Bordeaux Soils

Question 1

What are the soils of the Left Bank?
From?

Answer 1

Deposits of Gravel and stony soils
Floodwaters from Pyrenees and Massif Central

Question 2

What is the gravel mixed with?

Answer 2

clay and sand

Question 3

an example of gravel mounds? height?

Answer 3

Margaux 32m

Question 4

What are the gravel mounds on the left bank called?

Answer 4

Croupes

Question 5

What is the risk associated with gravel soils? where did this happen? year?

Answer 5

In extremely hot years good drainage can cause drought stress, esp where soils are shallow, ie, Pomerol (1m deep) in 2016

Question 6

Contribution of gravel soil?

Answer 6

Heat Retention - after a hot day pebbles and stones retain their warmth and continue to release the warmth upwards to the vine = slow ripening

Question 7

Where are clay pockets found on the Left Bank?
what effect does this have on the wine?

Answer 7

Saint-Estèphe
Don’t achieve same acclaim as those grown on gravel

Question 8

What soil is in the Right Bank?
Some key gravel areas where?

Answer 8

Clay
Libornais

Question 9

What grape thrives on the right bank?
Why?

Answer 9

Merlot - helps ripening, more sugar, more alcohol vs Cab Sav, Cab Franc.

Question 10

Best wines on Right Bank are from where with which soil?

Answer 10

gravel section that borders Pomerol on Limestone plateau