France - Bordeaux Flashcards
Which wines are produced in Cotes de Bordeaux AOP?
Reds in the north
Med Dry to Dry whites in the center
Sweet whites in the south
Which Chateau got the Premiere Grand Cru Exceptionel classification in 1855 for Sauternes?
Chateau d’Yquem
What does ‘Mise en Bouteille au Chateau’ means?
When Chateau bottle their own wines at the chateau winery
Describe Cabernet Sauvignon grape and identify what it gives to the Bordeaux Blend.
Loves gravel soil, so roots can dig deep and give more concentration.
Difficult to ripen in cooler limestone and clay soils.
High pigmented and tannic, gives structure, power and longevity
Which type of soil can we find in Pauillac AOP?
Deep gravel top soil. Makes Cabernet Sauvignon very structured and concentrated
What do we expect from Pauillac wines?
Full bodied, concentrated and long lived.
Which are the differences between Latour and Lafite wines?
Latour has broading depth and concentration
Lafite has more aromatics and elegance
Name 3 Cru Classe Rouge of Graves Classification
Chateau Latour-Martillac (Martillac)
Chateau Haut-Brion (Pessac)
Chateau Haut-Bailly (Leognan)
Chateau Olivier (Leognan)
Chateu Pape-Clement (Pessac)
Chateau Smith-Haut Lafite (Martillac)
Which soil can we find in Pomerol AOP?
Sandy gravel and clay to the East
‘Cresse de Fer’ ironstone and sand to the West.
Buttons of clay (Petrus)
How can we describe Pomerol wines?
Softer than St. Emilion
High quality
Slight truffle smell
Which soil can we find in St. Julien AOP?
Gravel soil
What do we expect from St. Julien wines?
Small production but very high quality (80% are qualified)
Wines typically demonstrate an elegant style.
What is ‘En Primeur’?
Process of pre-buying wine before it is bottled and released into the market
Describe St. Emilion Classification
Started in 1955 and finished in 1958.
Ranks top properties in:
-Premiere Grand Cru Classe A
-Premiere Grand Cru Classe B
-Grand Cru Classe
-Grand Cru
What can we expect from Sauternes and Barsac wines?
Botrytis affected grapes
Honey, saffron and ginger aromas
Sweet, concentrated flavor and color
What is Bourg AOP most well known for?
Merlot driven red wines
Which type of soil can we find in Saint-Estephe AOP?
Gravel with some clay amongst
What should we expect from Saint-Estephe wines?
Sturdy, full bodied.
Higher percentage of Merlot due to the clay spots.
Name the main districts between the Dordogne and the Garonne
Saint Macaire
Haut Benauge
Entre-Deux-Mers
Premiere Cote de Bordeaux
Saint-Croix-Du-Mont
Loupiac
Cadillac
Saint-Foy-Bordeaux
Graves de Vayres
What does Muscadelle imparts in the blend for Bordeaux sweet wines?
Floral intense character.
Used in small doses as it could overpower the balance
Which is the AOP close to Bergerac in the northern east?
Saint-Foy-Bordeaux
What are the ‘Tries’?
Different passes through the vineyard to pick the best grapes at the perfect moment. Used especially for botrytized grapes.
Name St. Emilion Premiere Grand Cru Classe A
Chateau Pavie
Chateau Figeac (2022)
Which wines are produced in Fronsac AOP and Canon Fronsac AOP?
Fruity reds, similar in style to Pomerol & St. Emilion.
Merlot predominant
Name the main 5 district for red wines in the right bank
Saint Emilion
Pomerol
Lalande de Pomerol
Fronsac
Canon Fronsac
Name the 1st Growth
Chateau Lafite Roschild (Pauillac)
Chateau Latour (Pauillac)
Chateau Margaux (Margaux)
Chateau Haut-Brion (Graves)
Chateau Mouton-Rothschild (Pauillac)
Name all 2nd Growth
Chateau Rauzan-Segla (Margaux)
Chateau Rauzan-Gassies (Margaux)
Chateau Leoville-Las-Cases (St. Julien)
Chateau Leoville-Poyferre (St. Julien)
Chateau Leoville-Barton (St. Julien)
Chateau Dufort-Vivens (Margaux)
Chateau Gruaud-Larose (St. Julien)
Chateau Lascombes (Margaux)
Chateau Brane-Cantenac (Margaux)
Chateau Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de Lalande (Pauillac)
Chateau Pichon-Longueville Barton (Pauillac)
Chateau Ducru-Beaucaillou (St. Julien)
Chateau Cos d’Estournel (St. Estephe)
Chateau Montrose (St. Estephe)
Name all 3rd Growth
Chateau Kirwan (Margaux)
Chateau d’Issan (Margaux)
Chateau Lagrange (St. Julien)
Chateau Langoa-Barton (St. Julien)
Chateau Giscours (Margaux)
Chateau Malescot-St-Exupery (Margaux)
Chateau Boyd-Cantenac (Margaux)
Chateau Cantenac-Brown (Margaux)
Chateau Palmer (Margaux)
Chateau Lagune (Haut-Medoc)
Chateau Desmirail (Margaux)
Chateau Calon-Segur (St. Estephe)
Chateau Ferriere (Margaux)
Chateau Marquis d’Alesme Becker (Margaux)
Name all 4th Growth
Chateau St Pierre (St. Julien)
Chateau Talbot (St. Julien)
Chateau Branaire-Ducru (St. Julien)
Chateau Duhart-Milon Rothschild (Pauillac)
Chateau Pouget (Margaux)
Chateau La Tour Carnet (Haut-Medoc)
Chateau Lafon Rochet (St. Estephe)
Chateau Beycheville (St. Julien)
Chateau Prieure-Lichine (Margaux)
Chateau Marquis de Terme (Margaux)
Name all 5th Growth
Chateau Pontet-Canet (Pauillac)
Chateau Batailley (Pauillac)
Chateau Haut-Batailley (Pauillac)
Chateau Grand-Puy-Lacoste (Pauillac)
Chateau Grand-Puy-Ducasse (Pauillac)
Chateau Lynch-Bages (Pauillac)
Chateau Lynch-Moussas (Pauillac)
Chateau Dauzac (Margaux)
Chateau d’Armaihaq (Pauillac)
Chateau du Tertre (Margaux)
Chateau Haut-Bages-Liberal (Pauillac)
Chateau Pedesclaux (Pauillac)
Chateau Belgrave (Haut-Medoc)
Chateau Camensac (Haut-Medoc)
Chateau Cos-Labory (St. Estephe)
Chateau Clerc-Milon (Pauillac)
Chateau Croizet-Bages (Pauillac)
Chateau Cantemerle (Haut-Medoc)
Describe Bordeaux Sauvignon Blanc
Pungent
High acidity
Citrus
Usually rounded with Oak
Which grape is the most planted and attacked from Botrytis for Bordeaux sweet wines?
Semillon
Name 5 top Pomerol Chateaux
Petrus
Le Pin
Lafleur Petrus
Lafleur
Certon
L’Eglise-Clinet
Latour A’ Pomerol
L’Evangile
Trotonoy
What is Claret/Clairet?
Dark, more aromatic style of rose.
Name from the historic Clairet:
Bordeaux wine sold to England in the Middle Age
What is Blaye-Cotes de B ordeaux AOP most famous for?
Dry whites made from:
-Colombard
-Ugni Blanc
-Sauvignon Blanc
What does Semillon grape impart in the sweet wine blend?
Softens Sauvignon Blanc.
It’s the most planted and it’s the grape that get attacked by Botrytis
When ‘Bordeaux AOP’ appellation can be used?
Red/White/Rose
Dry are usually labled ‘SEC’
Has to come from Bordeaux Region
Only 6 grapes allowed for reds
Only 3 grapes allowed for whites
Name some 2nd wines from Top Chateaux in Medoc
Les Forts de Latour
Carruades de Lafite
Le Clarence de Haut-Brion
Pavillon Rouge du Chateau Margaux
Segla
Le Petit Mouton de Mouton-Rothschild
What ‘Negotiants’ used to do?
Buy fruit or wines in barrel to age in their own cellars, before selling the bottled wine.
Name the 5 Villages in Margaux Aop
Saussans
Margaux
Cantenac
Labarde
Arsac
Describe the production of Botrytized sweet wines and its usual maturation
Noble Rot reduces water content, increasing the sugar percentage.
Morning mist (thanks to the river Ciron and the pine forest) and warm afternoon with dry winds are important to avoid Grey Rots.
Top Chateaux harvest in ‘tries’, then usually matured in cask for 3 years.
They can after mature in bottle for 30/40 years
What can we expect, usually, in a Top dry Bordeaux white wine?
They usually undergo oak maturation
Name all the important district in the right bank
Saint Emilion
Pomerol
Lalande de Pomerol
Fronsac
Canon Fronsac
Bourg
Cote de Bordeaux
Blaye-Cotes de Bordeaux
Castillon - Cotes de Bordeaux
Which style of wine is produced in Lalande de Pomerol AOP?
Good quality wines, similar to Pomerol but lesser quality
Which style of wines can we find in
Sain-Croix-Du-Mont,
Loupiac,
Cadillac?
Similar wines to Sauternes/Barsac, less sweet.
Must contain Botrytized grapes
Which soil can we find in Margaux AOP?
Thin sandy gravel over limestone.
More clay in outer appellation
What can we expect from Margaux wines?
Wines are usually feminine, with floral bouquet, exotic character and finesse
What should we expect from Cerons AOP wines?
Between Graves and Sauternes
Reasonably priced sweet wines.
Similar to Sauternes.
includes some botrytized grapes
Name 3 St. Emilion Premiere Grand Cru Classe B
Chateau Canon
Clos Fourtet
Chateau Troplong-Mondot
Name the main district of the left bank, from North to South
Medoc
Haut Medoc
Saint Estephe
Pauillac
Saint Julien
Listrac-Medoc
Moulis-en-Medoc
Margaux
Graves
Passac-Leognan
Cerons
Barsac
Sauternes
Which soil can we find in Graves AOP?
Gravel with sand and marine deposits, rich in carbonates
What do we expect from Graves wines?
Very fine wines, Cabernet Sauvignon driven with Cabernet Franc and Merlot.
Some sweet wines sold as Graves Superior AOC
Name 3 Cru Classe Blanche of Graves Classification
Chateau Olivier (Leognan)
Chateau Latour-Martillac (Martillac)
Chateau Laville Haut-Brion (Talence)
Domaine de Chevalier (Leognan)
Chateau Carbonnieux
What are all ‘generic’ wines from Bordeaux Region?
Vin de Pays
or
IGP de l’Atlantique
Describe Cabernet Franc variety and identify what it imparts to the Bordeaux Blend
Loves Limestone soils.
More tannic than Merlot.
Less muscular than Cab. Sauv.
Gives herbal spices and red fruit aromas
What is a ‘Chai’?
Single story building for the storage of Barriques
What is the Classification of Graves?
First classified in 1953 and changed in 1959.
-Cru Classe Rouge (13)
-Cru Classe Blanc (9)
When was Pessac-Leognan AOP introduced?
1987
Describe Malbec grape and identify what it contributes to the Bordeaux blend
Known as ‘Pressac’ in the right bank.
Very rare in Bordeaux blend.
Works like Merlot, giving texture, color and softens Cabernet Sauvignon.
How many liters does a Bordeaux Barrique contains?
225Lt
List the 5 Communes in Sauternes district
Sauternes
Fargues
Bommes
Preignac
Barsac
Which type of wines are produced in Cadillac-Cotes de Bordeaux AOP?
Only red wines
Which type of wines are produced in Saint-Foy-Bordeaux AOP?
Dry white wines and red Bordeaux blend
Describe the Cru Bourgeois Classification
Introduced in 1932 and reinstated in 2018.
Ranks estates in:
-Cru Bourgeois Exceptionels (14)
-Cru Bourgeois Superiors (56)
-Cru Bourgeois (179)
Describe Petit Verdot grape and identify what it gives to the Bordeaux blend
Last to ripen.
Occasionally added in the left bank.
Gives color, depth and exotic perfumes
Which are the main factors affecting Bordeaux climate?
It’s a maritime climate, moderated by the Atlantic and the Gironde estuary. Coastal pine forests protect the Medoc from Atlantic winds.
Becomes continental in St. Emilion & Pomerol.
Autumn umidity is a celebration for the sweet wine districts of Graves.
Rain is still a big worry, especially at harvest.
Big Vintage differences due to climate
Which grape is permitted in the Bordeaux blend but almost totally extinct?
Carmenere
Which styles of wines are produced in Cotes de Bordeaux AOP?
Both reds and whites
Which soil can we find in Saint-Emilion AOP?
Clay-limestone and sandy gravel over iron pan, limestone and sand.
Some gravel deposit (Cheval Blanc, Figeac)
What can we expect from Saint-Emilion wines?
Merlot predominant, followed by Cabernet Franc
Which wines are produced in Graves de Vayres AOP?
Good quality red and white.
Whites can contain up to 30% Merlot Blanc
Which wines are produced in Haut-Benauge AOP?
Sweet wines and Moelleux called
Bordeaux Haut-Benauge
Dry white wines called
Entre-Deux-Mers Haut-Benauge
Which style of wines can we find in Saint-Macaire AOP?
Small amount of sweet wines
State all TOP Bordeaux Vintages
1970
1982
1985
1986
1989
1990
2000
2005
2009
2010
2015
2018
Describe Merlot grape and identify what it gives to the Bordeaux blend
Most widely planted grape.
Earlier to ripen.
Loves clay based soils.
Gives fleshy juicy texture and softens Cabernet Sauvignon
Which style of wines are produced in Castillon-Cotes de Bordeaux AOP?
Merlot predominant blend red wines
Who are the ‘Courtiers’?
Brokers of wine.
Supply Chateaux with financial support gaining control over the trade.
Responsible for ‘En Primeur’ sale method
Which style of wines are produced in Entre-Des-Mers AOP?
Dry whites from mainly Sauvignon Blanc
Red Bordeaux blend
Some sweet botrytized wines
Name 3 Sauternes Premiere Crus
Chateau Climens (Barsac)
Chateau Rieussec (Sauternes)
Chateau La Tour Blanche (Sauternes)
What can we expect from Listrac-Medoc AOP and Moulis-en-Medoc AOP wines?
No Classified Growth
Good value wines
Most famous estate is Chateau Chasse-Spleen in Moulis
Which are the rivers separating the Bordeaux region?
Garonne
Dordogne
Describe the 1855 Classification of Bordeaux
Commissioned by Napoleon III
Carried out by region’s Courtiers.
Ranks all top properties.
They are all in Medoc, except ‘Haut Brion’, situated in Graves.
Last change was in 1973 when Mouton-Rothschild was elevated to 1st Growth
Describe the production & ageing techniques for red Bordeaux wines
Fermentation in steel or directly Barriques.
Every grape kept separated and undergo Malo.
Racked in clean barrels every 3 months.
Blended with the ‘Assemblage’ and after 1st year is moved in a second year ‘Chai’ where they complete maturation.
Usually bottled after 2 years and let mature until ready.
