Bordeaux Quizes Flashcards
Bordeaux’s climate is fundamentally maritime - but which phenomenon regulates and tempers the climatic conditions?
The Gulf Stream
What is the name of the large man-made forest to the west of Bordeaux which provides a barrier to ocean winds and storms, so protecting the region’s vineyards?
Les Landes
What was the Dutch influence on Bordeaux?
They drained the Medoc which exposed gravel and allowed vines to grow which did not before.
What happened in 1956?
Big Freeze
Killed off most of the Cot vines and Merlot was planted in its place
Which French duchess married Henry Plantagenet in 1152, bringing her lands under English rule?
Eleanor of Aquitaine
In which year did the extreme winter destroy much of the Côt crop in Bordeaux and South-West France – causing many producers to replace the grape with Merlot?
1956
Which grape variety is the most widely planted in Bordeaux?
Merlot
Which white grape is the primary variety for sweet wines from Bordeaux?
Sémillon
What is the French term for punch downs?
Pigeage
What is the French term for pump over?
Remontage
What is the French term for rack and return?
Délestage
How is Clairet made?
Similar to red wine, but short maceration 24-36 hours
Wine is then bled off skins - saignée
What grape cannot be used for Bordeaux Moelleux
Alvarinho
There is no Bordeaux Supérieur dry white
Which wine style is not included in the regional Bordeaux AOC?
Sparkling
From what grapes can Bordeaux AOC rosés be made?
Both red and white
Which style of wine is produced in the AOCs of the Médoc?
Red
Which of the following is not a commune AOC in the Médoc?
- Saint-Estèphe
- Listrac
- Moulis-en-Médoc
- Saint-Julien
- Fronsac
- Fronsac
What does Graves AOC make?
Red and white
What does Sauternais make?
Sweet white same grapes as dry white in Graves
Which river separates Sauternes from Barsac and helps create the humid conditions that lead to botrytis developing?
The Ciron
What styles of wine is made in Graves Supérieures AOC?
Semi-Sweet White
What is interesting about Cadillac AOC?
Requires a minimum sweetness of 5.1%
Has less potential for botrytis since less mist
Wine style - Entre-deux-Mers
Dry white only
Wine style - Cadillac, Loupiac and Sainte-Croix-du-Mont
Sweet-white only
Graves de Vayres
Dry white, Red and Semi-sweet white
Entre-deux-Mers
Many Entre-deux-Mers châteaux also produce red wines – which AOCs can appear on the label of these wines?
Bordeaux and Bordeaux Supérieur
Libournais AOC produce
Red wine only
White wines are labeled Bordeaux AOC
What is the dominant blend in the Libournais wines?
Merlot and Cabernet Franc
What does Côtes mean?
Slopes
Côtes de Bordeaux AOC wine style
Red wine only
5 DCGs (these can make white, sweet wine at DCG level)
If a bottle of wine is labeled as Côtes de Bordeaux AOC – with no qualifying DGC mentioned – what style of wine will the bottle contain?
Red only
Sainte-Foy Côtes de Bordeaux DCG style
Dry white, red, semi-sweet and sweet white
Entre-deux-Mers
Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux DCG
Red and dry whites
Right Bank
Cadillac Côtes de Bordeaux & Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux DGC style
Red only
Francs Côtes de Bordeaux style DCG
Red, dry white and sweet white
Right Bank
What is Cru Bourgeois?
Formal classification began in 2020 for 296 châteaux.
1. Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnels
2. Cru Bourgeois Supérieurs
3. Cru Bourgeois
What is Cru Artisan?
36 Small estates (1-5 ha) that are entirely responsible for the own red wine production
Where is the only Bordeaux location that ranks white and red, not estates?
Graves including Pessac-Léognan
Grand Cru Classé de Graves
Est 1953
“Graves Classification”
13 red and 9 white
Left Bank
What are Saint-Émilion Grand Crus Classes?
Est 1953, updated 2012
82 estates - 3 levels
1. Premiers Grand Crus Classés A
2. Premiers Grand Crus Classés B
3. Grand Crus Classés
Which areas of Bordeaux have classifications?
- Médoc
- Graves & Pessac-Léognan
- Sauternes & Barsac
- Saint-Émilion
Originally the 1855 Classification had just four Premiers Crus. However in 1973 a Deuxième Cru was promoted to make it five Premiers Crus. Which Châteaux was promoted?
Château Mouton-Rothschild
List the Médoc communes from north to south?
- Saint-Estèphe
- Pauillac
- Saint-Julien
- Listrac-Médoc
- Moulis-en-Médoc
- Margaux
What body of water separates the right and left bank in Bordeaux?
Gironde
Saint-Émilion Grand Cru
Merlot
Right Bank
Fronsac
Merlot
Right Bank
Margaux
CabSav
Left Bank
Pessac-Léognan
CabSav
Left Bank
Médoc
Merlot
Left Bank
Lalande-de-Pomerol
Merlot
Right Bank
Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux
Merlot
Right Bank
Saint-Julien
CabSav
Left Bank
Graves
CabSav
Left Bank
Saint-Estèphe
CabSav
Left Bank
Haut-Médoc
CabSav
Left Bank
Listrac-Médoc
Merlot
Left Bank
Pomerol
Merlot
Right Bank
Saint-Émilion
Merlot
Right Bank
Canon Fronsac
Merlot
Moulis-en-Médoc
Merlot
Left Bank
Pauillac
CabSav
Left Bank
Bordeaux Haut-Benauge
DCG
Dry and semi-sweet wines
Entre-deux-Mers
Entre-deux-Mers
Dry White Wine
25% of all dry white in Bordeaux
Cadillac Côtes de Bordeaux
Red - Merlot dominate with some CabSav (gravel soils)
Entre-deux-Mers