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CMS - Study Guide > France - Bordeaux > Flashcards

France - Bordeaux Flashcards

1
Q

What happened in Bordeaux in 1855?

A

The Bordeaux Wine Official Classification of 1855.

The Exposition Universelle of 1855, held in Paris, provided an opportunity to show the best wines France had to offer. Bordeaux’s wines (commonly referred to as clarets) were already known around the world, particularly in England, whose wealthier classes had been importing them in mass quantities for centuries. The country’s new Emperor, Napoleon III, ordered a classification drawn up of Bordeaux’s best wines. The wines were ranked by reputation and price, with an emphasis on the latter. The result was The Bordeaux Wine Official Classification of 1855.

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2
Q

What are the names of the 4 “first growth” from The Bordeaux Wine Official Classification of 1855.

A

Château Lafite Rothschild, Château Latour, Château Margaux and Château Haut-Brion.

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3
Q

Have there been any changes to the First Growths since the inception?

A

In 1973, Château Mouton Rothschild was elevated from ‘Second Growth’

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4
Q

What is the soil type in left bank Bordeaux?

A

Gravel and sand

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5
Q

What is the climate in Bordeaux?

A

Maritime. The climate becomes more continental toward St-Émilion and Pomerol.

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6
Q

What is the most widely planted grape in Bordeaux?

A

Merlot

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7
Q

Which soils does Merlot grow best? Why is this soil type the best for Merlot?

A

Merlot, the most widely planted grape in Bordeaux and the earliest grape to ripen, prefers clay-based soils, as they delay its natural vigor. Cabernet Sauvignon, on the other hand, performs admirably in well-drained gravel, which allows the vine’s root system to dig deeply while slight water stress adds concentration to the fruit. The grape has difficulty ripening in colder limestone and clay soils. Cabernet Franc excels in limestone-based soils, which promote acidity and freshness in the wines.

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8
Q

What are the AOP’s in Medoc? Note the Sub-Regions and the Communes, north to south

A

Sub-Regions:
Médoc AOP
Haut-Médoc AOP

Communes:
Saint-Estèphe AOP
Paulliac AOP
Saint-Julien AOP
Margaux AOP
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9
Q

What are the top vintages in Médoc?

A 
2005
2008
2010
2015
2017
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10
Q

What is the river that helps Botrytis cinerea flourish in Sauternes?

A

Ciron River

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11
Q

What types of wines are produced in the Pessac-Leognan AOP? What is the vinification style?

A

Dry white and red wines. Vinified in new French oak

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12
Q

What types of wine may be made under the Bordeaux AOP?

A

Standard Bordeaux AOP wines may be red, white, rosé, or clairet—a darker, more aromatic style of rosé that evokes the original claret wines shipped to England in the Middle Ages. Dry white wines are generally labeled sec. Bordeaux AOP wines provide a base level of quality and may be produced throughout the entire Bordeaux region.

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13
Q

What grapes are included in the Bordeaux AOP white blend? Are there percentage limits on any blending grapes?

A

Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc, and Muscadelle dominate the basic Bordeaux AOP white blend.

Ugni Blanc, Merlot Blanc, and Colombard are restricted to a maximum proportion of 30%.

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14
Q

How many liters are in a barrique?

A

225 Liters

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16
Q

What is the geography of Entre-Deux-Mers? What bodies of water affect the area?

A

Between the Garonne and Dordogne rivers

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17
Q

What are the sparkling wines of Bordeaux called? How are they produced?

A

Traditional method sparkling wines are produced in Bordeaux as Crémant de Bordeaux AOP

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18
Q

What type of wines and grape varietals are made in Entre-Deaux-Myers?

A

Dry white wines ONLY.

Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon, Muscadelle

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19
Q

What is the soil type in Entre-Deux-Mers?

A

Fertile silt

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20
Q

How are wines vinified in Entre-Deux-Mers?

A

Dry white wines only. Stainless steel.

Any red wines made fall under Bordeaux AOP.

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21
Q

Which grapes are predominantly grown in Médoc?

A

Merlot is grown in a higher proportion here than in the Haut-Médoc, as it performs more reliably in the waterlogged, clay-heavy soils of the Bas-Médoc.

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22
Q

True or false. If a wine is labeled “Médoc AOP” it must be a red wine.

A

True

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23
Q

True or false. In Bordeaux, it is the vineyard sites that are held in prestige, just like in Burgundy.

A

False. Unlike the grand cru vineyards of Burgundy, the properties of Bordeaux hold status rather than the land itself, so a vineyard may be classified or declassified as it changes ownership. The name of an estate holds the status.

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24
Q

Where is the town of Libourne located in Bordeaux?

A

Saint-Émilion

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25
Q

When did the last significant change to the 1855 Classification occur?

A

The only significant change to this classification occurred in 1973: after years of tireless self-promotion, Baron Philippe de Rothschild saw a “monstrous injustice” corrected as Château Mouton-Rothschild was elevated from second growth to first, taking its place among the world’s most expensive wines.

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26
Q

True or false. The 1855 classification is part of the AOP system.

A

False

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27
Q

How many Cru Clase levels are there in Bordeaux?

A

5 total, labeled 1st through 5th growths

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28
Q

Where is Château Pétrus located?

A

Pomerol, on the right bank

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29
Q

What is the name of the “Super Second” growth in Saint-Estephe?

A

Château Cos d’Estournel, a “super-second” growth, is the most notable, making powerful wines in a polished modern style.

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30
Q

What types of containers are wines from Graves aged in?

A

New French oak barriales

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31
Q

What are the 3 first growths in Paulliac?

A

Pauillac AOP is considered classic claret and boasts three first growths: Château Lafite Rothschild, Château Mouton-Rothschild, and Château Latour.

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32
Q

What are the names of the 5 “super seconds” in Saint-Julien?

A

St-Julien has five second growths, including the “super-seconds” of Château Léoville Las Cases and Château Ducru-Beaucaillou. Both can produce wine on par with premier cru estates. St-Julien reds typically demonstrate an elegant style.

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33
Q

Where is Château Chasse-Spleen locates? Which commune?

A

Listrac-Médoc AOP and Moulis-en-Médoc AOP are lesser appellations without classified growths, but can be the source of good value—especially in better vintages. Château Chasse-Spleen in Moulis is the most famous estate of either commune.

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34
Q

What is the name of the famous château located in both the Listrac-Médoc AOP and Moulis-en-Médoc AOP?

A

Château Chasse-Spleen in Moulis is the most famous estate of either commune.

35
Q

Which commune in Haut-Médoc has the highest percentage of Merlot?

A

St-Estèphe AOP is the northernmost commune appellation in Haut-Médoc. The wines are sturdy and full-bodied reds with a slightly higher percentage of Merlot, due to a higher proportion of clay amongst the gravel.

36
Q

Which commune in Haut-Médoc has the most classified growths?

A

Margaux has a larger number of classified growths than any other commune (21) and includes one first growth, Château Margaux. Although Margaux’s second growths are often underperformers, the third growth Château Palmer is an excellent estate, commanding high prices.

37
Q

What is the name of the most famous third growth Château in Margaux?

A

The third growth Château Palmer is an excellent estate, commanding high prices.

38
Q

First identifiable estate in Graves?

A

Château Pape-Clément remains the first identifiable vineyard estate in the region, a papal gift awarded to Bordeaux in 1305.

39
Q

What does pourriture noble mean?

A

Botrytis cinerea, known as pourriture noble—the noble rot.

40
Q

Which bodies of water affect the development of Botrytis in Sauternes?

A

Sauternes lies at the conflux of the Ciron and Garonne rivers, and in promising years cool morning mists blow off the Ciron and encounter the warmer waters of the Garonne, producing autumn afternoon humidity perfect for incubating the Botrytis spores.

41
Q

How were the wines of Sauternes classified in 1855? What is the most famous estate and what is it’s classification?

A

The wines of Sauternes were classified alongside those of the Médoc in 1855 and were divided into second growths and first growths, with one château achieving the rank of Premier Cru Supérieur: Château d’Yquem. Yquem’s wines are legendary, and the château can afford to send its pickers on more than a dozen tries if necessary. Yquem will not produce a Sauternes AOP wine in poor years, such as 1992 or 1974. The estate also intermittently produces a dry white wine, “Y” (“Ygrec”), labeled as Bordeaux or Bordeaux Supérieur.

42
Q

What is the main river that runs through the Right Bank?

A

Dordogne River

43
Q

Where does Château Ausone get its name from?

A

Château Ausone’s name is an homage to Ausonius, a 4th century Roman poet who may (or may not) have planted his vines at the site of the current estate.

44
Q

What grape dominates the blends in Saint-Émilion and Pomerol?

A

These two communes produce red wine blends dominated by Merlot and, to a lesser extent, Cabernet Franc. Cabernet Sauvignon is rarely a major component, with the notable exception of Château Figeac in St-Émilion.

45
Q

What are the main soil types in Saint-Émilion? What are they comprised of?

A

St-Émilion contains a diversity of soils broadly categorized into two types: the côtes and graves.

As a simplification, the hillside côtes are steep limestone slopes and graves is a gravelly limestone plateau resembling soils of the Médoc.

46
Q

When was the first ranking of the Saint-Émilion châteaus? When was the most recent ranking?

A

St-Émilion created its own three-tier ranking of châteaux in 1954 (published in 1955) with revisions made in 1969, 1985, 1996, 2006, and 2012. Unlike the Médoc Classification, the St-Émilion Classification intended revisions every decade and based such changes in stature on a peer-reviewed tasting of the wines

47
Q

True or false. The St-Émilion Grand Cru AOP is a classification.

A

False. The misleading St-Émilion Grand Cru AOP is an appellation, rather than a classificaiton.

48
Q

What are the requirements for a wine labeled St-Émilion Grand Cru?

A

The misleading St-Émilion Grand Cru AOP is an appellation, rather than a classificaiton. Wines labeled St-Émilion Grand Cru are required to show an additional + 0.5% alcohol and must undergo a longer élevage than wines simply labeled St-Émilion AOP. All Grand Cru Classé wines must meet the requirements of the St-Émilion Grand Cru AOP.

49
Q

What is the classification system in Pomerol

A

There is none

50
Q

What is the soil in Pomerol? Which grape grows the best here?

A

The soil of Pomerol is dominated by sand, clay and gravel, with a subsoil of iron pan and rich clay (crasse de fer). Merlot is particularly successful in Pomerol’s clay-based soils, as evidenced by the wines of Château Pétrus, where the subsoil clay rises very close to the surface.

51
Q

What is the most famous estate in Pomerol?

A

Merlot is particularly successful in Pomerol’s clay-based soils, as evidenced by the wines of Château Pétrus, where the subsoil clay rises very close to the surface

52
Q

What is Cabernet Franc called in Pomerol?

A

Cabernet Franc, known as Bouchet in Pomerol

53
Q

What percentages of grapes are generally included in Pomerol?

A

The wines are generally comprised of 70-80% Merlot and 20-25%

54
Q

Explain what the microchâteau,” or garagistes movement was.

A

The “microchâteau,” or garagistes movement. Le Pin in Pomerol, and Valandraud and La Mondotte in St-Émilion were among the vanguard of small châteaux making powerfully ripe and polished modern wines from just a handful of acres. Whereas Château Latour annually produces 150-180,000 bottles of the grand vin, Le Pin makes around 6000. The scarcity, combined with critical acclaim, influenced the prices garagistes wines could attract

55
Q

What is Pessac?

A

It is the name for Malbec on the Right Bank.

Better known then as Côt, it was the most commonly planted vine throughout south-west France, including Bordeaux, and was still widely grown there until the severe winter of 1956 killed many of the vines and more glamorous alternatives were replanted. It even has its very own synonym, Pressac, on the right bank of the Gironde. In Bordeaux today it is not common – growers complain of coulure, poor fruit set – but is mainly grown in such outlying parts of Bordeaux as Bourg, Blaye and Entre-Deux-Mers. It is also theoretically allowed, although not widely grown, in a wide range of other appellations in south-west France but it is in Cahors that it is best known, even if it travels under the name Auxerrois or Côt here. (It is also known in the Loire Valley as Côt but is a marginal ingredient in the appellations of Anjou-Touraine.)

https://www.jancisrobinson.com/learn/grape-varieties/red/malbec

56
Q

Where are the oldest cultivated vineyards in Bordeaux?

A

The oldest cultivated vineyards in Bordeaux are not found in Médoc or on the Right Bank of the Dordogne, but within the lesser AOPs of Bourg and Côtes de Bourg. The Romans brought viticulture to the limestone slopes of Bourg and neighboring Blaye

57
Q

True or false. The oldest cultivated vineyards are found in Bourg AOP and Cote de Bourg AOP

A

The oldest cultivated vineyards in Bordeaux are not found in Médoc or on the Right Bank of the Dordogne, but within the lesser AOPs of Bourg and Côtes de Bourg. The Romans brought viticulture to the limestone slopes of Bourg and neighboring Blaye

58
Q

Which grapes does Cotes de Blaye produce uniquely incorporates in its dry white wines?

A

Côtes de Blaye AOP uniquely incorporates a large percentage of Ugni Blanc and Colombard in its dry whites

59
Q

What are the 4 Premier Grand Cru Classé (A) wines of Saint-Émilion?

A 
Premier Grand Cru Classé (A) - Only 4 wines
Château Ausone
Château Angélus
Château Cheval Blanc
Château Pavie
60
Q

Where can you find crasse de fer soil? What is it?

A

The soil of Pomerol is dominated by sand, clay and gravel, with a subsoil of iron pan and rich clay (crasse de fer).

61
Q

Which Chateau was a favorite of Thomas Jefferson?

A

Chateau Haut-Brion

62
Q

When was the sub-appellation of Pessac-Léognan AOP created? Where is it located?

A

In 1987, the communal sub-appellation Pessac-Léognan AOP was created in northern Graves, effectively becoming the prestige appellation for both red and dry white wines while sidelining the producers of the southern Graves. All cru classé properties are located within the communes of Pessac-Léognan AOP: Pessac, Léognan, Cadaujac, Canéjan, Gradignan, Martillac, Mérignac, Saint-Médard-d’Eyrans, Talence, and Villenave-d’Ornons.

63
Q

Where is Pessac-Léognan AOP located?

A

In 1987, the communal sub-appellation Pessac-Léognan AOP was created in northern Graves.

64
Q

Bordeaux Soup is a mixture of what?

A

Sulfur and copper. Used to rub on vines to prevent Phelloxera, created by Château Haut-Bailly

65
Q

Where are the grand crus of Graves located?

A

Pessac-Léognan AOP, there are 16

66
Q

What is the largest appellation in the world?

A

The Upper Mississippi River Valley AVA, spanning nearly 30,000 square miles in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Illinois, became America’s—and the world’s—largest demarcated appellation with its formal approval in 2009.

67
Q

What is Malbec also called in Bordeaux?

A

Pressac

68
Q

What is the difference between clairet and claret?

A 
Claret = Red wine
Clairet = Dark colored rose
69
Q

What is the formal term for the Right Bank in Bordeaux?

A

Libourais

70
Q

Bordeaux has the most hectares under vine of any French wine region. True of False

A

True

71
Q

Ugni Blanc and Colombard are primarily used in which appellation?

A

Côtes de Blaye

72
Q

In which year were the estates of Graves FIRST classified?

A

1953

73
Q

The Médoc receives more annual average rainfall than any other major French wine region.
True or False.

A

True

74
Q

Pavillon is the second wine of which château?

A

Margaux

75
Q

Who is the producer of “Crème de Tête?”

A

Château Gilette

76
Q

What is the appellation of Château Lafleur?

A

Pomerol

77
Q

The Cru Classé properties of Graves are located in which appellation?

A

Pessac-Léognan

78
Q

What is the minimum alcohol for Saint-Émilion Grand Cru AOP?

A

11.5%

79
Q

True or False. The properties of Bordeaux hold status rather than the land itself.

A

Unlike the grand cru vineyards of Burgundy, the properties of Bordeaux hold status rather than the land itself, so a vineyard may be classified or declassified as it changes ownership. The name of an estate holds the status.

80
Q

In what appellation does the Château Le Pin estate produce wine?

A

Pomerol

81
Q

Select the most likely level of finished alcohol for Sauternes.

A

12-14%

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