The Left Bank: Médoc Flashcards
1
Q
The Médoc AOP covers what?
A
the entire wine-producing left bank of the Gironde Estuary, a 50-mile stretch northward from the city of Bordeaux.
2
Q
The Médoc AOP encompasses what other appellations?
A
Haut-Médoc AOP and the more prestigious communal appellations.
3
Q
The Médoc AOP is typically used by whom?
A
châteaux that don’t qualify for a more precise appellation; namely, those located in the marshy region north of St-Estèphe
4
Q
What is the northern region of the Médoc called?
A
the Bas-Médoc
5
Q
In the Bas-Médoc, vineyards are sparser and intermingled with what?
A
forest, pasture and mixed agriculture
6
Q
What are jalles?
A
Drainage channels
7
Q
What prevent the Médoc from reverting to swampland?
A
Jalles that criss-cross the low-lying, remote landscape
8
Q
Médoc AOP wines must be what?
A
RED
9
Q
What performs more reliably in the waterlogged, clay-heavy soils of the Bas-Médoc?
A
Merlot is grown in a higher proportion here than in the Haut-Médoc
10
Q
What covers a narrow corridor of land on the left bank of the Gironde in the southern Médoc?
A
The Haut-Médoc AOP
11
Q
In the Haut-Médoc, what are the best vineyards characterized by?
A
well-drained gravelly soils, perfectly suited to the cultivation of CS
12
Q
What are croupes?
A
unearthed gravel mounds the Dutch created during their drainage work in the 1600s
13
Q
What is usually located on the croupes?
A
The better châteaux are usually located upon these deeper banks of gravel
14
Q
What are the communes of the Haut-Médoc?
A
Saint-Estèphe, Pauillac, St. Julien, Listrac-Médoc, Moulis-en-Médoc, and Margaux
15
Q
What was the 1855 Classification of Bordeaux?
A
Commissioned by Emperor Napoleon III and carried out by the region’s courtiers, ranked the top properties of Bordeaux by price prior to international exposure at the Universal Exposition in Paris later that year.
16
Q
What are the First Growths (Premiers Crus)?
A
Château Lafite Rothschild, Pauillac Château Latour, Pauillac Château Margaux, Margaux Château Haut-Brion, Graves Château Mouton Rothschild, Pauillac
17
Q
When was Château Mouton Rothschild, Pauillac, reclassified from Second Growth?
A
1973
18
Q
Château Haut-Brion, is now considered part of what?
A
Pessac-Léognan since 1987
19
Q
What are the Second Growths (Deuxièmes Crus)?
A
- Château Cos d’Estournel, St.-Estèphe
- Château Montrose, St.-Estèphe
- Château Pichon Longueville Baron, Pauillac
- Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande, Pauillac
- Château Léoville-Las Cases, St.-Julien
- Château Léoville-Poyferré, St.-Julien
- Château Léoville Barton, St.-Julien
- Château Gruaud-Larose, St.-Julien
- Château Ducru-Beaucaillou, St.-Julien
- Château Rauzan-Ségla, Margaux
- Château Rauzan-Gassies, Margaux
- Château Durfort-Vivens, Margaux
- Château Lascombes, Margaux
- Château Brane-Cantenac, Cantenac-Margaux (Margaux)
20
Q
What are the Third Growths (Troisièmes Crus)?
A
- Château Calon-Ségur, St.-Estèphe
- Château Lagrange, St.-Julien
- Château Langoa Barton, St.-Julien
- Château Malescot St. Exupéry, Margaux
- Château Desmirail, Margaux
- Château Ferrière, Margaux
- Château Marquis d’Alesme Becker, Margaux
- Château Kirwan, Cantenac-Margaux (Margaux)
- Château d’Issan, Cantenac-Margaux (Margaux)
- Château Boyd-Cantenac, Cantenac-Margaux (Margaux)
- Château Cantenac-Brown, Cantenac-Margaux (Margaux)
- Château Palmer, Cantenac-Margaux (Margaux)
- Château Giscours, Labarde-Margaux (Margaux)
- Château La Lagune, Ludon (Haut-Medoc)
21
Q
What are the Fourth Growths (Quatrièmes Crus)?
A
- Château Lafon-Rochet, St.-Estèphe
- Château Duhart-Milon-Rothschild, Pauillac
- Château Saint-Pierre, St.-Julien
- Château Talbot, St.-Julien
- Château Branaire-Ducru, St.-Julien
- Château Beychevelle, St.-Julien
- Château Marquis de Terme, Margaux
- Château Pouget, Cantenac-Margaux (Margaux)
- Château Prieuré-Lichine, Cantenac-Margaux (Margaux)
- Château La Tour Carnet, St. Laurent (Haut-Médoc)
22
Q
What are the Fifth Growths (Cinquièmes Crus)?
A
- Château Cos Labory, St.-Estèphe
- Château Pontet-Canet, Pauillac
- Château Batailley, Pauillac
- Château Haut-Batailley, Pauillac
- Château Haut-Bages-Libéral, Pauillac
- Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste, Pauillac
- Château Grand-Puy-Ducasse, Pauillac
- Château Lynch-Bages, Pauillac
- Château Lynch-Moussas, Pauillac
- Château d’Armailhac, Pauillac
- Château Pédesclaux, Pauillac
- Château Clerc-Milon, Pauillac
- Château Croizet Bages, Pauillac
- Château Dauzac, Labarde (Margaux)
- Château du Tertre, Arsac (Margaux)
- Château Belgrave, St.-Laurent (Haut-Médoc)
- Château de Camensac, St.-Laurent (Haut-Médoc)
23
Q
The 5th growth, Château d’Armailhac, in Pauillac, was previously what?
A
Mouton-Baronne-Philippe until 1989
24
Q
What 5th growth was added in 1856?
A
Château Cantemerle, Macau (Haut-Médoc)
25
Unlike the grand cru vineyards of Burgundy, the properties of Bordeaux hold status rather than what?
the land itself, so a vineyard may be classified or declassified as it changes ownership
26
What other designations mark châteaux of quality in Bordeaux?
Cru Artisan and Cru Bourgeois
27
Cru Artisan, a designation that has been in use for nearly a century and a half, was formally recognized when?
in 2002
28
From the 2005 vintage forward, 44 small producers throughout the Médoc’s appellations have the right to use "Cru Artisan," denoting what?
their place as exceptional stewards of the land and craft of winemaking, without the financing or apparatus of large-scale operations
29
When was Cru Bourgeois introduced?
1932
30
Cru Bourgeois, an embattled classification, divided 444 properties into what 3 categories?
1. Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel
2. Cru Bourgeois Supérieur
3. Cru Bourgeois
31
When was the Cru Bourgeois offical?
not until 2003, when only 247 châteaux retained their status
32
Legal action after 2003, nullified the Cru Bourgeois classification but it was reinstated when?
for the 2008 vintage
33
Cru Bourgeois as of 2008 is no longer a specific classification but rather what?
The term acts as a guarantor of quality and châteaux must apply for it regularly, submitting their wines to a blind tasting panel
34
The higher designations of Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel and Cru Bourgeois Supérieur have been what?
eliminated
35
What is the northernmost commune appellation in Haut-Médoc?
St-Estèphe AOP
36
Describe the wines of St-Estèphe AOP
sturdy and full-bodied reds with a slightly higher percentage of Merlot, due to a higher proportion of clay amongst the gravel
37
St-Estèphe does not contain any what?
1st growths, and it hosts only 5 classified growths overall
38
What is the most notable wine of St-Estèphe?
Château Cos d’Estournel, a “super-second” growth, making powerful wines in a polished modern style
39
What is considered classic claret?
Pauillac AOP
40
What are the first growths of Pauillac AOP?
1. Château Lafite Rothschild
2. Château Mouton-Rothschild
3. Château Latour
41
What is at its deepest point in Pauillac?
the gravel topsoil of the Haut-Médoc, and the Cabernet Sauvignon-based wines are structured and long-lived
42
Describe the wines of Lafite
emphasizes aromatics and elegance
43
Describe the wines of Latour
wines of brooding depth and concentration
44
What produces less wine than the other communes?
St-Julien AOP
45
Approximately 80% of St-Julien AOP is what?
cru classé wine
46
There are no first growths, but St-Julien has what?
five 2nd growths
47
What are some of the best houses in St-Julien?
the “super-seconds” Château Léoville Las Cases and Château Ducru-Beaucaillou
48
Describe St-Julien reds
typically demonstrate an elegant style
49
What are lesser appellations without classified growths, but can be the source of good value—especially in better vintages?
Listrac-Médoc AOP and Moulis-en-Médoc AOP
50
What is the most famous estate in Moulis?
Château Chasse-Spleen
51
What is the largest communal appellation of the Haut-Médoc?
Margaux AOP
52
What are the 5 villages of Margaux?
1. Soussans
2. Margaux
3. Cantenac
4. Labarde
5. Arsac
53
The village of Margaux itself rests on what?
thin, sandy gravel deposited over limestone, although the croupes in this appellation are typically shallow in comparison with those of St-Julien or Pauillac
54
Margaux AOP contains a greater diversity of what?
soil types than its northern counterparts, with more clay in the outlying areas
55
Margaux has a larger number of what than any other commune?
Classified growths (21 total)
56
What is the one first growth of Margaux AOP?
Château Margaux
57
Although Margaux’s second growths are often underperformers, what third growth is an excellent estate, commanding high prices?
Château Palmer
58
The wines of Margaux are often described as what?
feminine, with an emphasis on floral bouquet, exotic character and finesse
59
Name some great producers in AOC Haut Medoc
Chateau Bernadotte, Chateau Cantemerle, Chateau Cissac, Chateau Sociando-Mallet
60
Name some great producers of AOC Medoc
Chateau Preuillac, Chateau Rollan de By, Chateau Senejac
61
Name some great producers in St-Estephe
Chateau Calon-Segur, Chateau Cos D'Estournel, Chateau Lagon-Rochet, Chateau Montrose, Chateau Meyney, Chateau Les Ormes De Pez, Chateau De Pez, Chateau Phelan-Segur, Chateau Tour de Pez, Chateau Tronquoy-Lalande
62
Describe Chateau Montrose in St-Estephe
The "youngest" of the cru classe, retained by former owner of Calon-Segur, can be aggressive b/c of the "stemmy" tannins
63
Describe Chateau Les Ormes de Pez in St-Estephe
Owner Jean-Michel Cazes of Lynch-Bages, he raised quality with new stainless-steel vats, wines aged 12-15mos in 50% new oak
64
Describe Chateau de Pez in St-Estephe
Purchased by Louis Roederer in 1995, aged 18mos in 40% new oak
65
Describe Chateau Phelan Segur in St-Estephe
After selling Pommery and Lanson, the Gardinier family purchased this estate in 1984, they re-did vineyard infrastructure, matured 16mos in 50% new oak
66
Describe Chateau Tour de Pez in St-Estephe
Huge investments made since changed hands in 1989, in 2003 promoted to crus bourgeois superieur, 16-18mos in 50% new oak
67
Descrie Chateau Tronquoy Lalande in St-Estephe
Can be dark and tannic, since 1996 has displayed more finesse, CS 45%, Merlot 45%, PV 10%
68
Describe Chateau Cos D'Estournel in St-Estephe
Achievement of Bruno Prats, forced to sell in 1998 to Groupe Taillan, then in 2001 to Michel Reybier (a Geneva food-manufacturer), Some wine fermented in stainless steel, matured in cask 18-24mos, 70-100% new oak
69
What is Chateau Cos D'Estournel's second wine?
Les Pagodes de Cos
70
Descrie Chateau Calon-Segur in St-Estephe
From the Gallo-Roman origins of this estate grew the community of St-Estephe, 1st wine estate in the commune, used to boast "Premier Cru de St-Estephe" on its label until other producers objected, 18mos in 50% new oak, creamy, rich
71
What is the 2nd wine of Chateau Calon-Segur in St-Estephe?
Marquis de Segur
72
What is the 2nd wine of Chateau Montrose in St-Estephe?
La Dame de Montrose
73
What are the other wines of Chateau Phelan-Segur in St-Estephe?
2nd- Franck Phelan
| other- Croix Bonis
74
What are the other wines of Chateau Tour de Pez of St-Estephe?
2nd- T de Tour de Pez
| others- Chateau les Hauts de Pez, Chateau L'Herteyre, Chateau Haut-Coutelin
75
Name some important estates in Pauillac
Chateau D'Armailhac, Chateau Batailley, Chateau Clerc Milon, Chateau Cordeillan-Bages, Chateau Duhart-Milon-Rothschild, Chateau Grand-Puy-Ducasse, Chateau Grand-Puy-Lacoste, Chateau Haut-Batailley, Chateau Lafite-Rothschild, Chateau Latour, Chateau Lynch-Bages, Chateau Mouton-Rothschild, Chateau Pichon-Longueville Baron Pichon Longueville, Chateau Pichon-Longueville Comtesse-de-Lalande, Chateau Pontet-Canet
76
Describe Chateau D'Armailhac in Pauillac
Purchased by Baron Philippe de Rothschild in 1933, after a few renamings, it reverted to its current name in 1991 since it was believed to be in 2nd wine status to Mouton, 16mos in 25% new oak, light and austere until the amazing 2000 vintage and it has been improving since
77
Describe Chateau Batailley in Pauillac
Responds well in sunny years, 1985/86 most underrated for the estate, 18mos in 60% new oak
78
Describe Chateau Clerc Milon in Pauillac
Purchased by Baron Philippe de Rothschild in 1970, achieving sensational quality by 1982, 18mos in 30%new oak
79
Describe Chateau Cordeillan-Bages in Pauillac
Jean-Michel Cazes of Chateau Lynch-Bages with a group of Medoc growers, renovated Cordeillan into a hotel, restaurant and wine school. Small production of just 2ha, 15mos in 100% new oak!
80
Describe Chateau Duhart-Milon-Rothschild in Pauillac
bought by Lafite branch of Rothschild in 1962, prior to this they were almost entirely PV, in 1994 Charles Chevalier arrived and 1996 on the estate is producing well, 18mos in 50% new oak
81
Describe Chateau Grand-Puy-Ducasse in Pauillac
Under the same owners as Chateau Rayne-Vigneau in Sauternes, undervalued, from plots across the commune, 18-24mos in 40% new oak
82
Describe Chateau Grand-Puy-Lacoste in Pauillac
Under same ownership as Ducru-Beaucaillou in St-Julien, under guidance of Francois-Xavier Borie, strong and powerful wine, 18mos in 50% new oak
83
Describe Chateau Haut-Batailley in Pauillac
Under same ownership as Grand-Puy-Lacoste and Ducru-Beaucaillou in St-Julien, Borie purchased in 1942, one son got Batailley while the other got Haut-Batailley along with Chateau, aged 20mos in 30% new oak
84
Describe Chateau Lafite-Rothschild in Pauillac
Since 1994 run by Charles Chevalier for Baron Eric, the St-Estephe portion of the vineyard is allowed to bear the Pauillac AOP since its been part of the estate for 100s of years, in 1970s decision made to spend less time in cask, arguably the best performing of ALL the premier crus, 20mos in 100% new oak
85
What are the other wines of Chateau Lafite-Rothschild in Pauillac?
2nd- Carruades de Lafite
| other- Moulin de Carruades
86
Describe Chateau Latour in Pauillac
Despite its close proximity to St-Julien, is the archetypal Pauillac, ink-black colour, immense, 18mos in 100% new oak, In 1993 sold to Francois Pinault, appointed young Frederic Engerer as young president, young winemaker Frederic Ardouin, revolutionized working practices in vineyard and winery
87
Other wines of Chateau Latour?
2nd- Les Forts de Latour
| others- Pauillac de Latour
88
Describe Chateau Lynch-Bages of Pauillac
sited on the Bages plateau, a little way out of Pauillac, Jean-Michel Cazes produces this "poor man's Latour", more consistent than many 2eme crus, 12-15mos in 50% new oak
89
Other wines of Chateau Lynch-Bages of Pauillac?
2nd- Chateau Haut-Bages-Averous
| other- Blanc de Lynch-Bages (rare "Medoc" white wine)
90
Describe Chateau Mouton-Rothschild of Pauillac
responsible for elevating the CS grape to its now high profile, up to 22mos in 100% new oak, more herbal and accessible than Latour
91
Other wines of Chateau Mouton-Rothschild of Pauillac?
2nd- Le Petit Mouton de Mouton-Rothschild
| other- Aile d'Argent (Medoc)
92
Describe Chateau Pichon-Longueville Baron Pichon-Longueville of Pauillac
Smaller of the 2 Pichon vineyard, by reducing CS in favor of Merlot and almost tripling the amount of new oak used, owners AXA have ensured it lives up to its potential, 15-18mos in 80% new oak
93
Second wine of Chateau Pichon-Longueville Baron Pichon-Longueville of Pauillac?
Les Tourelles de Longueville
94
Describe Chateau Pichon-Longueville Comtesse-de-Lalande of Pauillac
Madame de Lencquesaing demands the maximum from her terroir- consistently gets it. 20mos in 50% new oak, The temptress and "Chateau Margaux" of Pauillac, large % of PV (up to 10%)
95
other wines of Chateau Pichon-Longueville Comtesse-de-Lalande of Pauillac?
2nd- Reserve de la Comtesse
| others- Les Gartieux
96
Describe Chateau Pontet-Canet of Pauillac
After underperforming, the stellar 1995 vintage was a breakthrough, 15-20mos in 60% new oak, CS 68%, Merlot 20%, CF 10%, Malbec 2%
