07 Intro to Bordeaux

Question 1

Location of Bordeaux

Answer 1

• South-west of France
• 45th parallel
• 5x size of Napa, largest wine region in FR
• On Atlantic Ocean
• Originally an English port

Question 2

Bordeaux History

Answer 2

• Winemaking started in 4th century
• 17-19th c. slavery lead to wealth & expansion
• Global distribution of wine
• Dutch merchants made channels that dried marshes & improved viticulture –> Medoc swamp in Marshland, now very famous
• Chateaux: estate with single-ownership - this name / brand is more important than specific vineyard location

Question 3

Bordeaux Climate

Answer 3

• Climate: Maritime
  –> consistent climate extends growing season, but humidity is a risk, particularly for red wine
• Climate moderators:
  –> Garonne & Dordogne rivers
  —> Grionde Estuary (rivers meet north of city of Bordeaux
  —> Atlantic Ocean, with pine forest on the west to protect from harsh storms & high winds
• Challenges: rain at harvst & frost

Question 4

Bordeaux Bank locations

Answer 4

• Left bank: West of Garonne & Gironde
• Right bank: east and North of Dordogne & Gironde
• Entre-Deux-mers: Between Garonne & Dordogne

Question 5

Bordeaux Bank AOC & soils

Answer 5

Left Bank
- Médoc: Gravel
- Graves: Gravel

Right bank
- Saint-Émilion: Gravel, limestone, sand
- Pomerol: Iron pan under sand and clay

Question 6

Bordeaux Region reputation

Answer 6

• Médoc: Most prestegious
• Graves: Original Bordeaux prestige

Question 7

Bordeaux Grape Varieties

Answer 7

White
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Sémillon
- Muscadelle - small quantities

Red
- Merlot - most widely planted
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Cabernet Franc
- Petit verdot - small quantities
- Malbec - allwowed, but rarely seen
- Carmenére - allowed, but rarely seen

Question 8

Bordeaux - Merlot

Answer 8

• Most planted
• Ripens first & so can be harvested before the rain, which could dilute flavors
• Due to early harvest, can be planted in limestone, sand, & clay, which don’t offer good drainage (no risk, b/c harvested before rains)
• Softer wine - soft, juicy, plumby flavors
• Typically blended with Cab Sav, which offers softness & spice

Question 9

Bordeaux - Cabernet Sauvignon

Answer 9

• Most prestigous
• Only can plant in gravel (Left bank, or a few spots on right bank) since it offers good drainage
• Power, finess, acidity, black fruit, herbal flavors
• Backbone of what people believe Bordeaux is

Question 10

Bordeaux - Cabernet Franc

Answer 10

• Contributes elegance
• green bell pepper
• vegetal flavor when less ripe

Question 11

Bordeaux - Petit Verdot

Answer 11

• Planted more regularly as climate is getting warmer
• 1-3% of blend if used at all

Question 12

Bordeaux - White Grapes

Answer 12

• Sauvignon Blanc: main grape, high in acidity
• Sémillon: Rounded, more exotic, attracts Botryis; mostly in sweet wines or to add roundness to dry wines

Question 13

Bordeaux - Red blends by bank

Answer 13

Médoc Communes (Left bank)
- 70% Cabernet Sauvignon
- 30% Merlot

St-émilion & Pomerol (Right Bank)
- 70% Merlot
- 30% Cabernet Franc
- Limited Cabernet Sauvignon due to lack of gravel soil

Question 14

Bordeaux - White blends by bank

Answer 14

• No whites allowed in right bank
• Whites only allowd in Graves area of Left Bank
• Dry white wines (Pessac Léognan & Enter-Deux-Mers): 80% Sauvignon Blanc, 20% Sémillon
• Sweet white wines (Sauterns & nearby): 80% Sémillon, 20% Sauvignon Blanc

Question 15

Médoc - Stats

Answer 15

• History: Salt marsh & pine forest until mid-17th c. when Dutch engineers drained marsh
• Location: North of Bordeaux along Gironde Estuary, Left bank
• Soil: Gravel, with great drainage
• Grape: Red only, Cabernet Sauvignon-based blends

Question 16

Médoc AOPs

Answer 16

Sub-regions
- Médoc AOP
- Haut-Médoc AOP

Commune
- Saint-Estéphe AOP
- Pauillac AOP
- Saint-Julien AOP
- Margaux AOP

Question 17

1855 Classification

Answer 17

• Napoléon III commissioned ranking
• Ranked 61 properties in 5 tiers (1st through 5th growth)
• Ranked based on historical prices
• Excluded Right bank wines
• Classification stands today, but is not part of AOP system
• Ranking focused on Médoc, but one property in Graves was included due to reputation

Question 18

1st Growth Château

Answer 18

• Château Lafite-Rothschild
• Château Latour
• Château Mouton-Rothschild
• Château Margaux
• Château Haut-Brion (Graves)

Question 19

Bordeaux Vinification

Answer 19

Vinification
- French Oak Barrique
- Used on white / red
- Adds aroma & flavor impact

Question 20

Bordeaux Vintage variation

Answer 20

• Inconsistent weather
• Rainfall during growing season
• Humidity (potential for mold)

Question 21

Bordeaux Regional Laws & Labeling

Answer 21

• Regional Appelation: Bordeaux AOP, 45% of production
• Sub-regional or district appelations: Haut Médoc AOP or Entre-Deux-Mers AOP
• Commune Appleations: smallest AOPs, highest quality
  –> examples; Pauillac, Margaux, Pomerol, Saint Julien, Saint Estéphe, St. émilion

Question 22

Bordeaux: Graves Stats

Answer 22

• Location: South of Médoc & city of Bordeaux
• Soil: Gravel
• White Grapes: Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon
• Red grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc
• Sub-regions: Pessac-Léognan AOP & Sauterns AOP
• Huat brion is most famous example
• best Grapes are where there is more gravel & more elevation

Question 23

Bordeaux: Sauternes AOP

Answer 23

• Geography: Southernmost portion of Graves, bordered by Garonne & Ciron Rivers
• Climate: Humid
• Grapes: Sémillon, Suavignon Blanc, Muscadelle
• Vinfiication: botryis affected sweet wines; oak aged, often in new French barrique
• Harvest: steadily repeat to pick only fuzzy raisins by hand

Question 24

Bordeaux: Pessac-Léognan AOP

Answer 24

• Geography: nortnernmost part of Graves, including Haut Brion
• Vinification: Dry white / red wines, new French oak

Question 25

Bordeaux: Entre-Deux-Mers AOP

Answer 25

• Geography: large area between garonne & Dordogne rivers
• Soil: very fertile silt
• Grapes: Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon, Muscadelle
• Vinification: dry white only, stainless steel

Question 26

Bordeaux: Saint-Émilion

Answer 26

• Location: Along Dordogne River near town of Libourne
• Soils: Salt, clay, gravel; limestone plateau’ sand
• Grapes: Merlot, Cabernet Franc

Question 27

Saint-Émilion Appleations & Classification

Answer 27

Appelations:
- St-Émilion AOP
- St-Émilion Grand Cru AOP –> add’l 0.5% alcohol & a longer aging than wines just from St-Émilion AOP

Classification System
- Premeir Grand Cru Classe A (4 named Chateaux)
- Premier Grand Cru Classe B
- Grand Cru Classe

Designed to change every 10 yrs

Question 28

Bordeaux: Pomerol AOP Stats

Answer 28

• Location: Along Dordogne River, near town of Libourne to NW of Saint-Émilion; 3sq miles
• Soils: Sand, Clay, Gravel; subsoil of iron pan & rich clay
• Grapes: merlot (90-95%) & Cabernet Franc-based blends
• No classification system, reds only