Bordeaux

Question 1

Historically important foreign buyers of Bordeaux wine

Answer 1

English and Dutch. The Dutch drained the Medoc and funded building of channels

Question 2

Where is Bordeaux

Answer 2

Southwestern part of France. Inland from the Atlantic on 45 degree parallel

Question 3

Climate and vine risks

Answer 3

Maritime. Rain and Frost

Question 4

What protects vines from the Atlantic

Answer 4

Man made pine forest. Gulf stream warms vines

Question 5

Two rivers that form the Gironde Estuary near Bordeaux

Answer 5

Dordogne and Garonne

Question 6

Where does Entre Deux Mers lie

Answer 6

Between the two rivers

Question 7

Soil types

Answer 7

Medoc and Graves (left bank) GRAVEL. St. Emillion (right bank) silt, clay, gravel, limestone, sand. Pomerol (right bank) iron rich clay

Question 8

Minor grapes of Bordeaux

Answer 8

Carmanere, Malbec, Petite Verdot

Question 9

Why are most Bordeaux wines traditionally blended

Answer 9

To allow varietals to ripen at different times. Minimize crop loss.

Question 10

Left Bank red wine styles are typically

Answer 10

70% Cab Sauv. 30% Merlot plus minor varietal and New French Oak aged.

Question 11

Right bank red wine styles are typically

Answer 11

70% Merlot. 30% Cab Franc. Wines spend some time in French Oak

Question 12

Dry White Wine styles from Graves Primarily Pessac-Leonan

Answer 12

Dry white. 80% Sauv. Blanc 20%Semillion. Only upper tier priced wines are oaked in New French Oak

Question 13

Sweet wite wines from Sauternes are primarily

Answer 13

80% Semillion and 20% Sauv. Blanc. Small percentages of Muscadelle. Many are aged in New French Oak

Question 14

Yearly weather and vintages

Answer 14

vary due to climate variances

Question 15

Largest Regional Appellation in Bordeaux

Answer 15

Bordeaux AOP. Wines can comes from anywhere in the region and be dry or sweet

Question 16

Sub-Regional or District Appellations

Answer 16

Haut-Medoc AOP, Entre Deux Mers AOP (smaller more specific Commune)

Question 17

COMMUNE APPELLATIONS

Answer 17

Small prestigous high quality communes, St. Esteph, St. Julienne, St. Emillion, Pomeral, Margaux

Question 18

Definition of a chateau in Bordeaux

Answer 18

Single vineyard ownership

Question 19

Bordeaux’s most famous red wine area

Answer 19

Medoc

Question 20

The soils of the Medoc are comprised of

Answer 20

Gravel

Question 21

What are the two main regions or subregons of the Medoc

Answer 21

Medoc, Haut-Medoc AOP

Question 22

What are the four most famous communes of the Medoc

Answer 22

St. Esteph, St. Julienne, Paulliiac, Margaux

Question 23

Who comissioned the ranking of wines in 1855

Answer 23

Napoleon II

Question 24

Which bank was excluded from the ranking

Answer 24

Right

Question 25

What was the only Chateau south of the Medoc inclued in the classification

Answer 25

Chateau Haut-Brion in Graves

Question 26

Is this classification system part of the AOP?

Answer 26

No

Question 27

What are the top first growths in order of rank

Answer 27

Chateau Lafit Rothschild, Chateau Latour, Chateau Mouton Rothschild, Chateau Margaux, Chateau Haut Brion

Question 28

What are the most recent top vintages

Answer 28

Every year from 2005 to 2015

Question 29

Where is Graves and what wines and soils are typical

Answer 29

Graves south of and around the city of Bordeaux. Soils are gravel. Wines primarily WHITE and dry. Can be oaked. There are dry red wines too.

Question 30

Most highly regarded chateau in Graves AOP

Answer 30

Pessaac-Leonan,

Question 31

Second sub-region of Graves AOP famous for it's sweet white wines

Answer 31

Sauternes

Question 32

What are wines like out of Entre deux Mers AOP

Answer 32

Dry only red and white, stainless steel, little to NO OAK, soils are silty

Question 33

Describe St. Emillion from Right Bank

Answer 33

Close to town of Liournais, along the Dordogne River

Question 34

Soils of St. Emillion

Answer 34

Silt, clay, gravel, sand, limestone

Question 35

What is uniques about wines from St. Emillion

Answer 35

They are RED only (merlot and cab franc) and not part of the 1855 classification system. Rather there is St. Emillion AOP and St. Emillion Grand Cru (longer aging, .5 higher alc.) AOP

Question 36

In 1955 St. Emillion created it's own classification system Premiers Grands Crus Classes A. This is superior to a Grand Cru

Answer 36

Chateau Ausone, Chateau Angeles, Chateau Pavie, Chateau Cheval Blanc. These are the most famous 4 of the 18.

Question 37

Premier Grands Crus Classes B This is superior to a Grand Cru.

Answer 37

14 qualify

Question 38

Grand Crus Classes

Answer 38

64 qualify. This level is still part of the St. Emillion classification and not the regular Grand Cru AOP.

Question 39

Wines of Pomerol

Answer 39

Merlot and Cab Franc. Pomerol sits near the town of Libournais along the Dordonge River. A small plot only 3 hectares

Question 40

Soils and appellations of Pomeral

Answer 40

Iron rich clay, sand, gravel, Pomerol AOC. Red wines only. Dry

Question 41

Does Pomerol have a classification

Answer 41

No. Only St. Emillion on the Right Bank