France - Bordeaux Flashcards

1
Q

What is the level of sorting for inexpensive wines?

A

Will not be routinely sorted.

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2
Q

What is the level of sorting for high quality wines, and how does this change in top vintages?

A

Sorted first by hand harvesters as they pick, then by hand on a moving or vibrating belt (or by optical sorting in well-funded estates).
In the best vintages top estates may not sort in the winery due to uniformly high quality grapes and because they’ve been sorted in the vineyard.

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3
Q

What winemaking technique have many estates, especially quality focused ones, recently moved to, and what does this require?

A

Plot by plot winemaking, picking individual plots for optimum ripeness then making small lots of wine with those grapes.
This requires additional care over harvesting and more, smaller vessels to be available in the winery: adds to cost but produces higher quality.

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4
Q

For red winemaking, what is the usual fermentation setting?

A

In closed vats with pump overs, cultured yeasts for reliability. Could be in wood, stainless steel or concrete, all temperature controlled.

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5
Q

For red winemaking, what is typical fermentation temperature and post-fermentation maceration length for wines intended for early drinking?

A

Mid range temperatures, and 5-7 days to preserve primary fruit and limit tannin extraction.

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6
Q

For red winemaking, what is typical fermentation temperature and post-fermentation maceration length for wines intended for ageing in bottle?

A

Mid-range to warm, 14-30 days.

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7
Q

For red winemaking, why might maceration times be reduced?

A

In poor vintages if the fruit is not fully ripe.

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8
Q

For red winemaking, what happens to the wine after fermentation?

A

The wine is drained off, and the remaining skins are pressed in either pneumatic presses or modern vertical or hydraulic presses - believed to give the best results due to gentle extraction.

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9
Q

For red winemaking, where is the free run and press wine transferred to?

A

225L barriques, but kept seperate so the winemaker can later decide what proportion of press wine to blend into the final wine, dependant on in the free run needs more structure and tannin.

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10
Q

For red winemaking, where does MLC usually take place, and how and why is it encouraged in top quality wines?

A

In tank or barrel, arguing better integration of wine and wood.
As top quality wines will intially be tasted in the spring by buyers and journalists, many estates will innoculate to ensure rapid completion. Cellars may be heated to encourage efficient conversion.

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11
Q

For red winemaking, what vessels are simpler wines usually aged in?

A

Steel, concrete vats or large vats for 4-6 months, oak chips can be added for the desired oak flavour.

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12
Q

For red winemaking, what vessels are high quality wines usually aged in?

A

French oak barriques. The most common is a mix of new, 1 yr and 2 yr old, although some prestigious estates will use 100% new oak. However, percentage of new oak has been decreasing to moderate levels for many estates.

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13
Q

For red winemaking, how do winemakers choose the barrels?

A

Often based on a range of cooperages for the chance of greater complexity in the final blend, and dependant on the level of toast - often medium to medium +.

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14
Q

For red winemaking, how often are wines usually matured for?

A

18-24 months dependant on quality (greater concentration and tannin requires longer), and the progress of maturation in any given year.

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15
Q

For red winemaking, traditionally, how often are wines racked? What is an alternative to racking?

A

Every 3 months.
If the winemaker prefers to leave undisturbed on the lees they may use micro-oxygenation to replace that affect gained from racking, to prevent reduction and help soften tannins.

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16
Q

For red winemaking, what is the main approach to blending?

A

Most estates, especially those presenting their wines at the en primeur tasting in spring, will blend over the winter.
This will achieve the near-final blend of the main wine as well as the deselection that will end up in the estate’s second and third label, or be sold off in bulk to merchants.

17
Q

For red winemaking, what is the lesser approach to blending?

A

A minority of estates blend a few months before bottling, once they can assess the evolution of each variety and each lot before making decisions.

18
Q

For red winemaking, who do many top properties work with to assist with blending?

A

A winemaking consultant, whos main role is to assist with blending.

19
Q

For rosé winemaking, what are the two main styles made and two main varieties used?

A

The deeper coloured, traditional Clairet and a lighter coloured rosé.
Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.

20
Q

For rosé winemaking, how was the traditional style made?

A

Either from younger vines or by the short maceration and bleeding off method. The latter is a by-product of red wine production when aiming to produce deeper coloured musts and wines.

21
Q

For rosé winemaking, how is the newer, lighter style usually made?

A

Direct pressing.

22
Q

For white winemaking, what are the two options upon arrival at the winery?

A

1) Direct press, for maximum freshness.
2) Left on the skins for up to 24 hours before pressing for more aromatic and phenolic complexity, although the grapes need to be fully healthy or they can extract off-flavours.

23
Q

For white winemaking, what is the fermentation environment and elevage for inexpensive wines?

A

Cool fermentation in stainless steel. May remain in tanks for a few months before clarification and bottling.

24
Q

For white winemaking, what is the fermentation environment and elevage for mid-priced wines?

A

Cool fermentation in stainless steel. Often left on the fine lees for 6-12 months for more weight and complexity.

25
Q

For white winemaking, what is the fermentation environment and elevage for high quality wines?

A

Fermented and aged in barriques, a varying proportion of which being new.
Many producers block MLC to retain freshness and acidity.
Battonage used to be common to enrich wines, however today winemakers are wary of the extra body this causes in relation to acidity levels.

26
Q

Which professors are credited with the modern style of white Bordeaux, and what did they advocate?

A

Professor Denis Dubourdieu and André Lurton.
An increased focus on Sauvignon Blanc, skin contant for aromatic extraction and reducing the proportion of new oak for fermentation and maturation.

27
Q

For sweet winemaking, what are yields often kept at in the vineyard, and how is this achieved?

A

Often 1/3rd of that for still to ensure high sugar levels.
Achieved by pruning to a low number of buds then removing any fruit that shows sign of disease or damage: would be prone to grey rot later in the season.

28
Q

For sweet winemaking, what are the permitted yields and what are the often achieved yields, and why do they reach this level?

A

25hL/ha in the top appellations, Sauternes and Barsac. Below 10hL/ha is usually achieved at the top estates due to the low yields in the vineyards and reduction in the juice created by botrytis.
This greatly increases production costs.

29
Q

For sweet winemaking, what must harvesters be trained for?

A

Identifying noble rot compared to grey or black rot, which are exclusively negative.

30
Q

For sweet winemaking, how long can harvest go on for, and why is it spread over this period?

A

It can last from September to November.
For wines of high botrytis concentration, teams of pickers must make multiple passes through the vineyard (in top estates can be 10-12 times) to select properly botrytised berries/bunches.
Because of this vital decisions must be made in the vineyard.

31
Q

For sweet winemaking, what does the level of botrytis in the final wine depend on?

A

1) Whether conditions are correct for the spread of noble rot, which varies from year to year.
2) The position of estates (proximity to areas where mist forms regularly versus other locations)
3) The willingness of estates to first wait for the best time to harvest and risk losing it all to adverse weather, and second to pay for multiple passes through the vineyard to select appropriately botrytised fruit.
As a result there can be some degree of late-harvested fruit.

32
Q

For sweet winemaking, how are grapes typically handled?

A

The same as for dry whites: fermented in steel, concrete or barriques and aged for varying periods in each.

33
Q

For sweet winemaking, what is typical fermentation and maturation for high quality wines?

A

Barrel fermented (for best integration of oak and fruit flavours) with high proportion of new oak and barrel aged (18-36 months for top wines) to encourage gentle oxidation and resulting complexity.
The amount of new oak is typically 30-50%, although can be up to 100% new such as at d’Yquem (significant costs).

34
Q

For sweet winemaking, what is typical fermentation and maturation for lesser quality wines?

A

Wines from less prestigious appellations are often unoaked and released a year after harvest.