Entre Deux Mers & Sauternes

Question 1

Entre Deux Mers AOC is approved for what styles of wine?

Answer 1

Blanc (sec) only

Question 2

What AOC’S exist within the Entre Deux Mers for producing sweet white wine ONLY.

Answer 2

Cadillac AOC
Loupiac AOC
Saint Croix du Mont AOC
Premieres Cotes de Bordeaux AOC

Question 3

What 3 satellite areas for “Cotes de Bordeaux” are within the Entre Deux Mers area?

What styles of wine are made there?

Answer 3

Saint Macaire AOC - white wine, dry, molleaux (maybe not botrytis), and liquoreux (def botrytis)

Sainte Foy AOC - white (dry or sweet) and rouge

Cotes de Bordeaux Cadillac - rouge

Question 4

What is the minimum r.s. for:

a) Graves Superieur & Premieres Cotes de Bordeaux

b) Sauternes, Barsac, Loupiac, Saint Croix du Mont

c) Cadillac

Answer 4

a) 34 g/L
b) 45 g/L
c) 51 g/L

Question 5

What 3 AOC’S are approved for Rouge on the Entre Deux Mers?

Answer 5

Graves de Vayres AOC
Cotes de Bordeaux Sainte Foy AOC
Cotes de Bordeaux Cadillac AOC

Question 6

What is the most widely planted grape in Entre Deux Mers?

What percentage of E-d-M production ends up in Bordeaux AOC?

Answer 6

Merlot

75%

Question 7

How do producers harvest grapes in Sauternes and Barsac?

Answer 7

In ‘tries’, often 3-4 times a harvest to get perfectly botrytized grapes.

Question 8

For production, are the wines of Sauternes and Barsac produced in steel, neutral oak, new oak, etc?

Answer 8

Barrel Fermentation and use of new French oak is very commonplace.

Question 9

When were the wines of Sauternes and Barsac classified? How many estates were ranked at the time?

Answer 9

Under the 1855 classification with the Medoc.

26

Question 10

What were the last 4 years that Chateau d’Yquem did not produce a Sauternes?

Answer 10

2012, 1992, 1974, 1972

Question 11

What is the terroir and climate of the Entre Deux Mers?

Answer 11

In general, its a cooler area. Limestone plateau with sandy clay topsoil.

Question 12

What is Chateau d’Yquem’s dry white wine called?

Answer 12

Ygrec

Question 13

There are 11 “First Growth” Sauternes estates after d’Yquem (First Great Growth)

Name them.

Answer 13

La Tour Blanche
Lafaurie-Peyraguey
Clos Haut Peyrageuy
de Rayne Vigneau
Suduiraut
Coutet
Climens
Guiraud
Rabaud-Promis
Sigalas-Rabaud
Rieussec

Question 14

The confluence of what 2 rivers creates conditions ideal for botrytis in Sauternes?

Answer 14

Cirons and Garonne

Question 15

What is the French term for Botrytis?

Answer 15

Pourriture Noble