Bordeaux: Right Bank Flashcards
What is the Bordeaux mixture?
A mixture of lime, copper sulfate, and water sprayed on the vineyards to protect against fungal disease
What is Clairet?
A darker, more aromatic expression of rosé
What is another term for Malbec on the right bank?
Pressac
What is typically the last grape to ripen in Bordeaux?
Petit Verdot
What is the typical barrel used in Bordeaux?
Barrique (225L)
Who originally cultivated Bordeaux for the purposes of growing grapes?
The Dutch dug canals in the Médoc to drain the swampy region and make it viable for agriculture in the 17th century
What major producer is famous for incorporating an unusual amount of Cabernet Sauvignon in blends in St-Émilion?
Chateau Figeac
St-Émilion can be broadly divided into what two categories?
Côtes - Slopes of limestone
Graves - Plateaux of limestone and gravel
What is crasse de fer?
Rich clay soil found in Pomerol
What is the term for Cabernet Franc in Pomerol?
Bouchot
Name five prominent producers in Pomerol
Vieux Chateau-Certain
Chateau Le Pin
Petrus
Chateau Lafleur
Chateau Trotanoy
Name two Micochateau on the Right Bank
Valandraud - St.-Émilion
La Mondotte - St.-Émilion
Le Pin - Pomerol
What are the four satellite regions for St-Émilion?
Lussac
St-Georges
Montagne
Puisseguin
What are the neighboring red wine regions to Pomerol?
Lalande-de-Pomerol AOP
- Lalande-de-Pomerol
- Néac
Fronsac AOP
Canon-Fronsac AOP
What distinctions are required to be met in order to qualify for Bordeaux Supérieur AOP?
Can only be red or medium sweet white
Must undergo élévage until mid june of the year following harvest
Higher minimum alcohol
Vine density restrictions
Yield restrictions
What is the garagiste movement?
The idea sparked by Valandraud that wines made by a garagiste (made in a garage) are small operations, privately owned, low-yielding, highly selective, with expensive oak etc. The antithesis of terroir as they are quality is entirely assured by technique and they typically come from less desirable plots in Bordeaux.
What famous St-Émilion producer notably often blends more Cabernet Franc than Merlot in their wines?
Chateau Cheval-Blanc
Name five important producers in St-Émilion
Chateau Cheval-Blanc
Chateau Ausone
Chateau Figeac
Chateau Canon
Chateau Pavie
What does Saint-Émilion Grand Cru indicate on a label
A wine made in Saint-Émilion which has been estate-bottled (no négociants involved) and achieves lower max yields and longer élévage requirements than regular Saint-Émilion AOP wines
What does Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé indicate on a label?
Simply that the wine is made by a classified producer. Not that it meets the AOP classification of Grand Cru
What are the three main profiles of soil found in Pomerol and where are they found?
Sandy soils in the lowest areas near Libourne by the Dordogne
Gravelly-Clay soils further up the slopes away from the river as well as crasse-de-fer
Blue Clay with some gravel (buttonière)
Who is the largest producer in Pomerol?
Chateau de Sales
Name two prominent producers in Canon Fronsac
Chateau Gran-Renouil
Chateau Gaby
Name three prominent producers in Fronsac
Chateau Dalem
Chateau de la Dauphine
Chateau Fontenil (Michel Rolland)
What is the smallest satellite appellation on the right bank?
Saint-Georges-Saint-Émilion
What is the highest elevation satellite appellation on the right bank?
Puisseguin-Saint-Émilion