Wine Styles - Bordeaux & cabernets

Question 1

Bordeaux Blend Climactic Factors

Answer 1

• Moderate Maritime
• Benefits from warm Gulf Stream ⇒ extends the growing season and frosts rarely a problem
• Ocean brings high rainfall & humidity
• Rainfall can disrupt flowering and fruit set, promote rot & dilute fruit flavour
• Landes Forest & sand dunes to west protect from Atlantic
• Vintage variation often a problem

Question 2

Left Bank Bordeaux

Answer 2

• Bordeaux
• Bordeaux Superieur
• Medoc
• Haut Medoc
  
  • St Estephe
  • Pauillac
  • St Julien
  • Margeaux

Question 3

Left Bank blend tasting note

Answer 3

Med to deep Ruby

Intensity: Med+

Aromas: plum, black currant, violet, graphite, cedar, blackberry, blueberry, bay leaf, black pepper, vanilla, bell pepper, earthy, wet gravel.

Dry / Acidity - Med to Med+ / Tannin - High / ABV - Med / Body - Full / Intensity - Med+

Finish: Long

Question 4

Other factors influencing Left Bank Bordeaux Blend

Answer 4

• Gravel / stoney soil helps radiate heate & ripen cab sauv
• Blending is critical and will depend on the vintage and what grapes have ripened best
• Most wines blended in the spring following vintage
• Top quality is aged in 225l barriques, new.
• Aggresive cap management is avoided
• Medoc has predominantly clay soil so will have more Merlot
• Pessac-Leognan produces a lighter style

Question 5

Right Bank Bordeaux

Answer 5

• Dominated by Merlot and to a lesser extent Cabernet Franc
• Soil is more clay and limestone, more suitable for Merlot
• Wines are not as tannic / med to full bodied / softer more rich mouthfeel / more red fruit - plum / developing tobacco and cedar as they age
• Pomerol tends to be richer, spicier & more blackberry

Question 6

New World Cabernets

Answer 6

• Longer hours of sunshine and warmer temperatures makes for Cabernets that are:
  
  • More ripe / full bodied / blackcurrent & cherry / smooth tannins / higher ABV

Question 7

California Cabernets

Answer 7

• Most iconic are from Napa Valley - Stags Leap / Oakville and Rutherford.
• Warmer valley floor location away from cooling influence of San Pablo Bay (fogs & cooling breezes)
• Long sunlight hours and warmth make more ripe fruit characteristics
• Full body / High ABV / black cherry / black currant / black pepepr / tobacco / vanilla / more fruit forward / riper tannins

Question 8

Australian Cabernets

Answer 8

• Coonawarra
  
  • Moderate maritime climate, antactic currents, clouds provide some respite from daytime temps, red terra rossa soil on limestone bed
  • Concentrated & structured / cassis / eucalyptus / menthol / excellent ageing
• Margaret River
  
  • Warm maritime climate, higher rainfall (winter)
  • Often blended with Merlot
  • Range from elegant / restrained to fruity & powerful

Question 9

South African Cabernets

Answer 9

• Top quality Cabernet made in Stellenbosch & Paarl
• Stellenbosch influenced by the ocean (cooling benguela current) and the cooling winds in summer called the Cape Doctor
• Often blended with Merlot - Bordeaux Blends
• Both Stellenbosch & Paarl are affected by varying altitudes & aspects resulting from mountainous terrain.
• Paarl not as affected by ocean therefore warmer.

Question 10

Chilean & NZ Cabernets

Answer 10

• Chilean Cabernets best know from Co0lchagua Valley
• NZ best know wines from Hawkes Bay - warmest of all NZ growing regions - Gimlett Gravels. Well draining soil with high heat retention