France

Question 1

What are the First Growths of the 1855 Classification?

Answer 1

Chateau Lafite Rothschild (Pauillac)
Chateau Latour (Pauillac)
Chateau Margaux (Margaux)
Chateau Haut-Brion (Pessac, Graves; 1986 - Pessac-Leognan)
Chateau Mouton-Rothschild (elevated from 2nd growth in 1973)

Question 2

What was the only chateau included in the 1855 Classification that did not come from Medoc?

Answer 2

Chateau Haut-Brion (Pessac-Leognan as of 1986)

Question 3

What was the only formal revision made to the Classification of 1855?

Answer 3

When Chateau Mouton-Rothschild was elevated to first-growth status (from second) in 1973, after 50 years of campaigning for the adjustment.

Question 4

What are Bordeaux Blend varietals (red and white)?

Answer 4

Red: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot (primary two); also Cabernet France, Carmenere, Malbec, and Petite Verdot

White: Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon (primary two); also Muscadelle)

Question 5

What grapes are in GSM blends and where are they typically from?

Answer 5

Grenache, Syrah, Mouvedre
From the Rhone in France (also typical in Australia)

Question 6

What are the 7 Grand Cru vineyards in Chablis?

Answer 6

West to East:

Bougros (more fruit than minerality, richer soil, south-facing slopes)

Preuses (elegant, round, delicate aromatics)

Vaudesir (often considered the finest climat, steep erosion adds variation and complexity, as well as more clay, leading to balance of minerality and fruit)

Grenouilles (means “frogs”; smallest, on Serein riverbank; south-facing, more ripe, fruit forward)

Valmur (very fresh, austere, with high minerality from erosive valley and lots of oyster shell fossils; needs time to age)

Les Clos (most well known, largest; some of the finest chablis; southwest facing means plenty of ripening, but great balance between fruit and acidity)

Blanchot (furthese East, southeast facing means less sun, more acid and citrus notes

*La Moutonne (monopole vineyard partly within Vaudesir allowed to list as Grand Cru on label

Question 7

Bougros

Answer 7

Grand Cru of Chablis: more fruit than minerality, richer soil, south-facing slopes

Question 8

Preuses

Answer 8

Grand Cru of Chablis: elegant, round, delicate aromatics

Question 9

Vaudesir

Answer 9

Grand Cru of Chablis:often considered the finest climat, steep erosion adds variation and complexity, as well as more clay, leading to balance of minerality and fruit

Question 10

Grenouilles

Answer 10

Grand Cru of Chablis: means “frogs”; smallest, on Serein riverbank; south-facing, more ripe, fruit forward

Question 11

La Moutonne

Answer 11

Monopole vineyard partly within Vaudesir, spilling into Preuses; allowed to have Grand Cru status on their label

Question 12

Valmur

Answer 12

Grand Cru of Chablis: very fresh, austere, with high minerality from erosive valley and lots of oyster shell fossils; needs time to age

Question 13

Les Clos

Answer 13

Grand Cru of Chablis: most well known, largest; some of the finest chablis; southwest facing means plenty of ripening, but great balance between fruit and acidity

Question 14

Blanchot

Answer 14

Grand Cru of Chablis: furthest East, southeast facing means less sun, more acid and citrus notes

Question 15

What are the major wine regions in France?

10

Answer 15

Champagne
Alsace
Burgundy / Beaujolais
Loire Valley
Bordeaux
Rhone Valley
Languedoc-Roussillon
Provence
Southwest
Dordogne