Bordeaux: Right Bank

Question 1

What is the Bordeaux mixture?

Answer 1

A mixture of lime, copper sulfate, and water sprayed on the vineyards to protect against fungal disease

Question 2

What is Clairet?

Answer 2

A darker, more aromatic expression of rosé

Question 3

What is another term for Malbec on the right bank?

Answer 3

Pressac

Question 4

What is typically the last grape to ripen in Bordeaux?

Answer 4

Petit Verdot

Question 5

What is the typical barrel used in Bordeaux?

Answer 5

Barrique (225L)

Question 6

Who originally cultivated Bordeaux for the purposes of growing grapes?

Answer 6

The Dutch dug canals in the Médoc to drain the swampy region and make it viable for agriculture in the 17th century

Question 7

What major producer is famous for incorporating an unusual amount of Cabernet Sauvignon in blends in St-Émilion?

Answer 7

Chateau Figeac

Question 8

St-Émilion can be broadly divided into what two categories?

Answer 8

Côtes - Slopes of limestone
Graves - Plateaux of limestone and gravel

Question 9

What is crasse de fer?

Answer 9

Rich clay soil found in Pomerol

Question 10

What is the term for Cabernet Franc in Pomerol?

Answer 10

Bouchot

Question 11

Name five prominent producers in Pomerol

Answer 11

Vieux Chateau-Certain
Chateau Le Pin
Petrus
Chateau Lafleur
Chateau Trotanoy

Question 12

Name two Micochateau on the Right Bank

Answer 12

Valandraud - St.-Émilion
La Mondotte - St.-Émilion
Le Pin - Pomerol

Question 13

What are the four satellite regions for St-Émilion?

Answer 13

Lussac
St-Georges
Montagne
Puisseguin

Question 14

What are the neighboring red wine regions to Pomerol?

Answer 14

Lalande-de-Pomerol AOP
- Lalande-de-Pomerol
- Néac
Fronsac AOP
Canon-Fronsac AOP

Question 15

What distinctions are required to be met in order to qualify for Bordeaux Supérieur AOP?

Answer 15

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

Question 16

What is the garagiste movement?

Answer 16

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.

Question 17

What famous St-Émilion producer notably often blends more Cabernet Franc than Merlot in their wines?

Answer 17

Chateau Cheval-Blanc

Question 18

Name five important producers in St-Émilion

Answer 18

Chateau Cheval-Blanc
Chateau Ausone
Chateau Figeac
Chateau Canon
Chateau Pavie

Question 19

What does Saint-Émilion Grand Cru indicate on a label

Answer 19

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

Question 20

What does Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé indicate on a label?

Answer 20

Simply that the wine is made by a classified producer. Not that it meets the AOP classification of Grand Cru

Question 21

What are the three main profiles of soil found in Pomerol and where are they found?

Answer 21

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)

Question 22

Who is the largest producer in Pomerol?

Answer 22

Chateau de Sales

Question 23

Name two prominent producers in Canon Fronsac

Answer 23

Chateau Gran-Renouil
Chateau Gaby

Question 24

Name three prominent producers in Fronsac

Answer 24

Chateau Dalem
Chateau de la Dauphine
Chateau Fontenil (Michel Rolland)

Question 25

What is the smallest satellite appellation on the right bank?

Answer 25

Saint-Georges-Saint-Émilion

Question 26

What is the highest elevation satellite appellation on the right bank?

Answer 26

Puisseguin-Saint-Émilion