John Alanis Certified Sommelier > Bordeaux > Flashcards

Bordeaux Flashcards

(96 cards)

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1
Q

INAO

A

Institut National des Appellations d’Origine

Created in 1935

Regulates AOC’s

Became L’institut National de Origin et de la Qualitie in 2007

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2
Q

AOP

A

Appellation d’Origine de Protecta

Brought AOC System in line w/EU standard

Producers may use both AOC or AOP on labels

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3
Q

Vin De Pays

A

Regional wines- 1/3 of French production are released as Vin De Pays

Less restrictive than AOP’s

Subject to tasting panel

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4
Q

Vin De France

A

Formerly known as Vin De Table

Became Vin de France in 2009

Both vintage and variety my appear on the label

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5
Q

French Wine Classifications

A

From Highest to lowest

AOC/AOP

Vin De Pays/Indication Geographique Protegee IGP)

Vin De France (table wine)

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6
Q

Wine Styles of Bordeaux

A

Red, white, Rose, Sweet, Sparkling

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7
Q

Dutch in Bordeaux

A

Created drainage channels called Jalles in mid 1600’s

Drained wetlands exposing gravel Croupes, made Bordeaux suitable for viticulture

Trade with the English grew rapidly, the English loved Clairet

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8
Q

Negociant

A

Intermedianary who bought fruit or wine to age in cellars before bottling and selling

Many own properties today while also acting as a Negociant

Influence faded after WWII and Domain bottling

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9
Q

Courtiers

A

Brokers of wine and financial backers of Chateaus

Gained control over wine trade

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10
Q

En Priemeur

A

“In youth”

Futures sold by Chateaus for new vintages delivered after bottling, a form of buying cash flow

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11
Q

Bordeaux Climate

A

Moderate Maritime

Atlantic Ocean and Gironde Estuary are moderating influences

Rain year round

Becomes more continental toward Right Bank

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12
Q

Fungal Problems in Bordeaux

A

Wet Spring and humidity cause mold and rot

Grey rot can destroy fruit in cooler years

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13
Q

Coulore

A

Fruit falling off vines, caused by Spring frost

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14
Q

Millerandage

A

Irregular flowering and fruit set in vineyard

Caused by Spring frost

Reduces yield

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15
Q

Bordeaux Mixture

A

Lime, water, and Copper Sulfate, kills Grey Rot

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16
Q

Vintage Variation

A

Caused by variable Bordeaux climate year to year

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17
Q

Stand Bordeaux AOP

A

Red, white, rose or clairet

Dry whites labelled “Sec”

Base level of quality, produced throughout Bordeaux

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18
Q

Bordeaux AOP Red Grape

A

Cabernet Sauvignon
Merlot
Cabernet Franc
Petit Verdot
Malbec
Carmenere

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19
Q

Assemblage

A

The blend of the wine
Comes from different soils and different ripening of the grapes

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20
Q

Merlot Soil

A

Best in clay which delays natural vigor

Earliest to ripen

Most planted grape in Bordeaux

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21
Q

Cabernet Sauvignon Soil

A

Well drained gravel leads to moderate water stress aiding concentration of flavors in the fruit

Vines root system digs deep

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22
Q

Cabernet Franc Soil

A

Limestone based soils

Promotes acidity and adds freshness to wines

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23
Q

Encepagement

A

Proportion of different grapes planted in the vineyard

Different grape varieties harvested at different times

Acts as a form of insurance against bad weather

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24
Q

Cabernet Sauvignon influence on wine

A

Highly pigmented, tannic

Adds structure, power, longevity

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25
Merlot influence on wines
Adds fleshy, juicy texture Softens austerity of Cab Sauv
26
Cab Franc influence on wines
Imparts herbal spice and red fruit aromatics to blend
27
Cremant de Bordeaux
Sparkling red wine, mainly Merlot with Cab Franc
28
Haut Benauge
Subzone of Bordeaux AOP for white wines
29
Bordeaux Superieur AOP
Red, Off Dry to Sweet White wines
30
Premiere Cotes de Bordeaux AOP
Sweet wines only
31
Left Bank Blend Proportions
Cab Sauv- 70% Merlot/Cab Franc 25% Petit Verdot 5% Sometimes Malbec, no Carmenere
32
Right Bank Blend Proportions
Merlot- 75% Cab Franc 25% Some Cab Sauv, Malbec
33
Pressac
Name for Malbec in Right Bank
34
Bordeaux AOP White Blend
Semillon/Sauv Blanc Muscadelle Sauv Gris too, but not widely planted
35
Ugni Blanc, Merlot Blanc, Colombard
Restricted to max 30% of blend in Bordeaux AOP
36
White Wine Character in Bordeaux AOP
Sauv Blanc- pungency, high acid, citrus flavor Semillon- offsets sharpness of Sauv Blanc, adds body Oak rounds the wine Best whites are creamy/waxy with notes of honey and beeswax
37
Oak usage in Bordeaux
Bordeaux AOP age wine in oak, only in large barrels for a short time Top red Chateaus- up to two years in 225L barriques, a large % is new oak White wines from top Graves estates, aged in new oak for 12-16 months
38
Bordeaux Superior AOP
Red and off dry whites with a higher minimum % ABV
39
Cremant de Bordeaux AOP
-Traditional Method Sparkling wine -Mainly from red grapes, some white -Rose is from red varietals only -Must go through second fermentation -9 months on lees
40
Second Wine of Chateau Haut Brion
Le Clarence De Haut Brion
41
2nd Wine of Chateau Lafite Rothschild
Carruades de Lafite Rothschild
42
Second Wine of Chateau Latour
Le Forts de Latour
43
Second Wine of Chateau Margaux
Pavillion Rouge de Chateau Margaux
44
Second Wine of Chateau Mouton Rothschild
Le Petits Mouton de Mouton Rothschild
45
First vineyard in Bordeaux
Pape Clement in Graves, 1305
46
Graves Soil
Gravel in the north, becoming boulbenes toward the south (sand, light clay and gravel mixture)
47
Graves Classification
Chateau Haut Brion retains First Growth status -First classified in 1953 with six additional wines added in 1954 -13 Cru Classe for red -9 Cru Classe for white
48
Pessoc Leognan AOP
-created in 1987 in N Graves -prestige appellation for red and dry white, sidelined S Graves -Cru Classe properties are located in: Pessac, Leognan, Cadaujac, Carejan, Gradignan, Martillac, Merignac, Sait Medaid-d'Eyrons, Talence, Villenave-d'Ornon
49
Graves Superieur AOP
-Sweet whites -Cerons, Barsac, Sauternes -Sauternes produces best sweet wines in the world -Sauv Blanc, Semillon, Muscadelle -Botrytis infected, "pourriture noble"
50
Medoc AOP
Covers entire wine producing Left Bank of Gironde Estuary, 50 mile stretch north from city of Bordeaux Mostly marshy regions of St Estephe, Bas Medoc
51
Jalles
Drainage channels in the Medoc created by the Dutch that prevent the Medoc from reverting to swampland
52
Medoc AOP styles
-AOP wines must be red -Merlot is grown in high proportion due to clay soils -Usually no new oak
53
Haut Medoc AOP
-Narrow corridor on Left Bank of Gironde river in S Medoc -well drained gravel soils, Cab Sauv is best here -Croupes- gravel mounds uncovered by the Dutch
54
Classification of 1855
-Left Bank only -61 Classified Chateaus -Commissioned by Emperor Napoleon III, carried out by Courtiers -Top properties ranked by price and sales volum
55
Only change to 1855 Classification
Chateau Mouton Rothschild was elevated from Second Growth to First Growth in 1973
56
Cru Artisan
In use for 150 years, recognized in 2002 -rankings updated every 5 years -small producers (36) recognized for exceptional stewardship of the land, avg 6 hectares each
57
Cru Borgeouis
-reinstated in 2008, review every 5 years -240 chateaus have designation -14 are Cru Borgeouis Exceptionelle -56 are Cru Borgeouis Superier -must go in front of a tasting panel, designation of quality outside 1855 Classification
58
St. Estephe
-Sturdy, full bodied reds with slightly higher % of Merlot, "rusti" in character -No first growths, only 5 Classified Growths -Chateau Cos d'Esournel, "Super Second" -Chateau Montrose, 2nd Growth
59
Paulliac AOP
-Power and finesse, "iron fist in velvet glove" -3 First Growths, Lafite Rothschild, Mouton Rothschild, Latour -2nd Growths: Chateau Pichon Baron de Comtesse de Lalande, Chateau Baron de Longueville Baron -gravel top soil at its deepest point
60
Chateau Latour Grand Vin Style
-wines of brooding depth and concentration
61
Chateau Lafite Rothschild Style
Emphasizes aromatics and elegance
62
St Julien AOP
-80% of AOP is Cru Classe wine -No 1st Growths - two Super Seconds, Leoville Las Casas and Ducru Beaucaillou -Other 2nd growths- Leoville Barton, Leoville Poyferre, Gruard Larose
63
Listrac Medoc AOP and Moulis en Medoc AOP
-no classified growths -Chateau Chasse Splean in Moulis is most famous estate
64
Classified Growths in Haut Medoc AOP
Chateau La Lagune- 3rd Growth Chateau La Tour-Carnet 4th Growth Chateau Camensac, Chateau Cantemerle, Chateau Belgrave
65
Character of Barsac and Sauternes wines
-intense spiced complexity -bouquet of honey, saffron, dried fruit, and ginger spice -sweet, with botrytis character
66
Geography of Sauternes
-At confluence of Ciron and Garonne Rivers -Cooler mist of Ciron encounters warmer Garonne water creating humidity for botrytis -grapes must be harvested in multiple tries due to uneven ripeness
67
Sauternes Classification
-Classified in 1855 -2nd and 1st growths -Chateau d'Yquem got single classification, Premier Cru Superier
68
Dry wine of Chateau d'Yquem
- "Y" or Ygrec -first produced in 1959 -labelled as "Bordeaux"
69
Sauternes Villages
Sauternes, Barsac, Bommes, Preignac, Fargues
70
Chateau Gilette
-unclassifed Chateau, makes sweet wine, "Creme de Tete" -decades long maturation in concrete vat
71
St Emilion Soils
-Cotes and Graves -Cotes: steep limestone slopes Graves- gravelly limestone plateau
72
Right Bank Grapes
Merlot and Cab Franc, mostly Cab Sauv is rarely used, except for Chateau Figeac
73
St Emilion Classification
-first published in 1955 -revised every 10 years (but not really) -Premier Grand Cru en Classe A -Premier Grand Cru en Classe B -Grand Cru en Classe
74
St Emilion Grand Cru AOP
-geographic appellation, not a quality classification -wines labelled as such must show and additional .5% abv, and must undergo longer elevage than St Emilion AOP -All en Classe wines must meet AOP requirements
75
Pomerol AOP
-tiny, just 5 square miles -1,957 acres of vineyards -no classifications -Mostly Merlot and Cab Franc
76
Pomerol Soil
Sand, clay, and gravel over iron pan -Merlot is very successful
77
Margaux AOP
-largest appellation of Haut Medoc -spread through 5 villages: Catenac, Margaux, Arsac, Soussons, Labarde -21 classified growths -Chateau Margaux First Growth
78
Character of Margaux wines
-feminine wines, floral boquet, exotic character, fresh
79
Chateau Palmer
Well known Margaux 3rd growth, better than many second growths
80
2nd Growths of Margaux
Brane-Catenac Dufort Vivens Lascombes Rauzan Segla Rauzan Gassies
81
Wine Character of Pomerol
-70-80% Merlot -20-25% Cab Franc -Hedonistic, plump, opulent
82
Bouchet
Name for Cab Franc in Pomerol
83
Best Chateaus in Pomerol
Chateau Petrus Chateau Trotanoy Le Pin Vieux-Chateau-Certan Chateau LaFleur Latour a Pomerol
84
Garagiste
-"garage wines," micro Chateau -Right Bank, produce about 6k bottles each -Le Pin in Pomerol Valandraud and La Mondotte in St Emilion
85
Satellite Appellations for St Emilion
St Georges-St Emilion Lussac-St Emilion Puisseguin-St Emilion Montagne-St Emilion
86
Pomerol Satellite Appellations
Lalande de Pomerol Canon- Fronsac Fronsac
87
Oldest Vineyards in Bordeaux
Found in Bourg and Cotes de Bourg AOP
88
Cotes de Bourg Style
-Most are red -Chateau Roc de Camdes is best
89
Blaye AOP and Cotes de Blaye AOP Styles
-Wines from Blaye are red -Cotes de Blaye wines have a large % of Colombard and Ugni Blanc in dry whites
90
Cotes de Bordeaux AOP
-Started in 2008, mostly red -cosolidated several existing Bordeaux appellations such as Blaye, Castillon, Francs, Saint Foye -alternative to luxury priced classified growths
91
Entre Deux Mers AOP
-land between two seas -between Dordogne and Garonne rivers -produces dry whites -May use geographic designation Haut Benage
92
Loupiac, St Croix Du Mont, and Cadillac
-sweet white wines -may or may not be affected by Botrytis
93
Premier Cotes de Bordeaux AOP
sweet wines only
94
Cotes de Bordeaux- Saint Macaine AOP
-South of Loupiac -may produce white wines in sec, moulleux, or liquoruex style
95
Graves de Vayres AOP
-lesser appellation, both white and red wines
96

John Alanis Certified Sommelier (22 decks)

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