Bordeaux Flashcards

1
Q

Order that Bordeaux grapes ripen in (Major Red Grapes)

A

Merlot
Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Franc

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2
Q

Order that Bordeaux grapes ripen in (Major White Grapes)

A

Sauvignon Blanc
Semillon

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3
Q

Which area receives more of a frost threat, Right bank or Left bank?

A

Right bank - cooler shallow soils

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4
Q

How do the Bordelais avoid mildew and rot?

A

Bordeaux mixture
Sulfur treatment in the vineyard
De leafing

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5
Q

When do the Bodelais deleaf the vines?

A

After verasion

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6
Q

What benefit does deleafing have in Bordeaux?

A

Increases airflow around the fruit to stymie mildew or grey rot

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7
Q

What two sorting machines are commonly found in Bordeaux?

A

Optical sorter
Density sorter

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8
Q

What methods of cap management are used in Bordeaux?

A

Remontage (pumpover)
Pigeage (punchdown)

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9
Q

What are a few ways in which a second wine can be made?

A

From rejected fruit
From young vines
From a specific vineyard area destined for a second bottling
A separate property to make a second wine entirely

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10
Q

What is the name of the forest that makes up the western part of the left bank of Bordeaux?

A

Landes Forest

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11
Q

What effect does the Landes Forest have on the Medoc?

A

Shields the regions vineyards from harsh Atlantic conditions

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12
Q

What is a croupe?

A

A hill made of gravel found in the Medoc

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13
Q

Where are Listrac-Medoc and Moulis in relation to Margaux?

A

North and further west (away from the Gironde)

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14
Q

What are the communal appellations of the Medoc? North to South.

A

Saint-Estephe
Pauillac
Saint-Julien
Listrac-Medoc
Moulis
Margaux

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15
Q

What forms the natural border between Saint-Estephe and Pauillac?

A

Jalle de Breuil

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16
Q

What defines the soil of Pauillac?

A

Deep gravel Croupes
“12 metres deep and 30 metres high” - Anson

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17
Q

Is Pauillac flat land or undulating?

A

Undulating

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18
Q

What are the communes of production in Pauillac AOP?

A

Pauillac
Saint-Sauveur
Saint-Estephe
Saint-Julien-Beychevelle

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19
Q

Where is the highest percentage of Merlot planted on the left bank communal appellations?

A

Saint-Estephe (roughly 40% Merlot)

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20
Q

What are the communes of production for Margaux AOP?

A

Margaux
Cantenac
Soussans
Arsac
Labarde

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21
Q

What two towns form the northern and southern border of Graves?

A

Bordeaux
Langon

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22
Q

What area of Graves is more historically rewnown?

A

Northern
With the exception for Sauternes and Barsac in South

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23
Q

What soils are found in the northern part of Graves? Southern?

A

Northern: Gravel croupes
Southern: Sand & limestone

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24
Q

What wines are made in Graves Superieur?

A

Sweet whites only with min 34g/L RS

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25
Q

Where is Pessac-Leognan located within Graves?

A

Northern sector nearer to Bordeaux

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26
Q

When was Pessac-Leognan AOP created?

A

1987

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27
Q

What wines may legally be released first, Pauillac or Pessac-Leognan?

A

Pauillac - June 15 of year following harvest vs Pessacs October 1

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28
Q

Legally which Commune appellation of the Medoc is released last?

A

Listrac-Medoc (September 15)
Margaux is next at September 1

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29
Q

What is the dominant grape in Pessac Leognan AOP?

A

About equal Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon but edged slightly to merlot

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30
Q

Is Sauvignon Gris allowed in Sauternes and Barsac production?

A

Yes - uncommon though

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31
Q

What is the french name for Noble Rot?

A

Pourriture Noble

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32
Q

When were the first sweet wines made in Bordeaux?

A

Roughly the 18th Century

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33
Q

What are the communes of production for Sauternes?

A

Sauternes
Barsac
Fargues
Preignac
Bommes

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34
Q

What are the rivers that influence Sauternes?

A

Garonne
Ciron

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35
Q

Can a wine from the commune of Barsac be called Sauternes?

A

Yes

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36
Q

Can a wine from the commune of Sauternes be called Barsac?

A

No

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37
Q

Which of the two rivers is cooler? Ciron or Garonne?

A

Ciron

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38
Q

What are used more for Sauternes top estates, tanks or barrique?

A

Barrique

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39
Q

Name all the sweet wine appellations of Graves.

A

Graves Superieur
Sauternes
Barsac
Cerons

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40
Q

What sweet wine appellations exist just across the Garonne River from Sauternes and Barsac?

A

Loupiac
Cadillac
Ste-Croix-du-Monts

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41
Q

What is the legal name for the sweet wines of Graves? Demi-Sec, Moelleux, Liquoreux.

A

Liquoreux

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42
Q

Where is Moelleux wine produced in Bordeaux? What are the corresponding RS ranges?

A

Cotes de Bordeaux AOP ‘St. Foy’ (17-34g/L RS)
Cotes de Bordeaux-Saint-Macaire AOP (34-45g/L RS)

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43
Q

May Sauternes wines be Chaptalized?

A

Yes

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44
Q

Is Cryo-extraction allowed in Sauternes?

A

Yes

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45
Q

What is the minimum RS for sweet wines of Graves?

A

45g/L for Sauternes, Barsac, Cerrons
34g/L for Graves Superieures

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46
Q

Why are dry white wines from the communes of Sauternes released as Bordeaux AOP or Bordeaux Superieur AOP and not as Graves AOP?

A

Graves AOP does not actually cover the wines of Sauternes so Bordeaux AOP or Bordeaux Superieur must be used as they covers every commune of Bordeaux.

47
Q

What are the communes of Cerons?

A

Cerons
Podensac
Illats

48
Q

Producers in the Communes permitted for Cerons AOP may also make what wines if labeled as Graves AOP?

A

Dry white
Dry Red

49
Q

Is it more common to produce a Cerons AOP or a Graves AOP wine if a producer is based within Cerons?

A

Graves

50
Q

What two rivers heavily influence St. Emilion?

A

Dordogne and Barbanne

51
Q

How many communes produce wines for St. Emilion AOP?

A

Nine

52
Q

What is the main geological feature of St. Emilion? Where are the vines planted in respect to it?

A

A limestone plateau near St. Emilion itself
Vines planted on slopes

53
Q

Where are most of the St. Emilion classified estates located?

A

Near the town of St. Emilion

54
Q

Where does the topsoil become gravel in Saint emilion?

A

Northwestern part of the plateau - nearer to Pomerol

55
Q

What are the two major unofficial “zones” called in St. Emilion?

A

Cote (limestone slope) or Graves (gravel topsoil)

56
Q

When was St. Emilion AOP Established? Grand Cru?

A

1936 and 1954

57
Q

Are whole estates classified in the St. Emilion classification?

A

No - vineyards are so not 100% of ownership necessarily is classified.

58
Q

What are the communes of production for Pomerol?

A

Pomerol and Libourne

59
Q

What are the two rivers that surround Pomerol?

A

Isle and Barbanne

60
Q

Where is Pomerol in relation to St. Emilion?

A

North and west

61
Q

What is Crasse de fer? Where is it found in Bordeaux?

A

Iron rich sand
Found in parts of Pomerol

62
Q

What is the terrain of Pomerol?

A

Three terraces

63
Q

What soil is found on the first terrace closest do the Dordogne River in Pomerol?

A

light sandy soil

64
Q

What soil is found on the second terrace of Pomerol?

A

Shallow gravel soils with some clay mixed in - here’s where the Crasse de Fer are found

65
Q

Where are the famed blue clay soils found in Pomerol?

A

High elevation in Eastern Pomerol

66
Q

What soils is found on the third terrace of Pomerol?

A

Blue clay soils

67
Q

What is the Buttoniere?

A

A 20 hectare plot of land at the highest elevation in the easternmost point of Pomerol with deep blue clay soils

68
Q

What % of the vineyard area of Pomerol is Merlot?

A

70%

69
Q

Are plantings of Cabernet Franc rising or falling in Pomerol?

A

Rising - warming conditions allow for overripe Merlot and need a balancing act

70
Q

Where are vines found within Fronsac & Canon Fronsac AOP?

A

Nearer to the Dordogne - regular flooding of the area prevented Phylloxera from taking hold

71
Q

What are the Communes of Production for Fronsac AOP? Which are best known for quality?

A

Fronsac
Galgon
La Riviere **Quality **
Saillans ** Quality **
Saint-Aignan
Saint-Germain-de-la-Riviere
Saint-Michel-de-Fronsac

72
Q

What makes Saillans and La Riviere sources of higher quality Fronsac AOP wines?

A

They are situated on hillsides rather than down in a valley floor

73
Q

What is the aspect generally of Canon-Fronsac AOP?

A

South facing hillsides

74
Q

Throughout Canon Fronsac and part of Fronsac, what is the main soil type?

A

Fronsadais Molasse (soft limestone & clay)

75
Q

What are the Satellites of St. Emilion? North to South.

A

Lussac-Saint-Emilion AOP
Puisseguin-Saint-Emilion
Montagne-Saint-Emilion
Saint-Georges-Saint-Emilion

76
Q

What is the satellite of Pomerol?

A

Lalande-de-Pomerol AOP

77
Q

What natural boundary separates St. Emilion from its satellites?

A

Barbanne River in the north

78
Q

Which of the St. Emilion satellites is highest in elevation? Puisseguin or Montagne?

A

Puisseguin

79
Q

What is the shared commune of production of Saint-Georges-Saint-Emilion and Montagne-Saint-Emilion?

A

Montagne - a merge of communes happened in 1973

80
Q

What are the communes of Laland-de-Pomerol?

A

Lalande-de-Pomerol and Néac

81
Q

What is the dominant grape variety in the Entre-deux-Mers area?

A

Merlot

82
Q

What style of wine is permitted in Entre-deux-Mers AOP?

A

Dry white wine

83
Q

What are the soil characteristics of Entre-deux-Mers?

A

Limestone plateau - rises to 100masl
Cool clay and sandy clay topsoils

84
Q

How are vines trained in Entre-deux-Mers?

A

High to avoid frost

85
Q

What is the major climactic hazard in Entre-deux-Mers?

A

Frost

86
Q

What is the difference between Bordeaux Haut-Benauge and Entre-deux-Mers Haut Benauge?

A

Bordeaux = off dry (5-60g/L RS)
EdM = dry (4g/L RS max)

87
Q

What white grapes are allowed to be planted in Entre-deux-Mers AOP?

A

Sauvignon Blanc
Sauvignon Gris
Semillon
Muscadelle
Merlot Blanc
Mauzac
Colombard
Ugni Blanc

88
Q

When did the Cotes de Bordeaux AOP get established?

A

2009

89
Q

What was the purpose of the Cotes de Bordeaux AOP?

A

To combine a number of small outlying appellations under one banner - better for marketing

90
Q

What style of wine is authorized for basic Cotes de Bordeaux production?

A

Red wine made from standard assortment of BDX varietals

91
Q

What are the five geographic designations within Cotes de Bordeaux? What styles are produced in each?

A

Castillon - Red
Francs - Red & White (dry and sweet)
Cadillac - Red
Blaye - Red & White (dry)
Saint-Foy - Red & White (Dry, Moelleux, Sweet)

92
Q

If a producer is making red wine in the commune of Cadillac, what appellation or appellations may it be released as?

A

Bordeaux AOP
Cotes de Bordeaux - Cadillac AOP

93
Q

Castillon shares soils with which right bank appellation?

A

St. Emilion - Limestone cotes

94
Q

Which appellation is larger, Bourg or Blaye?

A

Blaye

95
Q

What are the first and second most planted grapes in Bourg?

A

Merlot
Cabernet Sauvignon - some gravel here

96
Q

Is Bourgs topography homogenous or not?

A

It is not - lots of different growing conditions

97
Q

Where are Malbec (Cot) vines most commonly found in Bordeaux?

A

Bourg - about 10% of the area is Cot

98
Q

When may red wines from Blaye be released?

A

March 31 of 2nd year following harvest

99
Q

Red wines in Blaye may be released under what appellations?

A

Blaye AOP
Côtes de Bordeaux - Blaye AOP
Côtes de Bordeaux AOP

100
Q

If a white wine comes from Blaye what may it be released as?

A

Cotes de Bordeaux - Blaye

101
Q

What are the top Vintages in the Medoc in the 1980s?

A

1982
1983
1986
1989

102
Q

What are the top Vintages on the Right bank in the 1980s?

A

1985
1988
1989

103
Q

What are the top vintages in the Medoc in the 1990’s?

A

1990
1995
1996

104
Q

What are the top vintages on the Right bank in the 1990’s?

A

1995
1998

105
Q

Quality of Medoc Vintages 2000-2019:

A

2000: Excellent
2001: Good - Sweet wine excellent
2002: Fair
2003: Hot - Fair
2004: Variable - Rain throughout growing
2005: Excellent
2006: Fair
2007: Poor
2008: Fair
2009: Excellent
2010: Excellent:
2011: Poor - Sweet wine excellent
2012: Poor
2013: Poor
2014: Fair
2015: Excellent
2016: Good
2017: Fair
2018: Fair
2019: Good

106
Q

Vintages of the Right Bank: 2000-2019

A

2000: Good
2001: Fair
2002: Fair
2003: Hot - fair
2004: Fair
2005: Excellent:
2006: Fair
2007: Poor
2008: Fair
2009: Excellent
2010: Excellent
2011: Fair
2012: Poor
2013: Poor
2014: Fair
2015: Excellent
2016: Good
2017: Good
2018: Excellent:
2019: Good

107
Q

What is Cliquage?

A

micro-oxygenation applied to a finished wine in barrel

108
Q

Are Bordeaux wines generally destemmed or not?

A

They are.

109
Q

What is the Bordeaux Mixture? Is it Organic?

A

Copper Sulfate, Lime, Water
Yes

110
Q

Generally speaking, what is the length of elevage for a grand vin in Bordeaux?

A

18-24 months

111
Q

Are cork closures required in Bordeaux?

A

No

112
Q

Does Margaux have uniform soils?

A

No
Gravel with sand limestone and clay all present

113
Q

Where is the Grand Poujeaux? What is it?

A

Between Saint-Julien and Moulis
A large gravel croupe

114
Q

When was Listrac-Medoc granted AOC status?

A

1957