Bordeaux Flashcards
(114 cards)
1
Q
Order that Bordeaux grapes ripen in (Major Red Grapes)
A
Merlot
Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Franc
2
Q
Order that Bordeaux grapes ripen in (Major White Grapes)
A
Sauvignon Blanc
Semillon
3
Q
Which area receives more of a frost threat, Right bank or Left bank?
A
Right bank - cooler shallow soils
4
Q
How do the Bordelais avoid mildew and rot?
A
Bordeaux mixture
Sulfur treatment in the vineyard
De leafing
5
Q
When do the Bodelais deleaf the vines?
A
After verasion
6
Q
What benefit does deleafing have in Bordeaux?
A
Increases airflow around the fruit to stymie mildew or grey rot
7
Q
What two sorting machines are commonly found in Bordeaux?
A
Optical sorter
Density sorter
8
Q
What methods of cap management are used in Bordeaux?
A
Remontage (pumpover)
Pigeage (punchdown)
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
10
Q
What is the name of the forest that makes up the western part of the left bank of Bordeaux?
A
Landes Forest
11
Q
What effect does the Landes Forest have on the Medoc?
A
Shields the regions vineyards from harsh Atlantic conditions
12
Q
What is a croupe?
A
A hill made of gravel found in the Medoc
13
Q
Where are Listrac-Medoc and Moulis in relation to Margaux?
A
North and further west (away from the Gironde)
14
Q
What are the communal appellations of the Medoc? North to South.
A
Saint-Estephe
Pauillac
Saint-Julien
Listrac-Medoc
Moulis
Margaux
15
Q
What forms the natural border between Saint-Estephe and Pauillac?
A
Jalle de Breuil
16
Q
What defines the soil of Pauillac?
A
Deep gravel Croupes
“12 metres deep and 30 metres high” - Anson
17
Q
Is Pauillac flat land or undulating?
A
Undulating
18
Q
What are the communes of production in Pauillac AOP?
A
Pauillac
Saint-Sauveur
Saint-Estephe
Saint-Julien-Beychevelle
19
Q
Where is the highest percentage of Merlot planted on the left bank communal appellations?
A
Saint-Estephe (roughly 40% Merlot)
20
Q
What are the communes of production for Margaux AOP?
A
Margaux
Cantenac
Soussans
Arsac
Labarde
21
Q
What two towns form the northern and southern border of Graves?
A
Bordeaux
Langon
22
Q
What area of Graves is more historically rewnown?
A
Northern
With the exception for Sauternes and Barsac in South
23
Q
What soils are found in the northern part of Graves? Southern?
A
Northern: Gravel croupes
Southern: Sand & limestone
24
Q
What wines are made in Graves Superieur?
A
Sweet whites only with min 34g/L RS
25
Where is Pessac-Leognan located within Graves?
Northern sector nearer to Bordeaux
26
When was Pessac-Leognan AOP created?
1987
27
What wines may legally be released first, Pauillac or Pessac-Leognan?
Pauillac - June 15 of year following harvest vs Pessacs October 1
28
Legally which Commune appellation of the Medoc is released last?
Listrac-Medoc (September 15)
Margaux is next at September 1
29
What is the dominant grape in Pessac Leognan AOP?
About equal Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon but edged slightly to merlot
30
Is Sauvignon Gris allowed in Sauternes and Barsac production?
Yes - uncommon though
31
What is the french name for Noble Rot?
Pourriture Noble
32
When were the first sweet wines made in Bordeaux?
Roughly the 18th Century
33
What are the communes of production for Sauternes?
Sauternes
Barsac
Fargues
Preignac
Bommes
34
What are the rivers that influence Sauternes?
Garonne
Ciron
35
Can a wine from the commune of Barsac be called Sauternes?
Yes
36
Can a wine from the commune of Sauternes be called Barsac?
No
37
Which of the two rivers is cooler? Ciron or Garonne?
Ciron
38
What are used more for Sauternes top estates, tanks or barrique?
Barrique
39
Name all the sweet wine appellations of Graves.
Graves Superieur
Sauternes
Barsac
Cerons
40
What sweet wine appellations exist just across the Garonne River from Sauternes and Barsac?
Loupiac
Cadillac
Ste-Croix-du-Monts
41
What is the legal name for the sweet wines of Graves? Demi-Sec, Moelleux, Liquoreux.
Liquoreux
42
Where is Moelleux wine produced in Bordeaux? What are the corresponding RS ranges?
Cotes de Bordeaux AOP 'St. Foy' (17-34g/L RS)
Cotes de Bordeaux-Saint-Macaire AOP (34-45g/L RS)
43
May Sauternes wines be Chaptalized?
Yes
44
Is Cryo-extraction allowed in Sauternes?
Yes
45
What is the minimum RS for sweet wines of Graves?
45g/L for Sauternes, Barsac, Cerrons
34g/L for Graves Superieures
46
Why are dry white wines from the communes of Sauternes released as Bordeaux AOP or Bordeaux Superieur AOP and not as Graves AOP?
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
What are the communes of Cerons?
Cerons
Podensac
Illats
48
Producers in the Communes permitted for Cerons AOP may also make what wines if labeled as Graves AOP?
Dry white
Dry Red
49
Is it more common to produce a Cerons AOP or a Graves AOP wine if a producer is based within Cerons?
Graves
50
What two rivers heavily influence St. Emilion?
Dordogne and Barbanne
51
How many communes produce wines for St. Emilion AOP?
Nine
52
What is the main geological feature of St. Emilion? Where are the vines planted in respect to it?
A limestone plateau near St. Emilion itself
Vines planted on slopes
53
Where are most of the St. Emilion classified estates located?
Near the town of St. Emilion
54
Where does the topsoil become gravel in Saint emilion?
Northwestern part of the plateau - nearer to Pomerol
55
What are the two major unofficial "zones" called in St. Emilion?
Cote (limestone slope) or Graves (gravel topsoil)
56
When was St. Emilion AOP Established? Grand Cru?
1936 and 1954
57
Are whole estates classified in the St. Emilion classification?
No - vineyards are so not 100% of ownership necessarily is classified.
58
What are the communes of production for Pomerol?
Pomerol and Libourne
59
What are the two rivers that surround Pomerol?
Isle and Barbanne
60
Where is Pomerol in relation to St. Emilion?
North and west
61
What is Crasse de fer? Where is it found in Bordeaux?
Iron rich sand
Found in parts of Pomerol
62
What is the terrain of Pomerol?
Three terraces
63
What soil is found on the first terrace closest do the Dordogne River in Pomerol?
light sandy soil
64
What soil is found on the second terrace of Pomerol?
Shallow gravel soils with some clay mixed in - here's where the Crasse de Fer are found
65
Where are the famed blue clay soils found in Pomerol?
High elevation in Eastern Pomerol
66
What soils is found on the third terrace of Pomerol?
Blue clay soils
67
What is the Buttoniere?
A 20 hectare plot of land at the highest elevation in the easternmost point of Pomerol with deep blue clay soils
68
What % of the vineyard area of Pomerol is Merlot?
70%
69
Are plantings of Cabernet Franc rising or falling in Pomerol?
Rising - warming conditions allow for overripe Merlot and need a balancing act
70
Where are vines found within Fronsac & Canon Fronsac AOP?
Nearer to the Dordogne - regular flooding of the area prevented Phylloxera from taking hold
71
What are the Communes of Production for Fronsac AOP? Which are best known for quality?
Fronsac
Galgon
La Riviere ***Quality ***
Saillans *** Quality ***
Saint-Aignan
Saint-Germain-de-la-Riviere
Saint-Michel-de-Fronsac
72
What makes Saillans and La Riviere sources of higher quality Fronsac AOP wines?
They are situated on hillsides rather than down in a valley floor
73
What is the aspect generally of Canon-Fronsac AOP?
South facing hillsides
74
Throughout Canon Fronsac and part of Fronsac, what is the main soil type?
Fronsadais Molasse (soft limestone & clay)
75
What are the Satellites of St. Emilion? North to South.
Lussac-Saint-Emilion AOP
Puisseguin-Saint-Emilion
Montagne-Saint-Emilion
Saint-Georges-Saint-Emilion
76
What is the satellite of Pomerol?
Lalande-de-Pomerol AOP
77
What natural boundary separates St. Emilion from its satellites?
Barbanne River in the north
78
Which of the St. Emilion satellites is highest in elevation? Puisseguin or Montagne?
Puisseguin
79
What is the shared commune of production of Saint-Georges-Saint-Emilion and Montagne-Saint-Emilion?
Montagne - a merge of communes happened in 1973
80
What are the communes of Laland-de-Pomerol?
Lalande-de-Pomerol and Néac
81
What is the dominant grape variety in the Entre-deux-Mers area?
Merlot
82
What style of wine is permitted in Entre-deux-Mers AOP?
Dry white wine
83
What are the soil characteristics of Entre-deux-Mers?
Limestone plateau - rises to 100masl
Cool clay and sandy clay topsoils
84
How are vines trained in Entre-deux-Mers?
High to avoid frost
85
What is the major climactic hazard in Entre-deux-Mers?
Frost
86
What is the difference between Bordeaux Haut-Benauge and Entre-deux-Mers Haut Benauge?
Bordeaux = off dry (5-60g/L RS)
EdM = dry (4g/L RS max)
87
What white grapes are allowed to be planted in Entre-deux-Mers AOP?
Sauvignon Blanc
Sauvignon Gris
Semillon
Muscadelle
Merlot Blanc
Mauzac
Colombard
Ugni Blanc
88
When did the Cotes de Bordeaux AOP get established?
2009
89
What was the purpose of the Cotes de Bordeaux AOP?
To combine a number of small outlying appellations under one banner - better for marketing
90
What style of wine is authorized for basic Cotes de Bordeaux production?
Red wine made from standard assortment of BDX varietals
91
What are the five geographic designations within Cotes de Bordeaux? What styles are produced in each?
Castillon - Red
Francs - Red & White (dry and sweet)
Cadillac - Red
Blaye - Red & White (dry)
Saint-Foy - Red & White (Dry, Moelleux, Sweet)
92
If a producer is making red wine in the commune of Cadillac, what appellation or appellations may it be released as?
Bordeaux AOP
Cotes de Bordeaux - Cadillac AOP
93
Castillon shares soils with which right bank appellation?
St. Emilion - Limestone cotes
94
Which appellation is larger, Bourg or Blaye?
Blaye
95
What are the first and second most planted grapes in Bourg?
Merlot
Cabernet Sauvignon - some gravel here
96
Is Bourgs topography homogenous or not?
It is not - lots of different growing conditions
97
Where are Malbec (Cot) vines most commonly found in Bordeaux?
Bourg - about 10% of the area is Cot
98
When may red wines from Blaye be released?
March 31 of 2nd year following harvest
99
Red wines in Blaye may be released under what appellations?
Blaye AOP
Côtes de Bordeaux - Blaye AOP
Côtes de Bordeaux AOP
100
If a white wine comes from Blaye what may it be released as?
Cotes de Bordeaux - Blaye
101
What are the top Vintages in the Medoc in the 1980s?
1982
1983
1986
1989
102
What are the top Vintages on the Right bank in the 1980s?
1985
1988
1989
103
What are the top vintages in the Medoc in the 1990's?
1990
1995
1996
104
What are the top vintages on the Right bank in the 1990's?
1995
1998
105
Quality of Medoc Vintages 2000-2019:
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
Vintages of the Right Bank: 2000-2019
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
What is Cliquage?
micro-oxygenation applied to a finished wine in barrel
108
Are Bordeaux wines generally destemmed or not?
They are.
109
What is the Bordeaux Mixture? Is it Organic?
Copper Sulfate, Lime, Water
Yes
110
Generally speaking, what is the length of elevage for a grand vin in Bordeaux?
18-24 months
111
Are cork closures required in Bordeaux?
No
112
Does Margaux have uniform soils?
No
Gravel with sand limestone and clay all present
113
Where is the Grand Poujeaux? What is it?
Between Saint-Julien and Moulis
A large gravel croupe
114
When was Listrac-Medoc granted AOC status?
1957
