Bordeaux Geography/Regulation/Production Flashcards
(137 cards)
1
Q
Biggest AOP of Médoc in terms of plantings (ha) and volume (hl)
A
Margaux AOP - 1490 ha - 60 900 hl
2
Q
Médoc AOP’s from North to South
A
- Médoc
- St-Estèphe
- Pauillac
- Saint-Julien
- Haut-Médoc*
- Listrac-Médoc
- Moulis
- Margaux
- Haut-Médoc*
3
Q
Name the AOP’s of Graves
A
- Graves
- Graves Supérieur
- Pessac-Léognan
- Cérons
- Barsac
- Sauternes
4
Q
Name the AOP’s of Entre-Deux-Mers
A
- Entre-Deux-Mers
- Cadillac
- Graves de Vayres
- Loupiac
- Côtes de Bordeaux-Saint-Macaire
- Sainte-Croix-du-Mont
5
Q
Name the AOP’s of the Right Bank
A
- Saint-Émilion
- Saint-Émilion Grand Cru
- Lussac-St-Émilion
- Montagne-St-Émilion
- Puisseguin-St-Émilion
- Saint-Georges-St-Émilion
- Pomerol
- Lalande-de-Pomerol
- Canon Fronsac
- Fronsac
6
Q
Latitude of Bordeaux City
A
Roughly at 45th latitudinal ine
7
Q
Climate of Médoc
A
Maritime
8
Q
What moderates the climate of Médoc
A
- Atlantic and Gironde
- Landes Forest
9
Q
Climate challenge for Médoc
A
- Humidity & Mold
- Frost at budbreak & Flowering
10
Q
Most planted varietal of Médoc
A
- Cabernet Sauvignon - 49,7%
- Merlot - 44,3%
- Cabernet Franc - 3,7%
- Petit Verdot - 2,1%
- Malbec & Carmenère - 0,2%
11
Q
What is Garonnaise Gravel
A
- Gravel beds formed from increases in water flows
12
Q
What is Pyrenean Gravel
A
- Alluvial gravels from the Pyreness
13
Q
Style of St-Estèphe
A
- Nothernmost commune
- Sturdy and Full-bodied : Tannic, austere, rugged
- Touch more Merlot due to higher clay with the gravel
- No 1st growth, only 5 classified growths overall
- 1229 ha
- Excels in drought or hot vintages
14
Q
Style of Pauillac
A
- Classic Claret
- Cabernet-Sauvignon dominant
- Three 1st growth : Lafite-Mouton-Latour
- Deepest gravel topsoil of the Haut-Médoc
- Iodine, pencil shavings, black currants
- Highest number of 5th growth
- 1213 ha
15
Q
Style of St-Julien
A
- Less wine but higher quality (80% cru classé)
- Elegant style, balances the warmth of Margaux with the structure and restraint of Pauillac
- No 1st growth, but five 2nd
- 910 ha
16
Q
Style of Listrac
A
- Soils generally more clay and limestone
- No classified growths, but good value, especially in better vintages
- Merlot-dominant
- 787 ha
- Notable : Fourcas-Hostens, Clarke
17
Q
Style of Moulis
A
- Soils generally more clay and limestone
- No classified growths, but good value, especially in better vintages
Merlot-dominant
- 610 ha
- notable : Chasse-Spleen, Poujeaux
18
Q
True or False, in the Médoc and Pomerol, producers can freely add the product of new parcels to their grands vins
A
- True, if it provided those parcels lie in the same AOP stated on the label
19
Q
What is the Liv-Ex classification?
A
- London International Vintners Exchange has published a biennial list of the top wines of Bordeaux since 2009. This list is based on current trading prices on the exchange and only Left Bank red wines are considered.
20
Q
What is the difference between Bordeaux AOP and Bordeaux Supérieur AOP?
A
- Bordeaux: can be red, rosé, clairet, white (dry, off dry, medium sweet)
- Bordeaux Superieur: limited to red and medium sweet white wines. It requires a longer élevage for red. Minimum vine density is greater for Bordeaux Supérieur, maximum yields are lower, and minimum potential alcohol is slightly higher.
21
Q
What is the main grape variety used for red Bordeaux and Bordeaux Supérieur?
A
- Merlot
22
Q
True or False, oak chips and American oak is allowed for Bordeaux and Bordeaux Supérieur?
A
- True
23
Q
What IGP covers the Gironde, the Charente, Dordogne and the western part of Lot-et-Garonne?
A
- Atlantique IGP
24
Q
Where can we find in Bordeaux Cordon-trained vines? Why?
A
- Where we produced sweet wines like Sauternes
- Cordon-training produces smaller berries that attract botrytis; Guyot cane-training produces slightly larger berries that tend to develop grey rot instead
25
What is the classic vine training for red varieties in the left bank and the right bank?
- Guyot for both; double is common on the left and simple on the right
26
What is the difference in term of vine density between Medoc and Saint-Émilion & Pomerol?
- Médoc: it is the highest, they required 7000 vines per hectare. Many top wineries employ 1x1 meter spacing, like in Côte d’Or.
- Saint-Émilion & Pomerol: 5 500 vines per hectare, and rows are separated by 1.3-1.5 meters
27
What is the difference in term of canopy height between Medoc and Saint-Émilion & Pomerol?
- Smallest in Médoc, where bunches hang one meter off the ground to take advantage of the stony soil’s radiant heat.
- The canopy is higher in the right bank, especially in the more frost-prone inland region
28
What’s the forest located west of the Médoc?
- Landes Forest, it helped to shield the region’s vineyards from Atlantic weather and winds
29
Which “premier” appellation in Médoc contain more merlot? Why?
- Saint-Estèphe
- Much more clay in the soils
30
Which “premier” appellation in Médoc contain more hectares of vine?
- Margaux
31
Which “premier” appellation in Médoc contain less hectares of vine?
- Saint-Julien
32
Which “premier” appellation in Médoc contain the most Cru Bourgeois estates?
- Saint-Estèphe
33
What is the most northerly classified growth in the Médoc?
- Calon-Ségur (third growth of St-Estèphe)
34
What is the most northerly classified first growth in the Médoc?
- Lafite Rothschild
35
How’s called the system of canals built by the Dutch engineers in Bordeaux?
- Jalles
36
Which decade between 70s, 80s, 90s has been considered as the most difficult one and the best one in Bordeaux?
- The most difficult 70s
- The best 80s
37
What’s the synonym of Cabernet Franc in Right Bank?
- Bouchet
38
What’s Pressac Noir?
- Malbec
39
What separate St-Estèphe and Pauillac?
- Jalles de Breuill
40
Pauillac is divided in two by..?
- Chanel du Gaer
41
What are the communes of production in Margaux?
- Arsac
- Cantenac
- Soussans
- Margaux
- Labarde
42
What are the communes of production in Sauternes?
- Barsac
- Bommes
- Sauternes
- Preignac
- Fargues
43
What style of wine is produced in Graves AOP?
- Dry red
- Dry white
44
What style of wine is produced in Graves Supérieur?
- only sweet wine production, most wine finishing around 40-50 g/l of RS
45
What style of wine is produced in Graves de Vayres?
- Red wine, White, sweet
46
What style of wine is produced in Haut Benauge?
- off dry-liquoreux
- RS betweem 5-60 g/l
47
What style of wine is produced in Cadillac?
- Sweet White
48
What style of wine is produced in Côtes de Bordeaux Saint-Macaire?
- Blanc ( Sec, Moelleux, Liquoreux)
49
What style of wine is produced in Côte de Bordeaux Sainte-Foy?
- Rouge
- Blanc (sec, moelleux & liquoreux)
50
What style of wine is produced in Loupiac?
- Sweet white
51
What style of wine is produced in Ste-Croix du Mont?
- Sweet white
52
What style of wine is produced in Premières Côtes de Bordeaux?
- Moelleux white
53
Which “premier” appellation in Médoc is usually the first to harvest?
- Margaux
54
True or False, the majority of Pessac-Léognan are white
- False, 80% of the production today is red
55
What was the most expensive wine produced in Bordeaux in 2015?
- Liber Pater red (30 000 euros)
56
What is particular with Liber Pater?
- a Vin de France produced in Graves
- Ungrafted
- Using old varieties like Mancin, Pardotte, Castets
- Crazy expensive (30 000 euros for his 2015)
- Extremely high density (20 000 vines per hectare)
57
How is labeled a dry white or red produced on Céron AOP?
- Graves
58
What is the main river in Sauternes that helps to create botrytis?
- Ciron (technically the junction of Garonne and Ciron)
59
What is the minimum residual sugar in Sauternes AOP?
- 45g, but usually range between 120-160 g/l
60
True or False, chaptalization and cryo-extraction is forbidden in Sauternes
- False, it is allowed
61
What is the maximum yield in Sauternes?
- 25 hl/ha
62
How producers in Sauternes counteract and reduce volatile acidity and refermentation?
- Sulfur dioxide during fermentation and élevage
63
Where is located the producer, Roc de Cambes?
- Bourg AOP
- son of the producer of Tertre-Roteboeuf
64
In which AOP can we find the greatest concentration of Malbec?
- Bourg AOP
65
In term of hectare, between Bourg and Blaye, which one is the smallest?
- Bourg AOP
66
Which AOP was used for Cognac production before the delimitation in 1909?
- Blaye AOP
67
Between Bourg and Blaye, which one have a greater ratio of Cabernet Sauvignon?
- Bourg AOP
68
How is labelled a red wine produced in Blaye?
- Blaye AOP
- Côtes de Bordeaux AOP, with or without the Blaye geographic designation
69
How is labelled a dry white wine based on Sauvignon and Sémillon produced in Blaye?
- Blaye geographic designation of Côtes de Bordeaux
70
How is labelled a dry white wine based on Ugni Blanc and Colombard produced in Blaye?
- Côtes de Blaye
71
Which AOP in Gironde département requiring lower yields, greater density of planting, and one of the lengthiest minimum élevage? (reds may not be sold until March 31 of the second year after the harvest)
- Blaye AOP
72
Which river separate Pomerol and Lalande-de-Pomerol?
- Barbanne
73
Which river separate Saint-Émilion & Saint-Émilion Satellites?
- Barbanne
74
What are the differences between St-Émilion and St-Émilion Grand Cru?
- Must be estate-bottled
- Lower-yields
- Longer Élevage
- Must be located on the limestone côtes and plateau
75
What is the minimum aging of St-Émilion AOP?
- wines may not be released until April 15 of the year following the harvest
- so 6 to 7 mt of aging ..
76
What is the minimum aging of St-Émilion Grand Cru AOP?
- wines may not be released until May 15 of the second year following the harvest
77
What are the four St-Émilion Satellites?
- Lussac-St-Émilion
- Montagne-St-Émilion
- Puisseguin-St-Émilion
- St-Georges-St-Émilion
78
Which St-Émilion Satellites can also label his wine as Montagne-St-Émilion?
- St-Georges-St-Émilion
79
Which river is located west of Pomerol?
- Isle river
80
The town Libourne is associated with which AOP?
- Pomerol
81
Which river separate Fronsac from Lalande-de-Pomerol?
- Isle River
82
What is Fronsadais molasse?
- a mixture of soft limestone and clay found in Fronsac
83
Which river separate Fronsac from Entre-Deux-Mers?
- Dordogne
84
Between 2013, 2014 and 2015, which one was the most complicated for right bank Bordeaux?
- 2013
Merlot generally soft and forward but prime spots on limestone and gravel handled late rains better. Cabernet Franc also performed well, bolstering Pomerol and St-Émilion. Generally, more consistent than on the left bank but still for early consumption.
85
What was the most challenging vintage in the 2010s for Sauternes?
- 2012
Botrytis formed but with constant rains and no warm, sunny patches during harvest, the grapes couldn’t get concentration. Some top châteaux did not produce grand vins.
86
Where is located the project of Michel Rolland Château Fontenil?
- Fronsac
87
What are the two communes of production for Lalande-de-Pomerol?
- Lalande-de-Pomerol
- Néac
88
What is the typical blend of Graves dry white wine ?
- Sauvignon Blanc 80%
- Sémillon 20 %
89
What is the typical blend of Graves sweet wines ?
- Sémillon 80%
- Sauvignon Blanc 20%
- + Muscadelle
90
True or False ? Sweet wines of Bordeaux are aged in new French oak barrels.
- True ; often
91
True or False ? In Bordeaux, an estate (château) size can change over time, with the sale and purchase of vineyards and land.
- True
- Rarely are these new parcels directly adjacent to the original château properties.
- In the Médoc and Pomerol, producers can freely add the product of new parcels to their grands vins, provided those parcels lie in the same AOP stated on the label.
92
True or False ? Pétrus has 50% less vineyards than 50 years ago.
- False
- It has 50% more vineyards
93
Entre-deux-Mers main soil ?
- Very fertile silt
94
Which is better between 2010 – 2013 (Left Bank) ?
- 2010
95
Which is better between 2008 – 2009 (Left Bank) ?
- 2009
96
Which is better between 2011 – 2012 (Sauternes) ?
- 2011
97
On which parallel do we find Bordeaux ?
- 45th
98
In Bordeaux, what is the name of the current that brings warm waters up from the Carribean ?
- Gulf Stream
99
Which one buds and ripens first between Cabernet Sauvignon & Merlot ?
- Merlot
- Up to two weeks earlier
100
Why Merlot is better grown on clay soils ?
- It needs cool soils like clay to restrain ripening
- In warm years like 2009 or 2010 Merlot can easily hit 16% potential alcohol.
101
Which vines can live longer between Cabernet Sauvignon & Merlot ?
- Merlot can reach 100 yr
- Cabernet, around 60 yr
102
Which grape is also known under the name ‘Pressac Noir’ ?
- Malbec
103
The Bordeaux Supérieur label is limited to which styles of wines ?
- Red
- medium sweet white wines
104
What was the name of the city of Bordeaux, in 3rd century BC ?
- Burdigala
105
Which estate is the 1st known for putting is brand before the generic category, when selling his wine ?
- Ch. Haut-Brion
- 1660
- Prior to the 1660s, England bought claret. Now, the product of one single estate was available in the market.
106
Which important american personas visited Bordeaux in 1787 ?
- Thomas Jefferson (American Ambassador)
107
Which estate has bow out of ‘en Primeur’ trading in 2013 ?
- Ch. Latour
- For the 2012 Vintage
108
When Graves wines has been classified for the first time ?
- 1953
109
Speaking of ‘Privilege de la barrique’, what do we refer to ?
- Bordeaux wines must be branded (barrels) hinting at early appellation laws
- 18th century
110
When Phylloxera arrived in Bordeaux ?
- 1869
111
What compose the Bordeaux Mixture, and what was it created for ?
- Copper sulfate-lime concoction
- Against Mildew (Powdery and Downy)
112
Speaking of ‘sales sur souches’, what do we refer to ?
- Négociants : pricing based on a previous vintage, agreed upon prior to harvest
113
First château to estate-bottle his wine ?
- Mouton-Rothschild
- 1924
114
In between 2000 and 2010, which vintages are considered a little less goood (Bordeaux) ?
- 2002
- 2007
115
How do you explain the lack of influence from Napoleon’s laws of inheritance in Bordeaux ?
- In France, all heirs are required to pay an inheritance tax
- Can reach almost 50% of the value of the property
- The taxable % increases as property value rises, making direct inheritance an unaffordable goal for many heirs
- Some keep ownership in the family by forming a société civile
- Which eliminates actual transfer of property by creating shares in real estate-owning company. But most sell.
116
What is the principal trellises system of : Right & Left Bank & Sauternes ?
- Left = Double Guyot
- Right = Simple Guyot
- Sauternes = Cordon-Training (smaller berries, attract botrytis)
117
Which growth estate of the Left Bank is the first to be certified Organic & Biodynamic ?
- Pontet-Canet
- 2010
118
Basically, give a difference between Bordeaux Rosé and Bordeaux Clairet.
- With Clairet, the accessory varietals are more limited
119
True or False ? Cortese is now an allowed grape varietal in Bordeaux AOP.
- False
- But Alvarinho is, and Liliorila
- Arinarnoa, Castets, Marselan, Touriga Nacional
120
True or False ? The closure of a Bordeaux bottle can be a screwcap.
- True
- Usually cork, but not mandated by AOC law
121
Which Medoc AOP has the most classified growth estates ?
- Margaux (21)
- Pauillac (18)
- Saint-Julien (11)
- Saint-Estèphe (5)
- Haut-Médoc (5)
- Pessac (1)
122
What are the communes of Sauternes ?
- Sauternes
- Barsac
- Preignac
- Bommes
- Fargues
123
What is the average annual rainfall of Médoc?
- 950 mm, the rainiest major region of France
124
Between Remontage and Pigeage, which cap management technique is more widely used in Bordeaux?
- Remontage, pigeage risk a over extraction
125
Does white wine in Bordeaux usually do their malo?
- no, they try to keep freshness, except really acidic vintage
126
When bottling usually happen in Bordeaux?
- April
127
Does cork closure is mandatory in Bordeaux?
- No
128
In Bordeaux, between Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, which one is more prone to rot?
- Merlot because it does have a thinner skin
129
What is the major red grape varieties of Pessac-Léognan?
- Merlot
130
Where is produced the majority of Bordeaux AOP?
- Nearly 3/4 is produced in the Entre-Deux-Mers region
131
What are the satellites of St-Emilion?
- Montagne
- Saint-Georges
- Puisseguin
- Lussac
132
Saint-Georges-St-Émilion can also be labelled as..?
- Montagne St-Émilion
133
What is the difference between St-Émilion and St-Émilion Grand Cru?
- They have the same boundaries, but;
- Must be estate-bottled
- Lower Yields
- Longer élevage
- Must be located on the limestone côtes and plateau
134
Saillans is a commune of production of which appellation?
- Fronsac
135
Minimum alcohol of Sauternes aop
- 12%
136
Which aop in Bordeaux allowed Mauzac and Colombard?
- Entre-deux-mers
137
What is the annual rainfall of Médoc?
- 950 mm, one of the rainiest major wine region of France
