Grape Varieties - Bordeaux and South West

Question 1

Why are the six permitted black varieties of Bordeaux?

Answer 1

Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Petit Verdot and Carmenere.

Question 2

What percentage of plantings do black grapes make up in Bordeaux and what is the most widely planted single variety?

Answer 2

• 89% of total plantings.

- The single most planted black variety is Merlot Noir accounting for 65% of plantings (CIVB 2014).

Question 3

Why soil in Bordeaux does Merlot Noir prefer?

Answer 3

The damper, cooler more clay based soils of the right bank that Cabernet Sauvignon struggles to ripen on.

Question 4

What are the physical characteristics of Merlot Noir?

Answer 4

A high yielder with thin skins and large loose bunches. A high flesh to skin ratio gives it lower colour and tannin. It can require hard pruning as it cannot produce good wine at high yields.

Question 5

What viticultural problems does Merlot Noir face?

Answer 5

It flowers earlier than Cabernet Sauvignon (up to two weeks) meaning that it can be susceptible to Spring frosts. General unsettled weather at flowering can cause issues with Coloure and Millerandage.

Question 6

What is Merlot Noir said to give to the blends of Bordeaux?

Answer 6

Soft, early maturing, rounded plummy wines. They often are used to fill out the mid palate of Cabernet Sauvignon.

Question 7

What percentage of black grape plantings does Cabernet Sauvignon represent in Bordeaux?

Answer 7

22% a third of Merlot Noir.

Question 8

Where is most Cabernet Sauvignon planted in Bordeaux?

Answer 8

In the left bank appellations on gravel soils which help its ripening.

Question 9

What are Cabernet Sauvignon’s physical characteristics?

Answer 9

Thick skinned with small berries making it less prone to rot. It has a high skin to pulp ration meaning it has increased tannin and colour. It buds and ripens late.

Question 10

What difficulties does Cabernet Sauvignon face in the vineyard?

Answer 10

• Powdery mildew and Eutypa Dieback.
• It’s vigour means it needs to be grafted on to low vigour rootstock.
• Difficult to ripen in Bordeaux’s climate.

Question 11

What is Cabernet Sauvignon said to bring to the blends of Bordeaux?

Answer 11

It gives tannin, colour and acidity. It has distinctive blackcurrant qualities and green bell pepper aroma. Its high acid and tannin give wines longevity.

Question 12

Where is Cabernet Franc predominantly planted and what percentage of black varieties does it make up? What is it also known as and where?

Answer 12

Predominantly in the right bank appellations and it makes up 10% of black grape plantings. It is also known as Bouchet in the Libournais appellations.

Question 13

Why is Cabernet Franc seen as a compromise between Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot?

Answer 13

Because it ripens later than Merlot but earlier than Cabernet Sauvignon.

Question 14

What are the physical characteristics of Cabernet Franc?

Answer 14

Flowers and ripens later than Merlot but earlier than Cab Sauv. Small berries like Cab Sauv but thinner skins resulting in less tannin and colour. High yielding.

Question 15

Why is Cabernet Franc viewed as ‘insurance’ to Cabernet Sauvignon?

Answer 15

It is easier to fully ripen than Cabernet Sauvignon and is happier in a wider range of soils.

Question 16

What does Cabernet Franc give to wines of Bordeaux?

Answer 16

Early maturing light to medium body wines with up front fruit, but less finesse and structure. Flavours of raspberries, violets and pencil shavings.

Question 17

Carmenere has virtually disappeared now, why?

Answer 17

As a very late ripener it is susceptible to virtually all disease pressures.

Question 18

The much declined Malbec is now most seen in what parts of Bordeaux?

Answer 18

Entre-Duex-Mare and the Bourg and Blaye areas.

Question 19

Describe the Malbec of Bordeaux.

Answer 19

Dark and thick skinned giving colour and tannin to blends but low acidity. It buds and ripens early making it susceptible to Colure. It is also prone to Downy Mildew, rot and frost.

Question 20

When was Petit Verdot mostly abandoned and why?

Answer 20

1960’s and 70’s due to its inconvenient late ripening.

Question 21

Describe Petit Verdot and what it can lend to Bordeaux blends.

Answer 21

Dark and thick skinned with good levels of colour and tannin, it ripens even later than Cab Sauv and when it does it is usually in the warmer vintages, it has good levels of rot resistance

It can lend richness, ageworthyness and spice to a blend.

Question 22

What is the dominant white variety in Bordeaux and proportion of plantings does it make up?

Answer 22

Semillon - 49%

Question 23

Describe the physical characters of Semillon.

Answer 23

It is thin skinned, which is desirable for botrytis infection, it is low in acidity and fairly neutral in flavour and aroma with most of its character coming from botrytis or oak ageing.

Question 24

How does Semillon perform viticulturaly in Bordeaux?

Answer 24

A high yielder that favours clay soils. It buds later than Sauvignon Blanc and apart from Botrytis is not prone to colure or any other disease making it hardy and reliable.

Question 25

Which wines of Bordeaux does Semillon feature in?

Answer 25

It is the dominant variety in the sweet wines of Sauternes, Barsac and St-Croix -du-Mont. It features and gives body to the Bordeaux Blanc blends of the Graves, Entre-Deux-Mares and Pessac-Leognan.

Question 26

What percentage of plantings does Sauvignon Blanc represent in Bordeaux?

Answer 26

43% and growing (2014).

Question 27

Describe the characteristics of Sauvignon Blanc in Bordeaux.

Answer 27

Racy and tangy with good acidity. Herbaceous, floral and grassy. Thicker skinned than Semillon it has a high level of aroma / flavour.

Question 28

What is Sauvignon Blanc’s chief viticultural issue?

Answer 28

It can be a high yielder which if not managed properly can produce excess vegetation which prevents ripening and can create wines that have aggressive herbaceousness.

Question 29

Give a brief description of Muscadelle.

Answer 29

• 6% of plantings.
• Features in sweet wines at around 5% of blends.
• Featured in Bordeaux Blanc but not Pessac-Leognan.
• Suffers a variety of disease pressures - Colure, powdery mildew and rot.
• Not considered a quality grape.

Question 30

What other lesser white varieties are permitted in Bordeaux (regulated by sub-appellation law)?

Answer 30

Ugni Blanc, Merlot Blanc, Ondenc, Colombard and Mauzac.

Question 31

Explain Cabernet Sauvignon’s role in South West France.

Answer 31

It is important in the Bordeaux satellites such as Bergerac but it is more likely to play a secondary supporting role in other appellations.

It is not permitted in Cahors. It is used as a softening grape to Tannat in Madiran AOP.

Question 32

Explain Cabernet Franc’s role in South West France.

Answer 32

Like Cabernet Sauvignon it is important in the Bordeaux satellites, particularly in Bergerac for rose. It is not permitted in Cahors and plays a secondary role in other appellations.

Question 33

Explain Merlot’s role in South West France.

Answer 33

Important in Bordeaux satellites, it is the most planted black variety in Bergerac.

It is permitted in Cahors whee it makes up 10-20% of plantings.

Permitted in many appellations as a secondary variety, not permitted in Madiran.

Question 34

Where is Syrah permitted in South West France?

Answer 34

Gallic, where it is used to make varietal wines or the main constituent in blends.

Question 35

Where does Malbec have it’s biggest significance in France?

Answer 35

In Cahors where it is locally known as Auxerrois and makes what are known as the ‘Black Wines’ of France. It must make up at least 70% of a Cahors wine.

Question 36

Where is Tannat significant?

Answer 36

Basque in origin, it is the grape variety of Madiran, it is the third permitted variety in Cahors and is not permitted in Gaillac.

Half of France’s Tannat is grown in France.

Question 37

Describe the characteristics of Tannat.

Answer 37

Small, thick skinned berries high in tannin, colour and acid, it’s wines have pronounced black fruit qualities. A late ripener, often 10 days behind Cabernet Sauvignon.

Question 38

What names are the grape variety Fer also known by?

Answer 38

Fer Servadou and Braucol.

Question 39

Where is Fer (Braucol) permitted and describe its wines?

Answer 39

It is permitted in Madiran to soften Tannat and is the main red variety in Gaillac.

It produces wines that are deep coloured, concentrated, characterful and scented.

Question 40

Where is Duras permitted and describe its wines?

Answer 40

With Syrah and Braucol it is one of the principal permitted varieties of Gaillac.

It buds early and makes deep coloured, high acid wines, full bodied with good structure..

Question 41

Outside of Bordeaux where in South West France are Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon are significant?

Answer 41

In a range of appellations, most notably Bergerac for its sec wines, Monbazillac for sweet wines and in Gaillac. Semillon is the most widely planted.

Question 42

Where is Mauzac Blanc generally found and trained how? Describe its characteristics.

Answer 42

Usually found bush trained in Gaillac.

Buds and ripens late. When picked early to maintain its acidity it can make light fresh wines often found to be reminiscent of shrivelled apple skin.

Question 43

What is the origin of Gross Manseng and Petite Manning and what appellation can they be found in for making what style of wine?

Answer 43

Basque in origin, now found in Jurancon for making both Jurancon Sec and passerillage wines.

Question 44

Describe Gross and Petite Manseng and what their main differences are.

Answer 44

Small berried with high sugar levels and thick skins which make it well suited to long autumn hang times for passerillage wines as they are more resistant to rot. Both varieties are sensitive to Powdery and Downy mildew.

Gross Manseng is a higher yielder than Petite, but it produces less fine, rich wines. Petite’s yields are extremely low, sometimes as low as 15hl/ha.

Question 45

Describe Len de l’el.

Answer 45

An old regional grape variety of the South West, it is limited to Gaillac only. It can be left to hang for long periods of time and can reach sugar levels of 300g/l but becomes flabby if acid is not retained.