Left Bank Appellations of Bordeaux Flashcards by Rosemary Walker

How many AOPs are there in Bordeaux?

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What are the three regional AOPs of Bordeaux?

Bordeaux AOP
Bordeaux Superieur AOP
Crémant de Bordeaux AOP

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What are the authorized white grapes of Bordeaux AOP (9)?

Min 70% Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc, Sauvignon Gris, and Muscadelle
Max 30% combined Merlot Blanc, Ugni Blanc, Colombard, Liliorila, Alvahrino w/ max 10% combined Liliorila and Alvahrino

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What are the authorized grapes of Bordeaux AOP for red and clairet? (10)?

Principal Varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Cot (Malbec), Merlot, Petit Verdot, Carmenère
Accessory Varieties: Max 5% combined Arinarnoa, Castets, Marselan, Touriga Nacional

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What are the authorized white grapes of Bordeaux Supérieur AOP (8)?

Principal Varieties: Min. 70% combined Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc, Sauvignon Gris, and Muscadelle
Accessory Varieties: Max. 30% combined Merlot Blanc, Ugni Blanc, Colombard, and Liliorila, with max. 5% Liliorila

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What are the authorized red grapes of Bordeaux Supérieur AOP (10)?

Principal Varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Cot (Malbec), Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Carmenère
Accessory Varieties: Max. 5% combined Arinarnoa, Castets, Marselan, and Touriga Nacional

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What is the aging requirement of Bordeaux AOP? Bordeaux Supérieur AOP Rouge?

Bordeaux AOP until January of year following harvest.
Bordeaux Supérieur until mid-June of year following harvest

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What is vine density of Bordeaux AOP vs Bordeaux Supérieur AOP?

4,000 vines per hectare vs 4,500 vines per hectare

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What are maximum yields of Bordeaux AOP vs Bordeaux Supérieur AOP?

Bordeaux AOP:
Blanc: 67 hl/ha
Rosé: 62 hl/ha
Rouge: 60 hl/ha
Bordeaux “Haut Benauge”: 55 hl/ha

Bordeaux Supérieur AOP:
Blanc: 49 hl/ha
Rouge: 59 hl/ha

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What are minimum potential alcohol of Bordeaux AOP vs Bordeaux Supérieur AOP?

Bordeaux AOP
Blanc (Sec): 10%
Blanc (with residual sugar): 10.5% (10% acquired)
Rosé: 10%
Rouge: 10.5%
Blanc Moelleux: 10.5%
Bordeaux “Haut Benauge”: 11.5% (11% acquired)

Bordeaux Supérieur AOP:
Blanc: 12% (11% acquired)
Rouge: 11%

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Are American oak and oak chips allowed in Bordeaux AOP and Bordeaux Supérieur AOP?

YES

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What are the styles and grapes of Crémant de Bordeaux AOP?

Vin Mousseux Blanc:
Principal Varieties: Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cot, Petit Verdot, Carmenère, Muscadelle, Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc, Sauvignon Gris
Accessory Varieties: Max. 30% combined Colombard, Merlot Blanc, and Ugni Blanc
Vin Mousseux Rosé: Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cot, Petit Verdot, Carmenère

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Aging requirements for Crémant de Bordeaux AOP?

Traditional Method Secondary Fermentation
The wines must spend a min. 9 months on the lees prior to dégorgement, and may not be released for a min. 12 months after the date of tirage

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Minimum atmospheres of pressure for Crémant de Bordeaux?

3.5 atmospheres of pressure

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What Chateau is petitioning the INAO to grant it AOP status?

Chateau le Puy

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What are the sweet wine appellations of Bordeaux and their minimum residual sugar levels?

Bordeaux Superior AOP - medium sweet: 17 g/l
Premieres-Cotes-de-Bordeaux AOP: 34 g/l
Graves Superior AOP: 34 g/l
Cerons AOP: 45 g/l
Barsac AOP: 45 g/l
Sauternes AOP: 45 g/l
Cadillac AOP: 51 g/l
Loupiac: 45 g/l
Saint-Croix-du-Mont: 45 g/l
Cotes-de-Bordeaux-Saint Macaire AOP: Sec: max. 4 g/l; Moelleux: 34-45 g/l; Liquoreux: min. 45 g/l
Cotes-de-Bordeaux “Francs”:
(Blanc Liquoreux: Min. 51 g/l)
Cotes-de-Bordeaux “Sainte-Foye”
(Blanc Moelleux: 17-45 g/l, Blanc Liquoreux: Min. 51 g/l)

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What are the 8 AOPs of the Medoc?

Medoc AOP
Haut-Medoc AOP
Saint-Estephe AOP
Pauillac AOP
Saint-Julien AOP
Margaux AOP
Moulis/Moulis-en-Medoc AOP
Listrac Medoc AOP

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What is the soil of Saint-Estephe?

Gravel but with more clay than other village appellations. Because of this, Saint-Estephe can withstand hotter vintages.

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What is the soil of Pauillac?

Gravel mounds/croupes.

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What percentage of Saint-Julien is owned by classed growths?

90%

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What is the soil of Saint-Julien?

Gravel

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What is the soil of Margaux?

Thinner and mostly gravel.

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What is the soil of Listrac Medoc AOP?

More limestone.

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List two Crus Bougeois producers in Moulis/Moulis-en-Medoc AOP.

Chateau Chasse-Spleen
Chateau Poujeau

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What is the stream called south of Saint-Estephe that separates it from Pouillac? What two estates does it divide?

Jalle de Breuil Cos d’Estournel and Lafite-Rothschild.

What two groups are the Saint-Julien Chateau's divided into?

Riverside estates (The Leoville's). Southern group centered on village of Beycheville.

What are the 6 AOPs of the Graves North to South?

Pessac-Leognan AOP Graves AOP Graves Superior AOP Cerons AOP Barsac AOP Sauternes AOP

What styles and encepagement are allowed in Pessac-Leognan AOP?

Still white and red. Blanc: Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc, Sauvignon Gris, Muscadelle Rouge: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Cot (Malbec), Carmenère

What are the two most important producers of Pessac-Leognan AOP?

Chateau Haut-Brion Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion

What is the soil in the vineyards of Haut-Brion and La Mission Haut-Brion?

Gravel

Whose Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc are usually the first to be harvested in the Gironde?

Chateau Haut-Brion's

This First Growth has more Merlot planted than Cabernet Sauvignon.

Chateau Haut-Brion

in 1983, Chateau Haut-Brion bought these two Chateau's.

Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion Chateau La Tour Haut-Brion

When did Chateau La Tour Haut-Brion produce its last vintage?

2005

When did Chateau Laville Haut-Brion produce its last vintage?

2008

What two properties now supply fruit for a second red wine and a new white wine under Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion?

Chateau La Tour Haut-Brion (red) Chateau Laville Haut-Brion (white)

What are the sweet white wine appellations of Graves and their minimum residual sugar levels?

Graves Superior AOP: 34 g/l Cerons AOP: 45 g/l Barsac AOP: 45 g/l Sauternes: 45 g/l

In what AOPs of Graves is passerillage AND botrytis allowed?

Graves Superior AOP Cerons AOP

How do density and yields compare in Barsac AOP and Sauternes AOP compared to Graves Superior AOP and Cerons AOP?

Barsac and Sauternes: Minimum planting Density: 6,500 vines/ha Max Yields: 25 hl/ha Graves Superior and Cerons: Minimum planting Density: 5,000 vines/ha Max Yields: 40 hl/ha

What are the rivers in Sauternes?

Garonne Ciron

How do the rivers in Sauternes influence botrytis?

They encourage morning mist and humidity which in turn encourages noble rot.

What is pouriture noble?

Noble rot.

What is the average number if tries/year in Sauternes?

3-4

How many tries does Chateau d'Yquem perform each year?

11 (in 1974 they performed 11 tries over 10 weeks only to reject the harvest)

Minimum must weight and RS of Sauternes?

Minimum Must Weight: 221 g/l Minimum Residual Sugar: 45 g/l (RS can get up to 120-160 g/l)

If Barsac and Saurternes produce a dry white wine, what must it be labeled as?

Bordeaux AOP

What is Chateau d'Yquem's dry white wine called? What was its inaugural vintage?

Chateau d'Yquem Y grec. 75% Sauvignon Blanc and 25% Sémillon 1959

What are the communes of Sauternes?

Sauternes Bommes Fargues Preignac Barsac

If Cerons is red, how is it labeled?

Graves AOP

Where is the Médoc?

Bordeaux Bounded by the Atlantic and the Gironde Northern "lower" = Bas-Medoc Southern "upper" = Haut-Médoc

What is the Landes Forest?

A man made forest on the western sections of the Médoc -helps to shield the region's vineyards from Atlantic weather and winds

Wines labeled Haut-Médoc are typically produced where?

To the west of Saint-Estèphe, Pauillac and Saint-Julien or south of Margaux

What is one of the leading unclassified estates of the Médoc?

Château Sociando-Mallet

What is the Ciron?

A tributary of the Garonne cutting through Barsac and Sauternes, creating a “T” that contributes to botrytis.

What is higher: max yield for the Médoc/Haut-Médoc, or max yield for St-Estèphe, Paulliac, St-Julien, and the other communal appellations?

Médoc/Haut-Médoc @ 55hl/h v. 57 for the named communes

What is the “super-second” of St-Estèphe?

Cos d’Estournel

What are the communes of Pauillac?

St-Estèphe Saint-Saveur Pauillac St-Julien-Beychevelle

Min vine density of Medoc vs Haut Medoc?

Medoc: 5,000 vines per ha Haut Medoc: 6,500 vines per ha

Min vine density of Saint-Estephe, Pauillac, St Julien, Margaux?

7,000 vines/ha

Min vine density of Listrac-Medoc, Moulis/Moulis-en-Medoc?

7,000 vines/ha

What are the communes of St-Julien?

Pauillac St-Laurent-Médoc St-Julien-Beychevelle Cussac-Fort-Médoc

What are the Super Seconds of St-Julien?

Léoville-Las-Cases Ducru-Beaucaillou

What are the communes of Margaux?

Soussans Margaux-Cantenac Labarde Arsac

Notable unclassified estates of the Médoc.

Potensac (Médoc) Sociando-Mallet (Haut-Médoc) Chasse-Spleen (Moulis) Poujeaux (Moulis)

What was the Graves Classification created, and when was it revised?

1953 1959

What are boulbenes?

A mix of sand, gravel, and light clay found in Graves

What château originally classified in 1855 is no longer part of the classification?

Château Dubignon, a third growth of Margaux. It was absorbed into Malescot-St-Exupéry post-phylloxera in the 1870’s. From 1901 to 1960 it was its own estate labeled Dubignon-Talbot and classed as Cru Bourgeois Superieur/Ancienc Troisieme Cru; later parceled and sold off.

Pessac-Léognan AOP is located between what two cities?

Between Mérignac and Marillac

Minimum Planting Density and max yields of Graves vs Pessac-Léognan.

Graves Minimum Planting Density: 5,000 vines per hectare Maximum Yields (Rendement de Base): Blanc: 58 hl/ha Rouge: 55 hl/ha Pessac-Léognan Minimum Planting Density: 6,500 vines per hectare Maximum Yields (Rendement de Base): 54 hl/ha

What are the communes of production of Sauternes?

Barsac, Sauternes, Fargues, Preignac, Bommes

What is a tool used in Sauternes to reduce volatile acidity?

Sulfur Dioxide is used during fermentation and élevage.

What are the communes of Pessac-Leognan?

Pessac, Léognan Cadaujac Canéjan Gradignan Martillac Mérignac Saint-Médard-d'Eyrans Talence Villenave-d'Ornon

What are the vintages where frost wreaked havoc in Bordeaux?

1956 1971 2017

What are the authorized grape varieties for Bordeaux AOP rosé?

Principal Varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Cot (Malbec), Merlot, Petit Verdot, Carmenère Accessory Varieties: Max 20% combined Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc, Sauvignon Gris, Arinarnoa, Castets, Marselan, Touriga Nacional, Alvarinho, and Liliorila, with max. 10% combined Sauvignon Blanc and Gris and max. 5% combined Arinarnoa, Castets, Marselan, Touriga Nacional, Alvarinho, and Liliorila

What is the subzone of Bordeux AOP?

Haut-Benauge

What are the authorized grape varieties for Bordeaux AOP Haut-Benauge Blanc?

Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc, Sauvignon Gris, and Muscadelle

What are the authorized styles of Bordeaux AOP?

Blanc Rosé Clairet Rouge Haut-Benauge Blanc

What is min potential alcohol of Bordeaux AOP?

Blanc (Sec): 10% Blanc (with residual sugar): 10.5% (10% acquired) Rosé: 10% Rouge: 10.5% Blanc Moelleux: 10.5% Bordeaux "Haut Benauge": 11.5% (11% acquired)

What is min must weight, rs and yield for Bordeaux AOP Haut-Benauge?

must weight: 195 g/l rs: 5-60 g/l yield: 55 hl/ha

Bordeaux is located in this deparment.

Gironde

What are the max yields of Cremant de Bordeaux?

72 hl/ha (100 liters per 150 kg max. press yield)