity of yeasts.
Name four sweet wine AOP’s of Graves.
Barsac, Cérons, Sauternes, and Graves Supérieures
Where is Loupiac AOP and what style of wine is made there?
On the eastern shore of the Garonne; sweet white wine
Name three methods of water removal used in Bordeaux.
- Boiling – low pressure evaporation (vacuum – low temps) - Freezing – cryo-extraction - Molecular methods – reverse osmosis
What are the Premier Cru Classe estates of Preignac?
Just one – Suduiraut
Classify me: Château Lascombes
1855, 2eme Margaux
In which commune of the Médoc are the villages of Pez and Marbuzet?
St-Estèphe
What are the most successful vintages of the 60’s for the Left Bank?
1961 and 1966
Classify me: Château Lamothe
1855 Sauternes, 2eme Cru (Sauternes)
Which classified growth has been absorbed by Chateau Belair-Monange?
Chateau Magdelaine
Classify me: Château Talbot
1855, 4eme St. Julien
Classify me: Château Beausejour (Duffau-Lagarrosse)
1955 St. Emilion, Grand Cru Classe B
Name the five villages that Margaux is spread over.
Arsac, Cantenac, Margaux, Soussans, Labarde
What two properties were promoted from Grand Cru Classe to Premier Grand Cru Classe B in the 2006 classification of St Emilion (and allowed to keep their promotions even though the demotions of that classification were negated)?
Troplong-Mondot and Pavie-Macquin
Define coulere and millerandage. What climactic conditions create them and what region might you find these commonly in?
Coulere – “no fertilization, no grape” –> fewer berries per bunch Millerandage – “poor fertilization, smaller grapes” –> no seeds Frost causes these problems, and is common in Bordeaux
Second Wine: Château Lafite-Rothschild
Carruades de Lafite
Name the second growths of St-Estephe.
Cos d’Estournel and Montrose.
How many Premier Cru Classe A estates are there in St Emilion? B? Grand Cru Classe?
4; 14; 64
Classify me: Château Pontet-Canet
1855, 5eme Pauillac
Second Wine: Château Mouton-Rothschild
Le Petit Mouton de Mouton Rothschild
Describe three advantages of second wines in Bordeaux.
- Increase quality of first wine 2. Second wines generate more revenue than if those grapes were sold off in bulk. 3. Prevents any bottling by a negociant being touted as grapes from a certain chateau 4. Offers a lower priced alternative for brand loyalty
How would you describe the difference in style between Barsac and Sauternes, and what would you attribute this to?
Barsac tends to be a bit higher acid than the other 4 communes of Sauternes, which is generally attributed to there being more limestone in the soil there.
What is a jalle?
Jalles are the small streams that run at 90’ angles into the Gironde in the Medoc. They separate the communes and provide for natural drainage.
What is the largest of the six communal appellations in the Medoc?
Margaux
Classify me: Château Boyd-Cantenac
1855, 3eme Margaux
What AOP is Y’Quem’s dry white wine (“Y” or “Y’grec”) released as?
Bordeaux AOP (Barsac and Sauternes are not eligible to release wines as Graves AOP. I have seen bottles labeled “Bordeaux Superieur” which implies it was at one point semi-sweet, but I can’t find evidence to substantiate this.)
What is the minimum RS for Sauternes? What is the typical amount of RS found in Sauternes?
45 g/L; 130-140 g/L
Classify me: Château Latour
1855, 1eme Paulliac
How many communes are there of Pessac-Leognan? Name five.
Ten; Pessac, Leognan, Cadaujac, Canéjan, Gradignan, Martillac, Mérignac, Saint-Médard-d’Eyrans, Talence, Villenave-d’Ornon
Second Wine: Boyd Cantenac
Jacques-Boyd
Classify me: Château Pavie-Macquin
1955 St. Emilion, Grand Cru Classe B (promoted in 2006)
What are the RS, must weight, min. ABV, and max. yield requirements for Cadillac, Loupiac, and Sainte-Croix-du-Mont?
Cadillac – 51 g/L RS, 255 g/L MMW, 15% (12% acquired) min. ABV, and 37 hl/ha max. yields Loupiac & Sainte-Croix-du-Mont (have the same requirements) – 45 g/L RS, 229 g/L MMW (238 g/L for Semillon), 14.5% (12% acquired) min. ABV, and 40 hl/ha max. yields
Classify me: Château Desmirail
1855, 3eme Margaux
Which appellations have the highest min residual sugar requirements in Bordeaux? How much it is?
51 g/l; Cotes de Bordeaux Francs, Cadillac, St Foy Bordeaux liquoreux
Classify me: Château Mouton-Rothschild
1855, 1eme Paulliac (promoted in 1973)
Name five communes of the Haut-Medoc.
This is an easier question than we think. The Haut-Medoc AOP includes all of the communes of St. Estephe, Paulliac, St. Julien, and Margaux. (So if you can name the five communes of Margaux, that counts!) The full list is: Arcins, Arsac, Avensan, Blanquefort, Cantenac, Castelnau-de-Médoc, Cissac-Médoc, Cussac-Fort-Médoc, Labarde, Lamarque, Listrac-Médoc, Ludon-Médoc, Macau, Margaux, Moulis-en-Médoc, Parempuyre, Pauillac, Le Pian-Médoc, Saint-Aubin-de-Médoc, Saint-Estèphe, Saint-Julien-Beychevelle, Saint-Laurent-Médoc, Saint-Médard-en-Jalles, Saint-Sauveur, Saint-Seurin-de-Cadourne, Sainte-Hélène, Soussans, Le Taillan-Médoc, Vertheuil
Classify me: Château Lamothe-Guignard
1855 Sauternes, 2eme Cru (Sauternes)
When was Cru Bourgeois reconceptualized as an annual award of quality rather than a classification?
The 2003 update was annulled in 2007 and restructured. Now based on a tasting panel – can be awarded to any estate of the Medoc.
Classify me: Château Lynch Moussas
1855, 5eme Pauillac
Classify me: Château Lynch Bages
1855, 5eme Pauillac
Classify me: Château Doisy-Dubroca
1855 Sauternes, 2eme Cru (Barsac)
What are the two soil types that St Emilion’s soil is broadly classified into?
Cotes – steep hillsides, limestone Graves – gravely limestone plateau (resembles the Medoc)
Which property had the highest release price of any estate with the 2000 release?
Château Pétrus ($1800)
In what recent vintage did we see the amount of Cabernet Franc used in Cheval Blanc as low as 40%?
2009
Classify me: Château Malartic-Lagraviere
1959 Graves, red and white
Classify me: Château Figeac
1955 St. Emilion, Grand Cru Classe B
Second Wine: Palmer
Alter Ego
Classify me: Château d’Armailhac
1855, 5eme Pauillac
Name the 2nd growths of Paulliac?
Chateau Pichon-Longueville Baron & Chateau Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de Lalande
What style of wine is made in Canon-Fronsac?
Dry red wine (same AOP requirements at Fronsac)