Introduction To White Wines (bordeaux, Loire, Burgundy)

Question 1

What is the French PDO?

Answer 1

Appellation d’origine protégée but the traditional term is appellation d’origine contrôlée ( AOC)

Question 2

What is the French PGI?

Answer 2

Indication géographique protégée (IGP) traditional term is vin de pays (VDP)

Question 3

What is vin de France?

Answer 3

Wines without a geographic indication

Question 4

What is the climate in Bordeaux?

Answer 4

Moderate maritime climate that benefits from the effect of the Gulf Stream

Question 5

What are the white grapes of Bordeaux?

Answer 5

Semillion, sauvignon blanc and muscadelle.

Question 6

What is the most important white grapes for sweet wines in bordeaux and why?

Answer 6

Sémillion, given its thin skin and affinity for noble rot.

Question 7

Sauvignon blanc in Bordeaux?

Answer 7

Citrus and green aromas, used increasingly for dry whites; the one exception to the generalisation that all Bordeaux wines are blended.

Provides a high acidity, which is necessary for blend in sweet wines.

Question 8

Muscadelle in Bordeaux?

Answer 8

Grapey and floral flavours plays an important supporting role in sweet and dry white wine production.

Question 9

How are make the great sweet wines of Bordeaux?

Answer 9

From grapes infected by noble rot. Tue examples are fermented and matured in bee oak barrels for anything up to 3 years

Question 10

According to 1855 classification where are from the best white wines?

Answer 10

Sauternes

Question 11

Describe premium white wine from Bordeaux?

Answer 11

From Pessac-Léognan are frequently fermented and matured in new oak barrels, have a richness concentrated nutty flavour.

Question 12

What appellation only produce premium white wines?

Answer 12

Entre-Deux-Mers large appellation located between the river Garonne and Dordogne.

Question 13

What appellations of Bordeaux produced unoaked Sauvignon Blanc?

Answer 13

Graves and entre deux mer

Question 14

Why passerillage is needed in Bordeaux?

Answer 14

To help concentrate sugars in years when there’s a little noble rot.

Question 15

Where the best sweet wines of Bordeaux come from and what is the blend

Answer 15

Sauternes, within Sauternes lies the village of Barsac.

Dominated by semillion because of the thin skin and suceptibility to botrytis. Sauvignon blanc supplies refreshing acidity and muscadelle adds exotic perfume.

Best wines tend to be high alcohol sweet but balance with high acidity, apricot and citrus peel aromas and toast and vanilla notes.

Question 16

What is the climate of the Loire vallée?

Answer 16

Overall climate is cool, but the central vineyards have continental climate. Nantais region with coastal location experiences a maritime climate.

Question 17

What are the most prestigious appellations for Sauvignon blanc in the Loire valley?

Answer 17

Pouilly-Fumée and Sancerre, vineyards located on well drained, stony limestone-based soil. Makes dry wines with high acidity with hint of green apple and wet stones.

Pouilly fumé have subtle smoky notes.

Some village like Chavignol and Monts Damnés in Sancerre have a reputation for expensive wines. Some of these wine are able to aged in the bottle.

Sancerre and pouilly fumé are not wines for ageing.

Question 18

What is the climate of Chablis?

Answer 18

Cool continental

Question 19

How the character of Chardonnay varies in Burgundy?

Answer 19

Wines from Chablis are lean, steely, high acid. Wines from Côte d’Or are complex and expressive. Macon wines in the south are fuller bodied and riper fruited.

Question 20

Why Burgundian wine makers are associated with premium Chardonnay?

Answer 20

Premium Chardonnay production around the world using; barrel fermentation, barrel ageing (typically six to nine months). Malolactic conversion and use of Lees during maturation.

Question 21

What is the bottle ageing of the best expression of Chardonnay in burgundy?

Answer 21

A decade or more

Question 22

What is the other white grape of burgundy?

Answer 22

Alligoté, tends to produce neutral wines with high acidity.

Question 23

Where’s is Chablis situated?

Answer 23

In the valley of the river Serein in the northern most part of Burgundy.

Question 24

Best vineyards of Chablis?

Answer 24

Generally planted on slopes with favourable south-facing aspects.

Question 25

Major climatic problem and are the protective measures?

Answer 25

Frost. Sprinklers and heaters.

Question 26

Describe Chablis and Petit Chablis?

Answer 26

Can be very austere with green fruit and high acidity, better example display riper fruit flavour.

Question 27

Describe Chablis Premier Cru and Chablis Grand Cru?

Answer 27

Tend to be located on the hillside sites with a better aspect. Generally show riper, more concentrated fruit( citrus, rather than green apple), have more body and are still balanced with high acidity. A number of producers ferment or âge a portion of their grand cru and sometimes premier cru in old oak, which give rounder texture and subtle favours. Some producers retain to pure fruit flavour by fermenting and storing the wines in stainless steel or concrete.

Question 28

What are the 3 villages in Burgundy with the highest reputation for their white wines?

Answer 28

- Meursault - Puligny- Montrachet - Chassagne-Montrachet

Question 29

Describe the style of premier cru of Pouilly- Fussé and Saint-Véran?

Answer 29

Note of tropical and stone fruits, with some time in barrel to add texture. Vines are planted on the limestone slopes of the Roche de Solutré with east and south-east exposures. Help produce some of the richest and ripest Chardonnay in Burgundy, often complemented by toasty oak flavours.