FR_Bordeaux Flashcards
Red Grapes of Bordeaux
* 3 Major
* 3 Minor
MAJOR
* Cabernet Sauvignon: Structure, power, and longevity
* Merlot: fleshy, juicy texture that can soften the austerity of Cabernet Sauvignon
* Cabernet Franc: More tannin than Merlot, less muscle and weight than Cabernet Sauvignon, imparts herbal spice and red fruit aromatics
MINOR
* Petit Verdot: Inky, last grape in Bordeaux to ripen, occasionally added on the Left Bank in minute quantities for color, depth and exotic perfume
* Malbec: Performs similarly to Merlot in blends, seldom encountered in Bordeaux
* Carmenere (kaar-muh-nehr): Virtually extinct
White Grapes of Bordeaux
* 2 Major
* 5 Minor
MAJOR: Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon (se-mi-yon)
MINOR: Muscadelle, Uni Blanc,
Merlot Blanc, Sauvignon Gris, Colombard
7 Styles of Bordeaux Wines
• Dry: Red/White
• Off Dry/Sweet: White
• Róse
• Claret
• Sparkling: White/Róse
• Moelleux (moy-loo): Sweet
• Liquoreux: Richer/Sweeter than Moelleux
Location of Bordeaux
3 Facts
• West Coast of France
• On the Atlantic Ocean
• 124 miles north of Spain
3 Geological Features of Bordeaux
• Gironde Estuary (zhu-rond)
• Dordogne River in the north
passes through Pomerol and St. Emilion, towards Bergerac.
• Garonne River (ga-ron) in the south, travels through Grave, Pessac-Leognan to Sauternes
Climate of Bordeaux
+4 Facts
- Maritime
- Short/mild winters, rainy springs, warm summers
- small seasonal diurnal shifts
- the most annual rainfall in France (40in)
- Can be humid, which causes rot
Soils of Bordeaux
* Left Bank
* Entre-Deux-Mers/Graves
* Right Bank
- Left Bank: Gravel outcroppings, clay and some limestone
- Entre-Deux-Mers/Graves: Boulbenes (bool-ben): Very fine and silicious
- Right Bank: iron and clay
What is Clairet
When did it become popular
- English term for light-bodied reds or
dark rosés from Bordeaux - 11th to 15th Century: during this time, Bordeaux was under English rule. There is still a strong trade agreement between Bordeaux and England today
