France-Bordeaux Flashcards
Modern Negotiant system in France is the?
La place de Bordeaux
First property to implement a bottling system was? What year?
Chateau Mounton Rothschild in 1920
En Primeur?
Is a merchant that pays for the wine in the spring following harvest, but not taking delivery until 12-18 months later.
Wine Regions of Bordeaux?
- Medoc
- Graves
- Blaye and Bourg
- Libournais district
- Entre-deux-mers
Soil of Bordeaux, left bank and right?
Left is well drained gravels in the best sights. More clay in St. Estephe and Pomerol with increasing more gravel moving south through communes.
Climate Of Bordeaux?
Maritime Climate, With the Pin forest to the east blocking the winds from the ocean. Increasingly hotter and more humid summers.
What are the two major rivers in Bordeaux?
- Gironde (Garonne as you move further south)
2. Dordogne
1855 Classification: Reds- How many? From where? how many levels?
61 total
60 from Medoc, 1 Graves
5 Levels
1855 Classification
Whites-
How Many?
How many levels?
27 sweet white wines
2 levels with a superior classification awarded to d’Yquem
What was the 1855 classification based on?
Sale price for current wine.
Graves Classification was introduced in what year and reconfirmed when?
Graves Classification was Introduced in 1954 and reconfirmed in 1959
How many reds and how many white were part of the confirmation of ‘59 in Graves?
13 red, 9 whites
How many levels of classification in Graves?
1
Pessac-Leognan appellation was founded in what year?
1987
St. Emillion reclassifies its vineyards how often?
Every 10 or so years?
In what year was Mounton Rothschild Promoted to First Growth?
1973
1855 Classification of White Wine:
What is the Premier Cru Superieur Chateau?
Chateau d’Yquem
1855 Classification of white wines:
Premier Cru (First Growth)
How many originally?
How many now?
9 originally
11 Currently
1855 Classification of white wines:
Premier Cru
Memory 1?
Memory 2?
Memory 1: Siglas-Raboud went on La Tour Blanche to Clos Haute-Peyraguay. Rabaud-Promis de Rayne Vigneau would Lafourie Peyraguay (all in Bommes)
Memory 2: Guiraud Suduiraut Rieussac-Fargues because Climens stole Coutet
1855 classification of white wines Premier Cru:
original chateaux and Current name(s) if neccisary?
- La Tour Blanch, Bommes (Chateau Latour Blanche)
- Raboud, Bommes (Now two: Chateau Raboud-Promis, and Chateau Siglas-Ribaud
- Peyraguay, Bommes (Now two: Chateau Clos Haut-Peyrayguey, Chateau Lafaurie-Peyraguey
- Vigneau, Bommes (Now Chateau Rayne Vigneau
- Suduiraut, Preignac
- Climens, Barsac
- Coutet, Barsac
- Blaye, Sauternes (now Chateau Guiraud)
- Rieussec, Sauternes (now Chateau Rieussec-Fargues)
1855 Classification White WIne Deuxieme cru (Second Growth):
How many originally?
How many now?
11 originally
16 now
1855 Classification white wine Deuxieme cru
Memory 1?
Memory2?
Memory 1: Mirat, Suau, Broustete-Nerac, and Caillou. Doisy now 3 Daëne, Dubroca and Vendrines (All Barsac)
Memory 2: Peixoto told a Romer-du-Hayot took a Malle to Filhot D’arche while Lamothe and Gaignard watched
1855 Classification white wines Deuxieme Cru:
Original 11 with the appellation, and current name(s) if necessary.
- Mirat, Barsac (now Chateau Myrat)
- Suau, Barsac
- Bourstet Nerac, Barsac (Now two: Chateau Bourstet, Chateau Nerac
- Caillou, Barsac
- Doisy, Barsac (Now Three: Chateau Doisy-Daëne, Chateau Doisy-Dubroca, Chateau Doisy-Vendrines
- Pexoto, Bommes (now part of Chateau Raboud-Promis)
- Romer, Preignac (now two: Chateau Romer and Chateau Romer-du-Hayot-Fargues)
- Malle, Preignac, (now Chateau Malle)
- Filhot , Sauternes
- D’arch, Suaternes (now Chateau D’Arche)
- Lamothe, Sauternes (now two: Chateau Lamothe and Chateau Lamothe-Gaignard
1855 Classification of red wines :
What are the five classification levels in French and English?
- Premier Cru, First Growth
- Deuxieme Cru, Second Growth
- Troisieme Cru, Third Growth
- Quatrimese Cru, Fourth Growth
- Cinquimese Cru, Fifth Growth
1855 Classification of red wines:
Premier Cru?
Communal appellation?
Any current Changes?
- Chateau Lafit-Rothschild, Pauillac
- Chateau Latour, Pauillac
- Chateau Margaux, Margaux
- Chateau Haut-Brion, Pessac
Changes:
5. Chateau Mounton-Rothschild, Pauillac (was upgraded in 1973)
1855 Classification of red wines: Deauxieme Cru Memory St. Estephe? Memory Pauillac? Memory St. Julien? Memory Margaux?
St. Estephe: St Estephe went to the Rose Mountain to preach, D’Estournel (Didn’t do well)
Pauillac: Pichon(piss on) Longville the Baron and Comtess-de-Leland, and Mounton Rothschild if he was still here
St. Julien: Leoville Leoville Leoville, Barton and Poyfere, Ducru Beaucaillou, Gruaud-Larose to stay
Margaux: DL Bran Fucks Rouzan Twice, Segla and Gassies
1855 Deuxieme cru red wines:
How many Originally?, Now?
Name all the Chateaux and Communal Appellation, and if they have any changes since the original classification.
12 Originally, 14 Current
- Cos Destournel, St. Estephe (now Chateau cos d’Estournel)
- Montrose, St Estephe
- Mouton, Pauillac (now Chateau Mouton Rothschild First Growth)
- Pichon Longueville, Pauillac (now two: Pichon-Longueville-Baron and Pichon-Longueville-Comtess-de-Lelande
- Chateau Leoville, St. Julien (now three: Leoville-Las-Cases, Leoville-Poyforé, Leoville-Barton
- Ducru Beau Caillou, St. Julien (now Chateau Ducru-Beaucaillou)
- Gruau-Larose, St. Julien (now Chateau Gruard-Larose)
- Rauzan-Segla, Margaux
- Rauzan-Gassis, Margaux
- Viven Dufort, Margaux (now Chateau Dufort-Vivens
- Lascombe
- Bran, Cantenac (Margaux)
1855 Classification Troisieme Cru (Third Growth) red wines:
How many originally?
Now?
Memory?
14 originally, 14, Now
Memory: (Troisieme,4,5,1,2) Third growth, Cantenac has 4, Kiwan, d’Issan Boyd, and Palmer. Margaux has 5, St. Exupery Drinks Becks with the Ferrier, and Desmirail, but Dubignon is gone. With Calon in St. Estephe 3 have 1, Giscours in Labarde, an Lalagune in Ludon. Don’t forget 2 is a party in St-Julien at the Lagrange or Langoa-Barton
1855 Classification Troisieme Cru (Third Growth) rd wines:
List all Chateau, Communal Appellations, and changes.
- Kirwan, Cantenac
- Chateau d’Issan, Cantenac
- Boyde, Cantenac (now two: Chateau Boyde-Cantenac and Chateau Cantenac -Brown)
- Palmer, Cantenac
- St-Exupery, Margaux (now Chateau Malescot-St-Exupery
- Becks, Margaux ( now Chateau Marquis d’Alesne-Becks)
- Ferrier, Margaux
- Desmirail, Margaux
- Dubignon, Margaux (no longer in existence, some vineyard have been purchased by Chateau Margaux, Chateau Palmer, Chateau Malescot-St-Exupry)
- Calon, St-Estephe (now Chateau Calon-Sergur)
- Giscours, Laborde
- Lalagune, Ludon (now Chateau La Lagune)
- Lagrange, St-Julien
- Langoa, St-Julien (Now Chateau Langoa-Barton)
1855 Classification Quatrieme Cru (Fourth Growth):
How many Originally? Current?
Memory?
Originally 11, Current 10
Memory: Marquis de Thermes went on a Latour-Carnet with Lafone-Rochet to Shop at Talbots. While dining with St-Pierre and Du-luc at Beychevele, Le Prieure Pouget Duhart exploded
1855 Classification Quatrieme Cru:
List names of Chateaux, Communal Appellation, and any changes
- Marquis de Terme, Margaux (now Chateau Marquis-de-Terme)
- Cornet, St-Laurent (now Chateau Latour-Carnet)
- Rochet, St-Estephe (now Chateau Lafon-Rochet
- Talbots, St-Julien
- St. Pierre, St-Julien (now Chateau St-Pierre-Sevaistre)
- Du-luc, St-Julien (now Chateau Brenaire-Ducru)
- Beychevele, St-Julien (now Chateau Beychevelle)
- Le prieure, Cantenac (now Chateau Priuré-Lichine)
- Pouget-Lasalle, Cantenac (now Chateau Pouget
- Pouget, Cantnac (now Chateau Pouget)
- Duhart, Pauillac (now Chatau Duhart-Milon (Rothschild))
1855 Classification Cinquiemes Cru (Fith Growth):
How many originally?
How many currently?
17 originally
18 now
When was the cru Bourgeois Enacted?
1932
Hierarchy Levels of Cru Bourgeois?
How Many originally
- Crus Bourgeois Exceptional (6)
- Crus Bourgeois Superior (99)
- Crus Bouegeois
When was thre Cru Bourgeois Rectified?
When is it reassed?
What Happend after?
2000 Cru Bourgeois was rectified
It is reassessed every 12 years
In 2003 247 of the 490 the applied where accepted, after uproar and a law suit to further clarify the rules, in 2008 243 of 290 that applied where accepted, showing that the original rectification in 2003 was very acurate.
Grape veriety of Bordeaux:
Red?
White?
Red: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petite Verdot
White: Sauvignon Blanc, Semillion, Muscadelle
Vinification and aging mediums used in Bordeaux
Oak, concrete, stainless
Who was the first to use stainless?
Chateau Haute-Brion
What are the St. Emilion Satellites?
- Montagne-St-Emilion
- Lussac-St-Emilion
- Puisseguin-St-Emilion
- St-Georges-St-Emilion
% of Bordeaux that is organic
8%
What is the UGC?
And how are the payments set up?
Union des Grands Crus: Trad tasting at the end of harvest for the negociants to set price and for the media
Paymenst in thirds: reservation, six monthes, delivery
Barriques are _____ Gallons
59
What are the Appellations of Bordeaux-Generic AOC
Bordeaux AOC: First Tier
Bordeaux Superieur AOC: Second Tier
Cotes de Bordeaux AOC : Small rural farms often co-ops
Cremant de Bordeaux AOC
What are the 8 appellations of the Medoc?
How many cru classes in each?
- Medoc: 0 cru classes
- St-Estephe: 5 cru classes
- Pauillac: 18 cru classes
- St-Julien: 11 cru classes
- Moulis-en-Medoc: 0 cru classes
- Listrac-Medoc: 0 cru classes
- Margaux: 21 cru classes
- Haute-Medoc: 5 cru classes (surrounding the other 7 appellations)
Medoc location?
Left bank of the Gironde, Starts northwest of Bordeaux to Soulac in the north
Medoc climate, 3 aspects?
- Two large masses of water, Atlantic and Gironde act as heat regulators creating a micro-climate
- Gulf Stream regulates, mild winters, warm summers, sunny autums
- Protected from winds by pine forest that runs along the coast parallel to the Medoc AOC’s
Medoc Aspect?
- Hillside with knolls and gentle slopes. All areas gradually slope to the Gironde. scattered marshy areas
- Best vineyards have view fo Gironde
What is Bordeaux Largest district or appellation?
Entre-deaux-mers
Medoc Soil?
- Topsoil: gravel mixed with sand
- Subsoil: mainly gravel with humus, limestone and clay.
- More sand and clay in the north, with higher percentages of gravel in the south in Margaux
Medoc Viticulture?
Mostly reds, some prestigious whites.
Medoc Grape Varieties?
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Carmenere, Malbec
St. Estephe wine structure?
Emphasis on firmness, well structured with natural longevity, richer and fruitier, less perfumed
How many Cru Bourgeois Exceptional’s in St-Estephe?
9 Cru Bourgeois Exceptional’s, St-Estephe is known for Cru Bourgeois.
What is the “Crown Jewel” of St-Estephe and why?
Chateau Clos d’Estournel: Bruno Prats in 1971, when its reputation soared.
St-Estephe Location?
Most northernly of the 4 classic appellations
St-Estephe aspect?
Rolling hills with drainage to the estuary’s
St-Estephe Soil?
- Topsoil: quartz and gravel
- Subsoil: clay beds, stoney-clay, limestone with heavier slower drainage
- More fertile that communal appellation to the south because gravel washes down the Gironde
- Vines can withstand particularly hot and dry summers because of the cooler soil.
St-Estephe Viticulture?
Merlot Is becoming more prominent
St-Estephe vinification?
- Reduced use of ________.
- All grapes must be ________.
- Skin contact averages __________.
- Maturation in cask currently vary’s _______ to ______ months
- Vin de press
- destalked
- 3 weeks
- 15 to 24 months
Pauillac wine structure?
- Wines that bombard the senses with power and flavor, but still have the finesse.
- Fresh fruit, oak, rigour, subtly combined with cigar box with a touch of sweetness
- Black currant aromas are most notable in Puillace
- Young Pauillac has notes of black current, raspberry, violet, roses, and irises
Pauillac Location?
Between St-Estphe to the north and St-Julien to the south
Pauillac aspect?
- Two large low-lying plateaus, one on the northwest and the other on the southwest.
- Excellent drainage in all directions
Pauillac soil composition?
- The two plateaus are massive gravel beds reaching greater depths than anywhere in the Medoc. Called “Croupes”
- St-Sauveur (to the west consists of shallow sand over stony subsoils
- Gravel over gravel and ironpan in the central and south
Pauillac vinification?
- Some vin de press
- Skin contact 3-4 weeks
- Maturation 18-24 months in cask
What is the difference between the hillside and ownership of Pauillac compared to Margaux?
Most Chateaus own the whole hillside, whereas in Margaux many Hillsides are owned by multiple chateaus.
When you pick 1 grape at a time over a period of ten weeks, only botrytis grapes are picked as they are ready, this is called?
sorti or tres
Describe the 3 characteristics of Pauillac wine structure?
Three characteristic structures of Pauillac are best described by the 3 different First Growths.
1. Lafit-Rothschils: in the north, has the smoothness and finesse of St-Julien
2. Latour: in the south has emphatic firmness of St. Esephe, Depths of flavor that can take a decade to unravel.
Mounton-Rothschild: is the third kind of Pauillac, strong, dark, full of the savor of ripe black currents, and some say exotic spices.
How many cru classes are in Pauillac?
18
St-Julien wine structure?
- Known for smoothness and finesse after aged, consistent
- If Pauillac is strong and Margaux finessed, St-Julien is right down the middle
How many cru classes in Saint Julien?
11 (no premier or Cinquiemes cru)
St-Julien location?
Located in the center of the Haut-Medoc, just south of Pauillac
St-Julien aspect?
The “gravel crest” of St-Julien slopes and drains to the Girande, or slopes south to the Jalle du nord and Chames de Milieu
Soil of St-Julien?
- Fine gravel on south facing mounds within sight of the Gironde.
- Further inland soils begin to mix with sand loess.
- Subsoil consists of iron pan, marl and gravel.
St-Julien Vinification?
- All grapes must be destalked
- Some vin de press may be used according to the needs of the vintage
- Skin contact 2-3 weeks
- 18-22 months maturation in casks
Margaux best vintages?
Anything current but ‘11 and ‘13
Margaux wine structure?
- Feminine, subtle, elegent with great aging potential
- On the best years it is delicate, sweet haunting perfume that can make it the most exquisite of claret.
- Poor year can be thin without proper water supply, The ground in Margaux does not hold water well
How many cru classes in Margaux?
21
What are the communes in Margaux?
- Labarde
- Arsac
- Cantenac
- Margaux
- Soussans
Where can the best Margaux’s be found?
On the central plateau, four miles long and one mile wide
Location of Margaux?
Furthest south of the traditional appellations, `17 miles north of Bordeaux
Margaux aspect?
One large plateau centering on margaux plus several outcrops sloping west to the forest
Margaux soil?
- Central Plateau: Gravel deposited from Margaux over a limestone terrace and clay-marl subsoil.
- Shallow pebble gravel over gravel subsoil intersperses with limestone, thinest and most gravelly.
Margaux vinification?
- All Grapes must be destalked
- 5%-10% vin de press may be used on the wine according to vintage needs
- Skin contact 15-25 days
- 12-24 months in cask aging
What vineyards use more malbec in Margaux?
Chateau Palmer
Chateau Lascombes
What Chateau does Chanel own?
Chateau Rauzan-Segla
Top 7 communes in Graves?
Pessac, Leognan, Talence, Martillac, Portets, Illats and Podensac.