France: Bordeaux

Question 1

What is the climate of Bordeaux

Answer 1

Maritime to continental from coast moving inland

Question 2

What are the 4 major bodies of water that influence Bordeaux?

Answer 2

1. Atlantic Ocean
2. Gironde Estuary
3. Dordogne River
4. Garonne River

Question 3

Where on this map is the Gironde Estuary?

Answer 3

Question 4

Where on this map is the Dordogne River?

Answer 4

Question 5

Where on this map is the Garonne River?

Answer 5

Question 6

What are the three white grape varieties of Bordeaux?

Answer 6

Semillon
Sauvignon Blanc
Muscadelle

Question 7

What are the six red grape varieties of Bordeaux?

Answer 7

Cabernet Sauvignon
Merlot
Cabernet Franc
Malbec
Petit Verdot
Carmenere

Question 8

What are the four soil types found in Bordeaux?

Answer 8

Sand, Gravel, Clay, & Limestone

Question 9

What soil types will you see mostly Cabernet Sauvignon planted on in Bordeaux?

Answer 9

Gravel and Sand

Question 10

What soil types will you mostly see Merlot and Cabernet Franc planted on in Bordeaux?

Answer 10

Clay and Limestone

Question 11

True or False: Bordeaux is often affected by springtime frosts.

Answer 11

True

Question 12

True or False: the white wines of Bordeaux rarely see new oak

Answer 12

False

Question 13

Name two of the sweet wine AOCs of Graves

Answer 13

Sauternes
Cerons
Barsac

Question 14

How many second growths are there in the 1855 Classification of Bordeaux?

Answer 14

14

Question 15

Name the second growths of St. Estephe

Answer 15

Ch. Montrose
Cos d’Estournel

Question 16

Name the 2nd growths of Pauillac

Answer 16

Ch. Pichon Baron
Ch. Pichon-Longueville, Comtesse de Lalande

Question 17

Name the 2nd growths of Saint-Julien

Answer 17

Ch. Leoville-Las Cases
Ch. Leoville-Barton
Ch. Leoville-Poyferre
Ch. Gruaud-Larose
Ch. Ducru-Beaucaillou

Question 18

Name the 2nd Growths of Marguax

Answer 18

Ch. Rauzan-Segla
Ch. Rauzan-Gassies
Ch. Dufort-Vivens
Ch. Brane Cantenac
Ch. Lascombes

Question 19

Name the 1st growth estates of the 1855 Classification of Bordeaux

Answer 19

Ch. Lafite
Ch. Latour
Ch. Margaux
Ch. Mouton
Ch. Haut-Brion

Question 20

Name the only Premier Cru Superieur classified in the 1855 Classification of Bordeaux

Answer 20

Ch. d’Yquem

Question 21

Name the five top producers of St. Emilion

Answer 21

Ch. Angelus
Ch. Ausone
Ch. Cheval Blanc
Ch. Pavie
Ch. Figeac

Question 22

Name the four top producers of Pomerol AOC

Answer 22

Ch. Petrus
Ch. Le Pin
Ch. l’Eglise
Ch. Lafleur

Question 23

Between 2008 and 2023 what are the top vintages?

Answer 23

2009*
2010*
2016
2018
2019*
2020
2022*
*5/5 Stars

Question 24

True or False: Bordeaux AOC is the 2nd largest producer of AOC wine in France

Answer 24

False. Bordeaux AOC is the largest producer of AOC wine in France

Question 25

What influence did the marriage of Eleanor of Aquitaine and Henry Plantagenet have on Bordeaux?

Answer 25

Henry Plantagenet became King Henry II of England. This gave England reign over Aquitaine, Gascony, and a good portion of Western France. As England became staunchly Catholic, this led to Bordeaux becoming England’s vineyard.

Question 26

What impact did Robert Parker have on Bordeaux?

Answer 26

Robert Parker Championed the 1982 vintage against all other critics. He was right, and from there Bordeaux entered a golden age that it is still in today.

Question 27

What was the influence that the Dutch had on Bordeaux?

Answer 27

1. They drained the Medoc peninsula.
2. They demanded eau de vie and other sweet wines for the table. Bordeaux shifted production accordingly.
3. They expanded Bordeaux’s wine market to include Dutch and British colonies.