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WSET3 > 14. Bordeaux > Flashcards

14. Bordeaux Flashcards

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1
Q

Name four Medoc AOCs on eastern edge of Left Bank.

A

St. Estephe, Pauillac, St. Julien, Margaux (from North to South). [Mnemonic: Eastern players juggle marbles.]

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2
Q

Name the 8 AOCs in the region of Medoc.

A

Medoc, Haut-Medoc, St. Estephe, Pauillac, St. Julien, Margaux, Moulis en Medoc, Listrac-Medoc

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3
Q

Name the Medoc AOC known to be perfumed.

A

Margaux

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4
Q

Name the Medoc AOC known for tasting profile of dusty cocoa-like tannins

A

Pauillac

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5
Q

Name the Medoc AOC known for tasting profile of chocolate-covered-cherry fruit.

A

St. Julien [mnemonic: CCC - California like]

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6
Q

What is the signature feature of Paulliac AOC?

A

dusty cocoa-like tannins [mnemonic: Jesus asked Paul to shake the dust from his feet.]

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7
Q

What is the signature feature of St. Estephe AOC?

A

extreme structure and astringent (tough) tannins [mnemonic: St. Est]

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8
Q

What is the signature feature of St. Julien AOC?

A

chocolate-covered-cherry fruit (“California-like”)

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9
Q

What is the signature feature of Margaux AOC?

A

perfumed

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10
Q

Name the Bordeaux AOC known for tasting profile of extreme structure and tough tannins.

A

St. Estephe, due to slow ripening soil with increased clay compared to other Left Bank areas.

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11
Q

Describe the soil structure of Medoc and Haut-Medoc AOCs.

A

small gravel

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12
Q

Describe the soil structure of eastern Left Bank AOCs.

A

large gravel

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13
Q

What is oidium?

A

Powdery mildew, a fungal disease from USA, attacked Bordeaux in 1852 [mnemonic d>p]

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14
Q

What is phylloxera?

A

insect from eastern US that attacked Bordeaux in 1865. It attacks the roots creating galls or knots of uncontrolled cell growth which allows bacteria and fungi to enter the plant.

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15
Q

What is peronospera?

A

fungal disease, Downy Mildew, that attacks leaves and stems; it attacked Bordeaux in 1880 [mnemonic p>d]

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16
Q

Who is Jean Capus?

A

father of AOC, separated Bordeaux into 57 AOC’s in 1935

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17
Q

Who is Emile Peynaud?

A

Professor in Bordeaux urged separation of wine from old and new vines to boost quality of best wine.

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18
Q

What was significant event in 1956 in Bordeaux?

A

Deep freeze killed 1/4 of the vine stock which was replanted with red grapes (with a decrease in Malbec plantings)

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19
Q

What percent of French AOC wine is produced in Bordeaux?

A

25%

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20
Q

Is irrigation legal in Bordeaux?

A

no (not necessary with 33 inches of rain per year)

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21
Q

How do autumn rains afftect the grapes?

A

a) excess rain is absorbed by the roots and translocated to the grapes, diluting flavor; b) rain can bring rot

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22
Q

Which types of Bordeaux grapes are soil specific, red or white?

A

just the red grapes

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23
Q

Describe Bordeaux soils.

A

Sedimentary, gravel terraces with sand, silt and clay.

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24
Q

What is the nature of the warm soils of Bordeaux?

A

gravel, sand

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25
What is the nature of the cold soils of Bordeaux?
clay and limestone
26
What grapes are suited to gravel soil?
Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot
27
What grapes are suited to limestone soil?
Merlot and Cabernet Franc
28
Which Bordeaux grapes are used less now than 40 years ago?
Malbec and Cabernet Franc ???
29
When was the most recent transition from the predominance of white to red wine in Bordeaux?
1970's.
30
What is the most frequent white grape planted in Bordeaux?
Semillon (55%)
31
What is the origin of Muscadelle?
Dordogne/Gironde area
32
What is the origin of Muscadet?
Burgundy (Melon de Bourgogne!)
33
What is the origin of Muscat?
Greek or Italian
34
Which grape was most affected by copper sulfate sprays in Bordeaux?
aromatics of Sauvignon Blanc were diminished, now more pineapple and less herbal
35
What are the three components of the Bordeaux AOC quality pyramid?
Communal AOC, Sub-regional AOC, Regional AOC
36
What does the Bordeaux Superieur designation mean?
small maximum yield, higher minimum alcohol, reds must be aged 9 months, whites must be semi-sweet.
37
Which wine style is not included in Bordeaux Superieur?
Dry white wine.
38
What are the sub-regional Medoc AOC's?
Medoc, Haut-Medoc
39
What are the Communal Medoc AOC's
St. Estephe, Pauillac, St. Julien, Margaux, Moulis en Medoc, Listrac-Medoc
40
What are the Communal Medoc AOC's located in center of peninsula?
Moulis en Medoc, Listrac-Medoc
41
What is a new characteristic of modern Saint-Estephe?
increased percentage of Merlot, more approachable
42
Chateau Latour is in which Communal AOC?
Pauillac
43
Where is the highest elevation of Medoc Peninsula?
Listrac-Medoc
44
What is difference in the soil between Listrac-Medoc and Moulis en Medoc?
Moulis en Medoc has more clay/limestone mix (both have gravel)
45
Where were the first Bordeaux vineyards located?
Graves
46
How much of Graves production is white wine?
1/3
47
How many AOC's are in Graves?
6
48
What are the sub-regional AOC's in Graves?
two: Graves AOC (red and white), Graves Superieures (also referred to as Sauternais, semi-sweet white)
49
What are the communal AOC's in Graves?
Pessac-Leognan, Cerons, Barsac, Sauternes [mneumonic: P-CBS]
50
What is the unique characteristic of Pessac-Leognan reds?
clove
51
What is the unique aspect of Sauternais sub-region climate?
fog created by Ciron River emptying into Garonne
52
What are the factors that promote Botrytis?
tight-clustered grapes, high sugar content, cool moist mornings and warm, dry afternoons
53
What color wine is more common from Entre-Deux-Mers?
red
54
What are the components of white wine from Entre-Deux-Mers?
Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Muscadelle
55
What are the components of red wine from Entre-Deux-Mers?
Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc
56
Describe the soils of Entre-Deux-Mers.
compact and complex: Alluvial (along rivers), gravel (slopes), mixture of clay and sand or clay and limestone (plateaus)
57
What is the difference between Bordeaux Haut-Benauge and Entre-Deux-Mers-Haut-Benauge AOC.
Bordeaux Haut-Benauge produces dry and sweet white wines, while Entre-Deux-Mers-Haut-Benauge produces only dry white wines.
58
Does Botyrtis affect moelleux (RS=1.2-4.5%) wines?
may or may not
59
Does Botyrtis affect liquoreux (RS >= 4.5) wines?
always
60
Most sweet Premieres Cotes de Bordeaux AOC is bottled as what?
Cadillac
61
Name 3 sweet wine AOC in Entre-Deux-Mers.
Cadillac, Loupiac, Sainte-Croix-du-Mont
62
Most red wines from Entre-Deux-Mers are bottled as Bordeaux or Bordeaux Superieurs. What are the 3 exceptions?
Saint-Foy-Bordeaux, Graves de Vayres, Premieres Cotes de Bordeaux.
63
What is the principal city of the Right Bank of Bordeaux?
Libourne
64
What is a Petit Chateau?
any unranked or unclassified property, all Crus Bourgeois are Petit Chateaux
65
What is St. Emilion Grand Cru?
an AOC
66
What is St. Emilion Grand Cru Classe?
a classified growth, a ranking
67
What is the strongest taste characteristic of botrytized grape?
honey
68
What is the strongest taste characteristic of Semillon grape?
apricot
69
What is the strongest taste characteristic of Sauvignon Blanc grape?
pineapple
70
What is Cotes de Bordeaux AOC?
As of 2008 vintage, Premieres Cotes de Blaye, Bordeaux-Cotes de Francs, Cotes de Castillon, Premieres Cotes de Bordeaus can label their wines as Cotes de Bordeaux AOC. The four may add sub-regional designations: Blaye (for Primieres Cotes de Blaye), Cadillac (for Premieres Cotes de Bordeaux), Castillon (Cotes de Castillon) and Francs for Bordeaux-Cotes de Francs), but stricter production rules apply.
71
What is the predominant grape and style wine is found in Cotes De Blaye?
dry white wine, 60-90% Colombard
72
In red Blaye AOC, what is the predominant grape?
Merlot
73
In white Blaye AOC, what is the predominant grape?
Ugni Blanc [mnemonic: Blaye suggests BLA... or Ugni BLAnc]
74
In Cotes de Castillon AOC, what is the predominant grape?
Merlot
75
In Bordeaux-Saint-Macaire AOC, what is the predominant grape?
white wines from Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscaelle
76
Which is further north, Listrac-Medoc or Moulis-en-Medoc?
Listrac-Medoc
77
Which is further north, Listrac-Medoc or Margaux?
Listrac-Medoc
78
Which is further north, Listrac-Medoc or St-Julien?
St-Julien
79
Which wines are sweeter, liquoreux or moelleux?
liquoreux (>4.5%)
80
What is clairet?
a semi-red, lightly-pigmented Bordeaux wine, short maceration made in saignee method
81
Name the 3 Sauternais sub-regions from north to south.
Cerons, Barsac, Sauternes [mnemonic: CBS]
82
What is the difference between Cerons and Ciron?
Ciron is the river between Barsac and Sauternes, Cerons is a Sauternais sub-region north of Barsac.
83
Name 2 Cotes AOC in Entre-Deux-Mers.
Premieres Cotes de Bordeaux AOC, Cotes de Bordeaux-Saint-Macaire AOC
84
Which Bordeaux classification system ranks the wines, not the estates?
Graves
85
When did Pessac-Léognan become an AOC?
1987, previously part of Graves
86
What is the difference between Graves AOC and Graves Superieures AOC?
Graves Superieures AOC is only semi-sweet whites and Graves AOC is any red or dry white produced within Graves.
87
What is the common wine style for Entre-Deux-Mers AOC and Entre-Deux-Mers-Haut Benauge?
produce only dry whites, Bordeaux-Haut-Benauge produces dry and semi-sweet white wine
88
What are the biggest viticulture hazards in Bordeaux?
fungal disease and lack of ripening
89
What climatic factors create the viticulture hazards in Bordeaux?
cloud cover and high rainfall
90
What is the climate of Bordeaux?
moderate Maritime (same as Rias Baixas)
91
What are the three dominant red grapes in Bordeaux?
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc (and fourth is Petit Verdot; Carmenere and Malbec are also allowed but less significant)
92
What are the two dominant white grapes in Bordeaux?
Semillon (most widely planted) and Sauvignon Blanc (and third is Muscadelle)
93
What is the key contribution of Cabernet Franc to red blends?
marked fragrance
94
What climatic aspect of Bordeaux contributes to the tradition of blending varieties?
vintage variation due to variable weather and ripening
95
All Bordeaux wines are blends with one exception which is what?
Sauvignon Blanc
96
Which viticulture techniques reduce the risk of fungus and poor ripening?
VSP, green harvesting, leaf stripping, grape sorting
97
When does blending in Bordeaux typically occur?
spring following harvest
98
Which white wines are most likely to see oak?
premium dry wines from Pessac Leognan and premium sweet wines?
99
How does the alcohol level of sweet wines from Bordeaux compare to sweet wines of other regions?
higher
100
What is the difference between Bordeaux Rose and Bordeaux Clairet?
both roses, Clairet undergoes a longer maceration resulting in deeper color and fuller body
101
What are the 5 most highly rated red wine AOC's of the Medoc and Graves?
St. Estephe, Pauillac, St. Julien, Margaux, Pessac-Leognan
102
Which AOC of the left bank has the highest proportion of Merlot in the blend?
Graves AOC
103
What does 'vin de garage' refer to?
premium wine from small production units apart from established chateaux on the Right Bank of Bordeaux: Merlot based with full body, high alcohol, moderate acidity and soft, velvet-textured tannins
104
Where is Fronsac?
AOC to west of Libourne producing Merlot based wine
105
What are "En Primeur"?
Futures sales, done in tranches, of early rated vintages from top producers in Bordeaux in order to raise capital
106
What is "La Place de Bordeaux?"
the system where wine is sold through wine merchants via brokers, aka "sales machine"
107
What is Cru Bourgeois?
a classification introduced in 1932 for chateaux outside the 1855 Classification, since 2008 awarded to vintages not producers
108
Name the 5 First Growths (Premiers Crus) of Bordeaux 1855 Classification and their respective commune.
Château Lafite, now Château Lafite Rothschild, Pauillac; Château Latour, Pauillac; Château Margaux, Margaux; Haut-Brion, (now Château Haut-Brion,) Pessac, Graves; Mouton, (now Château Mouton Rothschild,) Pauillac
109
What is the highest classification within Saint-Emilion?
Saint Emilion Primier Grand Cru Classe
110
What chateaux are in Saint Emilion Primier Grand Cru Classe A?
Cheval Blanc and Chateau Ausone

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