Bordeaux Study Guide Flashcards
What is the largest AOC in France?
Bordeaux AOP
What percentage of wine made in Bordeaux is red?
90% (10% white)
What is the average retail price of Bordeaux AOP or Bordeaux Superieur AOP?
$20
What is the average price retail of the first growth wines and others in their orbit of quality and distinction?
$1500 and up
What are Bordeaux’s top wines known for?
Their ability to be elegant while still possessing concentrated, powerful flavors
Why are Bordeaux wines, both red and white almost always blends of two or more varieties?
Blending is used to achieve complex flavors. Plus growing multiple varieties that ripen at different times is a practical way of spreading the agricultural risk in Bordeaux’s sometimes difficult maritime climate.
How many appellations are in Bordeaux?
Approximately 60
How much larger is Bordeaux compared to Napa? Burgundy?
Six times larger than Napa
Four times larger than Burgundy
What are the three major rivers of Bordeaux?
Gironde Estuary
Dordogne (Right Bank)
Garonne (Left Bank)
What ocean current is responsible for the mitigation of Bordeaux’s climate?
Gulf Stream
What risks does the maritime climate and the pine forests of Bordeaux mitigate?
Storms, severe cold snaps, and potentially devastating frosts.
What does Muscadelle contribute to Bordeaux white wines?
Light floral character
What does Semillon provide for Bordeaux white blends?
Weight, depth and waxy character and, with age, a honied character. Provides nice foil for the pungent character of Sauvignon Blanc. Main grape for Sauternes as its thin skins are great for botrytis
What does Cabernet Franc contribute to Bordeaux red blends?
Aromatic intensity and notes of violets and spices.
What does Cabernet Sauvignon provide to Bordeaux red blends?
Structure and framework
What does Merlot contribute to Bordeaux Blends?
Round and supple, contributes flesh to Cabernet’s Structure. Gives wines an expansive mid-palate
What does Petit Verdot contribute to Bordeaux blends?
Vivid color, flavor intensity, and tannin
What is paramount in regards to great Bordeaux vineyards? What are the best soils to facilitate this?
Good drainage.
Gravel and stone like limestone
What soil type can pose the most problems in Bordeaux? Why?
Clay because
doesn’t drain water as well
stays cool in the spring delaying the vine’s bud break and slows the start of ripening
What is necessary in vineyards with higher proportions of clay to produce good wine?
More warm weather
Why is Merlot better suited to clay soils?
Because of its slightly less tannic structure to begin with, and because it tends to ripen early.
Also the cool soil delays the vigor of an otherwise vigorous Merlot grape
Red Bordeaux by law must be made of one or more of six red grapes. What are they?
Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Franc Petit Verdot Malbec Merlot Carmenère
What is the most planted red grape of Bordeaux? Second most planted? Third most?
Merlot (Approximately 60% of total plantings) Cabernet Sauvignon (approximately 20%) Cabernet Franc (approximately 10%)
What key component in Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot contribute to Bordeaux’s longevity? Why?
Tannin
It is a natural preservative