General Bordeaux Flashcards
What is the climate in Bordeaux?
Maritime
more Continental towards St-Émilion
moderated by the Atlantic & Gironde estuary
* protects vines from winter freezes & spring frost
What geographical feature(s) protects the vines in Bordeaux from winter freeze and spring frost?
Atlantic and Gironde estuary
In Bordeaux, what are Winters, springtime and summers like?
Winters: short
Springtime: damp
Summers: can reach high temp
How are fungal diseases combatted in Bordeaux?
Bordeaux Mixture: lime copper sulfate & water
What is a Bordeaux mixture?
A mixture of lime, copper sulfate & water to combat fungal diseases in Bordeaux
What are the main soil types in Bordeaux?
CLAY or LIMESTONE or
alluvial sandy GRAVELS
* made by melted glaciers from the Massif Central & Pyrenees
Wet Springtime season and humidity creates what in the vineyard?
mold & rot
Autumn humidity creates what?
Noble Rot
What grape varieties are grown in Bordeaux?
ROUGE: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Bouchet, Petite Verdot, Cot, Carmenère
BLANC: Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc, Muscadelle, Sauvignon Gris
Ugni Blanc, Merlot Blanc, Colombard
What are two synonyms for Malbec used in Bordeaux?
Pressac (right bank)
Cot
What are two synonyms for Cabernet Franc in Bordeaux?
Breton
Bouchet
Pressac is also known as what?
Malbec
Cot
Breton is also known as what?
Bouchet
Cabernet Franc
What Bordeaux grape variety is the first to ripen?
Merlot
What Bordeaux grape variety is the last to ripen?
Petit Verdot
What red bordeaux grape variety is late-budding and mid to late ripening?
Cabernet Sauvignon
What are three reasons for Estates in Bordeaux to have varying encépagements?
- Mixture of grapes that flower and harvest at varies time = estate’s insurance
- Grapes are complementary in character
- Adds complexity
What are the generic Bordeaux Appellations?
Bordeaux AOP
Bordeaux Supérieur AOP (red & off-dry white wines w/ a higher min ABV may qualify)
Crémant de Bordeaux AOP (Traditional method)
What AOPs in Bordeaux produce Rosé?
Bordeaux AOP
Crémant de Bordeaux AOP
Where is much of the red wine produced that is labeled under
Bordeaux AOP &
Bordeaux Supérieur AOP?
Entre-Deux-Mers
What department does Bordeaux lie within?
Gironde
What styles of wine are produced in Bordeaux AOP?
Blanc: sweet & dry & off-dry (min 70% SB, SG, Semillon, Muscadelle)
Rosé / Clairet
Rouge/ Claret
Bordeaux “Haut-Benauge” Blanc:
What styles are produced in Bordeaux Supérieur AOP?
BLANC (not dry) off-dry and up
ROUGE
* higher ABV than Bordeaux AOP
What style(s) are produced in Crémant de Bordeaux AOP?
VIN MOUSSEUX BLANC: CF, CS, Merlot, Cot, Petit Verdot, Carmenère, Muscadelle, Sèmillon, Sauvignon Blanc, Sauvignon Gris
accessory varieties: max 30% Colombard, Merlot Blanc, Ugni Blanc
VIN MOUSSEUX ROSÉ: CF, CS, Merlot, Cot, Petit Verdot, Carmenère
What AOP(s) can use the geographical designation “Haut-Benauge”?
Bordeaux AOP
Entre-Deux-Mers AOP
How much does a Marie Jean hold?
2250 ml (750ml x3)
Define Cru Bourgeois?
Is no longer a specific classification but acts as guarantor of quality.
Chateaux must apply for it regularly, submitting wines to a blind tasting panel
Many are located in Bas-Mèdoc & St-Estephe
It was first introduced in 1932 and official in 2003, then nullified and reinstated in 2008
Name some Cru Bourgeois producers
Phélan Ségur (St-Estephe)
Ormes de Pez (St-Estephe)
Preuillac (Bas-Mèdoc)
Tour Haut-Caussan
Rollan de By
What region in France is 2nd in volume of production?
Bordeaux
(after Languedoc)
but is France’s largest wine appellation
