Fws-Bordeaux Flashcards
Name four Medoc AOCs on eastern edge of Left Bank.
St. Estephe, Pauillac, St. Julien, Margaux (from North to South). [Mnemonic: Eastern players juggle marbles.]
Name the 8 AOCs in the region of Medoc.
Medoc, Haut-Medoc, St. Estephe, Pauillac, St. Julien, Margaux, Moulis en Medoc, Listrac-Medoc
Name the Medoc AOC known to be perfumed.
Margaux
Name the Medoc AOC known for tasting profile of dusty cocoa-like tannins
Pauillac
Name the Medoc AOC known for tasting profile of chocolate-covered-cherry fruit.
St. Julien [mnemonic: CCC - California like]
What is the signature feature of Paulliac AOC?
dusty cocoa-like tannins [mnemonic: Jesus asked Paul to shake the dust from his feet.]
What is the signature feature of St. Estephe AOC?
extreme structure and tough tannins [mnemonic: St. E]
What is the signature feature of St. Julien AOC?
chocolate-covered-cherry fruit (“California-like”)
What is the signature feature of Margaux AOC?
perfumed
Name the Bordeaux AOC known for tasting profile of extreme structure and tough tannins.
St. Estephe, due to slow ripening soil with increased clay compared to other Left Bank areas.
Describe the soil structure of Medoc and Haut-Medoc AOCs.
small gravel
Describe the soil structure of eastern Left Bank AOCs.
large gravel
What is oidium?
Powdery mildew, a fungal disease from USA, attacked Bordeaux in 1852 [mnemonic d>p]
What is phylloxera?
insect from eastern US that attacked Bordeaux in 1865. It attacks the roots creating galls or knots of uncontrolled cell growth which allows bacteria and fungi to enter the plant.
What is peronospera?
fungal disease, Downy Mildew, that attacks leaves and stems; it attacked Bordeaux in 1880 [mnemonic p>d]
Who is Jean Capus?
father of AOC, separated Bordeaux into 57 AOC’s in 1935
Who is Emile Peynaud?
Professor in Bordeaux urged separation of wine from old and new vines to boost quality of best wine.
What was significant event in 1956 in Bordeaux?
Deep freeze killed 1/4 of the vine stock which was replanted with red grapes (with a decrease in Malbec plantings)
What percent of French AOC wine is produced in Bordeaux?
25%
Is irrigation legal in Bordeaux?
no (not necessary with 33 inches of rain per year)
How do autumn rains afftect the grapes?
a) excess rain is absorbed by the roots and translocated to the grapes, diluting flavor; b) rain can bring rot
Which types of Bordeaux grapes are soil specific, red or white?
just the red grapes
Describe Bordeaux soils.
Sedimentary, gravel terraces with sand, silt and clay.
What is the nature of the warm soils of Bordeaux?
gravel, sand
What is the nature of the cold soils of Bordeaux?
clay and limestone
What grapes are suited to gravel soil?
Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot
What grapes are suited to limestone soil?
Merlot and Cabernet Franc
Which Bordeaux grapes are used less now than 40 years ago?
Malbec and Cabernet Franc ???
When was the most recent transition from the predominance of white to red wine in Bordeaux?
1970’s.
What is the most frequent white grape planted in Bordeaux?
Semillon (55%)
What is the origin of Muscadelle?
Dordogne/Gironde area
What is the origin of Muscadet?
Burgundy (Melon de Bourgogne!)
What is the origin of Muscat?
Greek or Italian
Which grape was most affected by copper sulfate sprays in Bordeaux?
aromatics of Sauvignon Blanc were diminished, now more pineapple and less herbal
What are the three components of the Bordeaux AOC quality pyramid?
Communal AOC, Sub-regional AOC, Regional AOC
What does the Bordeaux Superieur designation mean?
small maximum yield, higher minimum alcohol, reds must be aged 9 months, whites must be semi-sweet.
Which wine style is not included in Bordeaux Superieur?
Dry white wine.
What are the sub-regional Medoc AOC’s?
Medoc, Haut-Medoc
What are the Communal Medoc AOC’s
St. Estephe, Pauillac, St. Julien, Margaux, Moulis en Medoc, Listrac-Medoc
What are the Communal Medoc AOC’s located in center of peninsula?
Moulis en Medoc, Listrac-Medoc
What is a new characteristic of modern Saint-Estephe?
increased percentage of Merlot, more approachable
Chateau Latour is in which Communal AOC?
Pauillac
Where is the highest elevation of Medoc Peninsula?
Listrac-Medoc
What is difference in the soil between Listrac-Medoc and Moulis en Medoc?
Moulis en Medoc has more clay/limestone mix (both have gravel)
Where were the first Bordeaux vineyards located?
Graves
How much of Graves production is white wine?
1/3
How many AOC’s are in Graves?
6
What are the sub-regional AOC’s in Graves?
two: Graves AOC (red and white), Graves Superieures (also referred to as Sauternais, semi-sweet white)
What are the communal AOC’s in Graves?
Pessac-Leognan, Cerons, Barsac, Sauternes [mneumonic: P-CBS]
What is the unique characteristic of Pessac-Leognan reds?
clove
What is the unique aspect of Sauternais sub-region climate?
fog created by Ciron River emptying into Garonne
What are the factors that promote Botrytis?
tight-clustered grapes, high sugar content, cool moist mornings and warm, dry afternoons
What color wine is more common from Entre-Deux-Mers?
red
What are the components of white wine from Entre-Deux-Mers?
Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Muscadelle
What are the components of red wine from Entre-Deux-Mers?
Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc
Describe the soils of Entre-Deux-Mers.
compact and complex: Alluvial (along rivers), gravel (slopes), mixture of clay and sand or clay and limestone (plateaus)
What is the difference between Bordeaux Haut-Benauge and Entre-Deux-Mers-Haut-Benauge AOC.
Bordeaux Haut-Benauge produces dry and sweet white wines, while Entre-Deux-Mers-Haut-Benauge produces only dry white wines.
Does Botyrtis affect moelleux (RS=1.2-4.5%) wines?
may or may not
Does Botyrtis affect liquoreux (RS >= 4.5) wines?
always
Most sweet Premieres Cotes de Bordeaux AOC is bottled as what?
Cadillac
Name 3 sweet wine AOC in Entre-Deux-Mers.
Cadillac, Loupiac, Sainte-Croix-du-Mont
Most red wines from Entre-Deux-Mers are bottled as Bordeaux or Bordeaux Superieurs. What are the 3 exceptions?
Saint-Foy-Bordeaux, Graves de Vayres, Premieres Cotes de Bordeaux.
What is the principal city of the Right Bank of Bordeaux?
Libourne
What is a Petit Chateau?
any unranked or unclassified property, all Crus Bourgeois are Petit Chateaux
What is St. Emilion Grand Cru?
an AOC
What is St. Emilion Grand Cru Classe?
a classified growth, a ranking
What is the strongest taste characteristic of botrytized grape?
honey
What is the strongest taste characteristic of Semillon grape?
apricot
What is the strongest taste characteristic of Sauvignon Blanc grape?
pineapple
What is Cotes de Bordeaux AOC?
As of 2008 vintage, Premieres Cotes de Blaye, Bordeaux-Cotes de Francs, Cotes de Castillon, Premieres Cotes de Bordeaus can label their wines as Cotes de Bordeaux AOC.
The four may add sub-regional designations: Blaye (for Primieres Cotes de Blaye), Cadillac (for Premieres Cotes de Bordeaux), Castillon (Cotes de Castillon) and Francs for Bordeaux-Cotes de Francs), but stricter production rules apply.
What is the predominant grape and style wine is found in Cotes De Blaye?
dry white wine, 60-90% Colombard
In red Blaye AOC, what is the predominant grape?
Merlot
In white Blaye AOC, what is the predominant grape?
Ugni Blanc [mnemonic: Blaye suggests BLA… or Ugni BLAnc]
In Cotes de Castillon AOC, what is the predominant grape?
Merlot
In Bordeaux-Saint-Macaire AOC, what is the predominant grape?
white wines from Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscaelle
Which is further north, Listrac-Medoc or Moulis-en-Medoc?
Listrac-Medoc
Which is further north, Listrac-Medoc or Margaux?
Listrac-Medoc
Which is further north, Listrac-Medoc or St-Julien?
St-Julien
Which wines are sweeter, liquoreux or moelleux?
liquoreux (>4.5%)
What is clairet?
a semi-red, lightly-pigmented Bordeaux wine, short maceration made in saignee method
Name the 3 Sauternais sub-regions from north to south.
Cerons, Barsac, Sauternes [mnemonic: CBS]
What is the difference between Cerons and Ciron?
Ciron is the river between Barsac and Sauternes, Cerons is a Sauternais sub-region north of Barsac.
Name 2 Cotes AOC in Entre-Deux-Mers.
Premieres Cotes de Bordeaux AOC, Cotes de Bordeaux-Saint-Macaire AOC
Which Bordeaux classification system ranks the wines, not the estates?
Graves
When did Pessac-Léognan become an AOC?
1987, previously part of Graves
What is the difference between Graves AOC and Graves Superieures AOC?
Graves Superieures AOC is only semi-sweet whites and Graves AOC is any red or dry white produced within Graves.
What is the common wine style for Entre-Deux-Mers AOC and Entre-Deux-Mers-Haut Benauge?
produce only dry whites, Bordeaux-Haut-Benauge produces dry and semi-sweet white wine