France Flashcards
What is the dominant grape variety in the Haut-Medoc?
Cabernet Sauvignon
Which grape variety is the dominant grape variety in Saint-Emilion?
Merlot
Which is the highest level of Grand Cru classification in Saint-Emilion?
Saint-Emilion Premier Grand Cru Classe A
What is the most widely planted grape variety in the whole of Bordeaux?
Merlot
What is the dominant grape variety in the appellation Blaye?
Merlot
What white grape varieties are permitted under Bordeaux AOC law?
Sauvignon Blanc (gris), Semillon, Muscadelle, Ugni Blanc, Colombard, Merlot Blanc
Why is Semillon used to make sweet wines?
Thin skinned, affinity for noble rot
What is blended with semillon in the premium dry white wines of Pessac-Leognan and Graves? What is Semillon’s role in these blends?
Sauvignon Blanc - Semillon adds body
What aromas do Sauvignon Blanc based wines produce in Bordeaux?
Citrus and green fruit
What is the role of Sauvignon Blanc in Bordeaux blends?
It adds acidity
What is the importance of Sauvignon Blanc in sweet wines of Bordeaux?
It adds a necessary acidity to balance sweetness
What flavors does Muscadelle have?
Pronounced grapey, floral flavors
What role does Muscadelle play in Bordeaux?
It plays an important role in sweet and dry white wines of Bordeaux (it makes up a small percentage of the blend)
What is the general style of lower-end dry whites in Bordeaux?
Fresh and fruity. Some show hints of oak.
How are less expensive dry Bordeaux whites generally vinified?
Fermented in temp controlled, inert vessels with minimal further aging.
How are premium dry whites generally vinified in Bordeaux?
Frequently fermented and matured in new oak barrels
What is distinctive about the premium dry whites of Bordeaux?
They have a richness and concentrated nutty flavor overlaying the fruit
How are many of the great sweet wines of Bordeaux made? what has happened to the fruit?
The fruit used has been affected by noble rot
How are the best examples of Bordeaux sweet wines fermented and matured?
They are fermented and matured in new oak barrels for anything up to 3 years
Which appellation covers most of the area between the Dordogne and the Garonne?
Entre-Deux-Mers
On the occasion of the Paris Universal Exhibition, the Bordeaux Chamber of Commerce was approached to produce an official list of their best red wines from the Medoc and white wines from Sauternes - this is now known as what?
The 1855 Classification
How many ranks are in the 1855 classification for Sauternes?
Three
Which Chateau occupies the top rank of Sauternes in the 1855 classification?
Chateau d’Yquem
How are the wines of Graves (Pessac-Leognan) classified?
They are classified within a separate list (for red and white) entitling them to be called ‘Cru Classes’
Which Bordeaux appellation can only produce dry white wines?
Entre-Deux-Mers
How many ranks are in the 1855 classification for Medoc?
five
Which Chateaux are listed in the top rank of the 1855 classification for Medoc?
Chateaux Lafite Rothschild, Latour, Margaux and Mouton Rothschild, together with Chateau Haut-Brion from the Graves
Because the 1855 Classification accounted for only a very small number of the estates of the Medoc, what further classification was later introduced for the other Chateaux?
A further classification of Cru Bourgeois was later introduced for the other chateaux
How are Chateaux classified in Cru Bourgeois and how often is this reviewed?
Chateaux are classified as belonging to one of three tiers, ascending in prestige: Cru Bourgeois, Cru Bourgeois Superieur, and Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel. The classification is reviewed every five years.
Bordeaux classification do not rank individual vineyards, but individual…what?
Estates (or Chateaux)
What are the two classifications within the Saint-Emilion Grand Cru appellation?
- Saint-Emilion Premier Grand Cru Classe
- Saint-Emilion Grand Cru Classe
How often can reclassification occur in the Saint-Emilion classification system?
once every 10 years (at least)
Name the major appellation of production in the Dordogne.
Bergerac
Historically, ‘black’ wines were associated with which AOC?
Cahors
Cahors is situated on both banks of which river?
River Lot
Which grape would you associate with Madiran?
Tannat
Complex sweet white wines crafted from Petit Manseng are associated with which region?
Jurancon
In the Dordogne, which is a great source of cheap botrytised sweet wine?
Monbazillac
The 2 grapes associated with the production of Monbazillac are what?
Semillon & Sauvignon Blanc
Light-bodied whites in Cotes de Gascogne usually hail from which grape?
Ugni Blanc
Which grape is associated with Cahors?
Malbec
Generally speaking, what are characteristics of the best wines from Cahors?
At their best, the wines are aged in oak, deeply colored, high in tannin, with intense, dark berry fruits. They mature slowly to reveal notes of cedar and earth.
What white grape variety accounts for nearly half the total vineyard area of Burgundy?
Chardonnay
Around 15 years ago, what problem started to appear in some Burgundian Chardonnays?
Some Chardonnays were not aging as expected. Some bottles of premium wines showed signs of premature oxidation. this is now an established problem in Burgundy, no vineyard or winery-based cause has been identified.
Where is Chablis located in Burgundy?
Chablis is a village appellation that lies in the valley of the river Serein in the Northernmost part of Burgundy.
What is the major climatic problem of Chablis and what two protective measures are used to combat it?
The major climatic problem of Chablis is frost. Sprinklers and heaters are both used as protective measures.
What is the only grape permitted to be grown Chablis?
Chardonnay
What appellation do all white Grand Crus (with the exception of one) of the Cote d’Or come from?
Cote de Beaune
What 3 villages in the Cote de Beaune have the highest reputation for their white wines?
- Meursault
- Puligny-Montrachet
- Chassagne-Montrachet
What village appellation of the Cote Chalonnaise only produce white wine?
Montagny
What is the most widely planted grape of the Maconnais?
Chardonnay
Describe the typical characteristics of a ‘better’ white wine from Macon.
The better white wines show a good balance of fresh apple or citrus fruit, medium acidity and medium to full body. There may be a hint of creaminess from MLC.
Wines labelled Macon Village or Macon, followed by the name of a particular village are what?
white wines that generally represent excellent value for money
How much of the total vineyard area in Burgundy does Pinot Noir account for?
Pinot Noir accounts for over a third of the total vineyard area
In Burgundy, where are the most important plantings of Pinot Noir found?
The most important plantings are in the Cote d’Or
What are the characteristics of a classic Burgundian Pinot Noir?
Classic Burgundian Pinot Noir has a red fruit flavors in youth that evolve into flavors of earth, game and mushrooms as the wine matures. The wines tend to have high levels of tannins, but this can vary according to the vineyard, the producer and the village.
For the best burgundian Pinot Noir wines, what is the normal expectation for barrel aging?
For the best wines, 16 to 18 months barrel aging is normal. Generally speaking, the better wines will aged in a proportion of new oak, although this will depend on the producer
What 3 village appellations of the Cote Chalonnaise produce red wines?
- Rully
- Mercurey
- Givry
What is the typical style of Pinot Noir from the Cote de Beaune?
Generally fruiter than Cote de Nuits
Where are the majority of the Grand Cru Pinot Noir sites?
Cote de Nuits
What are the 4 key villages in the Cote de Nuits mentioned in the WSET Level 3 text?
Gevrey-Chambertin, Vougeot, Vosne-Romanee, and Nuit-Saint-Georges
What color can Cote de Nuits-Villages wine be?
red and white
What color must Cote de Beaune-Villages wine be?
red only
What black grape varieties grown in the Maconnais region?
Gamay and Pinot Noir
What is the recently introduced appellation for wines that can be red or white and produced from any of the villages in the Cote d’Or?
Bourgogne Cote d’Or
What are the two most generic appellations in Burgundy?
Bourgogne Rouge and Bourgogne Blanc
Approximately how much of Burgundy’s wine production is from premiers cru vineyards?
a tenth