France - Bordeaux - General Flashcards

1
Q

Bordeaux size

A

117,500

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2
Q

Bordeaux % of France total vineyard area

A

14%

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3
Q

Number of winegrowers in Bordeaux

A

Over 8.000

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4
Q

Where do Bordeaux’s two main rivers converge?

A

The Gironde Estuary

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5
Q

What does Entre-Deux-Mers mean in English?

A

Between two seas

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6
Q

Entre-Deux-Mers location

A

Between the Garonne and Dordogne rivers

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7
Q

Bordeaux climate type

A

Maritime

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8
Q

Average annual Médoc rainfall

A

950mm

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9
Q

Does Bordeaux have a true dry season?

A

No

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10
Q

Atlantic gulf stream effect on Bordeaux’s climate

A
  • It brings warm water up from the Caribbean and keeps Bordeaux’s climate mild
  • Extends growing season (allows ripening into October)
  • Spring frosts are rarely a problem
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11
Q

Does Bordeaux experience a diurnal shift?

A

No

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12
Q

Most planted grape Bordeaux

A

Merlot

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13
Q

What is the most planted white grape in Bordeaux?

A

Sémillon

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14
Q

Dominant grape in Bordeaux’s right bank

A

Merlot

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15
Q

Dominant grape in Bordeaux’s left bank

A

Cabernet Sauvignon

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16
Q

AOPs Bordeaux

A

39

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17
Q

Color(s) of grape allowed in rosé wines in Bordeaux

A

Red

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18
Q

% Bordeaux wine production rosé and clairet

A

2-3%

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19
Q

Color(s) of wine Atlantique IGP

A

Red

White

Rosé

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20
Q

Jalles

A

Canals in the Médoc built by the Dutch in the mid-17th century. These drained the marshes in the Médoc and allowed for its use as a winegrowing region

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21
Q

Croupes

A

Mounds of warm gravel soil that allows for easy water drainage

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22
Q

First brand name to be sold in Bordeaux

A

Chateau Haut-Brion in the 17th century

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23
Q

How did the 1855 Classification get its start?

A

Napoleon III asked the Bordeaux Chamber of Commerce to select the region’s best wines for presentation to the public

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24
Q

What is the 1855 Classification ranking based on?

A

Price

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25
Q

What is the only premier cru supérier wine in the 1855 Classification?

A

Chateau D’Yquem

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26
Q

1855 Classification red wines

A

61

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27
Q

1855 Classification white wines

A

27

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28
Q

What is the most major change to the 1855 Classification?

A

Mouton-Rothschild was elevated from deuxième cru to premier cru in 1973

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29
Q

When did oidium first appear in Bordeaux?

A

1852

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30
Q

When did phylloxera first appearin Bordeaux?

A

1869

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31
Q

When did peronospera first appear in Bordeaux?

A

Early 1880s

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32
Q

What was the first estate in Bordeaux to estate-bottle its entire production? When did this begin?

A

Mouton-Rothschild in 1924

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33
Q

When did estate-bottling become widespread in Bordeaux?

A

1960s

34
Q

In what year did château bottling become required for classified estates in the Médoc?

A

1972

35
Q

Describe Place de Bordeaux

A

A three-tier de facto system of production, brokerage, and sales that controls the trade of wine in Bordeaux

36
Q

When did en primeur stop being solely an internal mechanism for château?

A

1980s

37
Q

When did Château Latour stop offering wines en primeur?

A

2012

38
Q

Can a classified château in Bordeaux add to its classified holdings? How?

A

Yes. In the Médoc and Pomerol a château can add to its classifed holdings as long as the new parcel of land is in the same AOP as the one stated on their wine’s label.

39
Q

Most common vine training Bordeaux

A

Guyot system

40
Q

What form of the Guyot system is primarily used in the left bank?

A

Double

41
Q

What form of the Guyot system is primarily used in the right bank?

A

Simple

42
Q

What training system is most common in Sauternes?

A

Cordon-training

43
Q

Why is cordon-training favored in Sauternes?

A

Cordon-training tends to produced smaller berries that are more susceptible to botrytis. Guyot cane-training produces larger berries more susceptible to grey rot

44
Q

What is the minimum planting density in the Médoc?

A

7.000 plants per hectare

45
Q

What spacing do many properties use in the Médoc?

A

1x1. Similar to Côte d’Or

46
Q

Minimum planting density Right Bank (Saint-Émillion and Pomerol)?

A

5.500 plants per hectare

47
Q

What spacing is common in the right bank?

A

1.3-1.5 meteres

48
Q

What is the bedrock comprised of in the right bank?

A

Limestone

49
Q

What is the maximum spacing in Entre-Deux-Mers?

A

2.5 meters

50
Q

Describe green harvesting

A

The removal of bunches in the summer months. Is a routine occurance in modern Bordeaux

51
Q

What is the theoretical appeal of green harvesting?

A

Reduces vigor and produces smaller berries with more concentrated flavor

52
Q

Traditional mean of cap management in Bordeaux

A

Remontage

53
Q

At what time of year does malolactic fermentation tend to begin in Bordeaux?

A

End of the harvest

54
Q

How long does élevage typically last for a grand vin in Bordeaux?

A

18-24 months

55
Q

Best Bordeaux red vintages

A

2016

2015

2010

2009

2005

2000

1996

1990

1989

1982

56
Q

Best Bordeaux white vintages

A

2005

2003

2001

1997

1996

1995

1990

1989

1988

1983

57
Q

Cabernet Sauvignon (Bordeaux)

A
  • Haut-Medoc, Bas-Medoc, Graves
  • Likes high stone and gravel soils in left bank (high enough temperature to ripen CS)
58
Q

Cabernet Franc (Bordeaux)

A
  • Mostly Saint Emilion
  • Less body and tannin than Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Prefers well drained warm soils
  • Herbaceous flavors when unripe
  • Fruit and floral when ripe
59
Q

Merlot (Bordeaux)

A
  • Most widely planted variety
  • Saint Emilion and Pomerol
  • Good in cool clay soil
  • Softness = good in high volume inexpensive wine
60
Q

Petit Verdot (Bordeaux)

A
  • Very hot years
  • Deep color
  • High tannins
  • Slow aging
  • Mainly used for tannin, color, or spicy notes
61
Q

Bordeaux blending time

A

Usually in spring following vintage

Some keep different parcel separate until after maturation

62
Q

Sémillon (Bordeaux)

A

Most important sweet

Blended with SB in Pessac Leognan and Graves to add body

63
Q

Sauvignon Blanc (Bordeaux)

A

Citrus and green fruit aroma

Increasingly single variety wines

Adds acidity in blends

64
Q

Muscadelle (Bordeaux)

A

Grapey and floral flavor

Blending partner

65
Q

Low end Bordeaux whites

A

Fresh and fruity

Temp controlled inert vessels

Minimum aging

Some have toasty oak notes

66
Q

Number of Bordeaux appellations

A

> 50

67
Q

Generic Bordeaux appellations

A

Bordeaux AOP

Bordeaux Supérieur AOP

68
Q

Diff between Bordeaux and Bordeaux Supérieur

A

BS has higher minimum ABV

69
Q

Bordeaux rose appellations

A

Bordeaux Rosé

Bordeaux Clairet

70
Q

Bordeaux AOP and BS AOP typical style

A

Early drinking

Medium bodied

Ripe red and black fruit

Sometimes cedar from oak

71
Q

Bordeaux Rosé typical style

A

Fresh and fruity

72
Q

Clairet

A

Rose with deeper color from longer maceration

Fuller body

Popular in France

73
Q

White Bordeaux typical style

A

Sauvignon Blanc

Vibrant grassy character

74
Q

Vin de garage

A

Right Bank

Full bodied and incredibly ripe

Tiny quantities from small plots

Garagistes

75
Q

Cotes de Bordeaux appellations

A

Blaye

Cadillac

Castillon

Francs

76
Q

Cotes de Bordeaux typical style

A

Merlot based

Early drinking

77
Q

Premieres Cotes de Bordeaux

A

Sweet wine

Not part of CdB

78
Q

Passerillage

A

Leaving grapes on vine to dry and concentrate flavors

79
Q

New Bordeaux varieties and timing

A

RED
* Arinarnoa
* Castets
* Marselan
* Touriga Nacional

WHITE
* Alvarinho
* Liliorila

Approved 2021
Only Bordeaux AOP and Bordeaux Supérieur AOP

80
Q

New Bordeaux varieties plantings and blending

A
  • Max. 5% of total plantings
  • Max. 10% of blend in wine
81
Q

Bordeaux AOP red varieties

A
  • Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Cabernet Franc
  • Merlot
  • Malbec
  • Carménère
  • Petit Verdot
  • Arinarnoa
  • Castets
  • Marselan
  • Touriga Nacional
82
Q

Bordeaux AOP white varieties

A
  • Sémillon
  • Sauvignon Blanc
  • Sauvignon Gris
  • Muscadelle
  • Colombard
  • Ugni Blanc
  • Merlot Blanc
  • Mauzac
  • Alvarinho
  • Lilioria