WSET Bordeaux Flashcards
how is the climate?
moderate and maritime climate
what effects the climate?
Gulf Stream
how does the Gulf Stream affect the climate?
warming up and extending the growing season
what does the Atlantic ocean due to the climate in bordeaux?
high levels of rainfall and humidity
how are the vineyards protected from worst Atlantic storms?
Landes forest and coastal sand dunes
how does the high levels of rainfalls throughout the year affect the grapes?
- disrupt flowering and fruit set
-promote rot
-dilute flavours
why is it almost only blends?
due to the variability in the weather (rainfall) means that it can be very risky to rely on one variety only
which are the black varieties?
Cabernet sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot
which variety dominates the right bank, Haut-Medoc?
Cabernet Sauvignon
how is the soil in Haut-Medoc?
stone and gravel (grus)
how does Cabernet Sauvignon benefit from the stones and gravel in Haut-Medoc?
the soils get warm and well drained which helps the late ripening of Cabernet Sauvignone
which varieties dominates on the left bank Saint-Émilion and Pomerol?
cabernet Franc and Merlot
What is the c character of cabernet Franc?
less body and tannin than Cab Sav, herbaceous and stalky flavours, vibrant fruit and floral notes
what soil does Cabernet Franc prefer?
warm and well drained
which one is the most planted variety?
Merlot
what type of soil is found in Saint-Émilion and Pomerol?
cooler clay soils
what character in Merlot makes it useful for high volumes and inexpensive wines?
the softness
What does Petit Verdot give to the blends?
tannin, colour and spicy notes
why does the winemakers prefer to keep their wines separated until after the maturation and then blend it?
on order to maintain the quality and style of their top wine
what does grand vin mean?
best wine
what type of barrel are the top-quality wines aged in?
small oak barriques of 225 litre
What variety is the most important for sweet white wines?
Sémillon
why is Sémillon a good variety for making sweet wines?
-thin skin
-affinity/weakness for noble rot
which other variety but Sémillon are in the blend of a premium dry wine in Pessac-Léognan and Graves?
Sauvignon Blanc
what important characteristics does Sauvignon Blanc provide to the blend in a sweet wine?
high acidity
What does Muscadelle provide to a sweet wine?
grapes, floral flavour
how is a dry white wine at the lower and of the market made?
-fermented in temperature controlled inert vessels with minimal further ageing
how are premium dry white wines from Pesssac-Léognan fermented and matured?
new oak barrels
how is the character of a dry premium white wine from Pessac-Léognan?
rich and concentrated, with nutty flavours
what are the sweet wines made out of?
-grapes that has been infected by noble rot
what is the name of the two rivers?
Dordogne and Garonne
what is the name of the big river that divides Bordeaux into two?
Gironde
what is the name of the area between Dordogne and Garonne?
Entre-Deux-Mers
how are the classifications rank?
in individual estates (ägor) and not in individual vineyards
what is the name of individual estates?
Châteaux
what is a cru classé?
1855 classification - regard the best white and red wines from Médoc and Sauternes
What Châteaux does the top rank cru-classé of Medoc consist?
-Châteaux Lafite Rothschild, Latour, Margaux and Mauton Rothschild, together with Châteaux Haut Brion from Graves
What Châteaux is occupying the typ rank of Sauternes?
Châteaux d ´Yquem
what are the other classifications of Médoc?
Cru Bourgeois
Cru Bourgois superior
Cru Bourgois Exceptionnel
which classification is used in Graves (Pessac-Léognan)?
no ranking, only cru classés
what sort of appellation system is used in Saint-Émilion?
the best Châteaux
how is the generic appellations main labeled?
Bordeaux or Bordeaux Supérior
what does a Claire style of wine undergo during the winemaking?
longer maceration time than a typical rosé that makes in deeper in colour and fuller body
what is the character of a white bordeaux and what grape is the blend mainly and usually dominated by?
vibrant grassy Sauvignon Blanc
what is the north part of Médoc called?
Bas-Médoc
from north to south, which are the higher classified Châteaux of Haut-Médoc?
-Saint-Estéph
-Pauillac
-Saint Julien
-Margaux
how are the general characteristics in the wines from the right bank compared to the left bank? (Saint-Émilion?
-more soft and rich textures with red berry fruit such as red plum, developing tabacco and ceder notes as they evolve
What characteristics does the wines from Pomerol have?
-richer, spicier blackberry fruit
how are the group of lesser known red wine appellations in Bordeaux named?
Côte de Bordeaux
what can you expect from a wine that is labeled Côte de Bordeaux?
-Merlot based and meant for early drinking
-value for money
what is Premiere’s Côte de Bordeaux?
a sweet wine appellation
What wines are produced in Entre-deux-Mers?
premium dry white wines
where are the top sweet wines appellations of Bordeaux located?
on the banks of the river Garonne
where does the top sweet wines come from?
Sauternes, within the Sauternes lies the village of Barsac
