France Flashcards
What is the inao and when was it founded
Institute national appellation origin. (Institute national origine qualite) Governing body over appellation origin system. 1935. Delimiter and enforce graces appellation system
What was the first aoc
Chateauneuf du pape 1936
St emillion classification system
Unique to st emillion with 4 levels - premiere grand Cru classe A (4 chateaux), premiere grand Cru classe ( 18 incl A group), grand Cru classe (64) grand Cru (hundreds). Regrade do every 10 years, last in 2012. Houses can be promoted and demoted. First graded in 1955.
What is Cru bourgeois
A Bordeaux classification created in early 1939s, rates quality chateaux that were left out of the 1855. To identify and give commercial boosts to lesser known, quality driven chateaux. Started after post-war economic downturn as a way to boost
Sales and notoriety. Not an official rating in the eyes of ministry agriculture but helps as a guide to drinkers working their way through the the many Petit chateaux.
40% of medocs production
Changes and issues with Cru bourgeois
Originally 444 estates included. Never officially ratified. Was to be regarded
Every decade or so. Substantial changes happened between 2000-03 to tighten up rules even more. Only 247 made it through. Various accusations of unfair rating and legal issues caused the govt to overturn 2003 rating in 2007, and eventually banning the use of the term entirely.
Revival of Cru bourgeois in 2010 - how does it differ?
Reintroduced in 2010 but drastically different. It is not a chateaux rating system but is a mark of good quality wine. Rated every year and any chateau can apply.
Wines are rated based on production method and finished product. Lists are published 2 years after the vintages
What is the graves classification
Introduced 1959 - roughly 100 years after 1855 classification.
Brought about as a means of grading and getting notoriety for graves wines which were left out of 1855 (with exception of classed haut Brion).
System rates wines in red and white categories - Cru classe (haut Brion stands alone as Cru classes for red, did not participate for white). It is officially ratified and recognised but can be confusing to the consumer and as it is only 1 tier, does not separate the extraordinary chateaux from the very good or good.
All Cru classe sit in pessac leognan which has had its own appellation
Since 1987. Arguably more important than graves classification.
Ratings:
Cru classe red & white
Cru classe red
Cru classe white
Key Bordeaux appellations
Bordeaux AC
Bordeaux AC Superier
Bordeaux rose AC
Left bank Medoc AC Haut medoc AC St esteph AC Paulliac Ac St Julian Ac Listrac-medoc ac Moulis AC Margaux ac
Graves AC Peassac leognan AC Sauternes AC Barsac AC Cerons AC
Entre deux mer AC
Premiere cotes de Bordeaux (sweetish)
Cadillac AC
Louiac AC
Cotes de Bordeaux (2008)
Blaye, Cadillac, castillon, francs
Cote de bourg
Côte de Blaye
Right bank St emillion AC (St emillion classifications) St emillion satellites Cote de francs AC Cotes de castillon ac
Pommerol AC
Lalande de Pommerol AC
Fronsac AC
Canon Fronsac AC
Right bank
What bdx appellations can append cotes de Bordeaux to their name since 2008 vintage?
And what appellation bowed out?
Blaye
Cadillac
Castillon Franc
They are all spread about around different parts of bdx but can be considered as one AC group
Cote de bourg (next to Blaye) opted out of joining the group
What is passerillage
Term used to describe the shriveling of grapes (late harvest) - after growing season ends, grapes stop receiving water from stems and water evaporates through the skin causing fruit to shrivel.
Satellite appellations on Sauternes
Loupiac
Cerons
Premieres cote de Bordeaux
St croix du Mont
Barsac AC
Sweet wine appellation in graves next to Sauternes. Producers can choose
Whether to use barsac or Sauternes AC.
When was mouton Rothschild added to the 1855 classification as a first growth
1973
La place de Bordeaux - bdx trade structure
Chateaux traditionally did not bottle own wine / negotiants would.
Now all ranked and top houses bottle their own.
Producer
Courtier - middle man. Takes 2% fee of sale. Negotiates deal between prod and neg. gives insight to both sides.
Negotiants - buys up tranches of wine at en premeiur to then sell to distributors, importers, wholesalers, etc.
consumer.
What is the civb
Conseil interprofessional vin du Bordeaux. Professional body that controls bdx trade. Currently working on improving quality and image of lesser bdx brands and chateau.
Mouton cadet
One of the best selling wine brands in the world. Started by baron Philippe Rothschild in early 1900s as a means of producing wine in poor vintages that were not deemed good enough for mouton, or mouton carrudes.
Became widely popular low cost table wine. Now run by daughter Phillipine Rothschild.
Cadet - name for Philippe as he was the youngest in the family.
Early 2000s saw 15’mil bottles sold ww.
Now owned by constellation brands
Axa
French insurance company that has acquired and heavily intvested in wine and estates - particularly bdx
Elevage
French term for progression on wine between fermentation and bottling. Like an adolescent, this is when it’s very character is formed due to a variety of factors - ageing, vessel, filtering fining and good wine maker decisions.
Leoville la case
Flagship wine of St Julian. It is a super second. Meaning second growth but seen price and prestige wise as on part with first growths.
Clos du marquis is their second label. Also very highly rated.
Second wines of 1st growths
Layour - forts de Latour
Margaux - pavilion rouge (Margaux du margaux)
Mouton Rothschild - Le petit mouton
Haut Brion - Le Clarence de haut Brion
Lafite Rothschild - carrudes de Lafite Rothschild
