Varieties of Bordeaux Flashcards
What are the principle grape varieties of Bordeaux?
Merlot
Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Franc
Malbec
Petit Verdot
Sauvignon Blanc
Semillon
Muscadelle
What are the principal black grape varieties of Bordeaux?
Merlot
Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Franc
Malbec
Petit Verdot
What are the principle white grape varieties of Bordeaux?
Sauvignon Blanc
Semillon
Muscadelle
Describe Merlot’s budding and ripening characteristics.
Early Budding
Mid Ripening
What is Merlot susceptible to? How do these affect yields?
Spring frosts due to early budding
Coulure, drought, and botrytis
All of these reduce yields
What is the advantage of using Merlot in Bordeaux?
It ripens before the early autumn rains arrive and also in cooler vintages compared to Cabernet Sauvignon
Where is Merlot the dominant grape?
The Right Bank and the Northern Medoc
What is the benefit of growing Merlot on clay soils in Bordeaux?
It can ripen fully on the cooler soils and the water-holding clay enable the vines to produce large berries typical of Merlot
What does Merlot contribute to Bordeaux wines?
Medium to Pronounced Intensity Fruit
Cool Years: Strawberry, Red Plum, Herbaceous
Warm Years: Cooked Blackberry, Black Plum
Medium Tannins
Medium to High Alcohol
Describe Cabernet Sauvignon’s budding and ripening characteristics.
Late Budding
Late Ripening
What is Cabernet Sauvignon susceptible to?
Fungal disease, esp. powdery mildew, Eutypa, and Esca
Early autumn rains
How does Cabernet Sauvignon’s budding affect its growth?
It gains some protection from spring frosts due to its late budding
Describe the berries of Cabernet Sauvignon.
Small and thick skinned with high tannins
Why does Cabernet Sauvignon need to grow on warm, well-drained soil? Where in Bordeaux is Cabernet Sauvignon best suited?
It is late ripening. In the cooler Bordeaux climate, the warm gravel beds of the Medoc encourage the grapes to ripen.
What does Cabernet Sauvignon contribute to Bordeaux wines?
Pronounced Intensity Violet, Blackcurrant, Black Cherry, Menthol/Herbaceous Flavors
High Acidity
High Tannins
Describe Petit Verdot’s budding and ripening characteristics.
Early Budding
Late Ripening (later than Cab. Sauv.)
How has Petit Verdot’s budding and ripening characteristics affected its popularity in Bordeaux?
It was unpopular in the past due to its frost vulnerability, risk of not ripening, and potential for exposure to autumn rain.
Due to warmer weather it is more likely to ripen and has become increasingly valued.
Where does Petit Verdot grow best in Bordeaux?
The warmer parts of the Medoc
How much Petit Verdot is typically found in Bordeaux wines?
Often less than 5%
What does Petit Verdot contribute to Bordeaux wines?
Power
Deep Color
Spice Notes
High Tannins
Is Semillon early, mid, or late ripening?
Mid ripening
What is Semillon susceptible to?
Botrytis bunch rot
Noble Rot in the right conditions
What kind of yields does Semillon provide?
It can be high yielding
Describe the character of Semillon wines.
Light Intensity Apple, Lemon, Grassy (Underripe)
Medium to Medium (+) Acidity
Medium Alcohol
Medium Body
What does Semillon offer to high quality dry white Bordeaux blends?
It softens Sauvignon Blanc’s intensity and has an affinity with Vanilla and Sweet Spice flavors from French oak
Low to Medium Intensity Aromas
Medium Acid
Low to Medium Weight and Body
What does Semillon offer to botrytized sweet Bordeaux wines?
Honey and Dried Peach/Lemon aromas
Waxy texture
Why do some top Sauternes have a higher proportion of Semillon? Name two top quality producers who do this.
Semillon is more suscepitble to Botrytis than Sauvignon Blanc, the other grape that is a major component of Bordeaux Blanc (sweet and dry).
Chateau Climens and Chateau d’Yquem use a high proportion of Semillon in their Sauternes.
Do Semillon wines age well?
Yes. They are prized for their ageability and the development of toast and honey over time.
Where does Muscadelle need to be planted? Why?
On a well exposed site due to its vulnerability to botrytis
What wines are Muscadelle often used in?
Sweet white wines
What does Muscadelle offer to sweet white wines?
Flowery and Grapey notes
What are the budding and ripening characteristics of Cabernet Franc?
Early Budding
Mid Ripening
What is Cabernet Franc susceptible to?
Spring Frosts
Coulure
What does Cabernet Franc provide to Bordeaux Blends?
Underripe: Herbacous, Leafy aromas
Ripe: Pronounced Redcurrant, Raspberry, Violet, Leafy aromas
High Acidity
Medium Tannins
Light to Medium Body
What are the budding and ripening characteristics of Sauvignon Blanc?
Late Budding
Early Ripening
What are the benefits of growing Sauvignon Blanc in Bordeaux?
It avoids spring frosts due to its late budding and can be picked before the autumn rains due to its early ripening
What type of soils are best suited for Sauvignon Blanc? Why?
Sauvignon Blanc should be grown on poor soils due to its high vigor
What is Sauvignon Blanc susceptible to?
Powdery mildew, botrytis, and trunk diseases (Eutypa, Esca)
What does Sauvignon Blanc contribute to Bordeaux wines?
Cool years: Grass, Bell Pepper, Asparagus, Gooseberry, Grapefruit, Wet Stone
Warm Years: Ripe Citrus, Passionfruit
High Acidity
Medium Alcohol
Medium Body
Doing what in the vineyard can have a significant affect on the aromatic profile of Sauvignon Blanc wines? Why?
Row orientation and canopy management.
Growing Sauvignon Blanc in shadier conditions results in more green pepper and grassy notes.
Sunlight develops more tropical fruit aromas. Passionfruit!
What type of vineyard management is important when growing Malbec?
Canopy management due to the vine’s vigor.
What is Malbec susceptible to?
Coulure
What does Malbec offer to Bordeaux wines?
Deep ruby color
Medium to Pronounced Violet, Red and Black Plum
Medium to Medium (+) Acidity
Medium (+) to High Tannins
