France - Bordeaux Flashcards
1
Q
Where is Bordeaux Located?
A
Bordeaux is located in southwestern france, and is named after the 4th largest city in France, Bordeaux
2
Q
What are the two major areas of Medoc
A
- Bas - Medoc ( Lower)
- Haut-Medoc (Upper)
3
Q
Wines labeled “Appellation Mèdoc Controlèe were made from what part of Mèdoc?
A
Châteaux in Bas-Mèdoc
4
Q
What is the dominant grape of Mèdoc
A
Cabernet Sauvignon
5
Q
What are the two main red wines used to blend with Cabernet Sauvignon left bank wines?
A
- Cabernet Franc: used to soften the tannin structure and to add herbaceous and aromatic notes
- Merlot: used to soften tannins and add ripe fruit Characteristics
6
Q
True or False
Haut - Medoc is not a sub region of Mèdoc?
A
False
7
Q
True or False
Haut Medoc has the more superior type of soil than the rest of Medoc?
A
True
8
Q
How are high quality wines from Haut Medoc labeled?
A
Appellation Haut-Medoc Contrôlèe
Note:
Are often high quality wines
9
Q
What are the 4 communes of Haut - Medoc?
A
From north to south
- St. Estèphe
- Pauillac
- St. Julien
- Margaux
Note:
These 4 AOC regions are considered by many to be home to the greatest collection of top quality wineries anywhere in the world
10
Q
What is the main soil type of Medoc?
A
Gravel
11
Q
What are the areas that set off of the Gironde Estuary and Garonne River
A
Medoc
Graves
12
Q
What is the most grown grape in Bordeax?
A
Merlot
13
Q
What are the red grape varietals of Bordeaux?
A
- Merlot
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Cabernet Franc
- Petit Verdot
- Malbec
14
Q
What is the main white grape varitials in Bordeaux?
A
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Semillion
- Muscadelle
15
Q
What is the furtherest northern Commune in Haut - Medoc?
A
St. Estèphe
16
Q
What commune in Bordeaux is known to being the most important appellation in all of Bordeaux
A
Paulliac
17
Q
What are the five 1st Growth Classification Wines of 1855?
A
- Chateau Latour
- Château Lafite - Rothchild
- Château Mouton - Rothschild
- Château Margeux
- Château Haut - Brion
18
Q
What are the 3 communes that are found in Pauillac?
A
- Château Latour
- Château Lafite - Rothchild
- Château Mouton - Rothchild
19
Q
What is the smallest commune in Haut Medoc?
A
St. Julien
20
Q
What are boulbenes?
A
The mixture of sand, gravel, and light clay soil. This takes place in Graves
21
Q
True or False
You can only produce red wines in Graves?
A
False - you can produce red wines and white wines. Only in Medoc and Haut- Medoc in the left bank can you only made red wines
22
Q
What are the 3 major bodies of water in Bordeaux
A
- Gironde Estuary
- Gasonne River
- Dogdonne River
23
Q
What area in the Left Bank is known for its sweet white wines?
A
Sauternes and Barsac
24
Q
What is the fungus that is very popular on grapes in Sauternes and Barsac that helps produces sweet white wines?
A
Botrytis Cinerea
25
What grape gets Botrytis Cinerea the most in Bordeaux and why?
Semillion and because it's a thin skinned grape that contains a lot of sugar
26
What causes Noble Rot?
The climate, the perfect mixture of humidity and mild weather. Misty mornings and later sunshine make perfect conditions for Noble Rot
27
What is the white wine that is made in Pessac - Lèognan?
Sauvignon Blanc
28
What is the soil type in the right bank?
Clayish
29
What is the main grapes of the right bank?
Merlot - the main grape
Cabernet Franc - is also a leading grape
30
What appellations in the right bank make white wines
Côte de Blaye and Côte de Bourg
31
What are the two main red wine regions in the right bank?
Pomerol
Saint - Èmilion
32
Other red wines of the right bank?
Canon - Fronsac
Fronsac
Lalande - de - Pomperol
33
What is the smallest commune of all the quality communes in Bordeaux?
Pomerol
Note:
- it's limited supply is what has caused prices in the appellation to skyrocket
34
What is the major grape grown in Pomerol?
Merlot
35
What is the top château in Pomerol?
Château Pètrus
36
What is the main grape of Saint Èmilion?
Merlot
37
True or False
Saint Èmilion was apart of the 1855 Classification?
False - due to being left out Saint Èmilion created its own appellation, Appellation Saint Èmilion Grand Cru Contrôlèe"
38
What are two top producers in Saint Emilion?
Château Cheval Blanc
Château Ausone
39
What does Entre - Deux - Mers mean?
Between two Seas
40
What type wines are exclusively sold in Entre - Deux - Mers?
Dry white wines
41
What is the dominant grape in Entre De Mers?
Sauvignon Blanc
42
What type of wines are made in Sauternes?
Dessert Wines
43
What is the Southern most sweet wine region of Bordeaux?
Sauternes
44
True or False
| Sauternes are made every year?
False - Sauternes are made only during the best vintage years. During bad vintages the wines are sold off to other producers
45
Name an important Château in Sauternes?
Château d'YQuem
46
What bank is Sauternes located?
Left Bank
47
What region in France has the most acreage
Bordeaux with 117,500 ha
48
What dèpartement is most of the land of Bordeaux in
Gironde
49
What are the main areas set off of the Dordogne River
Saint Emilion
Pomerol
Fronsac
Surrounding Appellations
50
What appellations set on the right bank of the Garonne River
Blaye
Bourg
51
What is the vast stretch of land between the Garonne River and Dordogne River
Entre - Deux - Mers
52
What is the climate of Bordeaux
Maritime
53
What area in France (more specific than Bordeaux) receives the most rainfall
Medoc
- Annual rainfall is 950mm
54
What are usually the driest months of Bordeaux
July and August
55
What parallel runs just north of Bordeaux
45th parallel
56
Why is the Atlantic Gulf Stream Current important to Bordeaux
It brings warm water up from the Caribbean, keeping the climate mild
57
What is Bordeaux most planted white grape
Semillon ⚪
58
What are some notes that Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Carmenère, and Sauvignon Blanc share
Green notes:
Bell Pepper
Grass
Sage
59
What is the synonym for Cabernet Franc on the right bank
Bouchet
60
What is the original name of Malbec
Pressac Noir
61
What grape is the only grape that uses the spur training method
Sémillon
62
How many AOPs are there in Bordeaux
39
63
Bordeaux AOP
Bordeaux Supérieur AOP
Crémont de Bordeaux AOP
What are these to Bordeaux
The three regional appellations of Bordeaux
64
How many châteaux were chosen in the classification of 1855 and how many categories was it
57
- 5 categories called Grand Cru Classé
65
How many Sauternes were chosen for their classification and how were they divided
21
- 3 categories
- second Crus
- premier Crus
- Premier Cru Supérior
66
What were the original 4 châteaux chosen for the classification of 1855
Latour
Lafite
Margaux
Haute - Brion
67
What château received the Premier Cru Supérieur
Château d'Yquem
68
What date was the classification of 1855 official
April 18, 1855
69
When was château Mouton Rothschild upgraded to a first growth
1973
70
What is most common vine training system in Bordeaux and why
Vertical in the Guyot system
- produces larger berries
71
What is the common style of guyot system used in the left bank
Double
72
What is the most common guyot training system used in the right bank
Simple
73
What type of training system is used for Sauternes and why
Cordon Training
- produces slightly smaller berries that attract botrytis
74
What disease is common with using the guyot cane training
Grey Rot
75
What is the common spacing in Médoc
1 x 1 meters
76
Do the canopies hang high or low off the ground in Médoc
Low - one meter off the ground to take advantage of the stony soil
77
What is the common spacing in Saint Émilion and Pomerol
1.3 - 1.5 meters
78
What is the vine per hectors requirement for the left bank
7,000 Vines per hectare
79
What is the vine per Hectare in Saint Emilion and Pomerol
5,500 Vines per Hectare
80
What is the common spacing of Vines in Entre Deux Mers
Up to 2.5 meters
81
Is chaptalization allowed in Bordeaux
Yes
82
What type of barrel is used to age. Bordeaux red wines
New french oak barriques
83
What is the barrique size in Bordeaux
225 liters
84
What is cliquage
A controversial form on micro oxygenation when small doses of oxygen are applied to the finished wine in barrel
85
What are the two thoughts of assemblage in Bordeaux
1. Create the final blend early in the year after harvest in time for the April en primeur tasting
2. Create the blend just before bottling in order to isolate and observe the maturation of separate components for as long as possible
86
When does bottling typically occurs in Bordeaux
April
87
Is the cork a finish requirement in Bordeaux
No, it's not mandated by AOC law
88
What are the last top vintages of Bordeaux
2005, 2009, 2010
89
All the winegrowing in the Médoc occurs where
On the eastern edge of the Médoc
90
Where are the best vineyards and châteaux located in Médoc
Haut Medoc
91
What physical feature in Médoc shields the region's vineyards from Atlantic weather and winds
Landes Forest
92
Where are wines labeled Medoc AOP located
Bas Medoc
93
Where are wines labeled Haut Medoc AOP located
West of Saint Estephe, Pauillac, Saint Julien or south of Margaux
94
What are some characteristics of wine from Saint Estèphe
Firm, tanninc, earthy, chuncky, full bodied, sturdy and slow to mature.
95
Saint-Julien Second Growths
Château Léoville-Las Cases
Château Léoville-Poyferré
Château Léoville Barton
Château Gruaud-Larose
Château Ducru-Beaucaillou
96
Saint Estèphe Second Growths
5
Château Cos d'Estournel
Château Montrose
97
What grape accounts for 40% of Saint Estèphe communes
Merlot
98
What château marks the northern boundary of Paulliac
Château Lafite Rothschild
99
What château makes up the southern boundary of Paulliac
Château Latour
100
What is the flavor for Paulliac
Rich, powerful, firm, and tannic, with blackcurrant and cedar aromas and flavors
101
Pauillac is home to how many first growth wines
3
Château Lafite Rothschild
Château Mouton Rothschild
Château Latour
102
What is the flavor profile for Saint Julien
Rich, flavorful, elegant and finesseful, with cedary bouque
103
What is the smallest Commune in Médoc
Saint Julien
104
What Commune has the most châteaux in the 1855 Classification
Margaux with 21
105
Does Saint Julien have any first growth
No
106
Margaux
Cantenac
Soussans
Arsac
Labarde
These are the 5 communes for what AOC in Bordeaux
Margaux
107
What is the 1st growth from Margaux
Château Margaux
108
What is the white wine that château Margaux makes and what classification does it fall under
Pavilion Blanc du Château Margaux
- Bordeaux AOC
109
What are the 5 Grand Cru Classé A for Saint Emilion Classification
Château Cheval Blanc
Château Angélus
Château Ausone
Château Pavie
Château Figeac (promoted in 2022)
110
When did the Saint Emilion Classification become into existence
1955
111
How often is the Saint Emilion Classification reviewed
Every 10 years
112
Rauzan - Ségla is a 2nd growth for what Appellation
Margaux
113
What is the main grape of Moulis and Listrac Médoc
Cabernet Sauvignon 🔴
Merlot 🔴 - on the rise in the area
114
How many classifications does Medoc have and what are they
1855 Classification
Cru Bourgeois
Cru Artisan
115
What was the purpose of creating the Cru Bourgeois
To create a classification for wines lacking the breed of the more aristocratic 1855 estates some collective marketing power
The Cru Bourgeois classification was created to denote high quality (a Cru Bourgeois is not just any old Chateau!), though not Bordeaux’s highest.
after 1855 no way to sneak onto first class list- this is a consolation price
116
What year was the Cru Bourgeois Classification introduced
1932
117
How many tiers are there to the Cru Bourgeois Classification and what are they
Cru Bourgeois
Cru Bourgeois Supérieur
Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel
118
In the original introduction of the Cru Bourgeois Classification, how many properties were apart
444
119
When was the last major revision done to the Cru Bourgeois Classification and what were they
2003
- cut the total amount of properties down to 247, with only 9 of those being able to use the "exceptionnels" tier
- mandated revisions will occur ever 12 years
120
Is the Cru Bourgeois Classification still around today
Yes, in 2020 it was revived even though it was banned in 2007 due to a law suit filed by some of the declassified estates.
121
How is Cru Bourgeois used and when was it reintroduced
2008
- it is now a mark awarded annually
- châteaux must apply each year by submitting wines to a blind tasting panel
- there is no more tier system
122
What physical feature separates Graves from the Atlantic Ocean
The Landes Forest
123
What is the main soil of Graves
Gravel
124
What is the main soil type of Northern Graves
Gravel croupes
125
What is the main soil type of Southern Graves
Sand and limestone
126
What are the two regional AOPs of Graves
Graves AOP
Graves Supérieur AOP
127
What type of wines are made in Graves AOP
Red 🔴
White ⚪
128
What type of wines are made in Graves Supérior AOP
Sweet Whites Only
129
When did the Graves Classification come into existence
1959
130
What type of wines can be apart of the Graves Classification
Reds and Whites
131
What is the top category for the Graves Classification
Cru Classé
132
When was Pessac Léognan AOC founded
1987
133
What are the main grapes of Pessac - Léognan
Cabernet Sauvignon
Merlot
134
What is the only first growth of of Pessac Léognan
Château Haut Brion
135
What is the main grape of Château Haut Brion
Merlot but most of their wines are Cabernet Sauvignon base blends
136
Where is Sauternes and Barsac located
Southern Graves
137
What type of wines are produced in Sauternes and Barsac
Sweet wines
138
What is noble Rot called in France
Pourriture Rot
139
Barsac
Preignac
Bommes
Fargues
Sauternes
These are the 5 communes for what AOC
Sauternes
140
What are the main two rivers of Sauternes AOC
Ciron River
Garonne River
141
Is new oak used for the sweet wines of Sauternes
Yes, new French Oak Barriques
142
Is chaptalization allowed in Sauternes AOC
Yes
143
What is the largest Commune of production in Sauternes
Barsac
144
What is the most coveted Bordeaux Blanc on the market
Château d'Yquem's - "Ygrec"
- debuted in 1959
145
What are the examable AOPs on the Right Bank
Lalande - de - Pomerol
Pomerol
St - Emilion
St - Emilion Grand Cru
Montagne - St Émilion
146
Why is Merlot more covenant in the right bank than left bank
The right bank cool clay and calcareous clay soils, which are better suited for Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon grows better in gravel soils
147
What is the typical grape breakdown for the right bank
70% Merlot
30% Cabernet Franc
148
What role does Merlot play in right bank blends
- jammy
| - fruitcake
149
What role does Cabernet Franc play in right bank blends
Gives the wines structure , brighter acidity, and restrained alcohol
150
Where did Château Ausone get its name from
The poet Ausonius who lived in Saint Émilion
151
Liborne
Saint Christophe des Bardes
Saint Émilion
Saint Étienne de Lisse
Saint Hippolyte
Saint Laurent - des - Combes
Saint - Pey - d'Armens
Saint Sulpice - de - Faleyrens
Vignonet
These are the nine communes for what AOP
Saint Émilion AOP
152
Where are the best growing areas of Saint Émilion AOP
On the slopes (Côtes) of limestone plateau near the commune of Saint Émilion
153
Name the only red wine appellations of Saint Émilion
Saint Émilion AOP - established in 1936
Saint Émilion Grand Cru AOP - established in 1954
154
What is the difference between Saint Émilion AOP and Saint Émilion Grand Cru AOP
Saint Émilion Grand Cru AOP must be Estate bottled unlike Saint Émilion AOP which can be blended and bottles by a négociant
- Saint Émilion Grand Cru AOP requires lower maximum yields and longer élevage
- Saint Émilion Grand Cru estates are usually located on limestone Côtes and Saint Émilion AOP is located in the river plain
155
How many Saint Émilion premier Cru Classé B are there
14
156
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Château Beauséjour (Duffau-Lagarrosse)
Château Beau-Séjour Bécot
Château Bélair-Monange
Château Canon
Château Canon-la-Gaffelière
Clos Fourtet
Château La Gaffelière
Château Larcis Ducasse
La Mondotte
Château Pavie-Macquin
Château Troplong Mondot
Château Trotte Vieille
Château Valandraud
```
These are the 14 estates for what classification
Saint Émilion Classification - Premier Classé B
157
How many grand Cru Classé properties are apart of the Saint Émilion classification
64
158
What is the only château in Bordeaux wine to be classified twice
Château Haut Brion
1855 Classification
Graves Classification of 1959
159
All of the Graves Classification wines are located in which section of Graves (hint: it’s a proper name)
Pessac - Léognan
160
Margaux Second Growths
Château Rauzan-Gassies
Château Rauzan-Ségla
Château Durfort-Vivens
Château Lascombes
Château Brane-Cantenac
161
Pauillac Second Growths
Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande
Château Pichon Longueville Baron
162
Pessac-Léognan Second Growths
There are none
163
