France - Bordeaux Flashcards
Six red varietals allowed in Bordeaux:
Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Franc Merlot Carmeniere Malbec Petit Verdot
Seven white varietals allowed in Bordeaux:
Sauvignon Blanc Semillon Muscadelle Ugni Blanc Colombard Merlot Blanc Sauvignon Gris
What is the Bordeaux climate?
Maritime. Atlantic and the Gironde estuary acts to moderate temperatures.
More continental toward St-Emilion and Pomerol (right bank).
Increases vintage variation.
Most widely planted grape in Bordeaux:
Merlot
“Chateau” in Bordeaux:
Estate under single ownership
“Courtier” in Bordeaux:
Brokers of wine. A middleman acting between the chateaux and Bordeaux merchants. Provide financial backing to chateaux while gaining total control over the actual trade of wine.
En Primeur Sales:
Futures. Early release of wine for sale
“Negociants” in Bordeaux:
Acted as one type of intermediary, buying fruit or wine in barrel to age in their own cellars before selling the bottled wine. Influence faded after World War II
What is the soil like in Medoc and Northern Graves?
Gravel
What is the soil type in St-Emilion?
Gravel over limestone
What is the soil type in Pomerol?
Iron pan under sand and clay
Rivers of Bordeaux:
Gironde (Main estuary)
Garonne (on the left)
Dardogne (on the right)
What are the grapes of Left bank blends:
70% cabernet sauvignon
30% merlot and minor varietals
Cabernet Sauvignon performs well in gravel soils, allowing the root system to dig deeply while slight water stress adds concentration to the fruit.
What are the grapes of Right bank blends:
70% merlot
25% cabernet franc
5% cabernet sauvignon and others
Merlot prefers clay-based soils as they delay its natural vigor
Cabernet franc performs well in limestone based soils
Explain Ageing in Bordeaux:
A top chateau in one of the commune appelations will often age its red wines for up to two years in barriques (225-liter capacity barrels), a large percentage of which will be new each vintage.
What are the Generic Bordeaux Appellations?
Bordeaux AOC
Bordeaux Superieur AOC
Cremant de Bordeaux AOC
1855 Classification First Growths (Premier Crus)
Chateau Lafite-Rothschild (Pauillac) Chateau Latour (Pauillac) Chateau Mouton-Rothschild (Pauillac) (promoted in 1973) Chateau Margaux (Margaux) Chateau Haut-Brion (Grave)
1855 Classification - 5 facts
- Commissioned by Napoleon III for the Universal Exposition in Paris
- Based on historical marketplace prices and demand more so than quality
- Only communes on the Left Bank included in classification
- Of the 5 First Growths, 4 are in Medoc, one is in Graves
- 61 Chateaux ranked in 5 growths. The rankings stand today but are outside of the AOP.
Five major Chateaux in Pomerol
Château Pétrus Vieux-Château-Certan Château Lafleur Château Le Pin Château Trotanoy
Primary varietals in Listrac and Moulis
Cabernet Sauvignon blended with Merlot and/or Cabernet Franc
Explain Medoc AOC?
AKA “Bas-Medoc”
Typically only used by those chateaux who do not qualify for a more precise appellation.
Merlot is grown in a higher proportion than the Haut-Medoc
Explain Haut-Medoc AOC?
Best vineyards have well-drained gravelly soils, perfectly suited for cabernet sauvignon
What are the Haut-Medoc communes?
St-Estephe Pauillac St-Julien Listrac-Medoc Moulis-en-Medoc Margaux
Explain St-Estephe:
Sturdy full-bodied reds. Higher percentage of merlot due to a higher proportion of clay amongst the gravel.
No first growths.
Chateau Cos d’Estournel is a “super second” (modernized Bordeaux)
Explain Pauillac:
Wines balance power and finesse with aromatic complexity
Gravel topsoil is at its deepest for Haut-Medoc
Three first growths
Chateau Lafite Rothschild (empasize aromatics and elegance)
Chateau Latour (depth and concentration)
Chateau Mouton-Rothschild
Explain St-Julien:
Typically elegant style
Approximately 80% is Cru Classe. No first growths but has five second growths including “super seconds”:
Chateau Leoville Las Cases
Chateau Ducru-Beaucaillou
What is Listrac-Medoc and Moulic-en-Medoc?
Lesser appellations without classified growths.
Chateau Chasse-Spleen in Moulis is the most famous
Explain Margaux:
Largest in Haut-Medoc spreading over five villages.
21 classified growths including one first growth (Chateau Margaux)
Wines are “feminine”, with an emphasis on floral bouquet, exotic character, and finesse.
What are some Medoc Highly Regarded Vintages?
1945, 1961, 1982, 1989, 1990, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2005, 2009, 2010
What is the Graves Soil type:
Similar to the Medoc but becomes sandier toward the south. The mixture of sand, gravel, and clay is known as “boulbenes”
What is the Graves Wine type:
Appellation for red and dry white wines
What are the Graves Classifications?
13 estates are classified as cru classe for red wine, 9 for whites.
Chateau Haut-Brion retains its first growth classification
Explain Pessac-Leognan:
Prestigious appellation for both red and dry white wines. All cru classe properties are loacted here
Explain the Sweet wines of Graves:
All sweet wines can be produced as Graves Superieur.
Three smaller appellations:
Cerons, Barsac, and Sauternes
(Produced from Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc, and Muscadelle affected by Botrytis cinerea). Botrytis dehydrates the grapes so the sugar, acidity, and glycerol content are heightened
What is the Geography of Sauternes?
Sauternes lies at the conflux of the Ciron and Garonne rivers. Cool morning mists blow off the Ciron and encoutner the warmer waters of the Garonne, producing autumn afternoon humidity perfect for incubating the Botrytis spores. Botrytis does not attack the grapes evenly, requiring the producer to pick the grapes individually in separate trips through the vineyard (tries)
What are the Sauternes Wine Classifications:
Classified alongside the Medoc in 1855. Divided into second growths, first growths, and one Premier Cru Superieur (Chateau d’Yquem).
Right Bank Appellations:
St-Emilion
Pomerol
Bourg & Blaye