The Left Bank: Graves

Question 1

The wines of Graves have a longer history than those of the ___

Answer 1

Médoc

Question 2

While the land to the north was still unworkable, disease-ridden swampland, Graves wines were-

Answer 2

successfully exported to England

Question 3

Samuel Pepys famously noted “Ho-Bryan” in 1663 as the first recorded example of what?

Answer 3

a “name brand” château

Question 4

What remains the first identifiable vineyard estate in the region?

Answer 4

Château Pape-Clément, a papal gift awarded to Bordeaux in 1305

Question 5

In Graves, the soil is similar to the Médoc but becomes what?

Answer 5

sandier toward the south

Question 6

This mixture of sand, gravel and light clay is known as what?

Answer 6

boulbenes

Question 7

Unlike the Médoc appellations, both red and dry white wines may be labeled as what?

Answer 7

Graves AOP

Question 8

White wine accounts for approximately __% of production.

Answer 8

25

Question 9

, Apart from the inclusion of Château Haut-Brion among the first growths of the Médoc, Graves wines were first classified when?

Answer 9

in 1953, with 6 additional wines added in 1959

Question 10

How many estates are now classified cru classé?

Answer 10

13 for red wines, and 9 for whites (16 châteaux in total)

Question 11

Although 16 châteaux are classified as cru classé, what houses no longer produce?

Answer 11

• Château La Tour Haut-Brion (classified for red wine) produced its final vintage in 2005
• Château Laville Haut-Brion (classified for white wine) produced its final vintage in 2008

Question 12

Château La Tour Haut-Brion and Château Laville Haut-Brion now supply fruit for what?

Answer 12

A 2nd red wine and a new white wine under the Château La Mission Haut-Brion label

Question 13

What was created in 1987?

Answer 13

The communal sub-appellation Pessac-Léognan AOP

Question 14

What did Pessac-Léognan AOP effectively become?

Answer 14

effectively becoming the prestige appellation for both red and dry white wines in the North while sidelining southern Graves

Question 15

All cru classé properties are located within the communes of Pessac-Léognan AOP, name them!

Answer 15

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

Question 16

Sweet whites may be produced throughout Graves as what?

Answer 16

Graves Supérieur AOP

Question 17

What 3 smaller sweet wines appellations exist?

Answer 17

Cérons, Barsac, and Sauternes

Question 18

What is pourriture noble?

Answer 18

Botrytis cinerea—the noble rot

Question 19

Due to the unique climactic conditions of Sauternes and Barsac (and to a lesser extent Cérons) the Botrytis mold does what?

Answer 19

may attack the grapes, dehydrating them so that sugar, acidity, and glycerol content are heightened

Question 20

Sauternes lies at the conflux of what rivers?

Answer 20

the Ciron and Garonne rivers

Question 21

In promising years cool morning mists blow off the Ciron and encounter what?

Answer 21

the warmer waters of the Garonne, producing autumn afternoon humidity perfect for incubating the Botrytis spores

Question 22

Why are tries through the vineyard required in Sauternes?

Answer 22

noble rot is fickle and does not attack grapes evenly, requiring the producer to pick the grapes individually, in separate trips

Question 23

What was classified alongside those of the Médoc in 1855, and were divided into second growths and first growths?

Answer 23

The wines of Sauternes

Question 24

What one château achieved the rank of Premier Cru Supérieur?

Answer 24

Château d’Yquem

Question 25

Yquem will not produce a Sauternes AOP wine in poor years, such as what vintages?

Answer 25

1992 or 1974

Question 26

Château d’Yquem also intermittently produces what dry white wine?

Answer 26

“Y” (“Ygrec”) labeled as Bordeaux or Bordeaux Supérieur

Question 27

Sauternes AOP covers what five villages?

Answer 27

1. Sauternes
2. Barsac
3. Fargues
4. Preignac
5. Bommes

Question 28

The wines of Barsac may be sold as what?

Answer 28

either Barsac AOP or Sauternes AOP

Question 29

Sauternes grapes are harvested at what minimum must weight?

Answer 29

221 grams per liter

Question 30

The finished wines of Sauternes must contain at least how much RS?

Answer 30

45 g/l of residual sugar

Question 31

Sauternes are often aged in what?

Answer 31

moderate-to-high percentage of new oak for up to two years prior to release

Question 32

The unclassified Château Gilette releases the remarkable “Crème de Tête” after what?

Answer 32

a decades-long maturation in concrete vats

Question 33

What are the Communes of Production of Cérons AOP?

Answer 33

1. Cerons
2. Illats
3. Podensac