General

Question 1

What are the 6 Well-known RED Bordeaux grape varietals?

Answer 1

Merlot
Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Franc
Malbec
Petit Verdot
& Carmenere

Question 2

What are the 3 most widely known Bordeaux WHITE grape varietals?

Answer 2

Sauvignon Blanc
Semillon
Muscadelle

Question 3

What are the 2 most important sweet wine making appellations in Bordeaux and which larger region do they belong to?

Answer 3

Sauternes and Barsac

Both are located in Graves

Question 4

What 2 rivers come together to form the Gironde Estuary?

Answer 4

The Dordogne and

The Garrone

Question 5

What volume of wine does a Bordelaise barrique hold in Liters?

Answer 5

225 L

Question 6

What composition of soil is the Medoc and Graves well-known for?

Answer 6

Gravel

Question 7

What type of soil is Saint Emilion composed of?

Answer 7

Gravel and sand along a limestone escarpment.

Question 8

What soil type is Pomerol most known for?

Answer 8

Iron pan under sand and clay

Question 9

During roughly what time period was Bordeaux under British control?

How did it end up under British rule?

Answer 9

1200ish to 1450ish

It was Eleanor of Aquitaine’s dowry in marriage to Henry of Plantagenet.

Question 10

What does one call Bordeaux’s smallest class of Appellations?

Answer 10

Commune Appellations

Question 11

About what percent of total production in Bordeaux comes from its Regional Appellations?

Answer 11

~45%

Question 12

About how many times larger of an area does Bordeaux cover when compared with Napa Valley?

Answer 12

About 8 times more

Question 13

Which Regional AOC’s are located on the “Left Bank”?

Answer 13

Medoc
Haut Medoc
Graves

Question 14

What are the 4 Commune Appellations in the Medoc? List from North to South.

Answer 14

NORTH
Saint Estephe
Pauillac
Saint-Julien
Margaux
SOUTH

Question 15

True or false, any white wine from the left bank may be labeled as Medoc AOC?

Answer 15

False, Medoc AOC is only for Reds. As are its communes. Whites outside the Entre Deux Mers may only be labeled as Bordeaux Blanc AOP.

Question 16

What is Graves’ most notable dry wine subregion called?

Answer 16

Pessac-Leognan

Question 17

Name 2 of Pessac-Leognan’s most notable dry white wine producers.

Answer 17

Chateaux Carbonnieux and

Chateau Smith Haut Lafite

Question 18

Specify the purpose of each of the 3 Varietals added to Sauternes…

Answer 18

Sauvignon Blanc = Acidity
Semillon = Prone to Botrytis
Muscadelle = Aromatics

Question 19

True or false, the Entre-Deux-Mers AOP is only for dry white wines?

Answer 19

True

Question 20

What is the most prevalent soil type of the Entre-Deux-Mers?

Answer 20

Alluvial mixed with clay

Question 21

Is oak used in the Entre-Deux-Mers?

Answer 21

Rarely. Usually it is Stainless Steel.

Question 22

What combination of grapes is most common in Saint Emilion?

Answer 22

Merlot with Cabernet Franc

Question 23

Is Saint Emilion Grand Cru AOC a quality classification?

Answer 23

No. It only specifies a slightly higher required minimum alcohol as opposed to Saint Emilion Premier Grand Cru Classe.

Question 24

What are the 3 tries of Saint Emilion’s classification system?

Answer 24

1. Premier Grand Cru Classe A (Best)
2. Premier Grand Cru Classe B (Middle)
3. Grand Cru Classe (like Bordeaux Superieur)

Question 25

Name the 4 most famous examples of Saint Emillion Premier Grand Cru Classe A.

Answer 25

Ch. Ausone
Ch. Angelus
Ch. Pave
Ch. Cheval Blanc

Question 26

Name Pomerol’s most famous producer.

Answer 26

Ch. Petrus

Question 27

Was Pomerol ever classified?

Answer 27

No.

Question 28

Which are the highly regarded vintages in Bordeaux from 2000-2010?

Answer 28

2000
2005
2009
2010