Bordeaux wines

Question 1

What is the French PDO?

Answer 1

Appelation d’origine protegee (AOP) but the traditional term is Appellation d’origine controlee (AC or AOC). Also called appellation wines.

Question 2

What is the French PGI?

Answer 2

Indication geographique protegee (IGP) but the traditional term is Vin de Pays (VdP).

Question 3

What does Vin de France stand for?

Answer 3

Wines without GI are termed Vin de France.

Question 4

What are the main french regions?

Answer 4

Loire Valley, Bordeaux, The Dordogne, South West France, Champagne, Alsace, Burgundy, Beaujolais, Rhone Valley (North and South), and Southern France

Question 5

What is the largest appelation region in France, in terms of both voume and value?

Answer 5

Bordeaux

Question 6

What is Bordeaux’s climate and the environmental benefits that contribute to the climate?

Answer 6

Moderate maritime climate with warming effect from the Gulf Stream.

Question 7

Describe the climate and region in association to grape growing in Bordeaux.

Answer 7

Gulf stream ocean current has a warming effect that extends the growing season. Spring frosts are rarely a problem and grape ripening can continue well into October. The Atlantic brings high levels of rainfall and humidity. The vineyards are protected by the Landes Forest and the coastal sand dunes to the west.

Question 8

What is rainfall like in Bordeaux?

How does this impact vintages?

Answer 8

Rain falls throughout the year and can disrupt flowering and fruit set, promote rot, and dilute the flavours in the grapes at harvest.

As such, vintage variation is an important consideration, although the top producers can greatly reduce the differences in style and quality between vintages by rejecting unhealthy and unripe grapes.

Question 9

How does the warming climate and changes in canopy management techniques influence grape growing in Bordeaux?

Answer 9

Healthier grapes , decline in use of sprays, and a marked rise in levels of sugar and flavour development by harvest time.

Question 10

Why are the majority of bordeaux reds and whites made from a blend of grape varieties?

Answer 10

Due to the variability in weather, particularlty the rainfall, it can be very risky to rely too heavily on one variety. Additionally, different varieties permitted in Bordeaux flower and ripen at different times, meaning that one bad frost or heavy shower is unlikely to ruin an entire crop.

Question 11

Name the three primary black varieties in Bordeaux and the fourth lessed common one.

Answer 11

Cabernet Saugvignon, Cabernet France, Merlot, and Petit Verdot.

Question 12

Where does Cab Sauv dominate in bordeaux?

Describe the soil in the region and how it benefits the grape.

Answer 12

Haut-Medoc, but it is also very important in Graves.

High stone/gravel content means the soil here is warm and well drained, which can aid with ripening of late-ripening Cab Sauv, partiucalrly in the coollest, wettest sites and years.

It oftens accounts for 3/4 of the blend in the finest wines from the region.

Question 13

Where is Cab Franc grown in Bordeaux?

How does Cab Franc compare to Cab Sauv in body, tannin, and flavour?

Answer 13

Saint Emillion, and to a lesser extent, Medoc and Graves.

These wines have lesss body and tannin than cab sauv, herbaceous and stalky in flavour when unripe but when ripe can contribute vibrant fruit and floral notes to a blend.

Preferance for well drained soils (like Cab sauv).

Question 14

Where is Merlot grown in Bordeaux?

Describe the soil type.

Which wines are predominantly Merlot wines?

Answer 14

Merlot is the most widely planted variety in Bordeaux, but particularly important in the premium wines of Saint-Emillion and Pomerol.

Cooler clay soils found in the above regions.

Merlot’s softness means it is usually the grape predominant in high volume inexpensive wines.

Question 15

How does Petit Verdot compare to other black grape varieties in Bordeaux?

How does it ripen?

Describe the flavours and role of Petit Verdot in Bordeaux blends.

Answer 15

Far smaller plantings than Cab Sauv, Cab Franc, or Merlot.

It only ripens fully in very hot years, giving a very deep coloured tannic wine that ages slowly.

Always a minor role in a blend, mainly used to add tannin, colour, and some spicy notes.

Question 16

Which fermentation vessels produce the best wines in Bordeaux?

Answer 16

Winemaking practices are very varied in Bordeaux. There is little agreement over which fermentation vessels produce the best wines. Some use traditional oak, steel or concrete vats (or a combination) to increase blending options.

Question 17

When are most red wines blended in Bordeaux?

How do the leading chateaux maintain quality and style of top wines?

Answer 17

Most wines are blended in the spring following the vintage, although some winemakers prefer to keep their differnet parcels of wine separate until the end of maturation.

To maintain quality and style of top wines, the leading chateauxs now make second and third wines from blends that are not suitable for the “grand vin” (best wine). Some wine may be sold off to a “negociant”.

Question 18

Name the two primary white varieties in Bordeaux, and the third less grown variety.

Answer 18

Semillion and Sauvignon Blanc. Muscadelle is grown as well.

Question 19

Describe Semillon in Bordeaux.

Answer 19

Thin skin and affinity for noble rot. Most important variety for sweet wines in Bordeaux. Often blended with Sauvignon Blanc in premium dry white wines of Pessac-Leognan and Graves, where it adds body to these wines.

Question 20

Describe Sauvignon Blanc in Bordeaux.

Answer 20

Wines with citrus and green fruit aromas, and used increasingly for varietal dry white wines. It is the one exception to the generalisation that all Bordeaux wines are blends. It provides high acidity in blended wines, particularly necessary in sweet wines.

Question 21

Describe Muscadelle in Bordeaux.

Answer 21

Pronounced grapey floral flavour, and plays an important supporting role in sweet and dry white wine production. It only makes upa small percentage of any blend.

Question 22

How are dry white Bordeaux made? Stratify by low end, premium, and great sweet wines.

Answer 22

Range of styles. The lower end of the market tend to be fresh and fruit, fermented in temperature controlled, inert vessels with minimal further ageing, but some show toasty hints of oak.

Premium dry whites from Pessac-Leognan are frequently fermented and matured in new oak barrels, have richness and concentrated nutty flavour overlaying the fruit.

The great sweet wines are made from fruit that has been infected by noble rot. The best examples are fermented and matured in new oak barrels for anything up to 3 years.

Question 23

Name the two rivers and estuary that divide the Bordeaux vineyards into three broad areas.

Name the primary left bank, right bank, and between banks districts.

Answer 23

The Dordogne (north) and Garonne (south) rivers combined to form the Gironde Estuary (west).

Medoc, Graves, and Sauterns lie West and South of the Gironde Estuary/Garonne River.

Most of the area between the Dordogne and Garonne is covered by the appellation Entre-Deux-Mers.

The prinicpal districts North and East of the Gironde and Dordogne are Pomerol and Saint-Emillion (right bank).

Question 24

Describe the Bordeaux classifications.

Answer 24

With the exception of Saint-Emilion, Bordeaux’s classification systems lie outside of the appellation system. Classifciations don’t rank individual vineyards, but rather individual estates known as the chateaux. Over the years, the estate may vary in size due to the purchase or sale of individual vineyard plots. Ergo chateau name is more of a brand naem than a designation of a specific vineyard.

Question 25

What is the 1855 classification?

Answer 25

In 1855, on th occasion of Paris Universal Exhibit, the Bordeaux Chamber of Commerce was approached to produce an official list of their best red winds from Medoc and white wines from Sauternes.

Over the years, the classified chateaux have undergone numerous changes in their size and ownership, and in quality of wien; current quality levels of wines is a constant source of debate. Regardless, the chateaux listed within this classification are referred to as crus classes.

Question 26

How are the chateaux divided in Medoc?

How are they divided in Sauternes?

Answer 26

5 ranks. The top rank consists of Chateaux Lafite Rothschild, Latour, Margaux and Mouton Rothschild, Chateau Haut-Brion from the Graves.

3 ranks, Chateau d’Yquem occupying the top rank.

Question 27

What is the classification that was introduced after the 1855 classification called in Medoc?

Answer 27

As the 1855 classificaiton only accounted for a small number of estates of hte Medoc, a further classification of the cru bourgeois was introduced later for other Chateaux., classified now into 3 tiers:

Cru Bourgeois, Cru Bourgeois Superieur, and Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel. The classification is reviewed every 5 years.

Question 28

How are wines in Graves (Pessac-Leognan) classified?

Answer 28

They are classified wiht parallel, but separate, lists for red and white wines. There is no ranking: all listed wines may simply call themselves crus classes. All the crus classe chateaux now lie within the limits of the Pessac-Leognan, an appellation created after the Graves classification was drawn up.

Question 29

Describe the Saint-Emilion Grand Cru classification system.

Answer 29

The classification system is integrated into the appellation system. With Saint-Emillion, the separate appelation of Saint-Emillion Grand Cru has a classification of best chateaux. The lower step within the classificaiton is simply Saint-Emilion Grand Cru Classe.

Above this comes Saint-Emilion Premier Grand Cru Classe, which is subdivided into Premier Grand Cru Classe A (the best) and Premier Grand Cru Classe B. There are reclassifications, with the possibility of promotion and demotion, which occur at least once every ten years.

Question 30

How many appellations are in Bordeaux?

Do they form a hierarchy based on quality?

Answer 30

50 different appelations, ranging in size from very large generic appellations which cover the whoel vineyard area down to small commune appellations.

No, unlike burgundy they don’t. Rather it is easier to look at them in groups based on the styles of wine made in them.

Question 31

Describe the generic appellations of Bordeaux.

Answer 31

Output form generic appelations majority red wines, labelled as Bordeaux or Boreaux Superieur (the latter has slightly stricter appellation rules and requires a higher level of alcohol in the final wine).

The remainder is white labelled as Boreaux and rose labelled as Boreaux Rose or Boreaux Clairet.

Question 32

Describe generic appellation Boreaux red wines.

Answer 32

At their best, Broeaxu and Boreaux Superieur red are early drinking medium-bodied wines with ripe red and black fruits, and sometimes cedar notes from oak. Cheaper ones can be lighter in body and have more astringent tannins than better wines.

Question 33

Describe rose and white wines from Boreaux.

Answer 33

Rose wines are fresh and fruity, with an increasing number of producers making high-quality examples. Clairet is a style of wine that is mainly popular on the french market, undergoing longer maceration than a typical rose and deepr in colour, fuller in body.

White bordeaux is increasingly dominated by sauvignon blanc and shows a vibrant grassy character.

Question 34

Name the 2 primary wine regions to the north of Bordeaux city on the left bank.

Answer 34

Medoc (bas-medoc in the very north) and Haut-Medoc.

Question 35

Name the 4 highest reputation communes (appellations) in Haut-Medoc.

Answer 35

Saint-Estephe, Pauillac, Saint-Julien, and Margaux.

Question 36

Describe the wines and region of Medoc.

Answer 36

The north is called bas-medoc, and the wines here are labelled simply Medoc. The soil is predominantly clay, but with outcrops of gravel.

The wines tend to have higher proportion of Merlot in the blend than those just to the south, and tend to be more early drinking in style.

Question 37

Describe the wines in Haut-Medoc.

Answer 37

High percentage of Cab Sauv in the blend and generally display a core of blackcurrant fruit, complemented by cedar notes from oak. They can have grippy tannins when young, and often have a long ageing potential. Gravelly soils.

Question 38

Describe the Pessac-Leognan (and Graves) region.

Answer 38

The most highly rated region in Graves, located south of Bordeaux city. Soils are gravelly and well-suited to Cab Sauv, but wines tend to be lighter in body and more fragrant than finest wines of Haut-Medoc.

Graves extends south of Pessac-Leognan, making red wines that are similar in style but less concentrated and complex, usually with a higher proportion of Merlot.

Question 39

Wines of the Right Bank are dominated by ______ and to a lesser extend by ________.

Answer 39

Merlot, Cab Franc

Question 40

What is the largest principal appellation on the Right bank?

Answer 40

Saint-Emilion, with three distinct groups of vineyards on different soils.

Question 41

Describe the three groups of vineyards in Saint-Emilion.

Answer 41

1. Vineyards on the plateau to the north and west of the town of Saint-Emilion have warm, well-drained gravel and limestone soils encouraging the inclusion of Cab Franc and occasionally Cab Sauv.
2. Vineyards to the south and east with clay limestone soils.

1+2 wines are most prestigious of the area, medium to high tannins, compared to more structured wines of left bank, they have a soft and rich texture with complex red berry fruit and plum aromas, tobacco and cedar notes as they evolve.

3. Vineyards on the sandy soils at the foot of the escarpment are typically a source of lighter bodied less prestigious wines.

Question 42

Characterise Pomerol wines.

Answer 42

Just as high in prestige as Saint-Emilion, with richer, spicier, blackberry fruit character.

Question 43

What movement is associated with the Right-Bank appellations? What is the term for the winerys and the winemakers?

Answer 43

Full-bodied, incredibly ripe wines made in tiny quantities from small plots of land, with no expense spared in the vineyard or the winery. The collective term “vins de garage” was once frequently employed to describe these wines (“garagiste” for the winemaker), however they are now famous in their own right and classified within the Saint-Emilion appellation system.

Many producers have now moved away from ripe styles aiming for greater freshness instead.

Question 44

Name and describe the lesser known appellations in Bordeaux that have agreed to share the name ______ __ ____________.

Which appellation chose to not join this group?

Answer 44

Name of overall appellation is “Cotes de Bordeaux”, includes the appellations of Blaye, Cadillac, Castiloon, and Francs.

The wines tend to be merlot based and meant for early drinking.

Codtes de Bourg decided not to join the group.

Premieres Cotes de Bordeauc is a sweet wine appellation that is NOT associated with this group.

Question 45

Name the appellations in Bordeaux which produce white wines.

Answer 45

Entre-Deux-Mers (only produces white wines; red wines must be named with generic appellation name), Graves, and Pessac-Leognan.

Medoc and Sauterns also preoduce premium dry whites, but these cannot be sold using these appelations and instead they are sold using the generic Bordeaux appellation.

Question 46

Describe the white wines from Graves and Entre-Deux-Mers vs. Pessac-Leognan.

Answer 46

Sauvignon blanc in an unoaked style.

Pessac-Leognan is home to the very best dry whites, may be eligble for cru classe status. They tend to be blends of Sauvignon and Semillon, usually fermented and/or matured at least partly in new oak, giving toasty oak flavours.

Question 47

Describe the top sweet wine appellations of Bordeaux, as well as the environment.

Answer 47

Grouped on the banks of the Garonne and its tributary the Ciron. The rivers create ideal misty autumn conditions for noble rot to develop on fully ripened grapes. Noble rot level varies from year to year. “Passerillage” is needed to help concentrate sugars in years when there is little noble rot.

Sauternes (west bank of the Garonne), Barsac village in Sauternes can use either appellation.

Question 48

Describe the grapes used in sweet wines in the Sauternes region.

Answer 48

Semillon dominates because of its thin skin and susceptibilty of botrytis. Sauvie B supplies refreshing acidity and fruity aromas, and Muscadelle (when used) adds exotic perfumes.

The best wines tend to be high in alcohol, sweet yet balanced by high acidity, display apricot and citrus peel aromas of noble rot, along with notes of toast and vanilla from oak fermentation and/or maturation.

Question 49

How are Botrytis-affected grapes harvested?

Answer 49

Selectively picked by hand.

Question 50

Name the appellations of bordeaux by Left Bank, Right Bank, and between the banks.

Answer 50

Left Bank - Medoc, Saint-Estephe, Pauillac, Haut-Medoc, Saint-Julien, Marguax, Pessac-Loegnan, Graves, Sauternes (Barsac).

Right Bank - Blaye Cotes de Bordeaux, Pomerol, Saint-Emilion, Francs Cotes de Bordeaux, Castillon Cotes de Bordeaux.

Between banks - Entre-Deux-Mers, Cadillac Cotes de Bordeaux