Topography

Question 1

Gironde department surface area

Answer 1

Over 1 million hectares

Question 2

Highest elevation in Bordeaux

Answer 2

Ste Foy

115m

Question 3

Marais

Answer 3

Marsh

Question 4

Lack of soil fertility enables what?

Answer 4

Enables the vine to maintain a naturally balanced canopy = proper leaf to fruit ratio to ripen a crop

Question 5

Regulated water supply means what?

Answer 5

The roots are deep enough to avoid absorbing enormous quantities of water after a rain (which would dilute extract) and
Are deep enough to tap into water reserves during dry spells

Question 6

Southern Graves has less gravel and more ___

Answer 6

Limestone (Barsac and Sauternes)
Central part (Inc Cérons) has a mixture = red and white wines

Question 7

Bourg and Blaye topography

Answer 7

Starfish limestone plateau

Sands from Les Landes blown on top, mix with existing loam and gravels plus an ironstone called sidérolithique

Question 8

Sidérolithique

Answer 8

Ironstone in Blaye and Bourg

Tannic well structured wines

Question 9

Fronsac and Canon Fronsac plateau

Answer 9

Starfish limestone atop Fronsadais molasse

Question 10

Why is Pomerol unique for right bank?

Answer 10

Gravel terraces
Pomerol gravels washed down by Isle river
Higher elevation than Médoc = gravel terraces still above water

Question 11

When did button of clay push through gravel topsoil in Pomerol (i.e. Pétrus)?

Answer 11

Last Ice Age

Question 12

Lalande de Pomerol topography

Answer 12

Alluvial terraces (post Ice Age)

Question 13

St Emilion plateau

Answer 13

Weathered starfish limestone

Erosion so extreme = was 4.5m higher mya

Question 14

How many different variations of sand-silt-clay-limestine in ST Emilion?

Answer 14

17

Question 15

St Emilion satellites are formed on what topographical feature?

Answer 15

4 starfish limestone buttes

A butte is a flat topped hill with steep escarpments or slopes.

Question 16

What is a butte?

Answer 16

Flat topped hill with steep escarpments or slopes

Question 17

Sainte Foy topography

Answer 17

Series of weathered freshwater limestone buttes formed from Calcaire de l’Agenais

Highest elevation in Bordeaux, 115m

Question 18

Minimum temperature needed for photosynthesis?

Answer 18

10°

Question 19

Characteristics of gravel soils on wine (2)

Generally speaking

Answer 19

Firm tannins

Minerality

Question 20

Günz/Garonne gravels give what sort of wines?

Answer 20

Structured, built to last
Dumb or closed in youth
Need a decade or more
Marked minerality

Big Günz

Question 21

Pyrenean (small) gravel produces what kind of wine

Answer 21

Less structure
More fruit forward
More approachable in youth
Mature in 5 years (Vs 10)

Question 22

Limestone soils give what character in wine?

Answer 22

Pronounced acidity

Lean polished tannins (BB ball bearing…satin smooth but firm)

Question 23

Iron soil gives what character

Answer 23

Prune

Black walnut

Question 24

Clay soil give what character

Answer 24

Needs time to mature and evolve
Dense, suede tannins
Open up after 5 years

Question 25

Silt and sand character in wine?

Answer 25

Opulent, soft, fruit forward
Easy drinking
Simple

Question 26

High quality gravels (2010 Sciences Agro study)

Answer 26

Peyrosol
Planosol
Brunisol
Arenosol

All weakly weathered

Question 27

Low quality soils (Sciences Agro study)

Answer 27

Redoxisol
Luvisol
Reductisol

Question 28

Higher yielding soils (Sciences Agro)

Answer 28

Colluviosol
Planosol
Luvisol
Redoxisol