FR: Right Bank Bordeaux Flashcards
Malbec in BDX
most plantings in St-Emilion
“Pressac”
St-Emilion sits between what 2 rivers
Dordogne
Barbanne
St-Emilion côtes vs graves
Côtes: Limestone plateau near the town itself. Most classed estates here. Cool clay topsoils.
Graves: NW sector near Pomerol’s gravelly terrace. Topsoils feature more clay than gravel, favors higher % of CF
** Ch Figeac, Cheval Blanc
Saint-Emilion AC vs Grand Cru AC
- release date, yields, ABV
- RELEASE: May 15 of 2nd year post harvest (vs April 15 of 1st year)
- 11.5% min ABV (vs 11%)
- MAX YIELD 46 hl/ha (vs 53) from same min. density.. 5500
All classed estates are St Em GC, but not all St Em GC are classed.
St-Emilion’s promotional body
The Jurade of Saint-Émilion
* named for the governing body of St-Em when granted autonomy from English rule in 1199
* set harvest date
* reborn in 1948 as the trade/marketing body
Saint-Émilion, Lussac Saint-Émilion, and Puisseguin Saint-Émilion
St-Emilion classification timeline
- year of 1st classification
- year of most recent classification
1955 (legally enacted in 1958)
Updates:
- 1969, 1986, 1996
- 2006 (contested, demotions nixed in 2009)
- 2012 (authority shifts to INAO, appeals process established)
- 2022
2022 St-Emilion Classification #’s
- PGCC A
- PGCCB
- GCC
- demotions
2 Premier Grand Cru Classe A
12 Premier Cru Classe B
71 Grand Cru Classe
0 demotions in 2022
Saint-Emilion classification scoring criteria (4)
- analyses of soil, topography
- analsyses of viticultural, and winemaking techniques
- an examination of the estate’s reputation
- tasting spanning a decade of vintages (15 for PGCC)
What 4 properties left the St-Emilion classification entirely in 2022
- Cheval Blanc (Classe A)
- Angelus (Classe A)
- Ausone (Classe A)
- Château La Gaffelière (Classe B)
[Chateau Figeac achieved A for 1st time in 2022; Chateau Pavie was elevated in 2012. Figeac’s elevation was the only change in the Premier Grand Cru Classe category aside from these 4 leaving]
St-Émilion Premiers Grands Crus Classés A
- Château Pavie
- Château Figeac (Promoted in 2022)
Name 5 St-Émilion Premiers Grands Crus Classés B (12)
- Château Beau-Séjour Bécot
- Château Beauséjour
- Château Bélair-Monange
- Château Canon
- Château Canon-la-Gaffelière
- Clos Fourtet
- Château Larcis-Ducasse
- La Mondotte
- Château Pavie-Macquin
- Château Troplong-Mondot
- Château Trotte Vieille
- Château Valandraud
INAO scoring criteria for Saint-Emilion Grand Cru Classe & Premier Cru Classe
14/20 total points
1. (50%) tasting of 10 vintages
2. (20%) analysis of topography/ soil
3. (10%) analysis of viticulture, winemaking
4. (20%) reputation of the estate
PREMIER CRU - 16/20:
all above + tasting of an additional - 5 vintages of the wine (with greater maturity)
(heavier weight on each point across the board rather than 50% for tasting)
[A or B status is further decided by committee based on ageability and reputation]
Pomerol major rivers
Isle
Barbanne
Smallest “village appellation” in Bordeaux?
Pomerol, 800ha
Pomerol communes
Libourne
Pomerol
Pomerol soils
Gently rising plateau w 3 terraces of glacial deposits of sand, gravel, clay
* lighter, sandy soils near Libourne
* glacial gravel deposits accumulate as you move east/up
* easternmost/highest point has the purest water-retaining clay with just a little gravel. Emphasis on deep clay.
Crasse de fer = iron rich sand deposits
Best commune of Fronsac?
Saillans
Fronsac soils
Fronsadais molasse: mix of soft limestone and clay
* found in best hillside sites of Fronsac and in Canon Fronsac
2 best Canon-Fronsac estates
Château Grand-Renouil
Château Gaby
Name 3 Fronsac estates
Château Dalem
Château de La Dauphine
Chateau Fontenil
Chateau La Vieille Cure
Saint-Emilion satellites (4)
- Lussac-Saint-Émilion AOP
- Puisseguin-Saint-Émilion AOP
- Montagne-Saint-Émilion AOP
- Saint-Georges-Saint-Émilion AOP
Similar soils to St-Em: vaying mix of limestone, gravel, clay. However, generally hillier, cooler and later harvesting.
River between St-Emilion and satellites - significance of this boundary?
Barbanne River
* linguistic boundary - makes separation of langue d’oc vs langue d’oil of the north
Which appellations may append “cotes de bordeaux” to their names?
- Blaye (red only),
- Blaye cotes de bordeaux (red and white),
- Cote de blaye (white only - minimum 60-90% ugni/colombard)
- Cadillac (red only),
- Castillon (red only),
- Francs,
- Sainte Foy Bordeaux
Easternmost Bordeaux AC?
Sainte Foy Bordeaux
* Dry red, whites
* ~20 producers, 2 coops
* close to Bergerac
* clay, gravel, limestone
Soil types of Fronsac and Canon-Fronsac?
Molasses du Fronsadais - limestone mixed with sand and clay;
Calcaires a Asteries - limestone mixed with marine fossils
How does a St. Emilion Chateaux become 1er Grand Cru Classe?
Pass a tasting of 15 vintages rather than 10;
less emphasis on winemaking and more on soil/topography analysis,
and higher reputation
A CF dominated Pomerol ?
Chateau Lafleur - 53% CF on mainly gravel soils
A CS dominated Pomerol?
Chateau de Sales (Largest Estate in Pomerol - 47ha)
What is the most highly regarded sector of Pomerol?
The eastern sector bordering Saint Emilion - high terrace
(Petrus, Trotanoy, VCC, La Conseillante, l’Evangile, Certan de May de Certan, l’Eglise-Clinet, Lafleur, Petit Village, Gazin, Lafleur Petrus, Bon Pasteur, Beau Regard, La Violette, Le Pin, Clinet)
What is the name of the predominant soils in Pomerol?
Crasse de Fer - iron-rich clay - higher terraces and the highest Boutonniere de Petrus - with blue smectite, lower terraces have sandier soils = less quality, lighter wines
Who are some of the original “garagistes” who launched in the 1990s?
Tertre Roteboeuf (SE - F. Mitjaville),
Valandraud (SE - JL Thunevin),
La Mondotte (SE - S. Von Neipperg)
Stefan Von Neipperg other estates?
Canon La Gaffeliere,
Clos de l’Oratoire (1st employer of Derenoncourt)
Derenoncourt Estates
Canon La Gaffelier, Teyssier, Beausejour, La Mondotte, Poujeaux, Talbot, Paveil de Luze
What are the primary soils of the 1er GC Classes?
Ausone - calcaire a astéries;
Cheval - gravels;
Angelus - sands;
Pavie - molasses (clay/sand/soft limestone bedrock)
What tributary separates Canon Fronsac and Fronsac from Pomerol?
L’Isle
Name 2 producers of Fronsac?
La Dauphine, Fontenil, Dalem, La Huste, Les Trois Croix, La Vielle Cure
T or F a classified estate in Saint Emilion may grow or shrink in size as on the Left Bank
False! sometimes only part of the vineyard will meet the classification standards ex. Angelus’ 27 out of 29 hectares
Where do grapes ripen earlier between Saint Emilion and Pomerol?
Pomerol - warming effect of gravel
Where are the best sites in Fronsac and Canon Fronsac?
Saillans, La Riviere - hillsides with higher limestone content
What is the smallest satellite of Saint Emilion
Saint Georges (can also be labelled Montagne - the largest)
What is the highest satellite and last to ripen?
Puisseguin
All of the Right Bank AOC’s (except SE GC) have a min. abv of _____
11% (SE GC has 11.5%)
Of the Right Bank appellations which maintains the longest elevage?
Saint Emilion GC - May 15 of 2nd year after harvest;
Blaye - March 31, 2nd year after harvest
Who makes ‘Trilogy’?
Le Pin - 3 vintages of nonclassified wine (like Overture)
White wines from the RB are released as…
Bdx blanc
Cotes de Bordeaux Castillon producer?
Domaine de l’A - Derenoncourt
Planting density minimum on the RB
5,500 vines/ha
(Sauternes is 6500, left bank is 7000)
Synonym for CF in Pomerol
Bouchet
The Right Bank is the bank of which river?
Dordogne
Cabernet Franc prefers what type of soil
Limestone
Where are the oldest cultivated vineyards in Bordeaux
Bourg
What differentiates the climate of the Medoc and the Right Bank?
Right Bank has more continental influence, less maritime
Which 2 chateaux were upgraded to A class in 2012?
Pavie & Angelus
Name 2 most prominent garagistes
Valandraud, Le Pin, La Mondotte, Tertre Rôteboeuf
Advantage of vineyards on St-Emilion’s Cotes
Frost protection due to aspect toward sun, and shelter from the North and West from the escarpment
Communes of Lalande de Pomerol
Lalande & Neac
Chateau Figeac not included in classe A in 2006 because…
prices were too low
RB proprietors with wineries in Napa
Christian Moueix - Dominus; Teyssier-World’s End
Only AOP which does not permit carmenere?
Pomerol
Who produces Trilogie 2nd label?
Le Pin
Saint Emilion producers on the Graves soils
Cheval Blanc, Figeac
more gravel = more CF
sandy soil Saint Emilions
Monbousquet, Tessier, Canon la Gaffeliere
Saint Emilion GCs NOT pursuing classification A or B
Tertre Rôteboeuf, Le Dome
Why did Cheval and Ausone pull out of classification in 2021?
New classification standards included tourism infrastructure, social media presence, and product placement.
Le Pin
Pomerol
* 2.7ha, est 1979 by the Thienpont family (VCC)
* 92% Merlot, 8% CF. Vineyard on the plateau. Typically 100% Merlot
* 1st vintage 1979
La Conseillante
Pomerol
Duo de Conseillante
* 80% Merlot, 20% CF
16, 19, 20 = recent outstanding vintages
Vieux Chateau Certan
- location
- 2nd wine
Pomerol
La Gravette de Certan
* 65% Merlot, 30% CF, 5% CS
(2020 blend - 85M/15CF)
Neighbors Petrus, La Conseillante, L’Evangile. Highest point of the plateau is where VCC’s vines meet Petrus’
Chateau Figeac
Saint-Emilion
Premier Grand Cru Classe A (only A promotion in 2022)
* 2nd: Petit-Figeac
35% CF, 35% CS, 30% Merlot
Chateau Angelus
Saint-Emilion
* no classification - formerly Grand Cru Classe A
* 2nd: Carillon d’Angélus
* 53% Merlot, 46% CF 1% PV
(2020 - 60M/40CF)
Chateau Cheval Blanc
Saint-Emilion
* 2nd: Le Petit Cheval
49% CF, 47% Merlot, 4% CS
(always 100% new oak)
Once part of Figeac
LVMH
Chateau Ausone
Saint-Emilion - left the classification in 2021
* 55% CF, 45% Merlot
* 2nd: Chapelle de Ausone
Tertre Roteboeuf
Saint-Emilion
No classification, no 2nd wine
SE sector of St-Em
Clos Fourtet
St-Émilion
Premiers Grands Crus Classés B
* 2nd: La Closerie de Fourtet
* 80% Merlot, 10% CF, 10% CS
Chateau Valandraud
St-Émilion Premiers Grands Crus Classés B
Jean-Luc Thunevin
* 90% Merlot, 10% CF
* 2nd: Virginie de Valandraud
* the OG garagiste
La Mondotte
St-Émilion Premiers Grands Crus Classés B
* 75% Merlot, 25% CF
Chateau Clinet
Pomerol
* Fleur de Clinet
* 90% Merlot, 9% CS, 1% CF (vyd in both plateau and sandy gravel near the Church)
Chateau Petrus
Pomerol
97% Merlot, 3% CF (rarely in blend)
* the “buttonhole”: rich blueish clay over a subsoil of gravel which itself is over a layer of crass de fer
** only 1h of 11.5 are on gravel
number of classifieds in 2022 St Em
- Premier Grand Cru Classe A: 2
- Premier Grands Crus Classés (B): 12
- Grands Crus Classés: 71
Hillside communes of Saint-Emilion
- St-Emilion/Libourne
- St-Etienne-de-Lise
- St-Christopher des Bardes
- St-Hippolyte
- St-Laurent-des-Combes
[St-Sulipce-de-Faleyrens, Vignonet, St-Pey-d’Armens are on the plains]
Saint-Emilion name for Cab Franc
bouchet
Saint-Emilion plateau soils
loam and clay over weathered limestone
* not porous or fissured - roots cannot penetrate this limestone
Saint-Emilion cotes soils, producers
Similar to plateau - loam and clay over limestone
* Pavie, Larcis-Ducasse
Original 2 Premiers Cru Classe A in the 1955 St-Em?
Cheval Blanc
Ausone
Chateau Pavie
Saint-Emilion 1GCCA since ‘12
* 2nd: Arômes de Pavie
* 65% Merlot, 25% CF, 10% CS
What is Bouchet?
Pomerol name for Cab Franc
