Bordeaux AOCs Flashcards
What are the generic appellations of Bordeaux, their rules, grapes and dry tasting note for red & white?
Bordeaux AOC
Still red, rose & white wines
Max yields in the 60hL/ha for red/white/rose.
Some wines with low flavor concentration
Bordeaux Superior AOC - max yield 59hL/ha.
These two appellations account for 50% of wine produced in Bordeaux.
RED: Made mostly from Merlot.
Med intensity red fruit
high acidity
med (+) tannins
medium alcohol
medium body
WHITE: Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, & blends of the two
Med intensity gooseberry & lemon fruit
high acitidy
medium alcohol
medium body
What are the main Left Bank red wine appellations?
Médoc AOC & Haut-Médoc AOC
Individual communes:
Saint-Estèphe AOC
Pauillac AOC
Saint-Julien AOC
Margaux AOC
Listrac-Médoc AOC
Moulis AOC
Describe the Médoc AOC - style of wine (red/white/rose?), grapes location;
Médoc
Red wine only
Northern end of Left Bank
Nearly equal proportions of Merlot & Cab Sauv
Describe the Haut-Médoc AOC - location, soil, grapes, and famous communes, north to south.
Haut-Médoc AOC covers areas closest to Bordeaux
Warm gravelly sites for Cab Sauv (50%) and Merlot (44%)
Contains four famous communes, north to south:
Saint-Estèphe AOC
Pauillac AOC
Saint-Julien AOC
Margaux AOC
Describe Saint-Estèphe AOC: Grapes, location/climate, soils, style of wine
40% Merlot - more than other 3 –> can tolerate (cool) clay soil away from estuary
50% Cab Sauv –> gravel banks close to estuary
Closest to Atlantic ocean –> Coolest of the four prestigious
Cooler climate –> rustic wines need many years in bottle to soften tannins
Water-retaining quality of clay soil may be a benefit as summers become hot & dry.
No first growths
Describe Pauillac AOC
62% Cab Sauv
CS planted on gravel banks near estuary –> ripens fully in most year.
Top estates have even higher proportin of CS (70-80%)
Most structured of the Left Bank - high acid, high tannins –> potential for long ageing.
Three of the five first growths.
Highest proportion of cru classé wine - 85% of production.
Describe Saint-Julien AOC
Very high proportion of Cabernet Sauv
Very homogeneous gravel soils
Style: mid-way between structured Pauillac & finesse of Margaux
No first growths; five second growths
Describe Margaux AOC
Cabernet Sauvignon
Merlot
Slightly more Merlot / slightly less CS than other 3 left bank communes
Stony, gravelly soils
Further south –> ripens few days to 10 days earlier than more northern communes –> advantage if rain threatens at harvest
Clay seams in land mean drainage may need to be installed
Style: Perfumed wines with silky tannins
Describe Listrac-Médoc AOC and Moulis AOC
Red wine
Further from river than four single communes
Benefit less from moderating influence of estuary AND less gravel in soils
Describe the Graves AOC & Graves Superior AOC
Large appellation for white and red wine (85%)
From Bordeaux city southwards
Graves Superior AOC is restricted to late-picked and/or botrytis-affected sweet wines
Describe the Pessac-Léognan AOC: Location, soils, red vs white, dry note.
Southern suburbs of Bordeaux - sub-region of Graves.
Has the gravel soils & moderating effect of the top communes of the Médoc.
Red (80%) and white (20%) wines
Known for best white wines of Bordeaux – typically blend of Sauv Blanc & Semillon; often barrel-fermented & ages
Gooseberry, lemon, grapfruit
vanilla & clove oak notes
med(+) to high acidity
med to high alcohol
med (+) body
very good to outstanding
Red wines similar to best reds from most prestigious Médoc communes.
Includes one First Growth - Chateau Haut-Brion
Describe Entre-deux-Mers AOC: Grapes, location, quality
Produces only white - Sauv Blanc (primarily) and Semillon blends; maybe some Muscadelle
(Reds can be bottled as Bordeaux or Bordeaux Superior)
Region between the Garonne & Dordogne Rivers
Acceptable to good in quality
Saint-Emilion and Saint-Emilion Grand Cru AOC
These two cover the same large area producing red wine only.
Grand Cru has lower max yields (46 vs 53 hL/ha)
Grand Cru has longer minimum maturation time (20 mos vs 6 mos).
Merlot is dominant (60%)
Cab Franc 2nd most grown variety
LOTS of variety in quality –> simple early drinkers up to comparable quality of first growths
Dry note:
pronounced red & black plum fruit
noticeable vanilla & clove new oak
med(+) to high acidity
med(+) to high tannins
high alcohol
full body
Best can age many years in bottle
What are the Saint-Emilion satellites (describe and name the two largest).
Four AOCs close to Saint-Emilion but further away from Dordogne River.
Most prestigious:
Pomerol AOC
Largest are:
Montagne Saint-Emilion AOC
Lussac-Saint-Emilion AOC
Lalande-de-Pomerol AOC
Describe Pomerol AOC
Small but very prestigious
Merlot is dominant grape
No classification system in Pomerol
Very good to outstanding
Small estates compared to left bank (e.g., Petrus is 12 ha while left bank they might be 80-100 ha)
Top properties command some of the highest prices
Pomerol Packs a Near Knock-Out Punch
Pronounced red & black plum fruit
noticable vanilla & clove new oak
Med (+) to high acidity
Med (+) to high tannins
High alcohol
Full body
Can age for many years in bottle
