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Certified Sommelier - CMS > Bordeaux > Flashcards

Bordeaux Flashcards

(106 cards)

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1
Q

Red Varietals Allowed in Bordeaux (6)

A

Merlot
Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Franc
Petit Verdot
Malbec
Carmenere

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2
Q

White Varietals Allowed in Bordeaux (7)

A

Semillon
Sauvignon Blanc
Muscadelle
Ugni Blanc
Colombard
Merlot Blanc
Sauvignon Gris

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3
Q

What is the climate of Bordeaux

A

Moderate Maritime
The Atlantic Ocean and Gironde Estuary moderate temperatures
Rainfall year-round
More continental inland toward St. Emilion and Pomerol

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4
Q

What is the most widely planted grape in Bordeaux

A

Merlot

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5
Q

What is a “Chateau” in Bordeaux

A

Estate under single ownership

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6
Q

What is a “Courtier” in Bordeaux

A

A broker of wine
Acts as a middleman between the Chateaux and merchants

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7
Q

What are En Primeur Sales in Bordeaux

A

Futures

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8
Q

What is a Negociant in Bordeaux

A

Intermediary that purchases fruit or wine in barrel to age and bottle under their own label
Influence faded after WWII

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9
Q

What is the soil in Medoc and Northern Graves

A

Gravel

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10
Q

What is the soil type in St. Emilion

A

Gravel over limestone

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11
Q

What is the soil type in Pomerol

A

Iron pan under sand and clay

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12
Q

What are the rivers of Bordeaux

A

Gironde Estuary
Garonne (left bank)
Dordogne (right bank)

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13
Q

What are the grapes of the left bank blends

A

Cabernet Sauvignon (70%)
Merlot (30%)
Minor (Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec, Carmenere)

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14
Q

What are the grapes of the right bank blends

A

Merlot (70%)
Cabernet Franc (25%)
Cabernet Sauvignon/others (5%)

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15
Q

Explain aging in Bordeaux

A

Top Chateaux will often age red wines for up to two years in barriques (225L)
A large % of new oak is used each new vintage

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16
Q

What are the generic Bordeaux appellations (3)

A

Bordeaux AOC
Bordeaux Superieur AOC
Cremant de Bordeaux AOC

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17
Q

1855 Classification First Growths (5)

A

Chateau Lafite-Rothschild (Pauillac)
Chateau Mouton-Rothschild (Pauillac)
Chateau Latour (Pauillac)
Chateau Margaux (Margaux)
Chateau Haut-Brion (Graves)

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18
Q

What is the 1855 Classification

A

Created in 1855 and still stands today
61 chateaux ranked with 5 growths
Only the left bank was rated
Based on historical marketplace prices and demand, not on quality

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19
Q

Pomerol major Chateaux (5)

A

Petrus
Vieux Chateau Certan
Chateau Lefleur
Chateau Latour a Pomerol
Chateau Trotanoy

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20
Q

What are the primary varietals in Listrac and Moulis

A

Cabernet Sauvignon (majority)
Merlot
Cabernet Franc

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21
Q

What is Medoc AOC

A

Bas-Medoc
Upper 3rd of region
Used by Chateaux that do not qualify for precise appellation
Merlot is dominant

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22
Q

What is Haut-Medoc AOC

A

Left bank
Well drained gravel soils
Cabernet Sauvignon dominates the blends

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23
Q

Haut-Medoc major communes (6)

A

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

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24
Q

St. Estephe

A

Left bank
Larger percentage of Merlot in blends due to more clay amongst gravel
No 1st growths
Super 2nd - Cos d’Estournel

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25
Pauillac
Left bank Power and finesse Gravel topsoil is at its deepest 3 of the 5 1st growths
26
St. Julien
Left bank Elegant wines 80% is Cru Classe No 1st growths 5 2nd growths 2 super 2nds: Chateau Leoville Las Cases and Chateaux Ducru-Beaucaillou
27
What are Listrac-Medoc and Moulis-en-Medoc
Lesser left bank appellations without classified growths
28
Margaux
Left bank Largest in Haut-Medoc 5 villages 21 classified growths 1 first growth Wines said to be feminine with floral and exotic characteristics
29
Medoc highly rated vintages (11)
1945, 1961, 1982, 1989, 1990, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2005, 2009, 2010
30
Soil type in Graves
Gravel Boulbenes (mixture of sand, gravel, and clay) in the south
31
Graves wine styles
Red and white
32
Graves classifications
13 estates classified as cru classe for red 9 estates classified as cru classe for white Chateau Haut-Brion retains 1st growth status
33
Pessac-Leognan
Prestigious appellation for both red and white
34
Explain the sweet white wines of Graves
All sweet wines can be labeled Graves Superieur 3 smaller appellations (Cerons, Barsac, Sauternes) Wines produced with Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc, and Muscadelle Botrytis affected
35
What is the geography of Sauternes
Located at conflux of Ciron and Garonne rivers Cool morning mists from Ciron and warmer waters of Garonne creates humidity for development of Botrytis
36
Classification system in Sauternes
Created in 1855 3 levels: Second growths, first growths, and one Premier Cru Superieur (Chateau d'Yquem)
37
Right bank appellations (2)
Pomerol St. Emilion
38
St. Emilion
Right bank Merlot and Cabernet Franc dominated blends
39
St. Emilion Classification
Created in 1955 Split into 3 levels: Premier Grand Cru Classe A Premier Grand Cru Classe B Grand Cru Classe Reassessed every 10 years (most recently in 2022)
40
Satellite appellations for St. Emilion (4)
Lussac St. Georges Montagne Puisseguin
41
Describe Pomerol
No classification Merlot does well in clay based soil Chateau Petrus is most famous
42
Neighboring red wine districts of Pomerol (3)
Fronsac Canon-Fronsac Lalande-de-Pomerol
43
What are Bourg and Blaye
Oldest vineyards in Bordeaux Predominantly red wines Consolidated as part of Cotes de Bordeaux AOC in 2008
44
Entre-deux-Mers
Land between 2 seas Lies between Garonne and Dordogne Dry white wines
45
What protects the Medoc from harsh west and northwesterly winds
Les Landes Forest
46
What is Clairet
Deeply colored rose (between rose and red)
47
What is the French word for blend
Assemblage
48
What is encepagement
The makeup of grape varieties in the vineyard (or blend)
49
What is the name of the drainage channels that prevent the Medoc from reverting into a marsh
Jalles
50
Name 2 designations that designate quality in Bordeaux
Cru Borgeois Cru Artisan
51
What is Cru Bourgeois
Reinstated in 2008 Designates quality outside of 1855 classification Chateaux must apply regularly and submit wines to blind tastings
52
Why is blending so important in Bordeaux
Vintage variation due to unpredictable weather, especially rainfall By planting different varieties that each bud, flower, and ripen at different times, it ensures that one bad storm will not ruin the entire crop Blending also brings consistency and balance year after year
53
What are the Premier Grand Cru Classe A of St. Emilion (2)
2022 Château Figeac Chateau Pavie 2012 Chateau Cheval Blanc Chateau Ausone Chateau Angelus Chateau Pavie
54
What is the French term for Noble Rot/Botrytis Cinerea
Pourriture Noble
55
What are the 2 rivers of Sauternes
Ciron Garonne
56
Tries
Picking grapes at different times (multiple passes) Typically for Botrytis affected grapes that ripen unevenly
57
When was Y'grec first made
1959 Dry Labeled as Bordeaux AOP or Bordeaux Superieur AOP
58
Villages of Sauternes (5)
Sauternes Barsac Fargues Bommes Preignac
59
Where do you find Cotes and Graves soil in Bordeaux
St. Emilion Cotes = Limestone Graves = Gravel
60
Another name for Cabernet Franc in Pomerol
Bouchet
61
Villages of Margaux (5)
Arsac Cantenac Margaux Soussons Labarde
62
How does Chateaux Figeac differ from the rest
Cabernet Sauvignon as dominant grape Promoted to Premier Grand Cru Classé A in 2022
63
What types of wine are produced in St. Emilion AOC
Red only
64
Sweet white wine appellations located east of Sauternes (3)
Cadillac Loupiac Saint Croix du Mont
65
What is the difference in style between Cotes de Blaye and Blaye
Cote de Blaye produces dry white wines from Ugni Blanc and Colombard Blaye produces dry red wines
66
What is Pressac
Term for Malbec in the right bank
67
What is the INAO
Institut National des Appellations d'Origine Created in 1935 Delimits and enforces appellation system
68
What size are barriques
225L
69
What is boulbenes and where is it found
Mixture of sand, clay and gravel Graves
70
What is millerandage
Irregular fruit set Can be caused by rain and low temperatures during flowering
71
What is in Bordeaux Mixture
Lime, Copper Sulphate, and water Used to prevent fungal disease
72
When were Cru Exceptionelle and Cru Bourgeois Superieur eliminated
2008
73
Name 3 super seconds
Cos d'Estournel (St. Estephe) Leoville de Cases (St. Julien) Ducru Beaucaillou (St. Julien)
74
Communes of Pessac Leognan (8)
Merignac Talence Pessac Gradignan Villenave d'Ornon Cadaujac Leognan Martillac *north to south*
75
First estate to be established in Bordeaux
Pape Clement (Graves)
76
Garagistes
Right bank produces who produce small batches of wine and spare no expense Microchateau
77
Villages of Pomerol (2)
Pomerol Lisborne
78
Which two Chateaux from the 1855 classification are still family owned
Mouton-Rothschild Leoville Barton
79
Why is there such a swing in price from one vintage to another in Bordeaux
The unpredictable climate and weather variations in Bordeaux resulting in vintage variation
80
What is the most widely planted white grape in Bordeaux
Semillon
81
Can you blend white and red wine together to make rose wine in Bordeaux
NO
82
True or False: Rose production in Bordeaux goes through more than 12 hours maceration
False
83
What is a chai in Bordeaux
Term for the place where wine filled barriques are stored
84
What was the only change ever made to the 1855 classification
Chateau Mouton-Rothschild was elevated to first growth status
85
What grape in Bordeaux is most likely to be affected by Botrytis
Semillon
86
How many Chateaux were classified in the 1855 classification
61
87
How many communes are in the Medoc
16
88
What is Chateau Latour's second wine
Le Forts de Latour
89
What is Chateaux Margaux's second wine
Pavillon Rouge du Chateaux Margaux
90
What is Chateau Haut-Brion's second wine
Le Clarence de Haut-Brion
91
What is Chateau Mouton Rothschild's second wine
Le Petit Mouton de Mouton Rothschild
92
What is Chateaux Rauzan Segla's second wine
Segla
93
What does Merlot bring to the blend, where is it common?
Softens the blend, provides body and lush fruit flavors (plum, red fruit). Dominant in Right Bank wines.
94
What does Cab Sauv bring to the blend, where is it common?
Structure, tannin, acidity, and black fruit flavors (blackcurrant, blackberry). Key grape on the Left Bank.
95
What does Cab Franc bring to the blend, where is it common?
Adds elegance, floral notes, and red fruit (raspberry, violet, herbal). Used in both banks, especially in Saint-Émilion.
96
What qualities does Semillon bring and where is it common?
Adds texture, body, and honeyed flavors to blends; essential for sweet wines of Sauternes and Barsac.
97
What qualities does Sauv Blanc provide and where is it common?
Provides acidity, freshness, and citrus flavors (lemon, lime); dominant in dry whites from Pessac-Léognan and Graves.
98
What qualities does Sauvignon Gris provide and where is it common?
Richer and fuller-bodied than Sauvignon Blanc, adds tropical notes.
99
Newly approved Red/White varieties due to climate adaptation:
Arinarnoa, Castets, Marselan, and Touriga Nacional (red); and Alvarinho and Liliorila (white).
100
10 styles of Bourdeaux:
Styles: Dry red, dry white, off-dry white, sweet white, moelleux, liquoreux, rosé, clairet, sparkling white, sparkling rosé (Cremant de Bordeaux).
101
What two grapes make up Cremant de Bourgogne?
Merlot and Cab Franc
102
En Primeur
Futures/future tastings run by Courtiers (financial backers control trade)
103
Bordeaux AOP styles:
Can be red, clairet, blanc (sec), rosé, and has one subzone for white wines- Haut Benauge.
104
Bordeaux Supérieur AOP styles:
Can be red, or OFF-DRY TO SWEET whites wines.
105
Cremant de Bourdeaux AOP styles:
Blanc is from mainly red varietals and some white, rosé is from red varietals only. Must go through secondary fermentation and spend a minimum of 9 months on the lees.
106
Cotes de Bourdeaux AOP styles:
covers Francs, Castillon, Cadillac and Blaye. Mainly for dry red and merlot based. Francs also is for dry to sweet white, Blaye allows dry white. Première Côtes de Bordeaux AOP: Sweet wines only.

Certified Sommelier - CMS (30 decks)

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