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MS - Left Bank Bordeaux > LB Bordeaux - Law/Overview > Flashcards

LB Bordeaux - Law/Overview Flashcards

1
Q

Bordeaux’s climate…

A

Maritime

Warm summers and cool mild winters

LONG growing season

No significant diurnal shifts

More rain than any other major French reason

High humidity (Good for Sauternes, bad for Reds)

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2
Q

What moderates and has the strongest influence on Bordeaux’s climate?

A

Proximity to water (Atlantic, Gironde, etc.)

“Atlantic Gulf Stream” brings warm waters up from the Caribbean which moderates regions temps.

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3
Q

Bordeaux falls into what category of the Winkler Scale?

A

Region II

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4
Q

What are the original 6 Red Bordeaux varietals?

A

Cabernet Sauvignon

Cabernet Franc

Merlot

Petit Verdot

Malbec

Carmenere

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5
Q

Which three white varietals are accessory grapes and make up the lowest plantings in Bordeaux?

A

Ugni Blanc

Merlot Blanc

Colombard

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6
Q

How many new varietals were approved for Bordeaux and Bordeaux Superieur?

A

6 NEW VARIETALS approved in 2019

4 Red and 2 White

Not major grapes, intended for blending

First plantings to start in 2021

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7
Q

Bordeaux:
New Varietals
(6)

A

Marselan (R)

Touriga Nacional (R)

Castets (R)

Arinarnoa (R)

Alvarinho (W)

Liliorila (W)

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8
Q

New Red Varietals:
Marselan

A

French crossing developed in 1961

Cabernet Sauvignon x Grenache

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9
Q

New Red Varietals:
Touriga Nacional

A

Indigenous varietal of Portugal

Late ripening

Similar characteristics to Cabernet Sauvignon

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10
Q

New Red Varietals:
Castets

A

Indigenous French heritage varietal

VERY little left planted in France

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11
Q

New Red Varietals:
Arinarnoa

A

French crossing created in 1956

Cabernet Sauvignon x Tannat

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12
Q

New White Varietals:
Alvarinho

A

Indigenous to Spain

Albarino (Galicia) and Alvarinho (Vinho Verde)

AROMATIC, bone dry, high acid

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13
Q

New White Varietals:
Liliorila

A

French crossing created in 1956 (Like Arinarnoa)

Baroque x Chardonnay

Low acid, powerful and aromatic

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14
Q

What is the most planted varietal in both Bordeaux, and all of France?

A

Merlot

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15
Q

Merlot Parentage

A

Cab Franc x Magdeleine Noire des Charentes

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16
Q

Merlot varietals name is derived from what French term?

A

Merle (meaning “Blackbird”)

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17
Q

What is the second most planted Bordeaux varietal?

A

Cabernet Sauvignon

Thick skinned varietal (resists rot/rain)

High phenolics and color

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18
Q

Cabernet Sauvignon Parentage

A

Cabernet Franc x Sauvignon Blanc

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19
Q

What is the third most planted red Bordeaux varietal?

A

Cabernet Franc

Rarely dominates blends

Higher yields compared to Cab Sauv with less body

Vegetal aromas and matures quickly

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20
Q

Cabernet Franc Parentage

A

Unconfirmed

Linked to Hondarribi Beltza and Morenoa varietals of Spain (Basque)

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21
Q

Cabernet Franc is called what on the Right Bank?

A

Bouchet

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22
Q

What Bordeaux varietal originated in the Lot River Valley (Cahors)?

A

Malbec

Very limited plantings and decreasing

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23
Q

Malbec Parentage

A

Prunelard x Magdeleine Noire des Charentes

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24
Q

What are the additional names for the Malbec varietal?

A

Cahors = “Cot”

Right Bank = “Pressac Noir”

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25
When and where did Malbec appear first in Bordeaux?
1730's on the Right Bank Grower named Malbec brought it to the left bank
26
Which red bordeaux varietal is non existent on the right bank?
Petit Verdot
27
Petit Verdot translates to what, and what does its name refer to?
“Little Green” Refers to its difficult to grow
28
How is Petit Verdot used in Bordeaux blends?
Added in very small amounts to add color, alcohol, and tannin Rarely exceed 5% of blend
29
What is the most planted WHITE varietal of Bordeaux?
Semillon Dominant varietal in the blends for sweet wines
30
Why is Semillon a great varietal for dessert wines?
Thin skinned, leaving it prone to botrytis
31
When used in dry white wines, what does Semillon add to the blend?
Rich and waxy texture Helps balance out the pungent aromas and high acid of Sauvignon Blanc
32
Which white varietal typically makes up the majority of the blend for DRY white wines?
Sauvignon Blanc
33
Sauvignon Blanc Parentage
Traminer x Unconfirmed
34
What is the mutation of Sauvignon Blanc, what are its differences, and where is it commonly grown?
Sauvignon Gris Grey skinned mutation Early ripening Genetically identical to Sauvignon Blanc Popular in Graves
35
Which white varietal is added to blends in small amounts for aromatics?
Muscadelle Very small amount of plantings Flowery, grapey, aromatic varietal NOT related to Muscat
36
How many AOPs total in todays AOP system of Bordeaux?
39 individual AOP's (CIVB says 60)
37
“CIVB”
“Conseil Interprofessionnel du Vin de Bordeaux” Est. 1948 Represents producers, growers, and negociants
38
T/F…There are currently NO single vineyard or single estate AOPs in Bordeaux?
TRUE Natural wine producer, Cht. Le Puy, on the right bank is petitioning the INAO to grant it solo AOP status for their estate
39
Bordeaux AOP: Rose
2-3% of production ONLY RED varietals permitted Blending is NOT permitted Maceration is less than 12 hours
40
Rose production in Bordeaux is commonly a by product from what method and why?
“Saignee” Further concentrates and improves the quality of the red wines by bleeding must off Increases the skin to juice ratio
41
Cremant de Bordeaux AOP
Generic AOP for white/rose sparkling wines Min. 9 months on lees Hand harvesting and traditional method production are MANDATORY
42
Vin de Pay | (Atlantique IGP)
Covers 5 departments Gives producers freedom to produce wines with less restrictions and more permitted varietals
43
The Altantique IGP (VDP) covers which 5 departments of Bordeaux?
Gironde Charente (Cognac) Charente Maritime (Cognac) Dordogne Lot-et-Garonne (Most producers using this IGP are in Bergerac, Duras, or Cognac)
44
When was Bordeaux AOP established?
Est. 1936 Basic regional AOP Lower quality, early consumption Many top Medoc estates release a white wine under Bordeaux AOP
45
What styles are permitted for Bordeaux AOP?
Red White (Sec, Off Dry, Medium Sweet) Rose Claret
46
What percentage of Bordeaux AOP wine is Red?
90%
47
What are the varietal requirements for White Bordeaux AOP?
Min. 70% combined Semillon, SB, SG, and Muscadelle Max. 30% combined Ugni Blanc, Merlot Blanc, and Colombard
48
What are the varietal requirements for Red Bordeaux AOP?
No specific %'s, all varietals permitted
49
When was Bordeaux Superior AOP established?
Est. 1943 Covers SAME area as Bordeaux AOP Stricter regulations and higher quality
50
What styles are permitted for Bordeaux Superieur AOP?
Dry Red Medium Sweet White (min. 17 g/l RS)
51
What are the elevage requirements for Bordeaux AOP and Bordeaux Superieur AOP?
Bordeaux AOP - January year following harvest Bordeaux Superior - June year following harvest
52
What are the varietal requirements for Bordeaux Superieur AOP?
Same as Bordeaux AOP for both Red and White
53
Bordeaux AOP and Bordeaux Superior AOP Min. Potential Alcohol (RED)
Bordeaux AOP - 10.5% Bordeaux Superieur AOP - 11%
54
Bordeaux AOP and Bordeaux Superieur AOP Minimum Planting Density
Bordeaux AOP - 4,000 vines/ha Bordeaux Superieur AOP - 4,500 vines/ha
55
Hectare to Acre conversion…
1 Hectare = 2.47 Acres
56
Bordeaux Timeline
57
When did Chateau Latour opt out of the En Primeur campaign?
2013 (from the 2012 vintage onward)
58
“Place de Bordeaux”
Three tier system of production, brokerage, and sales that control the trade of wine in Bordeaux Production (Chateau) Brokerage (Courtier) Sales (Negociants)
59
“Liv-Ex Classification”
“London International Vitners Exchange” Est. 2009 Originally ONLY Left Bank Bordeaux wines were considered List based on current trading prices on the exchange
60
How often is the Liv-Ex classification published?
Every other year (biennial)
61
How many times has the Liv-Ex classification been published, and when is the next release?
7 times total 09, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 2021 Next released in 2023
62
In which year did the Liv-Ex Classification include wines from other world regions?
2017
63
“En Primeur”
Sale of wine futures Small amounts of wine tasted in **APRIL** after harvest Allows top Chateau to free up cash tied to stock Wines tasted out of barrel, scored, reviewed, and priced Futures released in waves (tranches) each costing more
64
How long are En Primeur wines kept at the Chateau before release?
Kept at Chateau and released 2 years after harvest
65
How are majority of Bordeaux vines trained?
Guyot is most common Double Guyot on Left Bank Single Guyot on Right Bank Produces slightly larger berries
66
Where is Cordon vine training used in Bordeaux?
Rare, but found in Sauternes for sweet wines Produces smaller berries that attract botrytis
67
What area of Bordeaux has the highest planting density?
Left Bank Premier AOP's require **min. 7,000 vines/ha**
68
How does the planting density on the right bank compare to the left bank?
Both St. Emilion and Pomerol require a minimum plantin density of **5,500 vines/ha** Right bank has shallower soils, so roots spread out rather than dig deeper due to the impenetrable limestone bedrock
69
Left Bank canopy height…
1 meter off the ground Closer to soil to benefit from the stony soils radiant heat
70
Right Bank canopy height…
1.2-1.3 meters off the ground Higher canopy height to lift vines off the ground and avoid frost
71
What is “Bordeaux Mixture”?
Combination of **Lime, Copper Sulfate, and Water** AKA “Millardet David Treatment” Used as a fungal preventative
72
What Classified Bordeaux estates are certified Biodynamic?
Pontet Canet (1st ever) Dufort Vivens Palmer Climens (Only one in Sauternes)
73
As of 2021, how many Bordeaux estates are Demeter Certified Biodynamic?
61 estates
74
What are the three most common sorting techniques used in Bordeaux?
Optical Sorter Machine Density Sorter Machine Manual Sorting
75
What methods are used in Bordeaux to concentrate the must?
Vacuum distillation Reverse Osmosis Used when water content is too high, especially in wet and cool vintages
76
“Barrique”
Official barrel for Bordeaux wine 225 L French Oak cask
77
“Tonneau”
Commercial measure used in Bordeaux by the trade 1 Tonneau (900L) = 1,200 bottles
78
What cap management techniques are used in Bordeaux?
Remontage is most common (Pump Over) Pigeage is used but can lead to more extraction (Punch Down)
79
How is MLF used in Bordeaux?
Used for ALL Red wines No MLF for White wine, unless it was a very high acid vintage
80
Bordeaux elevage length in barrel…
Red elevage - 18 to 24 months for grand vin HIGH new oak White elevage - 12 to 15 months Rarely see more than 50% new oak
81
What is “Micro Oxygenation”?
Technique introduced by the Madiran region Oxygen is introduced to the wine during either fermentation or elevage Results in softer, less green, less tannic wines
82
“Cliquage”
The use of Micro Oxygenation **during ELEVAGE** Small amount of oxygen are applied to finished wine in barrel Simulates larger oxygen exposure accomplished through racking Controversial…risk of short term benefit at the expense of long term stability of the wine
83
What two approaches do Bordeaux estates take when blending (Assemblage)?
Create a blend early in the year to have it ready for En Primeur in April Blend right before bottling to better observe maturation of each varietal

MS - Left Bank Bordeaux (7 decks)

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