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Sommelier Study Guide > France - Bordeaux > Flashcards

France - Bordeaux Flashcards

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1
Q

Where is Bordeaux located?

A

Southwest France, adjacent to the Bay of Biscay.

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2
Q

What are the most important bodies of water in Bordeaux?

A

The Atlantic Ocean/Bay of Biscay, the Gironde Estuary, and the Garonne and Dordogne Rivers.

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3
Q

Entre-Deux-Mers sits at the confluence of what two rivers?

A

The Garonne to the south and the Dordogne to the north.

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4
Q

What is notable about Bordeaux Superieur AOP white wines?

A

They are bottled off-dry.

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5
Q

What white varietals are permitted in Bordeaux Superieur AOP?

A

Merlot Blanc, Ugni Blanc, Muscadelle, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon.

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6
Q

How many hectares are under white vines for Bordeau Superieur AOP production

A

49 (2024)

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7
Q

What grapes are permitted in Bordeaux AOP white wines?

A

Muscadelle, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon

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8
Q

How many hectares are under white vines in Bordeaux AOP?

A

5,086 (2024)

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9
Q

What are the permitted red varietals in Bordeaux AOP?

A

Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Petit Verdot, Merlot, Carmenere

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10
Q

What is the CIVB?

A

The CIVB (INSERT FULL NAME HERE) is Bordeaux’s governing wine council.

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11
Q

What did the CIVB announce in January 2021?

A

Four new red varietals and two new white varietals were permitted in the region.

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12
Q

What are the four new red varietals allowed in Bordeaux as of 2021?

A

Toruga Nacional, Marselan, Castets, Arinarona.

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13
Q

What are the two new whte varietals allowed in Bordeaux as of 2021?

A

Alvarinho, Liliorila

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14
Q

How are vines generally pruned on the right bank of Bordeaux?

A

Single Guyot

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15
Q

How are vines generally prunedon the left bank of Bordeaux?

A

Double Guyot

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16
Q

What hazards are common in Bordeaux?

A

Odium, mildew, coulure, millerandge, Esca, Eutypoise, Botrytis

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17
Q

What are Bordeaux’s yields capped at?

A

60hL/ha, with the option ot raise yields by 20% with INAO permission.

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18
Q

What happens to grapes & must in excess of legal yield maximums in Bordeaux?

A

They are sold off for distillation into brandy.

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19
Q

What are the typical varietal blends on the left bank of Bordeaux?

A

Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, with possible small amounts of Petit Verdot, Malbec, and Cermenere.

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20
Q

What are the typical varietal blends on the right bank of Bordeaux?

A

Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvigonon, with smaller amounts of Petit Verdot, Malbec, and CCarmenere.

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21
Q

Is chapitalization legal in Bordeaux?

A

Yes.

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22
Q

When did chapitalization become legal in Bordeaux?

A

1951

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23
Q

Is chapitalization comomon in Bordeaux?

A

Yes, except for in the warmest vintages.

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24
Q

What is special about the way that Chateau Smith-Haut-Lafitte processes their grapes?

A

Chateau Smith-Haut-Lafitte does not crush their grapes; rather, they allow fermentation to begin in each grape independently.

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25
Q

What is a concentrator?

A

A concentrator is a machine which allows winemakers to remove water from the must.

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26
Q

Who are some producers who do not generally concentrate their must?

A

Ch. Petrus, Ch. Leoville-Barton, Cht. Mouton-Rothschild generally do not concentrate their wine.

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27
Q

What is the benefit of concentrating wine?

A

It results in an improved wine in bad years.

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28
Q

What is micro-oxygenation?

A

Micro-oxygenation is a process in which small amounts of oxygen is added to the wine during fermentation and elevage to stabilize tannins and anthocyanins.

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29
Q

Can Bordeaux wines be aged sur lie?

A

No, though this is being challenged.

30
Q

WGenerally, what is the minimum amount of time a red Bordeaux wine will spend in barrel?

A

Six months.

31
Q

What is the total vineyard area in Bordeaux?

A

110,000+ hectares.

32
Q

On average, how many bottles of Bordeaux wine produced per vintage?

A

700 million bottles.

33
Q

How many chateaux exist in Bordeaux?

A

More than 5,600.

34
Q

How many appellations exist in Bordeaux?

A

65

35
Q

Who planted the first vineyards in Bordeaux?

A

The Romans, around the mid-1st Century CE

36
Q

Who drained the Medoc? When? What was the original purpose for the drainage?

A

The Dutch drained the Medoc, which was previously a swamp, in the 1600s specifically so that it could be put under vine.

37
Q

What happened in Bordeaux in 1855?

A

At the order of Napoleon III, Bordeaux Chateaux were ranked from 1st to 5th growths to classify them for the 1855 World’s Fair in Paris.

38
Q

Only one Chateau producing red wine in the 1855 classification was not from the Medoc. Who was it and where are they located?

A

Chateau Haut-Brion, in Graves.

39
Q

What Medoc Chateaux are classified as First Growths?

A

Chateau Lafite Rothschild
Chateau Latour
Chateau Margaux
Chateau Haut-Brion
Chateau Mouton Rothschild

40
Q

How many Medoc Chateau are classified as Second Growth? Name five of them.

A

15:

Chateau Rauzan-Segla
Chateau Rauzan-Gassies
Chateau Leoville-Las Cases
Chateau Leoville-Poyferre
Chateau Leoville-Barton
Chateau Dufort-Vivens
Chateau Gruaud-Larose
Chateau Lascombes
Chateau Brane-Cantenac
Chateau Pichon Longueville Baron
Chateau Pichone Longueville Comtesse de Lalande
Chateau Ducru-Beaucaillou
Chateau Cos d’Estournel
Chateau Montrose

41
Q

How many Medoc Chateaux are classified as Third Growth? Name five of them.

A

15:

Chateau Kirwan
Chateau d’Issan
Chateau Lagrange
Chateau Langoa-Barton
Chateau Giscours
Chateau Malescot St. Exery
Chateau Cantenac-Brown
Chateau Boyd-Cantenac
Chateau Palmer
Chateau La Lagune
Chateau Desmirail
Chateau Dubignon
Chateau Calon-Segur
Chateau Ferriere
Chateau Marquis d’Alesme Becker

42
Q

How many Medoc Chateaux are classified as Fourth Growth? Name five of them.

A

10:

Chateau Saint-Pierre
Chateau Talbot
Chateau Branaire-Ducru
Chateau Duhart-Milon
Chateau Pouget
Chateau La Tour Carnet
Chateau Lafon-Rochet
Chateau Beycheville
Chateau Prieure-Lichine
Chateau Marquis de Terme

43
Q

How many Medoc Chateaux are classified as Fifth Growth? Name five of them.

A

18:

Chateau Pontet-Canet
Chateau Batailley
Chateau Haut-Batailley
Chateau Grand-Puy-Lacoste
Chateau Grand-Puy Ducasse
Chateau Lynch-Bages
Chateau Lynch-Moussas
Chateau Dauzac
Chateau d’Armailhac
Chateau du Tertre
Chateau Haut-Bages-Liberal
Chateau Pedesclaux
Chateau Belgrave
Chateau de Camensac
Chateau Cos Labroy
Chateau Clerc-Milon
Chateau Croizet Bages
Chateau Cantemerle

44
Q

Describe the 2022 vintage on the Left Bank.

A

2022 was a very good, but unusual year. The growing season was warm and dry, and resulted in fresh, aromatic, high-quality wines across the Medoc.

45
Q

Describe the 2021 vintage on the Left Bank.

A

An uneven year. Spring frosts devastated the crop, and a rainy midsummer and cool late summer did nothing to help. Wines have tight, early-maturing personalities and low yields.

46
Q

Describe the 2020 vintage on the Left Bank.

A

2020 was a high-quality, but uneven year. Mildew pressure was high, and a hot summer resulted in an early harvest. Great wines are great, others do not have particularly clear fruit characters and grainy tannin.

47
Q

Describe the 2019 vintage on the Left Bank.

A

Summer was hot and dry, but occasional rain allowed for a late harvest of rich, fruited wines. High tannins mark the vintages, with some showing an austere-to-aristocratic, reserved character.

48
Q

Describe the 2018 vintage on the Left Bank.

A

A great year with dense, tannic, high-alcohol wines due to a consistently warm summer. Mildew pressure reduced yields, but wines will be long-lived.

49
Q

Describe the 2017 vintage on the Left Bank.

A

Spring frost gave way to a warm and dry growing season. Rains close to the Merlot harvest diluted fruit, but Cabernet-dominated wines did well, particularly in Pauillac and St.-Julien.

50
Q

Describe the 2016 vintage on the Left Bank.

A

An excellent vintage, 2016 had a very rainy spring and a very dry summer. Yields were high, and wines are ripe, tannic, and aromatic.

51
Q

Describe the 2015 vintage on the Left Bank.

A

2015 was a high-quality, even year. The growing season was generally dry, with rain around veraison setting summer up for success, but later rains hampering some areas. A banner year for Margaux and st.-Julien

52
Q

Describe the 2014 growing season on the Left Bank.

A

2015 was a generally good year, with a humid summer and dry autumn leading to a long harvest. Particularly good year for Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot due to the long harvest window.

53
Q

Describe the 2013 vintage on the Left Bank.

A

2013 was a challenging vintage. Very cool spring and very wet autumn separated by a warm, dry summer. Very high disease pressure and early harvest. Wines are simple and approachable. Not a great year for Margaux.

54
Q

Describe the 2012 vintage on the Left Bank.

A

An okay vintage; not as good as 2010, not as challenging as 2013. Cool, wet spring led to disease pressure and dry, hot late summer blocked ripening in some areas. Very tight, inconsistent wines.

55
Q

Describe the 2011 vintage on the Left Bank

A

Dry and hot givingway to cool and wet. Low yields, but fresh fruit and bright acidity with low alcohol in wines.

56
Q

Describe the 2010 vintage on the Left Bank.

A

2010 was an incredible vintage. Tannin and acidity balanced on a knife’s edge and well-established structure. Long-lived wines with well-defined fruit characters.

57
Q

Describe the 2009 vintage on the Left Bank

A

2009 was an outstanding year, with rich, lush, fruited wines.

58
Q

Describe the 2008 vintage on the Left Bank.

A

2008 was wet and disease-filled. Wines are fresh and crisp, with notable acidity.

59
Q
  1. Name Two subdistricts in Bordeaux known for sweet wines, excluding Sauternes.
A

Loupaic and Cadillac are both known for their sweet wines, which are made in styles similar to Sauternes but at a more accessable price piont.

60
Q

Which 1855 First Growth is not in the Medoc? Where is it?

A

Chateau Haut-Brion, known for both its red and white wines, is in Pessac-Leognan.

61
Q

What are some important wineries in St.-Emilion?

A

Ch. Angelus
Ch. Cheval Blanc
Ch. Figeac

62
Q

What are the most classic Bordeaux vintages of the 20th century?

A

1945 - Hot, dry summer. High tannin, strucutred wines
1962 - Balanced, harmonius wines.
1982 - Arguably the best in 20th century. Low actidity, rich fruit, high yields.
1990 - Concentration & depth in wines. Outstanding Sauternes.

63
Q

What are the most classic Bordeaux vintages of the 21st Century so far?

A

2005 - Arguably as good as 1945/1982. Perfect growing season, balanced wines, huge aging potential.

2009 - One of the best ever. Generous fruit, high alcohol, ripe tannins. Wines drinking well while young but also with huge aging potential.

2010 - As good as 2005/2009. Cool summer, late harvest, low yields. Balanced wiens, high alcohol, acidity, and intense tannins. Fresh, bold, heavy, wines.

2018 - Rough start to the beginning of the year, but outstanding vintage. Rich, powerful, fruity wines with high tannins and major aging potential. Still young, but likely to be one of the best.

64
Q

What are the two most important chateaux in Pomerol?

A

Ch. Petrus
Ch. Le Pin

65
Q

Describe a typical, high-quality Pomerol wine.

A

Clay-dominated soils + Merlot-dominant wines = rich, smooth-textured wines with deep depth of flavor and notable complexity.

66
Q

What are the satellite appellations of St. Emilion?

A

Montagne-St. Emilion
Lussac-St. Emiion
Puisseguin-St. Emilion
St. Georges-St. Emilion

67
Q

Where are Bourg and Blaye? Describe their wines.

A

Bourg and Blaye are Right Bank appellations. They typically produce fruit-forward, Merlot dominated, approachable wines.

Good introduction to Right Bank Bordeaux for minimal investment.

68
Q

Which appellations does Cotes de Bordeaux cover? Why is it important?

A

Cotes de Bordeaux encompasses Blaye, Cadillac, Castillon, Francs, and St.-Foy.

The appellation provides unified marketing to the smaller appellations and aims to highlight the Right Bank style generally, and each appellation specifically.

69
Q

Describe a typical Cotes de Bordeaux wine.

A

Merlot-dominated, fruit-forward, soft, and more accessable than an equivalent Left Bank Cab.

70
Q
A

Sommelier Study Guide (206 decks)

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