2. Bordeaux Flashcards
(38 cards)
Name the two rivers that merge to form the Gironde estuary.
River Garonne and Dordogne.
The majority of the vineyards between BDX’s two rivers form what is known as….
Entre-Deux-Mers (“between two seas”).
What percent of the black grapes are grown in BDX?
About 90%. Almost 60% of those black grapes are Merlot. Cab Sauv accounts for 20% of black grapes.
Name the key development by the Dutch in the 17th and 18th centuries in relation to BDX.
Originally unsuitable for agriculture (marshes), the city of BDX was drained and planted. By the mid-18th century, was already widely appreciated throughout Europe and America.
The system of distribution that remains in effect today in BDX originates from merchants and brokers rather than the proprietors. What are these brokers called?
Negociants.
What was the major commercial exhibition to take place in 1855? What did BDX’s chamber of commerce ask the region’s brokers to do?
Exposition Universelle de Paris. They compiled a classification of the wines based on price.
Describe the Classication system in BDX.
Based on price. The estates of Medoc (plus Haut Brion in Graves) were classed into 5 bands and Sauternes into 3. This classification system has official status and still influences prices to this day.
How much of BDX is under vine?
111,000 ha planted.
The great majority of wine is modest BDX or BDX Superior. Inexpensive to mid-price. True or false?
True. 70% of all wine bottled is this category.
Describe the climate of BDX.
Moderate maritime. Cool Atlantic influence to the west acts as a moderating influence. In the best years, the climate can result in an excellent balance of tannins, sugar, acid – this explains the longevity of great vintages here.
The Left Bank is partially protected by….
The Landes, an extensive pine forest. Protects from Atlantic storms. Estates near these forests (Domaine de Chevalier in Leognan and many in Listrac) are cooler.
Describe the rainfall in BDX.
Variable - avg 950mm per year but varies drastically from year to year. Excessive rain at key moments is an important factor in vintage variation.
Describe some of the effects rain can have on the vine’s growth cycle.
Rain…
- during flowering results in poor fruit set
- during growing season results in increased disease pressure
- during or following véraison leads to unripe fruit and fungal diseases.
- during harvest can dilute flavors
How has climate change effected BDX?
It has led to hot, dry summers with insufficient rainfall.
Some potential weather hazards in BDX are…
- climate change
- frost (1956, 1991, 2017 crops decimated)
- hail (has been more widespread over the past decade)
In the Médoc, the most prestigious wines tend to be close to the Gironde estuary. Why?
It acts as a moderating influence on the climate and often protects the vines from frost.
Discuss the impact of vintage variation in BDX.
This impacts the volume and yield of the region which can have significant financial implications.
Describe the soil of the Left Bank
Deposits of gravel and stony soils (carried to the region by floods from the Pyrenees and Massif Central thousands of years ago).
The gravel is mixed with clay and sand in some regions.
Define “croupes.”
These are gravel mounds. All top estates of the Left Bank are planted on them.
Why is gravel soil so important in the Left Bank?
- Gravel, unlike clay, drains well. So, after rain the roots of the vines can dry out properly and the grapes can continue to ripen.
- Heat retention. After a warm, sunny day the pebbles and stones retain their warmth and continue to release it upwards onto the vines. This facilitates a slow ripening.
Excessive drainage on vines can lead to drought stress. True or false?
True. This is especially true in hot vintages, such as 2003 or 2005 and where soils are shallow.
On the Left Bank, what appellation has pockets of clay?
Saint-Estèphe – although robust and full of character, these wines have not received the same acclaim as those grown on gravel.
Describe the soil on the Right Bank and what grape is grown there.
Far more clay in the soil than the Left Bank, although there are significant patches of gravel in the Libournais. Merlot is suited to clay because it ripens fully in almost all vintages. The best wines come from grapes grown on the limestone plateau or the gravel sections that border Pomerol.
The tradition in BDX for top quality vineyards is closely spaced vines at 10k vines per hectare, with vines being planted one meter apart with one meter between the rows. What is the advantage of planting so close together?
Close planting makes the best use of expensive vineyard land. Vineyards in less prestigious appellations are often planted at a lower density.
Also keep in mind that large amounts of planting adds to costs = more plants, more trellising, specialist tractors, and more time for vine training all cost money $$.
