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France: Bordeaux Flashcards

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1
Q

What are the 3 main white grapes of Bordeaux?

A

Sauvignon Blanc
Sémillon
Muscadelle

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2
Q

What are the 6 main red grapes of Bordeaux?

A 
Merlot
Cabernet Sauvignon 
Cabernet Franc
Malbec
Petit Verdot
Carménère
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3
Q

What was the most important foreign market of Bordeaux wines in the Middle Ages?

A

England

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4
Q

A. 300 years ago, in the 17th century, what did Dutch merchants do to the marshes in Bordeaux, and why?

B. Their actions led to what important, beneficial trait to the soils of Bordeaux?

A

A. They built channels that drained marshes in Bordeaux – making the land more suitable for viticulture – to expand trade.

B. Drainage is the important soil trait – it allows roots to dig deeply for water, nutrients, and help ripen thick-skinned Cabernet Sauvignon on the Left Bank.

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5
Q

On which ocean is Bordeaux situated?

A

Atlantic Ocean

The ocean access made Bordeaux famous faster than other regions in France because the wines could be exported easily.

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6
Q

In what area of France can you find the Bordeaux wine region?

A

Southwest

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7
Q

What is the climate of Bordeaux?

A

Maritime

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8
Q

On what parallel is Bordeaux?

A

45th

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9
Q

What moderates the climate in Bordeaux?

A

The Gulf Stream
warm waters carried up from the Caribbean keep Bdx mild (but humid)
Coastal proximity + waterways
breezes off of both keep air circulating

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10
Q

What is the name of the pine forest that protects Bordeaux from strong winds + storms off the Atlantic Ocean?

A

Les Landes

Here’s a fun, easy-to-read article giving further background.

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11
Q

What are the 3 main waterways in Bordeaux?

Hint: two are rivers and one is an estuary.

A

Gironde Estuary, which is formed by:
Garonne River
Dordogne River

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12
Q

In what direction does the Gironde Estuary flow? Away from the Atlantic or into the Atlantic?

A

Into the Atlantic

Fun Fact: Banks of a river are named “left” or “right” according to the directional flow of that river. The Garonne, Dordogne + Gironde flow from southeast to northwest and so, drifting downstream, Pomerol and St.-Émilion will appear on your right and the Médoc on your left. Ergo, Médoc is located on the left bank and Pomerol + St.-Émilion are on the right bank.

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13
Q

What are the weather threats in Bordeaux?

A

Rain at harvest

Spring frost

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14
Q

Where is Entre-Deux-Mers in Bordeaux?

A

Between the Garonne and Dordogne Rivers

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15
Q

What are the 3 main soil types in Bordeaux?

A

Gravel
Gravel, limestone, sand
Iron pan beneath sand + clay

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16
Q

What is the predominant soil type found on Bordeaux’s Left Bank (e.g. Médoc, Graves)?

Give an example of a grape that grows well here.

A

Soil: Gravel
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon

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17
Q

What are the predominant soil types found in Saint-Émilion?

Give examples of grapes that grows well here.

A

Soil: Gravel, limestone, sand
Grape: Cabernet Franc, Merlot

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18
Q

What is the predominant soil type found in Pomerol?

Give an example of a grape that grows well here.

A

Soil: Iron pan beneath sand + clay
Grape: Merlot

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19
Q

What is Bordeaux’s most planted red grape?

A

Merlot

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20
Q

Merlot is mostly planted on which bank?

A

Right Bank

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21
Q

Cabernet Sauvignon is mostly planted on which bank?

A

Left Bank

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22
Q

Bordeaux wines, both red and white, are typically:

single varietals
blends

A

Blends

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23
Q

When you see a Right Bank red wine, the main grape in it is almost always going to be ___.

A

Merlot

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24
Q

When you see a Left Bank red wine, the main grape in it is almost always going to be ___.

A

Cabernet Sauvignon

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25
Q

Name 3 Bordeaux appellations that make dry white wine.

A

Entre-Deux-Mers
Graves
Péssac-Léognan

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26
Q

Which grape will almost always be the dominant grape in the blend of a white Bordeaux wine?

A

Sauvignon Blanc

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27
Q

Do most red wines from Bordeaux see some new oak, or are most aged in stainless steel/neutral oak?

A

Most red Bordeaux wines will see at least some new oak.

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28
Q

Vintage variation can be a really big deal in Bordeaux.

What causes the vintage variation and how do the Bordelaise manage it?

A

Causes

Spring frosts
Rain at harvest
Crappy weather during the growing season (rain, not a lot of sun = a cool vintage)
Super hot weather during the growing season (excessive temps = a hot vintage)
Management

Plant different grape varietals
all those grape varietals bud, flower and ripen at different times so an early-budding grape like Merlot could be affected by frost
Make blends
a late-ripening grape like Cabernet Sauvignon could get hit with rain at harvest

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29
Q

What is the Bordeaux AOP hierarchy from largest to smallest (both in terms of size and production)?

A 
Bordeaux AOP
Sub-Regional / District Appellations
e.g. Haut-Médoc AOP
Commune Appellation
e.g. Margaux AOP
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30
Q

Bordeaux AOP wines make up __% of the Bordeaux region’s total production.

A

45%

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31
Q

What colors and styles of wine are allowed to be made under the Bordeaux AOP?

A

Dry + sweet styles of both red + white wines

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32
Q

The highest level of quality wines in Bordeaux are found in the ___ appellations.

A

Commune

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33
Q

Saint Estèphe, Pauillac, Saint Julien, and Margaux are commune appellations on which Bank of the Gironde in Bordeaux?

A

Left Bank

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34
Q

Pomerol and Saint-Émilion are commune appellations on which Bank of the Gironde in Bordeaux?

A

Right Bank

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35
Q

What size barrel is used in Bordeaux?

A

225L barrels called barriques

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36
Q

When you see the word ‘château’ on a bottle of Bordeaux, what do you immediately know about the wine?

A

The estate is under single ownership
The château’s name isn’t the name of its vineyard(s), it’s the brand name
vineyard names don’t appear on Bordeaux wine labels!

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37
Q

What is the premominant soil found on the Left Bank of Bordeaux?

A

Gravel

38
Q

What is the only color and style of wine allowed to be made in the Médoc?

A

Red, dry wines

39
Q

What are the 2 sub-regional AOPs of The Médoc?

A

Médoc AOP

Haut-Médoc AOP

40
Q

What are the 4 Commune appellations of The Médoc?

Briefly describe the style of red wine each Commune is known for.

A 
tannic
Pauillac AOP
most powerful
Saint Julien AOP
most floral + elegant
Margaux AOP
softest due to more Merlot
41
Q

What did the 1855 Classification classify?

How were the classifications determined (or, what were they based on)?

A

It ranked the top properties on the Left Bank of Bordeaux into growths, First through Fifth, for a world’s fair that was held in Paris in 1855. The classification was commissioned by Emperor Napoléon III, who wanted to show off France’s top wines at the fair.

The classifications were based on the prices each wine fetched at market. The people who ranked the wines were those who sold them: merchants and brokers.

42
Q

Which of the 5 First Growths are found in Pauillac?

A

Château Latour
Château Lafite-Rothschild
Château Mouton-Rothschild (elevated 1973)

43
Q

Which château was elevated to First Growth in 1973?

A

Château Mouton-Rothschild

44
Q

Which First Growth is found in Graves?

A

Château Haut-Brion

45
Q

Where is Graves located: to the north or south of the city of Bordeaux?

A

South of the city of Bordeaux

46
Q

What is the soil in Graves?

A

Gravel

47
Q

What style of wine can be made in Graves?

A

Red or white

48
Q

What are the grapes used in Graves, for both red and white wines?

A

White wines

Sauvignon Blanc
Sémillon
Red Wines

Cabernet Sauvignon
Merlot
Cabernet Franc

49
Q

What is the sub-region of Graves AOP?

Where is it located within Graves AOP?

A

Péssac-Léognan AOP, located in the northernmost section of Graves AOP.

50
Q

What sub-regional AOP of Graves is located in its southernmost section?

A

Sauternes AOP

51
Q

What is the only style of wine allowed in Sauternes AOP?

A

Sweet white wines whose grapes have been affected by the Botrytis fungus (it’s humid in Sauternes, which encourages the fungus to grow).

52
Q

The sweet white wines of Sauternes AOP are known to be aged in:

A

New French barrique

53
Q

What does Entre-Deux-Mers translate to in English?

A

Between two seas

54
Q

What is the soil type of Entre-Deux-Mers?

A

Fertile silt

55
Q

What is the color and style of wine allowed in Entre-Deux-Mers, and based on which grapes?

A

Dry white wines based on:

Sauvignon Blanc
Sémillon
Muscadelle

56
Q

If a red wine is made in Entre-Deux-Mers, what AOP does it take?

A

Bordeaux AOP

57
Q

Do the white wines of Entre-Deux-Mers typically see stainless steel or lots of new French barriques?

A

Stainless steel

This is an inexpensive appellation meant for early consumption so the wines are fresh + youthful and made in stainless steel (although there are always exceptions – some EDMs with a light touch of oak on them do exist).

58
Q

What are the 2 major AOPs of Right Bank Bordeaux?

A

Pomerol AOP

St.-Émilion AOP

59
Q

Wines from Pomerol AOP and Saint-Émilion AOP are allowed to be what color and style?

A

Dry red wines ONLY

60
Q

What are the 2 main red grapes in St.-Émilion?

A

Merlot

Cabernet Franc

61
Q

What are the soils of St.-Émilion AOP?

A

A bed of silt, clay and gravel

62
Q

What are the 2 AOPs of Saint-Émilion?

A

Saint-Émilion AOP

Saint-Émilion Grand Cru AOP

63
Q

What is the difference between Saint-Émilion Grand Cru AOP and Saint-Émilion AOP?

A

Saint-Émilion Grand Cru AOP must:

be aged longer
have an additional 0.5% abv

64
Q

Which is geographically smaller: Pomerol AOP or Saint-Émilion AOP?

A

Pomerol AOP

65
Q

In what year was the St.-Émilion Classification established?

When was its most recent review (or revision)?

A

1955

2012

66
Q

What are the 4 châteaux named as Premier Grands Crus Classé A?

A

Château Angélus
Château Ausone
Château Cheval-Blanc
Château Pavie

67
Q

How many Premiers Grands Crus Classé B are there?

A

14

68
Q

How many Grands Crus Classé are there?

A

64

69
Q

Where is Pomerol AOP in relation to St.-Émilion AOP?

A

northwest

70
Q

What are the soils of Pomerol?

A

Sand
Clay
Gravel
Iron pan + rich clay subsoils

71
Q

Does Pomerol have a classification system?

A

No, Pomerol does NOT have a classification system.

72
Q

Name Pomerol’s arguably most famouse château.

A

Château Pétrus

If you were able to buy it retail, the most recent vintage would cost roughly US$4,000. On a wine list it’d be much, much higher.

73
Q

How are the wines of Bordeaux classified vs. those of Burgundy?

A

In Burgundy, the wines are classified by the place – they’re vineyard specific (village, 1er Cru, Grand Cru).

In Bordeaux, it’s the house, or château, that’s classified – not the vineyard or land itself.

74
Q

Explain the differences in soils in the Medoc and St. Emilion. How does this affect the varieties grown in each?

A

tk

75
Q

What appellation is for dry red wines and OFF-DRY white wines?

A

tk

76
Q

What are the six commune appellations of the Medoc?

A

tk

77
Q

Explain the St. Emilion Classification System.

A

tk

78
Q

Name four sweet wine appellations of Bordeaux.

A

tk

79
Q

What is the largest producing AOP region in France?

A

Bordeaux

80
Q

What are the newly approved grape varieties of Bordeaux?

A

newly approved varieties
are Arinarnoa, Castets, Marselan, and Touriga
Nacional (red); and Alvarinho and Liliorila (white).

81
Q

What’s special about the years 1152-1453 in Bordeaux?

A

1152-1453 Bordeaux was under English rule (this is why there is such a strong trade
arrangement between Bordeaux and England today). This is when the light-bodied
red (or dark rosé) called clairet became popular.

82
Q

Why are most wines blends in Bordeaux?

A

Blending has always been a preference in Bordeaux due to the instability of the weather.
Different varieties ripen at different times and will be harvested at different times. For
example by making a wine that is a blend you are given security that if an early-blooming
variety is affected by spring frost, the later blooming varieties will still be available to make
wine

83
Q

What wine styles are allowed in Bordeaux AOP?

A

Bordeaux AOP: Can be red, clairet, blanc (sec), rosé, and has one subzone for white wines, Haut Benauge.

84
Q

What wine styles are allowed in Bordeaux Supérieur AOP?

A

Bordeaux Supérieur AOP: Can be red, or OFF-DRY TO SWEET whites wines.

85
Q

What are the wine styles and laws for Crémant de Bordeaux AOP?

A

Crémant de Bordeaux AOP: Blanc is from mainly red varietals and some white, rosé is from red varietals only. Must go through secondary fermentation and spend a minimum of 9 months on the lees.

86
Q

What wine styles are allowed in Bordeaux Supérieur AOP?

A

Côtes de Bordeaux AOP: covers Francs, Castillon, Cadillac and Blaye. Mainly for dry red and
merlot based. Francs also is for dry to sweet white, Blaye allows dry white.

87
Q

What wine styles are allowed in Première Côtes de Bordeaux AOP?

A

Première Côtes de Bordeaux AOP: Sweet wines only.

88
Q

KNOW MAJOR PRODUCERS / CHATEAUX

A

KNOW MAJOR PRODUCERS / CHATEAUX TK

89
Q

What are the over-performing

second and third growths from the 1855 classifications?

A

TK, including Ducru-Beaucaillou.

90
Q

Sauternes and the Sweet Wine Appellations TK

A 
Understand the hows and whys of
botrytis, which appellations tend to
get more botrytis, the famous
estates (have a good idea of the best
of the classified estates), and how
the wines are made.
91
Q

Know the basics of the St. Emilion
classification. Know which estates
are ranked Grand Cru Classé A, and
the best of the Bs

A

TK

92
Q

What’s the difference between Grand Cru

and Grand Cru Classé in the right bank?

A

TK

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