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
Q

When and where did Malbec appear first in Bordeaux?

A

1730’s on the Right Bank

Grower named Malbec brought it to the left bank

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26
Q

Which red bordeaux varietal is non existent on the right bank?

A

Petit Verdot

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27
Q

Petit Verdot translates to what, and what does its name refer to?

A

“Little Green”

Refers to its difficult to grow

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28
Q

How is Petit Verdot used in Bordeaux blends?

A

Added in very small amounts to add color, alcohol, and tannin

Rarely exceed 5% of blend

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29
Q

What is the most planted WHITE varietal of Bordeaux?

A

Semillon

Dominant varietal in the blends for sweet wines

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30
Q

Why is Semillon a great varietal for dessert wines?

A

Thin skinned, leaving it prone to botrytis

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31
Q

When used in dry white wines, what does Semillon add to the blend?

A

Rich and waxy texture

Helps balance out the pungent aromas and high acid of Sauvignon Blanc

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32
Q

Which white varietal typically makes up the majority of the blend for DRY white wines?

A

Sauvignon Blanc

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33
Q

Sauvignon Blanc Parentage

A

Traminer x Unconfirmed

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34
Q

What is the mutation of Sauvignon Blanc, what are its differences, and where is it commonly grown?

A

Sauvignon Gris

Grey skinned mutation

Early ripening

Genetically identical to Sauvignon Blanc

Popular in Graves

35
Q

Which white varietal is added to blends in small amounts for aromatics?

A

Muscadelle

Very small amount of plantings

Flowery, grapey, aromatic varietal

NOT related to Muscat

36
Q

How many AOPs total in todays AOP system of Bordeaux?

A

39 individual AOP’s

(CIVB says 60)

37
Q

“CIVB”

A

“Conseil Interprofessionnel du Vin de Bordeaux”

Est. 1948

Represents producers, growers, and negociants

38
Q

T/F…There are currently NO single vineyard or single estate AOPs in Bordeaux?

A

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
Q

Bordeaux AOP:
Rose

A

2-3% of production

ONLY RED varietals permitted

Blending is NOT permitted

Maceration is less than 12 hours

40
Q

Rose production in Bordeaux is commonly a by product from what method and why?

A

“Saignee”

Further concentrates and improves the quality of the red wines by bleeding must off

Increases the skin to juice ratio

41
Q

Cremant de Bordeaux AOP

A

Generic AOP for white/rose sparkling wines

Min. 9 months on lees

Hand harvesting and traditional method production are MANDATORY

42
Q

Vin de Pay

(Atlantique IGP)

A

Covers 5 departments

Gives producers freedom to produce wines with less restrictions and more permitted varietals

43
Q

The Altantique IGP (VDP) covers which 5 departments of Bordeaux?

A

Gironde

Charente (Cognac)

Charente Maritime (Cognac)

Dordogne

Lot-et-Garonne

(Most producers using this IGP are in Bergerac, Duras, or Cognac)

44
Q

When was Bordeaux AOP established?

A

Est. 1936

Basic regional AOP

Lower quality, early consumption

Many top Medoc estates release a white wine under Bordeaux AOP

45
Q

What styles are permitted for Bordeaux AOP?

A

Red

White (Sec, Off Dry, Medium Sweet)

Rose

Claret

46
Q

What percentage of Bordeaux AOP wine is Red?

A

90%

47
Q

What are the varietal requirements for White Bordeaux AOP?

A

Min. 70% combined Semillon, SB, SG, and Muscadelle

Max. 30% combined Ugni Blanc, Merlot Blanc, and Colombard

48
Q

What are the varietal requirements for Red Bordeaux AOP?

A

No specific %’s, all varietals permitted

49
Q

When was Bordeaux Superior AOP established?

A

Est. 1943

Covers SAME area as Bordeaux AOP

Stricter regulations and higher quality

50
Q

What styles are permitted for Bordeaux Superieur AOP?

A

Dry Red

Medium Sweet White (min. 17 g/l RS)

51
Q

What are the elevage requirements for Bordeaux AOP and Bordeaux Superieur AOP?

A

Bordeaux AOP - January year following harvest

Bordeaux Superior - June year following harvest

52
Q

What are the varietal requirements for Bordeaux Superieur AOP?

A

Same as Bordeaux AOP for both Red and White

53
Q

Bordeaux AOP and Bordeaux Superior AOP

Min. Potential Alcohol (RED)

A

Bordeaux AOP - 10.5%

Bordeaux Superieur AOP - 11%

54
Q

Bordeaux AOP and Bordeaux Superieur AOP

Minimum Planting Density

A

Bordeaux AOP - 4,000 vines/ha

Bordeaux Superieur AOP - 4,500 vines/ha

55
Q

Hectare to Acre conversion…

A

1 Hectare = 2.47 Acres

56
Q

Bordeaux Timeline

A
57
Q

When did Chateau Latour opt out of the En Primeur campaign?

A

2013 (from the 2012 vintage onward)

58
Q

“Place de Bordeaux”

A

Three tier system of production, brokerage, and sales that control the trade of wine in Bordeaux

Production (Chateau)

Brokerage (Courtier)

Sales (Negociants)

59
Q

“Liv-Ex Classification”

A

“London International Vitners Exchange”

Est. 2009

Originally ONLY Left Bank Bordeaux wines were considered

List based on current trading prices on the exchange

60
Q

How often is the Liv-Ex classification published?

A

Every other year (biennial)

61
Q

How many times has the Liv-Ex classification been published, and when is the next release?

A

7 times total

09, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 2021

Next released in 2023

62
Q

In which year did the Liv-Ex Classification include wines from other world regions?

A

2017

63
Q

“En Primeur”

A

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
Q

How long are En Primeur wines kept at the Chateau before release?

A

Kept at Chateau and released 2 years after harvest

65
Q

How are majority of Bordeaux vines trained?

A

Guyot is most common

Double Guyot on Left Bank

Single Guyot on Right Bank

Produces slightly larger berries

66
Q

Where is Cordon vine training used in Bordeaux?

A

Rare, but found in Sauternes for sweet wines

Produces smaller berries that attract botrytis

67
Q

What area of Bordeaux has the highest planting density?

A

Left Bank

Premier AOP’s require min. 7,000 vines/ha

68
Q

How does the planting density on the right bank compare to the left bank?

A

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
Q

Left Bank canopy height…

A

1 meter off the ground

Closer to soil to benefit from the stony soils radiant heat

70
Q

Right Bank canopy height…

A

1.2-1.3 meters off the ground

Higher canopy height to lift vines off the ground and avoid frost

71
Q

What is “Bordeaux Mixture”?

A

Combination of Lime, Copper Sulfate, and Water

AKA “Millardet David Treatment”

Used as a fungal preventative

72
Q

What Classified Bordeaux estates are certified Biodynamic?

A

Pontet Canet (1st ever)

Dufort Vivens

Palmer

Climens (Only one in Sauternes)

73
Q

As of 2021, how many Bordeaux estates are Demeter Certified Biodynamic?

A

61 estates

74
Q

What are the three most common sorting techniques used in Bordeaux?

A

Optical Sorter Machine

Density Sorter Machine

Manual Sorting

75
Q

What methods are used in Bordeaux to concentrate the must?

A

Vacuum distillation

Reverse Osmosis

Used when water content is too high, especially in wet and cool vintages

76
Q

“Barrique”

A

Official barrel for Bordeaux wine

225 L French Oak cask

77
Q

“Tonneau”

A

Commercial measure used in Bordeaux by the trade

1 Tonneau (900L) = 1,200 bottles

78
Q

What cap management techniques are used in Bordeaux?

A

Remontage is most common (Pump Over)

Pigeage is used but can lead to more extraction (Punch Down)

79
Q

How is MLF used in Bordeaux?

A

Used for ALL Red wines

No MLF for White wine, unless it was a very high acid vintage

80
Q

Bordeaux elevage length in barrel…

A

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
Q

What is “Micro Oxygenation”?

A

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
Q

“Cliquage”

A

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
Q

What two approaches do Bordeaux estates take when blending (Assemblage)?

A

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