General Bordeaux Flashcards
What quality levels exist for Cru Bourgeois?
Exceptionnel (14 estates)
Superieur (56 estates)
What is the difference between Claret, Clairet, and Rose Bordeaux?
Claret generally means a red Bordeaux blend.
Clairet is a dark rose, usually bled off via saignee, to improve a producer’s rouge. its a reference to the historical style of bordeaux in the 12th-16th century.
Rose (lighter in color) is made in bordeaux by cofermenting red and some white, no blending!
Under Bordeaux AOC, you may produce a littany of styles, dry white, rose, red, sweet white…What about Bordeaux Superieur AOC?
Rouge and sweeter white (min r.s. 17g/L)
What is the method and lees time for Cremant de Bordeaux?
Colors?
traditional method
minimum 9 months lees
blanc and rose
What country ruled Bordeaux from 1154 to 1453?
England
What two important things did the Dutch do once they asserted influence in Bordeaux during the 17th century?
They drained the marshlands North of the city on the left bank, creating gravel beds and new vineyard land.
They preferred exporting sweet white, and deep full bodied reds, which vignerons started to make during this time.
What percent of the vineyard in Bordeaux is Merlot? Cabernet Sauvignon?
56% Merlot
22% Cabernet
What kind of Bordeaux wine is Haut Benauge?
Under the Bordeaux AOC, its for sweeter white wines (R.S. 5-60g/L) from the bordeaux white grapes
What is made under the Graves AOC?
dry white and red
What is made under the Graves Superieur AOC?
sweet white wine affected by botrytis (min 34 g/L r.s.)
What year did Pessac Leognan become an AOC?
What styles of wine are approved?
1987
dry white and red
What 4 experimental red grapes were approved in 2019 for cultivation in Bordeaux?
And the 2 white?
Touriga Nacional, Marselan, Castets
Arinarnoa
Alvarinho and Liliorila
What sweet wine AOC’s exist on the left bank?
Graves Superieures
Sauternes
Cerons
Barsac
List the village AOC’s of the Medoc from South to North
Margaux
Moulis en Medoc
Listrac Medoc
Saint Julien
Pauillac
Saint Estephe
What are the parent grapes of Merlot?
Magdeleine Noire and Cab Franc
What are the parent grapes of Malbec?
Prunelard and Magdaleine Noire
Describe the general climate of Bordeaux in a couple sentences.
Maritime climate, with warm summers and cool winters. Rainfall dispersed evenly throughout the year, so when that rain occurs is important, in driving vintage variation.
What are the 4 hallmark vintages for Bordeaux from 2020-2010?
2019, 2018, 2016, 2010
How are the recent vintages of 2020 and 2021 shaping up? (Bdx)
2020 looks good, hot dry summer, early harvest.
2021 was a challenge, frost, then heavy rain, cool in August. Lean fresh vintage.
In Bordeaux, what vintage was most difficult from 2020-2010? Why?
2013 - cool spring, wet fall, short growing season. high disease pressure
In Bordeaux, what 4 vintages from 2009-1995 are exceptional?
2009, 2005, 2000, 1995
In Bordeaux what vintages from 2009-1995 were most difficult?
2007, 2002, 1997
Which Cotes de Bordeaux AOC are approved for only red?
Castillon, Cadillac, and Cotes de Bordeaux AOC
Which Cotes de Bordeaux AOC are approved for white and red
St Foy, Francs, Blaye, Cotes de Bourg,
What is Cotes de Blaye AOC approved for?
dry white wine from Ugni Blanc and Colombard
Blaye AOC is approved for what?
Rouge only
What percentage of red wine production do Merlot, Cab Sauv, and Cab Franc account for in Bordeaux?
99%
What percentage of white grape vine planted do Semillon and Sauv Blanc account for respectively?
What percent of total plantings do they account for together?
Semillon 45%
Sauv Blanc 43%
10% of the total plantings
When were the wines of Graves classified?
How many estates are approved for both red and white production?
Name ‘em
1953
6
Cht Carbonnieux, Bouscaut, Latour-Martillac, Malartic Lagraviere, Olivier, and Domaine de Chevalier
When was Saint Emilion Grand Cru established?
1954
Under the Graves Classification, which grouping is classified for rouge only and which is classified for blanc only?
a) Haut Bailly, Pape Clement, and Smith Haut Lafite, de Fieuzal
b) Couhins, Couhins-Lurton, Laville Haut Brion
c) Haut Brion
a) rouge
b) blanc
c) rouge
