France - Bordeaux Flashcards
What is the level of sorting for inexpensive wines?
Will not be routinely sorted.
What is the level of sorting for high quality wines, and how does this change in top vintages?
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.
What winemaking technique have many estates, especially quality focused ones, recently moved to, and what does this require?
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.
For red winemaking, what is the usual fermentation setting?
In closed vats with pump overs, cultured yeasts for reliability. Could be in wood, stainless steel or concrete, all temperature controlled.
For red winemaking, what is typical fermentation temperature and post-fermentation maceration length for wines intended for early drinking?
Mid range temperatures, and 5-7 days to preserve primary fruit and limit tannin extraction.
For red winemaking, what is typical fermentation temperature and post-fermentation maceration length for wines intended for ageing in bottle?
Mid-range to warm, 14-30 days.
For red winemaking, why might maceration times be reduced?
In poor vintages if the fruit is not fully ripe.
For red winemaking, what happens to the wine after fermentation?
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.
For red winemaking, where is the free run and press wine transferred to?
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.
For red winemaking, where does MLC usually take place, and how and why is it encouraged in top quality wines?
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.
For red winemaking, what vessels are simpler wines usually aged in?
Steel, concrete vats or large vats for 4-6 months, oak chips can be added for the desired oak flavour.
For red winemaking, what vessels are high quality wines usually aged in?
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.
For red winemaking, how do winemakers choose the barrels?
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 +.
For red winemaking, how often are wines usually matured for?
18-24 months dependant on quality (greater concentration and tannin requires longer), and the progress of maturation in any given year.
For red winemaking, traditionally, how often are wines racked? What is an alternative to racking?
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.