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CMS - Intro Somm > Bordeaux - France - CMS Intro Somm > Flashcards

Bordeaux - France - CMS Intro Somm Flashcards

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1
Q

When does evidence of wine production in the greater Bordeaux region date back to?

A

4th century AD

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2
Q

Which foreign market became the most important for Bordeaux wine in the Middle Ages?

A

England

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3
Q

What did Dutch merchants create in the mid-1600s to expand trade in Bordeaux?

A

A complex series of channels that drained marshes

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4
Q

What was the impact of the new vineyards created by Dutch merchants in Bordeaux?

A

Wines from these vineyards were shipped worldwide and became famous

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5
Q

What are the two main factors linked to the commercial success and international renown of Bordeaux wine?

A
  • The region’s importance as a center of trade
  • Easy access to the Atlantic Ocean
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6
Q

True or False: The wine trade in Bordeaux boomed during the Middle Ages.

A

True

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7
Q

Bordeaux

Fill in the blank: In the mid-1600s in Bordeaux, Dutch merchants drained _______ to create more land suitable for viticulture.

A

marshes

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8
Q

Where is Bordeaux located?

A

Southwestern France, inland from the Atlantic Ocean

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9
Q

What type of climate does Bordeaux have?

A

Maritime

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10
Q

Which parallel is Bordeaux located on?

A

45th parallel

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11
Q

What moderates the climate of Bordeaux?

A

Its waterways and its proximity to the Atlantic coast

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12
Q

What current brings warm waters to Bordeaux?

A

Gulf Stream current, from the Caribbean

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13
Q

What helps keep the weather in Bordeaux mild yet humid?

A

The Gulf Stream current

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14
Q

What weather conditions can the region of Bordeaux suffer from?

A

Rain and frost

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15
Q

What protects the Bordeaux region from harsh storms and winds from the Atlantic?

A

A large pine forest along the coast to the west

This natural barrier helps mitigate the impact of severe weather.

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16
Q

Which two rivers meet north of Bordeaux to form the Gironde Estuary?

A

Garonne and Dordogne

The estuary flows into the Atlantic Ocean.

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17
Q

What are the three sections into which the area around Bordeaux is divided?

A
  • Left Bank West of Garonne and Gironde
  • Right Bank East and north of the Dordogne and Gironde
  • Entre-Deux-Mers between the Garonne and Dordogne

The bodies of water are what divide this area into three sections.

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18
Q

What is key to the soil types in Bordeaux regions?

A

Water drainage

Each of the regions of Bordeaux is known for a specific soil type that is matched with the grape variety that grows best there.

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19
Q

What type of soil is found in Médoc and Graves on the Left Bank of Bordeaux?

A

Gravel

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20
Q

What are the white grape varieties from Bordeaux?

A
  • Sauvignon Blanc
  • Sémillon
  • Muscadelle (small quantities)
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21
Q

What is the most widely planted red grape variety in Bordeaux?

A

Merlot

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22
Q

List the red grape varieties found in Bordeaux.

A
  • Merlot (most widely planted)
  • Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Cabernet Franc
  • Petit Verdot (small quantities)
  • Malbec (rarely seen)
  • Carmenère (rarely seen)

Malbec and Carmenère are permitted but not commonly cultivated in modern Bordeaux.

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23
Q

What climatic challenges does Bordeaux viticulture face?

A

Rain at harvest and frost

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24
Q

Fill in the blank: The grape variety _______ is known as the most widely planted in Bordeaux.

A

Merlot

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25
Fill in the blank: Bordeaux's Muscadelle grape variety is typically found in _______ quantities.
small
26
What is a typical blend composition of Red Wines from Médoc communes?
70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, plus Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot ## Footnote These wines are usually aged in new French oak barrels.
27
What is a typical blend composition of Red Wines from Saint-Émilion and Pomerol?
70% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc ## Footnote These wines spend some time in French oak barrels.
28
What is a typical blend composition of Dry White Wines from Graves?
80% Sauvignon Blanc, 20% Sémillon ## Footnote Most inexpensive white wines from Bordeaux are made without oak.
29
What is a typical blend composition of Sweet Wines from Sauternes?
80% Sémillon, 20% Sauvignon Blanc, Muscadelle (small percentage) ## Footnote Many sweet wines of Bordeaux are aged in new French oak barrels.
30
What are the biggest weather-related challenges faced by Bordeaux wine producers?
Spring frosts and excessive rainfall at harvest ## Footnote Bordeaux is well protected from some harsher influences of the Atlantic but still experiences inconsistent weather.
31
True or False: Bordeaux wines are typically made from single grape varieties.
False ## Footnote Wines from Bordeaux are usually blends of two or more grape varieties.
32
Fill in the blank: Red Wines from Médoc communes are usually aged in _______.
new French oak barrels
33
What is the primary grape variety in the inexpensive white wines from Bordeaux?
Sauvignon Blanc ## Footnote These wines are mainly from Graves (Pessac-Léognan) on the left bank and Entre-Deux-Mers; they are often made without oak aging.
34
What does the term 'vintage variation' refer to in Bordeaux winemaking?
The differences in weather conditions from year to year affecting wine quality ## Footnote Different vintages of the same wine can show vastly different characteristics.
35
What is the largest appellation in size and production in Bordeaux?
Bordeaux AOP ## Footnote Bordeaux AOP allows grapes from anywhere in the entire region and includes red and white wines in both sweet and dry styles.
36
What are the types of Bordeaux appellations?
* Regional Appellations * Sub-Regional or District Appellations * Commune Appellations
37
What are two examples of Sub-Regional or District Appellations in Bordeaux?
* Haut Médoc AOP * Entre-Deux-Mers AOP ## Footnote Sub-Regional or District Appellations may be the highest appellations attainable in a particular locale or they may encompass a number of separate commune appellations.
38
What are the smallest AOPs in each region of Bordeaux known for?
Generally the highest quality wines ## Footnote These are referred to as Commune Appellations.
39
List three examples of Commune Appellations in Bordeaux.
* Pauillac * Margaux * Pomerol ## Footnote Other examples include Saint Julien, Saint Estèphe, and St. Émilion.
40
True or False: Bordeaux AOP includes only red wines.
False ## Footnote Bordeaux AOP encompasses both red and white wines in sweet and dry styles.
41
Fill in the blank: The _______ appellation in Bordeaux allows grapes from anywhere in the entire region.
Bordeaux AOP ## Footnote This appellation is the largest in terms of size and production.
42
What distinguishes commune appellations from other types of appellations in Bordeaux?
They are the smallest AOPs with the highest quality wines ## Footnote Commune appellations focus on specific areas within Bordeaux.
43
How are Bordeaux vineyards typically known?
By names of châteaux
44
What is the French word for castles or manor houses?
Châteaux
45
What is a Bordeaux château?
An estate under a single ownership
46
Can the size of a Bordeaux château change over time?
Yes, with the sale and purchase of vineyards and land
47
What is a prime example of a Bordeaux château that has increased in vineyard land?
Château Pétrus in Pomerol ## Footnote This Château has 50% more vineyard land today than it did 50 years ago.
48
What does a château name represent in Bordeaux?
More a brand than a specific vineyard location
49
True or False: Not all Bordeaux châteaux are architecturally grand.
True
50
Fill in the blank: Bordeaux vineyards are not known by names attached to specific plots of land, as they are in _______.
Burgundy
51
What is a routine practice in Bordeaux for aging wine?
Aging wine in 225-liter oak barrels (barriques)
52
What type of barrels are commonly used for aging wine in Bordeaux?
225-liter oak barrels (barriques)
53
What is the typical proportion of new barrels used for prestigious wines?
Larger proportions of new barrels ## Footnote This is true whether red or white, dry or sweet
54
What aromas are lent to wines aged in new barrels in Bordeaux?
* Vanilla * Toasted cedar * Spice
55
What is the Médoc (Left Bank, Bordeaux) known for?
Bordeaux’s most renowned red wine area
56
What was the Médoc (Left Bank, Bordeaux) before the mid-17th century?
A salt marsh and pine forest
57
Who drained the marshes in the Médoc (Left Bank, Bordeaux)?
Dutch engineers
58
What did the drainage of the marshes in the Médoc (Left Bank, Bordeaux) reveal?
Beds of gravel
59
What grape variety became associated with the Médoc (Left Bank, Bordeaux)?
Cabernet Sauvignon
60
What impact did Médoc (Left Bank, Bordeaux) wines have globally?
Became the benchmark for wines made with Cabernet Sauvignon worldwide
61
What type of buildings were constructed in the Médoc (Left Bank, Bordeaux)?
Majestic mansions, or châteaux
62
What do the châteaux in the Médoc (Left Bank, Bordeaux) represent?
The very idea of Bordeaux wine
63
Where is the Médoc located?
North of the city of Bordeaux along the Gironde Estuary ## Footnote Left Bank
64
What type of soil is found in the Médoc (Left Bank, Bordeaux)?
Gravel, with great moisture draining properties ## Footnote This soil type is particularly beneficial for growing Cabernet Sauvignon grapes.
65
What grape variety is primarily associated with the Médoc (Left Bank, Bordeaux)?
Cabernet Sauvignon – based blends
66
What type of wines are produced in the Médoc (Left Bank, Bordeaux)?
Red wines only ## Footnote The region is renowned for its high-quality red wines, mainly utilizing Cabernet Sauvignon.
67
What are the appellations of the left bank of Bordeaux?
* The Médoc * Graves AOP * Sauternes AOP
68
What are the AOPs of the Médoc (Left Bank, Bordeaux)?
* Sub-Regions: -Médoc AOP -Haut-Médoc AOP * Communes (Haut-Médoc AOP): -Saint-Estèphe AOP -Pauillac AOP -Saint-Julien AOP -Margaux AOP
69
What are the main sub-regions of Médoc AOP (Left Bank, Bordeaux)?
Médoc AOP and Haut-Médoc AOP
70
Name four communes within the Médoc AOP (Left Bank, Bordeaux).
* Saint-Estèphe AOP * Pauillac AOP * Saint-Julien AOP * Margaux AOP
71
What year was the Bordeaux classification commissioned by Emperor Napoléon III?
1855 ## Footnote The classification was for the Universal Exposition in Paris
72
How many properties were ranked in the 1855 Bordeaux classification?
61 properties
73
What were the five tiers used in the 1855 Bordeaux classification?
First growth through fifth growth
74
What criteria was used to rank the properties in the 1855 classification?
Historical record of the prices that each property’s wines commanded in the marketplace ## Footnote The higher the price, the higher the ranking
75
Which communes were excluded from the 1855 Bordeaux classification?
Communes in the Right Bank
76
Which property in the Pessac-Léognan commune was included in the classification?
Château Haut-Brion
77
Why was Château Haut-Brion included in the 1855 classification?
Because the wine grown and made at Château Haut-Brion had long fetched a very high price in the market
78
Is the 1855 Bordeaux classification part of the AOP system?
No
79
Which château was elevated to first growth status in 1973?
Château Mouton-Rothschild
80
List all the First Growth Châteaux of the 1855 classification.
* Château Lafite-Rothschild * Château Latour * Château Mouton-Rothschild (elevated to first growth status in 1973) * Château Margaux * Château Haut-Brion
81
What are the top recent red vintages of the Médoc (Left Bank, Bordeaux)
* 2005 * 2009 * 2010 * 2015
82
What are the top recent white vintages of the Médoc (Left Bank, Bordeaux)?
* 2006 * 2007 * 2008 * 2011 * 2012 * 2013 * 2014
83
Where is Graves AOP located?
South of the Médoc and directly south and around of the city of Bordeaux ## Footnote Left Bank
84
What type of soil is found in Graves AOP (Left Bank, Bordeaux)?
Gravel
85
Name the white grape varieties used in Graves AOP (Left Bank, Bordeaux).
* Sauvignon Blanc * Sémillon
86
Name the red grape varieties used in Graves AOP (Left Bank, Bordeaux).
* Cabernet Sauvignon * Merlot * Cabernet Franc
87
What is the northernmost sub-region of Graves AOP (Left Bank, Bordeaux)?
Pessac-Léognan AOP
88
What is significant about Pessac-Léognan AOP (Graves AOP, Left Bank, Bordeaux)?
It includes the most highly regarded châteaux
89
What types of wines are vinified in Graves AOP (Left Bank, Bordeaux)?
* Dry white wines * Dry red wines
90
What type of oak is often used in the vinification of Graves AOP (Left Bank, Bordeaux) wines?
New French oak
91
Where is Sauternes AOP located?
Southernmost portion of Graves ## Footnote Left Bank, Bordeaux
92
What geographical feature borders Sauternes AOP (Left Bank, Bordeaux)?
The Garonne and Ciron Rivers
93
What type of wines are produced in Sauternes AOP (Left Bank, Bordeaux)?
Botrytis-affected sweet wines
94
How are Sauternes AOP (Left Bank, Bordeaux) wines typically aged?
Oak aged, often in new French barrique
95
What does Entre-Deux-Mers translate to?
Land between two seas
96
What/where is the Entre-Deux-Mers AOP, Bordeaux?
A large area between the Garonne and Dordogne rivers
97
What type of soil is found in Entre-Deux-Mers, Bordeaux?
Very fertile silt
98
Name three white grape varieties grown in Entre-Deux-Mers, Bordeaux.
* Sauvignon Blanc * Sémillon * Muscadelle
99
What type of wines are produced in Entre-Deux-Mers, Bordeaux?
Dry white wines only
100
What vinification techniques are used in Entre-Deux-Mers, Bordeaux?
* Little to no oak * Stainless steel
101
What appellation do red wines made in Entre-Deux-Mers fall under?
Bordeaux AOP appellation
102
What is the primary appellation of Entre-Deux-Mers, Bordeaux?
Entre-Deux-Mers AOP
103
Does Entre-Deux-Mers, Bordeaux have a classification system?
No
104
What are the appellations of the right bank of Bordeaux?
* Saint-Émilion AOP * Pomerol AOP
105
What is the location of Saint-Émilion?
Along the Dordogne River near the town of Libourne ## Footnote Right Bank, Bordeaux
106
What are the main soil types found in Saint-Émilion (Right Bank, Bordeaux)?
* Large bed of silt, clay, and gravel * Limestone plateau * Sand ## Footnote Proportions vary depending on the location
107
What are the primary grape varieties used in Saint-Émilion (Right Bank, Bordeaux) red wines?
Merlot, Cabernet Franc ## Footnote These are the main grape varieties for red wines in the Saint-Émilion region.
108
What style of wine is allowed in Saint-Émilion AOP (Right Bank, Bordeaux)?
Red wines only
109
Name the two main appellations in Saint-Émilion (Right Bank, Bordeaux).
* Saint-Émilion AOP * Saint-Émilion Grand Cru AOP ## Footnote Saint-Émilion Grand Cru AOP is an appellation, not a classification.
110
What is a key characteristic of wines labeled as Saint-Émilion Grand Cru AOP?
They have an additional 0.5% alcohol and must undergo longer aging than Saint-Émilion AOP wines.
111
When was the classification system for Saint-Émilion instituted?
1955 ## Footnote The classification system helps to categorize the quality of wines in the Saint-Émilion region.
112
How often is the classification system for Saint-Émilion revised?
Every 10 years ## Footnote The most recent revision of the classification system occurred in 2012.
113
True or False: Saint-Émilion Grand Cru is a classification.
False ## Footnote It is an appellation, not a classification.
114
What is the classification of Château Ausone?
Premiers Grands Crus Classé A ## Footnote Part of the top tier in the Saint-Émilion Classification 2012.
115
How many châteaux are classified as Premiers Grands Crus Classé A in the Saint-Émilion Classification of 2012?
4 named châteaux ## Footnote The top tier includes Château Ausone, Château Angélus, Château Pavie, and Château Cheval-Blanc.
116
List the châteaux classified as Premiers Grands Crus Classé A in the Saint-Émilion Classification of 2012.
* Château Ausone * Château Angélus * Château Pavie * Château Cheval-Blanc ## Footnote These are the only châteaux in this top classification.
117
How many châteaux are classified as Premiers Grands Crus Classé B in the Saint Émilion Classification of 2012?
14 named châteaux ## Footnote This classification is the second tier in the Saint-Émilion classification system.
118
What is the total number of châteaux classified as Grands Crus Classé in the Saint-Émilion Classification of 2012?
64 named châteaux
119
Where is Pomerol AOP located?
**Along the Dordogne River near the town of Libourne to the northwest of Saint Émilion** ## Footnote Right Bank, Bordeaux
120
What is the size of the Pomerol AOP appellation (Right Bank, Bordeaux)?
Only 3 square miles ## Footnote A very small appellation
121
What types of soil are found in Pomerol AOP (Right Bank, Bordeaux)?
* Sand * Clay * Gravel * Subsoil of iron pan and rich clay ## Footnote Iron pan is under sand and clay
122
What grape varieties are primarily used in Pomerol AOP (Right Bank, Bordeaux)?
Merlot and Cabernet Franc-based blends
123
What type of wines does Pomerol AOP produce (Right Bank, Bordeaux)?
Red wines only
124
Does Pomerol AOP have a classification system (Right Bank, Bordeaux)?
No
125
Where is Sémillon primarily grown in Bordeaux?
* Graves AOP (Left Bank) * Entre-Deux-Mers AOP
126
Where is Sauvignon Blanc primarily grown in Bordeaux?
* Graves AOP (Left Bank) * Entre-Deux-Mers AOP
127
Where is Muscadelle primarily grown in Bordeaux?
* Graves AOP (Left Bank) -Sauternes AOP * Entre-Deux-Mers AOP

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