Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

WSET Level 3 > 13. Bordeaux > Flashcards

13. Bordeaux Flashcards

(74 cards)

Start Studying
1
Q

Bordeaux climate type

A

Maritime

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Bordeaux climate temperature

A

Moderate

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What extends the growing season in Bordeaux?

A

Warming ocean current

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What is the downside to the warming ocean current of Bordeaux?

A

Rainfall and humidity

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Bordeaux is protected by the worst of Atlantic storms by what?

A

Landes forest and coastal sand dunes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is a major reason for Bordeaux’s lack of single-varietal wines?

A

The variability of the weather

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Which Bordeaux region features Cab Sav predominantly?

A

Haut-Medoc

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Haut-Medoc soil

A

High stone/gravel content

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

The high stone/gravel content of Haut-Medoc soil has what impact on grape variety?

A

Cab Sav is predominant

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Which Bordeaux region widely features Cab Franc?

A

Saint Emilion

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What can Cab Franc bring to a blend?

A

Vibrant fruit and floral notes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

How do Cab Franc compare to Cab Sav in terms of tannin?

A

Cab Franc is less tannic

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Most widely planted variety in Bordeaux?

A

Merlot

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Why is Merlot popular in Saint-Emilion and Pomerol>

A

It grows well on their cooler clay soils

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What grape variety only ever features in markedly warm years in Bordeaux?

A

Petit Verdot

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Petit Verdot tannins

A

High tannins

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What does Petit Verdot bring to a blend?

A

Tannin, colour and spice

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Tannin, colour and spice is what which grape variety brings to a Bordeaux blend on warm years?

A

Petit Verdot

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

In Bordeaux, when are most wines blended?

A

In the spring following the vintage

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

In Bordeaux,, what vessel do top-quality reds go into?

A

Small 225l oak barriques

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

In Bordeaux, Sauvignon Blanc has what aromas?

A

Citrus and green fruit

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

In Bordeaux, what is the one exception to the generalisation that all Bordeaux wines are blends?

A

Sauvignon Blanc

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Why is Sauv Blanc neccesary for Bordeaux’s sweet wines?

A

It provides acidity

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

In Bordeaux, what provides acidity to its sweet wines?

A

Sauv Blanc

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
What is the 'third' white grape of Bordeaux?
Muscadelle
26
In Bordeaux, premium sweet wines can be matured in oak for up to how long?
3 years
27
In Bordeaux, what region is the exception to Bordeaux's classification system lying outside France's appellation system?
Saint-Emilion
28
In Bordeaux, Chateaux listed from 1855 are given what term?
Cru Classe
29
In Medoc, 1855 divided the area into how many ranks?
5
30
In Sauternes, 1855 divided the area into how many ranks?
3
31
In Bordeaux, what term was introduced to label chateaux that were not cru classe?
Cru bourgeois
32
Cru Bourgeois ranking (high to low)
Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel Cru Bourgeois Superieur Cru Bourgeois
33
How often is the Cru Bourgeois system reviewed?
5 years
34
In Bordeaux, the 1855 classification is only relevant to which areas?
Medoc and Sauternes
35
What appellation do the wines of Graves lie in?
Pessac-Leognan
36
How is Saint Emilion Grand Cru divided up?
Saint Emilion Premier Grand Cru Classe A Saint Emilion Premier Grand Cru Classe B Saint Emilion Grand Cru Clase
37
In Bordeaux, what two rivers combine?
Dordogne and Garonne
38
In Bordeaux, what is the estuary name?
Gironde Estuary
39
Principal districts of Right Bank Bordeaux
Saint Emilion Pomerol
40
Principal districts of Left Bank Bordeaux
Medoc Graves Sauternes
41
In Bordeaux, what large appellation lies between the Garonne and Dordogne?
Entre-Deux-Mers
42
Bordeaux Rose can also be labelled as what?
Bordeaux Clairet
43
Maceration of Bordeaux Clairet?
Longer maceration than most roses
44
Principal character of White Bordeaux with Sauv Blanc?
Grassy
45
4 premium communes of Haut-Medoc?
Saint-Estephe Pauillac Saint-Julien Margaux
46
Medoc soil
Predominantly clay
47
Medoc grape
Mostly Merlot due to clay soil
48
What is the most highly-rated area of Graves?
Pessac-Leognan
49
Pessac-Leognan grape
Cab Sav, due to gravel soils
50
Pessac-Leognan soils
Gravelly, like Haut-Medoc
51
How do Pessac-Leognan reds compare to Haut-Medoc reds?
Lighter in body and more fragrant
52
How do Graves wines compare to Pessac-Leognan (variety)
Higher proportion of Merlot
53
How do Graves wine compare to Pessac-Leognan (style)
Less concentrated and complex
54
What sub-region of Saint-Emilion produces the ligher-bodied, less prestigious wines?
Sandy soil vineyards
55
In Saint-Emilion, what are the soils of the north and west of the town like?
Well-drained gravel and limestone
56
In Saint-Emilion, north and west vineyard varieties
Cab Franc and sometimes Cab Sav due to gravel and limestone soils
57
In Saint-Emilion, what are the soils to the south and east like?
Clay limestone soils
58
In Saint-Emilion, how do premium wines compare to Left Bank wines?
Less structured and with Red berry fruit and plum aromas
59
How do Pomerols compare to Saint-Emilions?
Richer, spicier and more blackberry fruit
60
Richer, spicier and more blackberry fruit is a comparison associated with what Right Bank appellations?
Pomerol compared to Saint-Emilions
61
Very ripe styles from the Right Bank were known as what?
Vins de garage
62
Cotes de Bordeaux variety
Usuallly Merlot
63
How does Premieres Cotes de Bordeaux differ from Cotes de Bordeaux?
Premieres Cotes are sweet wines and unrelated to the easy-drinking reds of Cotes de Bordeaux
64
Enre-Deux-Mer is only ever what wine?
White
65
White wines from Medoc and Sauternes labelling?
Unable to use appellation names and ust use generic Bordeaux appellation
66
The best sweet wines of Bordeaux lie on the banks of what river?
Garonne
67
What is needed to help concentrate sugars in Bordeaux vintages where noble rot was low?
Passerillage
68
When is Passerillage used in Bordeax?
Vintages when noble rot is low
69
Why do the best sweet wines of Bordeaux come from the riverbank vineyards?
They benefit from misty autumn conditions conducive for noble rot
70
Major village of Sauternes?
Barsac
71
Why does Semillon dominate sweet wines in Bordeaux?
Its thin skin makes it susceptible to noble rot
72
What aspect of Semillon makes it susceptible to noble rot?
Its thin skins
73
What does Muscadelle bring to sweet wine blends?
Exotic perfume
74
Sauternes noble rot flavours
Apricot and citrus peel

WSET Level 3 (28 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions