D3 - Bordeaux: Appellations

Question 1

What are the two generic appellations in Bordeaux?

Answer 1

1. Bordeaux AOC;
2. Bordeaux Supérieur AOC

Question 2

Why do some Bordeaux AOC wines (of any color) have low flavor concentration?

Answer 2

Maximum yields are on the high side:
67 hL/ha for whites;
62 hL/ha for rosés;
60 hL/ha for reds.

Question 3

What is the maximum yield for Bordeaux Supérieur AOC red wines?

Answer 3

59hl/ha

Question 4

Médoc AOC and Haut-Médoc AOC are only allowed to produce this color wine.

What is the maximum yield for both AOCs?

Answer 4

• Red wine;
• 55 hL/ha.

Question 5

1. What four famous single commune appellations are subregions of Haut-Médoc?
2. What is their maximum yield?

Answer 5

1. Saint-Estèphe; Pauillac; Saint-Julien; Margaux.
2. 57hl/ha

Question 6

Which of the four single commune appellations is the coolest, and why is it the coolest?

Answer 6

Saint-Estèphe due to its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean; this gives it the reputation of having rustic wines that need many years in bottle to soften the tannins.

Question 7

Why is Pauillac AOC known to produce wines of high tannins, high acidity, and great longevity?

Answer 7

It has a high proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend which is planted on gravel banks close to the estuary, leading to fully ripened grapes with high concentration and structure.

Question 8

Select the correct answer.

Saint-Julien AOC is known for its:

a. high-proportion of clay soils
b. limestone soils
c. very homogenous gravel soils

Answer 8

c. very homogenous gravel soils

Question 9

Why does Margaux AOC have more Merlot planted than Pauillac and Saint-Julien?

Answer 9

• It has clay seams in its soil which Merlot grows better on than Cabernet Sauvignon, though this can add supplementary drainage;
• Margaux has stony, gravelly soils and, being slightly further south, grapes ripen a few days earlier.

Remember: Merlot is mid-ripening, giving the advantage that the grapes can be picked before early autumn rain whereas Cabernet Sauvignon ripens late (and hence needs to be grown on warmer soils), making it vulnerable to early autumn rains.

Question 10

Select the correct answer.

Listrac-Médoc AOC and Moulis AOC are further from the Gironde than the four single commune appellations, resulting in:

a. less moderating influence
from the estuary, less gravel in their soils
b. more moderating influence from the estuary, more gravel in their soils

Answer 10

a. less moderating influence
from the estuary, less gravel in their soils

Question 11

85% of the wine made in Graves AOC is this color, and its maximum yield is __hl/ha.

Answer 11

Red, 55hl/ha

Question 12

Graves Supérieures AOC is restricted to what kind of wines?

What is its maximum yield?

Answer 12

Late harvest and/or botrytis-affected sweet wines with maximum yields of 40 hL/ha (higher than Sauternes).

Question 13

Pessac-Léognan AOC is a subregion within this AOC.

Answer 13

Graves AOC

Question 14

The maximum yield for both red and white wines in Pessac-Léognan AOC is __.

Answer 14

54hl/ha

Question 15

Entre-deux-Mers AOC makes only this color wine, and its maximum yields are __.

Answer 15

White, 65hl/ha (high enough which means some wines will have low flavor intensity).

Question 16

What is the difference between Saint-Émilion AOC and Saint-Émilion Grand Cru AOC?

Answer 16

Saint-Émilion Grand Cru has lower maximum yields (46 hL/ha, as opposed to 53 hL/ha) and longer minimum maturation time (20 months, as opposed to 6 months).

Question 17

What is the dominant red grape variety in Saint-Émilion AOC and Saint-Émilion Grand Cru AOC?

Answer 17

Merlot

Question 18

Saint-Émilion has four satellite appellations. Which are the two largest?

Answer 18

1. Montagne Saint-Émilion AOC;
2. Lussac-Saint-Émilion AOC.

Question 19

What is the maximum yield for Pomerol AOC?

Answer 19

49hL/ha

Question 20

What are the dominant grape varieties in Pomerol AOC?

Answer 20

• Merlot;
• Cabernet Franc.

Question 21

1. Name four communes allowed to append their name before the Côtes de Bordeaux AOC name.
2. What is the maximum yield for the commumes vs. the maximum yield for Côtes de Bordeaux?

Answer 21

1. Blaye, Cadillac, Castillon, Francs
2. Their max yield is 52hl/ha whereas Côtes de Bordeaux’s is 55hl/ha.

Question 22

Côtes de Bourg has more of this red grape variety planted than any Bordeaux appellation.

Answer 22

Malbec

Question 23

These two AOCs in southern Graves are the key appellations known for sweet, botrytis-affected wines made from Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc and small amounts of Muscadelle.

Answer 23

1. Sauternes AOC;
2. Barsac AOC.

Question 24

What are the conditions that allow botrytis in Barsac AOC and Sauternes AOC?

Answer 24

The cold Ciron River meets the warmer Garonne River – promoting morning mists – and afternoon sunshine dries the grapes, avoiding grey rot.

Question 25

What is the maximum yield for Barsac AOC and Sauternes AOC?

Answer 25

25hl/ha

Much lower yields are often required to ensure grapes are fully ripened before noble rot develops.

Question 26

Name three other appellations in southern Bordeaux that may be botrytis-affected or simply late harvest.

Answer 26

1. Sainte-Croix-du-Mont AOC;
2. Loupiac AOC;
3. Premières Côtes de Bordeaux AOC.

Question 27

What is the special growth category that was awarded specifically for Château d’Yquem?

Answer 27

Premier Cru Supérieur

Question 28

After the 1855 Classification, three other sub-regions classified their wines.

What are they?

Answer 28

1. Graves;
2. Saint-Émilion;
3. Crus Bourgeois du Médoc.

Question 29

What were the original four First Growths (Premier Cru Classé) of the 1855 Classification, and which house was the fifth that was added as a First Growth in 1973?

Answer 29

1. Château Lafite Rothschild, Pauillac;
2. Château Mouton Rothschild, Pauillac (promoted in 1973);
3. Château Latour, Pauillac;
4. Château Margaux, Margaux;
5. Château Haut-Brion, Pessac, Graves.

Question 30

1. In what year was the Graves classification?
2. How many classified châteaux are in the Graves classification?

Answer 30

1. 1959
2. 16 classified châteaux

Question 31

1. The Saint-Émilion classification was created in this year.
2. How often is it revised?
3. When was it last revised?

Answer 31

1. 1955
2. Revised about every 10 years
3. Last revised 2022

Question 32

In the Saint-Émilion classification, châteaux are judged on what criteria?

Answer 32

1. Terroir;
2. Methods of production;
3. Reputation and commercial considerations;
4. A blind tasting of at least 10 vintages.

Question 33

What are the tiers of the Saint-Émilion classification?

Answer 33

1. Premier Grand Cru A;
2. Premier Grand Cru B;
3. Grand Cru Classé.

Question 34

Before the 2022 revision of the Saint- Émilion classification was released, which three prestigious châteaux left the system?

Answer 34

1. Angélus;
2. Ausone;
3. Cheval Blanc.

Question 35

In what year was the Crus Bourgeois du Médoc classification created?

Answer 35

1932

Question 36

From the 2018 vintage on, châteaux applying to be classified as Cru Bourgeois can be awarded one of three tiers of quality.

What are those three tiers?
How long does the classification last?

Answer 36

1. Cru Bourgeois;
2. Cru Bourgeois Supérieur;
3. Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel.

This classification lasts for five years.

Question 37

Co-operatives in Bordeaux: do they play an important role or are they unimportant?

Answer 37

They play an important role.

In 2018, co-ops were responsible for 25% of production from 40% of grape growers.

Question 38

What factors add costs to classed Bordeaux production and help make it so expensive?

Answer 38

• Interest on bank loans or land costs;
• Increased vine density;
• Harvest costs;
• Higher viticultural costs;
• Lower yield;
• Rigorous grape selection;
• Barrel ageing (costs of new barrels every year and extended time in barrel).

Question 39

What is La Place de Bordeaux?

Answer 39

It’s a unique commercial system in Bordeaux that is essentially the “marketplace” where wine is bought and sold by the châteaux to négociants.

The classed wines, or Growths, are not sold on the Place. They are sold en primeur (12-18 months before it is bottled – unfinished and still in barrel).

Question 40

What are the advantages of the en primeur system for the estates?

Answer 40

• Opportunity to test the market by releasing early lower-priced tranches;
• Early payment and return on investment which allows the estates to finance the next vintage.

Question 41

What are the disadvantages of the en primeur system for the estates?

Answer 41

• Potentially selling at a lower price than the estate might get for the bottled wine;
• Potential for financial mismanagement or losses by négociants (that could lead them to go out of business) that could adversely affect an estate’s reputation.

Question 42

What are the advantages of the en primeur system for the end consumer?

Answer 42

• Opportunity to secure sought-after wines and theoretically at the lowest price;
• Option to keep or trade sought-after wines.

Question 43

What are the disadvantages of the en primeur system for the end consumer?

Answer 43

• Wines are bought based on the opinions of trade buyers and journalists tasting unfinished barrel samples that may not truly reflect the final wine;
• Intermediaries (négociants, shippers) may go out of business before the wine arrives;
• Prices may fall before the wine arrives due to economic conditions or the quality of following vintages.

Question 44

Médoc AOC is mainly planted with ___% Merlot and ___% Cabernet Sauvignon.

Answer 44

• 55% Merlot;
• 40% Cabernet Sauvignon;
• Médoc AOC wines are often predominantly Merlot.