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Introductory Turned Certified Sommelier - Matt & Ryan > Bordeaux (R) > Flashcards

Bordeaux (R) Flashcards

1
Q

Main wine style in Saint-Emilion?

A

Dry red (Merlot/Cab Franc)

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2
Q

Bordeaux - primary climate moderators?

A
  • Waterways and Atlantic Ocean

- Gulf Stream current brings warm water up from the Caribbean, keeping weather mild yet humid

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3
Q

Which rivers divide Bordeaux?

A
  1. Gironde
  2. Dordogne
  3. Garrone
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4
Q

Entre-Deux-Mers - soil?

A

Very fertile silt

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5
Q

Entre-Deux-Mers - grape varieties?

A

White Only

  • Sauvignon Blanc
  • Semillion
  • Muscadalle
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6
Q

Medoc AOPs - communes?

A
  • Saint-Estephe AOP
  • Pauillac AOP
  • Saint-Julien AOP
  • Margaux AOP
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7
Q

Aging wine in __________ is a routine practice in Bordeaux.

A
  • Barriques (225-liter oak barrels)
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8
Q

Graves - sub-regions?

A
  • Pessac-Leognan AOP

- Sauternes AOP

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9
Q

Typical wine style - dry white wines from Graves (Pessac-Leognan) (left bank) and Entre-Deux-Mers?

A
  • 80% Sauvignon Blanc
  • 20% Semillion
  • Majority of inexpensive wines made without oak
  • Prestigious wines in upper price tiers tend to be aged in new, French oak barriques
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10
Q

Typical wine style - red wine from Saint-Emilion and Pomerol (right bank)?

A
  • 70% Merlot
  • 30% Cabernet Franc
  • Also some time in French oak barrels
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11
Q

Graves - soil?

A

Gravel

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12
Q

Where is Bordeaux located?

A
  • Southwestern France; inland from Atlantic Ocean
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13
Q

Pessac-Leognan AOP - location?

A
  • Northernmost part of Graves (contains Chateau Haut-Brion)
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14
Q

Bordeaux - red grape varieties?

A
  1. Merlot (most widely planted)
  2. Cabernet Sauvignon
  3. Cabernet Franc
  4. Petit Verdot (small quantities)
  5. Malbec (allowed but rarely seen today)
  6. Carmenere (also allowed bu rarely seen)
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15
Q

What year did the classification of first growths take place?

A

1855

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16
Q

Top recent vintages of the Medoc?

A

2005, 2009, 2010, 2015

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17
Q

Medoc - location?

A
  • North of Bordeaux

- Along the Gironde Estuary

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18
Q

Where is the Right Bank in relation to the main rivers?

A

East of the Gironde and North of the Dordogne

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19
Q

Each of the regions in Bordeaux is known for a specific __________ that is matched with the __________ that grow best there.

A
  • Soil type

- Grape varieties

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20
Q

Pomerol AOP - grape varieties?

A
  • Merlot and Cabernet France-based blends
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21
Q

How many properties and tiers were included in the 1855 classification?

A

61 properties; five tiers (1st growth - 5th growth)

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22
Q

Saint-Emilion - soil?

A

Proportions vary depending on location:

  • Large bed of silt, clay, gravel
  • Limestone plateau
  • Sand
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23
Q

Bordeaux - climate threats?

A
  1. Rain (at harvest)

2. Frost

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24
Q

Sauternes AOP - primary vinification practices?

A
  • Botrytis-affected sweet wines

- Oak aged; often new, French barrique

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25
Q

Appellations in Saint-Emilion?

A
  • Saint-Emilion AOP

- Saint-Emilion Grand Cru AOP

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26
Q

Pomerol AOP - soil?

A
  • Sand
  • Clay
  • Gravel
  • Subsoild of iron pan and rich clay
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27
Q

Explain the four aspects that characterize the Bordeaux chateaux concept.

A
  1. Vineyards known by names of a Chateaux (rather than a plot of land like Burgundy)
  2. A Bordeaux chateaux is an estate under a single ownership
  3. Size of an estate can change over time with the sale and purchase of vineyards and land (ie. Petrus 50% more land today than 50yrs ago)
  4. Thus a Chateau name is more a brand than a specific vineyard location
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28
Q

What is the 1855 Classification?

A
  • Napoleon III commission the ranking of Bordeaux’s top chateaux for the Universal Exposition in Paris
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29
Q

Bordeaux - climate?

A
  • Maritime; moderated by waterways and Atlantic Ocean

- Gulf Stream current brings warm water up from the Caribbean, keeping weather mild yet humid

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30
Q

Pomerol AOP - location?

A
  • Along Dordogne River, near town of Libourne; northwest of Saint-Emilion
  • Only 3 square miles!
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31
Q

What is important about the soil in Medoc and what grows best there as a result?

A
  • Drainage; Cabernet Sauvignon
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32
Q

Evidence of wine production in the greater Bordeaux region dates back to __________.

A

The 4th century AD

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33
Q

What is Bordeaux’s commercial success and international reknown linked to?

A

The region’s importance as a center of trade and easy access to the Atlantic Ocean

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34
Q

Pomerol AOP - appellations?

A

Pomerol AOP

- Red wines only

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35
Q

Main wine style in Medoc?

A

Dry red (Cab Sauv/Merlot)

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36
Q

Bordeaux - primary viticultural considerations?

A
  • Region suffers from rain at harvest and frost
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37
Q

Saint-Emilion - location?

A

Right bank; along the Dordogne River near town of Libourne

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38
Q

Where is Entre-Deux-Mers in relation to the main rivers?

A

In between the Dordogne and Garonne

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39
Q

What characterizes Bordeaux’s historical background and what led to this factor?

A
  • Trade
  • Middle Ages:Trade in wine among inland areas boomed; England became most important foreign market
  • Mid-1600’s: Dutch merchants - looking to expand trade - complex series of channels - drained marshes - more land suitable for viticulture
  • Wines from these new vineyards were shipped worldwide; became famous.
40
Q

Right Bank - St-Emilion - soil?

A

Gravel, limestone, sand

41
Q

Main wine style in Graves?

A

Dry white (Sauv Blanc/Semillion)

42
Q

Classification system in Entre-Deux-Mers?

43
Q

Name the first-growths.

A
  1. Chateau Lafite-Rothschild
  2. Chateau Latour
  3. Chateau Mouton-Rothschild (elevated to 1st growth status in 1973)
  4. Chateau Margaux
  5. Chateua Haut-Brion (in Graves)
44
Q

Premier Grand Cru Classe - how many named chateaux?

45
Q

How does the Gulf Stream current impact Bordeaux’s climate?

A
  • Brings warm waters up from Caribbean

- Keeps weather mild yet humid

46
Q

What defines the commune appellation designation in Bordeaux?

A
  • Smallest AOP’s in each region
  • Generally highest quality wine
  • Examples: Pauillac, Margaux, Pomerol, Saint Julien, Saint Estephe, St. Emilion
47
Q

What is the big picture difference between Left Bank soil and Right Bank Soil?

A
  • Left Bank: Gravel

- Right Bank: Sand or Clay

48
Q

What does Entre-Deux-Mers translate to?

A

“Land between two seas”

49
Q

Medoc - soil?

50
Q

What defines the Saint-Emilion Grand Cru AOP?

A
  • It is an appellation, NOT a classification
  • Wines have an additional +0.5% alcohol
  • Must undergo longer aging requirements than just Saint-Emilion AOP
51
Q

How many properties outside of Medoc were included in the 1855 Classification? Name the region(s), commune(s), chateau(s).

A

1; Chateau Haut-Brion in the Pessac-Leognan commune in Graves

52
Q

Saint-Emilion - grape varieties?

A

AOP for Red Wines Only:

  • Merlot
  • Cabernet Franc
53
Q

Where is Entre-Deux-Mers located?

A

Large areas between the Garrone River to the south and Dordogne River to the north

54
Q

Medoc AOPs - sub-regions?

A
  • Medoc AOP

- Haut-Medoc AOP

55
Q

Premier Grand Crus Classe B - how many named chateaux?

56
Q

Right Bank - Pomerol - soil?

A

Iron pan under sand and clay

57
Q

Were communes in the right bank a part of the 1855 classification?

58
Q

Main wine style in Sauternes?

59
Q

Medoc - grape varieties?

A
  • Cabernet Sauvignon-based blends
60
Q

Graves - location?

A

South of the Medoc; directly south and around city of Bordeaux

61
Q

What defines the regional appellation designation in Bordeaux?

A
  • Bordeaux AOP
  • Largest appellation in size and production
  • Grapes can come from anywhere in the entire region
  • Red and white; sweet and dry
62
Q

When was the classification system implemented in Saint-Emilion?

A

Instituted in 1955

63
Q

Graves - grape varieties?

A
  • Sauvignon Blanc
  • Semillion
  • Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Merlot
  • Cabernet Franc
64
Q

Typical wine style - sweet wines from Sauternes and nearby communes?

A
  • 80% Semillion
  • 20% Sauvignon Blanc
  • Muscadelle (small percentage)
  • Many sweet wines of Bordeaux are aged in new French oak barrels
65
Q

Main wine style in Pessac-Leognan?

A

Dry white (Sauv Blanc/Semillion)

66
Q

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

A

A large pine forest along the coast to the west

67
Q

Graves - soil?

68
Q

Medoc - soil?

69
Q

Medoc - historical background?

A
  • Bordeaux’s most renowned red wine area
  • Salt marsh and pine forest; Dutch engineers drained in mid-17th century
  • Discovered beds of gravel
  • Best Cabernet Sauvignon in France; benchmark for grape in rest of world
  • Majestic mansion/chateaux; synonymous with very idea of Bordeux wine
70
Q

Appellations in Entre-Deux-Mers?

A

Entre-Deux-Mers AOP

71
Q

Bordeaux - white grape varieties?

A
  1. Sauvignon Blanc
  2. Semillion
  3. Muscadaelle (small quantities)
72
Q

What is key to the soil in Bordeaux?

73
Q

What defines the sub-regional or district appellation designation in Bordeaux?

A
  • May be the highest appellation attainable in a particular locale
  • OR may encompass a number of separate commune appellations
  • Examples: Haut-Medoc AOP, Entre-Deux-Mers AOP
74
Q

The weather in Bordeaux is __________ from year to year.

A

Inconsistent

75
Q

Typical wine style - red wine from Medoc communces (left bank)?

A
  • 70% Cabernet Sauvignon
  • 30% Merlot
  • Plus… Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot
  • Usually aged in new, French oak barrels
76
Q

Larger proportions of new barrels are typically employed for the more __________ wines - whether red or white, dry or sweet.

A
  • Prestigious
77
Q

Left Bank - soil?

78
Q

Pomerol AOP - classification system?

79
Q

Bordeaux - what parallel?

80
Q

Medoc - wine styles?

A
  • Dry red wines only
81
Q

Is Saint-Emilion on the left bank or right bank?

A

Right bank

82
Q

Pessac-Leognan AOP - primary vinification practices?

A
  • Dry white wine
  • Dry red wine
  • New French oak
83
Q

How were the rankings determined?

A
  • Historical price records each property commanded in the marketplace
  • Higher prices resulted in a higher ranking
84
Q

How often is the Saint-Emilion classification system revised?

A

Every 10 years

85
Q

Main wine style in Pomerol?

A

Dry red (Merlot/Cab Franc)

86
Q

What characterizes the weather in Bordeaux?

A
  • Variation resulting in vintage variation

- Rain at harvest and spring frosts

87
Q

Saint-Emilion Classification 2012 - name four Premier Grand Crus Classe A.

A
  1. Chateau Ausone
  2. Chateau Angelus
  3. Chateau Pavie
  4. Chateau Cheval-Blanc
88
Q

Entre-Deux-Mers - primary vinification aspects?

A
  • Dry white wine only
  • Little to no oak; stainless steel
  • Red wines made here fall under Bordeaux AOP
89
Q

Sauternes AOP - location?

A
  • Southermost part of Graves; bordered by Garonne and Ciron Rivers
90
Q

When was the most recent revision of the Saint-Emilion classification system?

91
Q

Bordeaux - primary vinification considerations?

A
  • Blends of two or more grape varieties in the Bordeaux family
92
Q

Where is the Left Bank in relation to the main rivers?

A

West of the Gironde and Garonne

93
Q

List the Bordeaux Appellation hierarchy.

A
  1. Regional Appellations (Bordeuax AOP)
  2. Sub-Regional or District Appellations
  3. Commune Appellations
94
Q

What are the primary regions in Bordeaux?

A
  1. Medoc (Left Bank)
  2. Graves (Left Bank)
  3. St-Emilion (Right Bank)
  4. Pomerol (Right Bank)
  5. Entre-Deux-Mers
95
Q

Chateaux is the French word for __________.

A

Castle or manor house

96
Q

Which rivers meet to form the __________ Estuary?

A
  • Garonne and Dordogne

- Gironde

Introductory Turned Certified Sommelier - Matt & Ryan (28 decks)

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