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WSET Level 4 - D3 > France - Bordeaux - Wine Regions > Flashcards

France - Bordeaux - Wine Regions Flashcards

1
Q

How much wine is produced by Bordeaux AOC and Bordeaux supérieur AOC?

A

50%

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2
Q

Bordeaux AOC and Bordeaux Supérieur AOC
Describe the typical red wine (variety, intensity, aromas, acidity, tannins, body, alcohol, quality, price)

A
  • Merlot
  • Medium intensity
  • Red fruit
  • High acidity
  • Medium(+) tannins
  • Medium body
  • Medium alcohol
  • Acceptable to good quality
  • Inexpensive to mid-priced
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3
Q

Bordeaux AOC and Bordeaux Supérieur AOC
Describe the typical white wine (variety, intensity, aromas, acidity, body, alcohol, quality, price)

A
  • Sauvignon Blanc
  • Medium intensity
  • Gooseberry and lemon fruit
  • High acidity
  • Medium body
  • Medium alcohol
  • Acceptable to good quality
  • Inexpensive to mid-priced
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4
Q

Bordeaux AOC
What are the max yields for red, rosé, and white wines?

A
  • Red: 60 hL/ha
  • Rosé: 62 hL/ha
  • White: 67 hL/ha
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5
Q

Bordeaux Supérieur AOC
What is the max yield for red wines?

A

59 hL/ha

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6
Q

What are the 8 major categories of appellations?

A
  • Generic
  • Left Bank red wine
  • Graves
  • Entre-Deux-Mers
  • Right Bank red wine
  • Côtes de Bordeaux
  • Côtes de Bourg
  • Sweet wine
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7
Q

List the Left Bank red wine appellations (from north to south)

A
  • Médoc
  • Haut-Médoc (which includes ALL the below)
  • Saint-Estèphe
  • Pauillac
  • Saint-Julien
  • Listrac-Médoc
  • Moulis
  • Margaux
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8
Q

Médoc
Where is it located?

A
  • Left Bank of Gironde
  • North of Bordeaux
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9
Q

What is the max yield of Médoc and Haut-Médoc?

A

55 hL/ha

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10
Q

What type of wines are allowed to be produced in Médoc and Haut-Médoc?

A

Red only

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11
Q

Médoc
When are wines allowed to be sold?

A

Mid-June following harvest

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12
Q

Médoc
What grape varieties are mainly planted and in what proportions?

A

Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon (50/50)

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13
Q

Haut-Médoc
What are the soils?

A

Warmer, gravelly soil

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14
Q

Haut-Médoc
What grape varieties are mainly planted and in what proportions?

A
  • Cabernet Sauvignon (50%)
  • Merlot (44%)
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15
Q

Haut-Médoc
List the four famous single commune appellations

A
  • Saint-Estèphe
  • Pauillac
  • Saint-Julien
  • Margaux
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16
Q

Haut-Médoc
What is special in terms of terroir, type of wines, and max yield in the four famous single commune appellations?

A
  • Moderating influence from Gironde estuary
  • High proportion of warm gravelly soils
  • Red wines only
  • Max yield: 57 hL/ha
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17
Q

Haut-Médoc
Describe the typical style of wine from one of the four famous single commune appellations (intensity, aromas, body, tannins, alcohol, quality, price)

A
  • 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
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18
Q

Saint-Estèphe
What is the ratio of grape varieties here and why?

A
  • 40% Merlot
  • 50% Cabernet Sauvignon
  • More Merlot than other three appellations, because can successfully ripen
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19
Q

Saint-Estèphe
Where is Merlot and where Cabernet Sauvignon planted?

A
  • Merlot: clay soils away from the estuary
  • Cabernet Sauvignon: Gravel banks close to the estuary
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20
Q

Saint-Estèphe
Describe the wines’ tannins based on climate and soil

A
  • Rustic wines that needs years in bottle soften tannins
  • Softer tannins from warmer gravel soils and more Merlot
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21
Q

Saint-Estèphe
How many first Growths does it have?

A
  • No First Growths
  • But second growths
  • And large number of Cru Bourgeois
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22
Q

Pauillac
What is the proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon and where is it mostly planted?

A
  • Highest proportion (62%)
  • Close to the estuary
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23
Q

Pauillac
What is the typical style of wine? (structure, variety, concentration, tannins, acidity, ageing)

A
  • Most structured wine of the Left Bank
  • Often higher proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon (70-80%)
  • High concentration
  • High tannins
  • High acidity
  • Long ageing
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24
Q

Pauillac
How many first Growths does it have?

A
  • 3 out of 5 first growths
  • Highest proportion of cru classé wine
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25
Q

Saint-Julien
Where are the wines stylistically located between the other appellations?

A

Between Pauillac (powerful structure) and Margaux (finesse)

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26
Q

Saint-Julien
What is the major variety and soil?

A
  • Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Gravel soil
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27
Q

Saint-Julien
How many first Growths does it have?

A
  • Not first growths
  • But 5 second growths
  • And high proportion of cru classé production
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28
Q

Margaux
How many first Growths does it have?

A
  • One first growth
  • High proportion of cru classé production
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29
Q

Margaux
What wines does it have a reputation for?

A

Perfumed wines with silky tannins

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30
Q

Margaux
What are the grape varieties, soils and climate?

A
  • Slightly less Cab and more Merlot
  • Gravel soil
  • Slightly further south -> earlier ripening
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31
Q

What two Left Bank appellations are further from the river then the other four single commune appellations?

A

Listrac-Médoc and Moulis

32
Q

Listrac-Médoc and Moulis
What is the climate and soil compared to the four single commune appellations?

A
  • Less moderating influence
  • Less gravel soils
33
Q

Listrac-Médoc and Moulis
What is the typical style of wines? (quality, price)

A
  • Good to very good quality
  • Mid- to premium priced
34
Q

Graves
What are max yields and percentage of plantings of white and red wines?

A
  • White: 58 hL/ha, 15% of plantings
  • Red: 55 hL/ha, 85% of plantings
35
Q

Graves
What is the typical style of wines? (quality, price)

A
  • Acceptable to good quality
  • Inexpensive to mid-priced
36
Q

Graves Supérieures
Describe the typical style of wine and max yields

A
  • Late picked and/or botrytis-affected sweet wines
  • 40 hL/ha
37
Q

Pessac-Léognan
What is the soil and climate?

A
  • Gravel soils
  • Moderating effect of the Garonne
38
Q

Pessac-Léognan
How many first Growths does it have?

A
  • One First Growth
  • And all of the cru classé properties of the Graves classification
39
Q

Pessac-Léognan
What type of wines is it known for?

A
  • High quality, often barrel-fermented and aged white wines
  • High-quality red wines
40
Q

Pessac-Léognan
What is the ratio between red and white wines?

41
Q

Pessac-Léognan
What does it have a reputation for?

A

Producing the best white wines of Bordeaux

42
Q

Pessac-Léognan
What is the white wine’s typical style? (variety, intensity, aromas, body, acidity, alcohol, quality, price)

A
  • Blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon
  • Pronounced aromas
  • Gooseberry, lemon and grapefruit with vanilla and clove oak notes
  • Medium(+) body
  • Medium(+) to high acidity
  • Medium to high alcohol
  • Very good to outstanding quality
  • Premium to super-premium prices
43
Q

Pessac-Léognan
What is the max yield for red and white wines?

A

54 hL/ha for red and white wines

44
Q

What is the second largest appellation in terms of hectares after Bordeaux AOC?

A

Entre-deux-Mers

45
Q

Entre-deux-Mers
What type of wine does it produce?

A
  • ONLY white wines
  • Red wines are also produced, but bottled as Bordeaux or Bordeaux Supérieur
46
Q

Entre-deux-Mers
What is the max yield and intensity, quality, price?

A
  • 65 hL/ha
  • Light intensity
  • Acceptable to good quality
  • Inexpensive to mid-priced
47
Q

What grape varieties are prevalent on the Right Bank Red Wine appellations?

A
  • Merlot (most)
  • Cabernet Franc
  • Cabernet Sauvignon (small plantings)
48
Q

What type of soil is on the Right Bank Red Wine appellations?

A

Clay soils

49
Q

Saint-Émilion and Saint-Émilion Grand Cru
What type of wine is produced?

A

Red wine ONLY

50
Q

Saint-Émilion and Saint-Émilion Grand Cru
What is the difference between the two in terms of max yields and min maturation times?

A
  • 53hL/ha vs. 46 hL/ha
  • 6 months vs. 20 months
51
Q

Saint-Émilion and Saint-Émilion Grand Cru
What is the dominant grape varietiy with how much of plantings?

A

Merlot (60%)

52
Q

Saint-Émilion and Saint-Émilion Grand Cru
What is the quality range of red wines?

A

From simple, easy-drinking to comparable wines with First Growths from the Left Bank

53
Q

Saint-Émilion and Saint-Émilion Grand Cru
Describe a typical high-quality wine (intensity, aromas, body, alcohol, acidity, tannins, ageing)

A
  • Pronounced intensity
  • Red and black plum fruit with noticeable vanilla and clove
  • Full body
  • High alcohol
  • Medium(+) to high acidity
  • Medium(+) to high tannins
  • Long ageing potential
54
Q

What are Saint-Émilion satellites?

A

Four AOCs close to Saint-Émilion but further away from the Dordogne

55
Q

Name the largest two of the four Saint-Émilion satellites

A
  • Montagne Saint-Émilion AOC
  • Lussac-Saint-Émilion AOC
56
Q

Pomerol
What are the main varieties?

A
  • Merlot (80%)
  • Cabernet Franc
57
Q

Pomerol
What is the max yield?

58
Q

Pomerol
Describe the classification system

A

There is no classification system

59
Q

Pomerol
Why command these wines some of the highest prices in the world?

A
  • Because most estates are very small
  • E.g., Petrus (12ha) compared to 80-100ha of estates from Left Bank
60
Q

Pomerol
Describe the typical style of a high quality Pomerol (intensity, aromas, body, alcohol, acidity, tannins, ageing)

A
  • Pronounced intensity
  • Red and black plum fruit with noticeable vanilla and clove
  • Full body
  • High alcohol
  • Medium(+) to high acidity
  • Medium(+) to high tannins
  • Long ageing potential
61
Q

Name a satellite appellation of Pomerol

A

Lalande-de-Pomerol (slightly higher yields)

62
Q

What is the Côtes de Bordeaux?

A

Appellation for red and white wines created in 2009

63
Q

What communes are allowed to put their name in front of “Côtes de Bordeaux”?

A
  • Blaye
  • Cadillac
  • Castillon
  • Francs
64
Q

Côtes de Bordeaux
What is the max yield without and with commune name appended?

A

55 hL/ha and 52 hL/ha

65
Q

What is Côtes de Bourg similar to in terms of appellation, dominant variety, and style of wine?

A
  • Côtes de Bordeaux
  • Merlot
  • Médoc
66
Q

Côtes de Bourg
What is the variety in focus and how much is planted to it?

A

Malbec (10%)

67
Q

What are the two most important sweet wine appellations?

A

Sauternes and Barsac

68
Q

Sauternes and Barsac
What are the used varieties?

A
  • Semillon (80%)
  • Sauvignon Blanc
  • Muscadelle (tiny amounts)
69
Q

Sauternes and Barsac
What are the conditions for what type of sweet wines?

A
  • Cold Ciron meets the warmer Garonne, promoting morning mist
  • Sunshine in the afternoon
  • Sweet, botrytis-affected wines
70
Q

Sauternes and Barsac
What is the largest sweet wine appellation with how much of the production?

A

Sauternes (50% of production)

71
Q

Sauternes and Barsac
How can the wines from Barsac be labeled?

A

As either Barsac AOC or Sauternes AOC

72
Q

Sauternes and Barsac
What is the max yield and what is it in reality?

A
  • Max yield: 25 hL/ha
  • In reality often much lower to ensure fully ripening
73
Q

Sauternes and Barsac
Describe the typical style of wine (intensity, aromas, body, alcohol, acidity, quality, price)

A
  • Pronounced intensity
  • Citrus peel, honey, tropical fruit (mango) with vanilla oak notes
  • Full body
  • High alcohol
  • Medium to medium(+) acidity
  • Very good to outstanding quality
  • Mid-priced to super-premium priced
74
Q

Sauternes and Barsac
What have many producers started because of lacking demand?

A

Producing dry wines as a source of income

75
Q

Name three other sweet wines appellations, incl. max yields

A
  • Sainte-Croix-du-Mont (40 hL/ha)
  • Loupiac (40 hL/ha)
  • Premières Côtes de Bordeaux (45 hL/ha)
76
Q

What is the typical quality of the other sweet wine appellations?

A
  • Good to very good quality
  • Inexpensive to mid-priced

WSET Level 4 - D3 (56 decks)

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