France - Bordeaux - Wine Regions Flashcards
How much wine is produced by Bordeaux AOC and Bordeaux supérieur AOC?
50%
Bordeaux AOC and Bordeaux Supérieur AOC
Describe the typical red wine (variety, intensity, aromas, acidity, tannins, body, alcohol, quality, price)
- Merlot
- Medium intensity
- Red fruit
- High acidity
- Medium(+) tannins
- Medium body
- Medium alcohol
- Acceptable to good quality
- Inexpensive to mid-priced
Bordeaux AOC and Bordeaux Supérieur AOC
Describe the typical white wine (variety, intensity, aromas, acidity, body, alcohol, quality, price)
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Medium intensity
- Gooseberry and lemon fruit
- High acidity
- Medium body
- Medium alcohol
- Acceptable to good quality
- Inexpensive to mid-priced
Bordeaux AOC
What are the max yields for red, rosé, and white wines?
- Red: 60 hL/ha
- Rosé: 62 hL/ha
- White: 67 hL/ha
Bordeaux Supérieur AOC
What is the max yield for red wines?
59 hL/ha
What are the 8 major categories of appellations?
- Generic
- Left Bank red wine
- Graves
- Entre-Deux-Mers
- Right Bank red wine
- Côtes de Bordeaux
- Côtes de Bourg
- Sweet wine
List the Left Bank red wine appellations (from north to south)
- Médoc
- Haut-Médoc (which includes ALL the below)
- Saint-Estèphe
- Pauillac
- Saint-Julien
- Listrac-Médoc
- Moulis
- Margaux
Médoc
Where is it located?
- Left Bank of Gironde
- North of Bordeaux
What is the max yield of Médoc and Haut-Médoc?
55 hL/ha
What type of wines are allowed to be produced in Médoc and Haut-Médoc?
Red only
Médoc
When are wines allowed to be sold?
Mid-June following harvest
Médoc
What grape varieties are mainly planted and in what proportions?
Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon (50/50)
Haut-Médoc
What are the soils?
Warmer, gravelly soil
Haut-Médoc
What grape varieties are mainly planted and in what proportions?
- Cabernet Sauvignon (50%)
- Merlot (44%)
Haut-Médoc
List the four famous single commune appellations
- Saint-Estèphe
- Pauillac
- Saint-Julien
- Margaux
Haut-Médoc
What is special in terms of terroir, type of wines, and max yield in the four famous single commune appellations?
- Moderating influence from Gironde estuary
- High proportion of warm gravelly soils
- Red wines only
- Max yield: 57 hL/ha
Haut-Médoc
Describe the typical style of wine from one of the four famous single commune appellations (intensity, aromas, body, tannins, alcohol, quality, price)
- Pronounced intensity
- Blackcurrant, green bell pepper (especially in cooler vintages) and red plum fruit, with vanilla and cedar oak notes
- Medium(+) body
- High tannins
- Medium to high alcohol
- Very good to outstanding quality
- Premium to super-premium price
Saint-Estèphe
What is the ratio of grape varieties here and why?
- 40% Merlot
- 50% Cabernet Sauvignon
- More Merlot than other three appellations, because can successfully ripen
Saint-Estèphe
Where is Merlot and where Cabernet Sauvignon planted?
- Merlot: clay soils away from the estuary
- Cabernet Sauvignon: Gravel banks close to the estuary
Saint-Estèphe
Describe the wines’ tannins based on climate and soil
- Rustic wines that needs years in bottle soften tannins
- Softer tannins from warmer gravel soils and more Merlot
Saint-Estèphe
How many first Growths does it have?
- No First Growths
- But second growths
- And large number of Cru Bourgeois
Pauillac
What is the proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon and where is it mostly planted?
- Highest proportion (62%)
- Close to the estuary
Pauillac
What is the typical style of wine? (structure, variety, concentration, tannins, acidity, ageing)
- Most structured wine of the Left Bank
- Often higher proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon (70-80%)
- High concentration
- High tannins
- High acidity
- Long ageing
Pauillac
How many first Growths does it have?
- 3 out of 5 first growths
- Highest proportion of cru classé wine
Saint-Julien
Where are the wines stylistically located between the other appellations?
Between Pauillac (powerful structure) and Margaux (finesse)
Saint-Julien
What is the major variety and soil?
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Gravel soil
Saint-Julien
How many first Growths does it have?
- Not first growths
- But 5 second growths
- And high proportion of cru classé production
Margaux
How many first Growths does it have?
- One first growth
- High proportion of cru classé production
Margaux
What wines does it have a reputation for?
Perfumed wines with silky tannins
Margaux
What are the grape varieties, soils and climate?
- Slightly less Cab and more Merlot
- Gravel soil
- Slightly further south -> earlier ripening