Bordeaux - Grapes Climate Topography Soils Flashcards
What are the KEY quality appellations on the Right Bank?
St. Emilion & Pomerol
What grapes dominate the right bank?
Merlot (does well on cool clay soils)
Cabernet Franc
Cabernet Sauvignon (small amount)
What grapes dominate the Left Bank?
Cabernet Sauvignon (~50%)
Merlot (~44%)
Different AOCs have different rules of each % used. I think.
Describe the soils of the Right Bank
Limestone plateau in St Emilion & Pomerol
Patched of gravel around Pomerol
More clay than left bank –> Merlot (tolerates cool clay soil)
What is the climate of Bordeaux, including rainfall?
Moderate maritime climate, although less pronounced than on Left Bank.
The Atlantic and the Gironde Estuary act as moderating influences.
Landes forest protects from some Atlantic storms.
Rainfall is 950mm year - marketed variation from year to year and comes at all times of the year
What are the soils and topography of the Left Bank?
Mostly flat!
Deposits of gravel & stony soils
Sometimes mixed with clay and sand
Form mounds called “croupes” - not very high - 32m at highest
ALL* top estates of Left Bank are planted on these gravel mounds.
Gravel drains well (unlike clay)
– roots dry out and grapes continue to ripen
– But! Excellent drainage can put vines at risk in extremely hot years, especially when soils are shallow
Gravel provides heat retention
- after warm day, stones retain warmth and gradually release it upwards onto vines, facilitating their slow ripening.
*There are pockets of clay on Left Bank, especially in Saint-Estephe – wines don’t achieve the same acclaim as wines grown on gravel.
What are the soils and topography of the Right Bank?
Mostly flat!
Far more clay than Left Bank (hence more Merlot).
Significant patches of gravel in certain sectors of the Libournais.
There is a limestone plateau in part of Saint-Emilion and a gravel section near Pomerol.
Pomerol - soils are rarely more than 1 metre deep - can suffer in dry summers.
