French Wine Laws and Bordeaux

Question 1

What are the 6 requirements covered by appellation laws in France?

Answer 1

Production area
Vine varieties
Sugar ripeness and alcohol strength
Viticultural practices - ie.training and pruning
Yields
Winemaking practices such as minimum aging requirements

Question 2

What is the French PGI category know as?

Answer 2

Vin d’pays

Question 3

Which AC is known for establishing the AC rules?

Answer 3

Chateauneuf-du-pape

Question 4

What is the climate of bordeaux?

Answer 4

moderate maritime climate

Question 5

What is the main reason for vintage variation in Bordeaux?

Answer 5

rainfall

Question 6

What are the two main vineyard concerns in bordeaux, driven by high rainfall and cloud cover?

Answer 6

fungal disease and variable levels of ripeness

Question 7

What are the three main red grapes of bordeaux?

Answer 7

cabernet sauvignon, merlot, Cabernet franc

Question 8

What is the most widely planted varietal in bordeaux?

Answer 8

Merlot

Question 9

What are the two most dominant white grapes in bordeaux?

Answer 9

Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon

Question 10

In what vessel is top quality red bordeaux typically aged?

Answer 10

Oak barriques

Question 11

Which region in bordeaux produces the highest quality whites?

Answer 11

Pessac-leognan

Question 12

What are the two main regions on the left bank?

Answer 12

Medoc and Graves

Question 13

Where ar the best quality reds in medoc and graves made?

Answer 13

Haute-Medoc and Pessac-Leognan

Question 14

What are the four highest reputation appellations in the Haut-medoc?

Answer 14

Saint-Estephe, Saint julien, Paulliac and Margaux

Question 15

Generally, how do the wines of pessac leognan compare to those of the haut-medoc?

Answer 15

lighter in body and more fragrant

Question 16

Generally, how do the wines of Graves compare to those of the haut-medoc?

Answer 16

similar style but less complex and concentrated usually with a higher volume of merlot

Question 17

What is the largest principal appellation in libourne?

Answer 17

Saint-Emillion

Question 18

What are the two main appellations in Libourne?

Answer 18

Saint-Emillion and Pomerol

Question 19

Generally, how do the wines of Pomerol compare to those of the Saint-Emilion?

Answer 19

they are richer, witha spicier, blackberry fruit character

Question 20

What are the two vineyards with the highest reputation in Pomerol?

Answer 20

Petrus and Le Pin

Question 21

Describe the flavor profile of cru classe right bank bordeaux.

Answer 21

moderate acidity, high alcohol, soft, velvety tannins. rich dark berry fruit and spice

Question 22

What is Fronsac?

Answer 22

An appellation west of libourne which produces merlot similar to the more famous right back appelations.

Question 23

Where are all the cru classe Chateaux for the production of dry white wine located?

Answer 23

Pessac-Leognan

Question 24

The best unoaked whites from Graves and Entre-Deux-Mers are from what varietal?

Answer 24

Sauvignon Blanc

Question 25

What causes the sugar levels in the sweet wines of Bordeaux?

Answer 25

Botrytis

Question 26

What is Barsac?

Answer 26

A village in Sauternes that produces sweet white wines.

Question 27

The classification system in bourdeaux does not rank individual vineyards but rather _____________.

Answer 27

Individual producers or chateaux

Question 28

How does the classification system in bourdeaux differ than that of burgundy?

Answer 28

Burgundy ranks the individual plot of land where bourdeaux ranks the producer or chateaux and can expand if the chateau takes on more land.

Question 29

what are the five first growths of bourdeaux?

Answer 29

Lafite, latour, mouton-rothschild, haut-brion, margaux

Question 30

What is the top ranking chateaux in Sauternes?

Answer 30

Chateau d'Yquem

Question 31

What year was the Paris exhibition when the bourdeaux chamber of commerce classified the best wines?

Answer 31

1855

Question 32

What is the relationship between a producer, a negociant and a courtier

Answer 32

a producer sells his wine to a merchant who can then sell the wine on. The deal between the two is brokered by a courtier who then collects commission.

Question 33

What are en primeur sales?

Answer 33

producers release quantities of wine fore sale in the the year following the harvest - wine futures.

Question 34

How is merlot labelled when grown in Entre-deux-mers?

Answer 34

bourdeaux AC

Question 35

Which bordeaux appelation is know for both high quality reds and whites?

Answer 35

Graves

Question 36

Why is semillon favored for the production of Sauternes?

Answer 36

its thin skinned so easily affected by botrytis

Question 37

What is the most important grape variety in Cahors?

Answer 37

Malbec

Question 38

What is the grape of Madiran AC?

Answer 38

Tannat

Question 39

Describe tannat.

Answer 39

highly tannic, deeply colored red

Question 40

What is Jurancon AC?

Answer 40

a region in southwest France in the foothills of the Pyranees where sweet and dry whites are made.

Question 41

What is the third largest wine region in France after Bordeaux and Rhone Valley.

Answer 41

The Loire Valley