France: Bordeaux Flashcards
Bordeaux:
- Bordeaux is located in the southwest of France and from Middle Ages it was one of the center of trade with easy access to Atlantic Ocean
- Its climate is characterised by maritime climate
- There are 57 appellations in Bordeaux wine region ( most famous:)
1. Haut Medoc
2. Pomerol
3. St. Emilion
4. Pauillac
5. Sauternes
Two Main Rivers Of:
- Garonne
- Dordogne
Together they form the Gironde Estuary
These Bodies Of Water Divide Area Into Three Sections:
- Left Bank
- Right Bank
- Entre Deux Mers
Left Bank:
- When you hear the phrase Left Bank for Bordeaux wines is always referred as the side where Cabernet Sauvignon is dominant
Main Soil:
- Gravel
Where is needed to provide the structure to the final wine which includes the regions of Medoc mainly
Classic blend Cabernet Sauvignon- Merlot of Bordeaux Region
Right Bank:
- Right Bank for Bordeaux wines is always Merlot dominant and there is a mixture of gravel, limestone and sand
Main Soil:
A mixture of:
- Gravel
- Limestone
- Sand
These soils are usually found in St. Emilion and in Pomerol where is Petrus home
There is a mixture of above soils, plus the iron and clay soils which give to this appellation age worthy wines
Bordeaux Appellation System:
Bordeaux AOP:
- Largest appellation system in size and production
- Grapes can come from anywhere in the entire region
Subregional or District Appellations:
These may be the highest appellation attainable in a particular local or they may encompass a number of separate commune appellations
Ex. Haut- Medoc AOP
Entre- Deux- Mers
Commune Appellations:
These are the smallest AOP’s in each region, with generally the highest quality wines
Ex. Pauillac
Margaux
Pomerol
St. Emilion
Bordeaux Appellation System:
1855 Classification:
- Emperor Napoleon III commissioned a ranking of Bordeaux top Chateaux for the Universal Exposition in Paris
- Merchants and brokers ranked 61 properties or Chateaux in five tiers: first growth through fifth growth
- To do so they used the historical record of the prices that each property’s wine commanded in the market place, the higher the price resulting in the higher in the ranking
- Communes on the Right Bank were not included in this classification
First Growth Chateaux Of The 1855 Classification:
- Chateau Lafite- Rothschild
- Chateau Latour
- Chateau Mouton- Rothschild
- Chateau Margaux
- Chateau Haut- Brion
Cru Bourgeois:
- Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel
- Cru Bourgeois Superieur
- Cru Bourgeois
Groves/ Pessac- Leognan AOC:
Pessac- Leognan is the northernmost part of Graves:
The wines allowed to be produced here are dry white and red wines, both of which are usually aged in new French Barrique
Two Prestigious Estates In This AOC Are:
- Chateau Carbonnieux
- Chateau Pape- Clement
Sauternes:
- The famous AOC for sweet wines is located in the Left Bank, in the southern part of Graves bordered by the Garonne and Ciron rivers
- Sauternes is made from botrytized- affected grapes and is often aged in French Barrique
The Main Grape Varieties Are:
- Semillon
- Sauvignon Blanc
Saint- Emilion Classification:
- In addition to the Saint- Emilion AOC introduced in 1936, three new appellations were added in 1954
1. Saint Emilion Grand Cru
2. Saint Emilion Grand Cru Classe
3. Saint Emilion Premier Grand Cru Classe
The 2022 Classification Lists 85 Wine Estates:
- 2 Premiers Grands Crus Classes A
- 12 Premiers Grands Crus Classes
- 71 Grands Crus Classes
The Two Premiers Grand Crus Classes A Are:
- Chateau Figeac
- Chateau Pavie
