Bordeaux - Soils Flashcards
What did the draining of land in the 17th century reveal in the Médoc and Graves?
Gravel and stoney soils
From where were the Left Bank gravels transported and how?
Massif Central (centre of the Southern France) and Pyrenees (South Western France)
With what is the gravel mixed?
Clay, sand and minerals
Where is the highest gravel mound on the Left Bank?
Margaux
How high is the highest gravel mound on the left bank?
32 metres
Where do these gravel mounds occur on the Left Bank?
Intermittently with the Left Bank. They don’t cover the entire region. Most famous in the Haut Médoc and Graves
What are the top estates of the Left Bank planted on?
Gravel mounds
What are croupes?
Gravel mounds on the Left Bank
The Left Bank is prone to storms and rain. How does the gravel help?
Gravel drains well so the roots of the vines dont get waterlogged and the vine continues to ripen
What water effect does gravel have in hot years?
Gravel has the disadvantage of draining the vines even in hot years so that vines suffer from drought stress (eg. 2003 and 2005)
Why are the soils of Pomerol at risk from drought stress during hot years?
The soil is shallow and where well draining gravel occurs with shallow soils in a hot year, drought stress occurs
What is the depth of Pomerol soils?
About a metre deep
Aside from drainage, what other effect does gravel have on the vines?
Light coloured gravels absorb heat and gradually release it to the vines which facilitates slow ripening
What type of soil is the Saint Estephe commune located?
It is located on clay soil
What soils are located on the Right Bank?
CLAY with deposits of limestone gravel, sandy loam and iron deposits
