Bordeaux Grape Varieties

Question 1

what are the key red grape varieties in Bordeaux?

Answer 1

1) Merlot
2) Cab Sav
3) Cab Franc
4) Malbec
5) Petit Verdot

Question 2

What are the key white grapes in Bordeaux?

Answer 2

1) Sémillon
2) Sav Blanc
3) Muscadelle

Question 3

Describe the Merlot grape?
Risks?
benefit?

Answer 3

Early budding - vulnerable to spring frost
mid-ripening - picking before autumn rain/cab sat
susceptible to coulure, drought and botrytis bunch rot = lower yields
Benefit - it can ripen in cooler years
dominant in right bank - clay soil (water holding)
large berry size, higher sugar = higher alcohol vs cab sat

Question 4

Describe the wine Merlot produces

Answer 4

Pronounced intensity fruit (strawberry and red plum + herbaceous flavours in cooler years)
cooked blackberry, black plum in hot years
Med tannins, med-hi alcohol

Question 5

Describe the Cab Sav grape
Buds?
Berries?
risk?
ripening?
best site?
negative?

Answer 5

Late budding (some frost protection)
small berries, thick skinned (hi tannin)
Prone to fungal disease esp P mildew and Eutypa, Esca (trunk disease)
Late ripening - needs warmer soils, risk - autumn rain
Produces best quality fruit on well-drained soils of Médoc
struggle to ripen during cooler years = high acidity, unripe tannins - hence blended

Question 6

Describe the wine cab sav produces

Answer 6

Pronounced blackcurrant, violet, black cherry and menthol or herbaceous flavours
med alcohol
high acidity and tannins

Question 7

Describe Cabernet Franc
buds?
ripens?
control?

Answer 7

Early budding - prone to frost and coulure = reduced yields
mid-ripening
Canopy management and warmer summers reduce herbaceous flavours

Question 8

What does Cab Franc contribute to the Bdx Blend

Answer 8

Red fruit, high acidity, med tannins

Question 9

Malbec in Bdx?

Answer 9

dominant until 1956 Frost, replanted with Cab Sav,

Question 10

Petit Verdot
Budding?
% of blend
Future?

Answer 10

Early budding, ripens later than Cab Sav, prone to frost and autumn rains
Often less than 5% of blend
Increasing valued with warmer climate = more likely to ripen

Question 11

Describe the Sémillon grape
describe the wine
ripening
rot?
flavours

Answer 11

mid-ripening
susceptible to botrytis - noble rot in the right conditions
low intensity apple, lemon and (if underripe) grassy flavours)
med body, med alcohol, med(+) acidity

Question 12

describe what Sémillon contributes to high quality white Bdx blend

Answer 12

Contributes med intensity aromas, weight and body
softens Sav Blanc’s intense flavours and high acidity
strong affinity with vanilla and sweet spice from new French Oak

Question 13

Describe Sauvignon Blanc grape

Answer 13

Late budding, early ripening - good for cool climates
Vigorous - best grown on poor soils
Canopy management to avoid shading
Prone to P Mildew, botrytis bunch rot, trunk disease

Question 14

Describe a Sauvignon Blanc wine

Answer 14

Intense aromas of grass, bell pepper and asparagus, gooseberry, grapefruit and wet stone

Question 15

What is Sav Blanc’s role in Bdx?

Answer 15

Contributes grassy and gooseberry fruit, high acidity to dry white blends, and to sweet botrytis-affected wines
Increasing popularly of variety means increasing single variety Sav Blanc white wines are being made

Question 16

Describe Muscadelle’s contribution to wine?
best site?

Answer 16

Contributes flowers and grapes notes
White variety needs a well-exposed site, v prone to botrytis bunch rot.
Not related to Muscat.