Bordeaux Pt 9 - Sauternais & Entre-Deux-Mers

Question 1

Where is the Sauternais located?

Answer 1

The southernmost portion of Graves.

Question 2

What is the climate of Sauternais?
how is it caused?

Answer 2

It has a special macroclimate which promotes botrytis. Mornings are damp thanks to mist caused by the cool waters of the Ciron meeting the warm waters of the Garonne.

Question 3

What are the soils of Sauternais?

Answer 3

Sand, gravel, marl, limestone and clay.They are so poor that they only support vines and trees.

Question 4

What are the styles and grapes of the Sauternais AOCs?

Answer 4

They are all sweet whites.
White:(P) Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc, Muscadelle.
Gris/Rose: Sauvignon Gris.

Question 5

How are reds and dry whites of Sauternais bottled?

Answer 5

Dry Red and white - Bordeaux AOC;
Reds only - Bordeaux Superieur AOC.

Question 6

What is the minimum RS of Sauternais white wines?

Answer 6

45 g/l (4.5%)

Question 7

When was Sauternes AOC awarded?

Answer 7

Awarded 1936.

Question 8

What are the soils of Sauternes?

Answer 8

Diverse but generally comprise sand, gravel, clay, marl and limestone.

Question 9

What is the planting ratio and yield in Sauternes AOC?

Answer 9

2/3 rds Semillon; 1/3 rd Sauvignon Blanc. Yields are 1.5 ton/acre (25hl/ha)

Question 10

Describe the wines of Sauternes AOC.

Answer 10

Sweet, voluptuous, complex and concentrated with great ageability.

Question 11

What are the flavours of a) young; b) aged Sauternes wines?

Answer 11

Young wines - apricot, pineapple, honey and almonds;
Aged wines - dried apricot, grilled pineapple, spice and nuts.

Question 12

How are dry whites from Sauternes branded?

Answer 12

Usually with the first letter of the Chateau name.

Question 13

When was Barsac AOC awarded?

Answer 13

1936.

Question 14

Where is Barsac AOC located?

Answer 14

Across the river from Sauternes on the left bank of the Ciron River. It is included in the Sauternes zone also.

Question 15

What are the soils of Barsac?

Answer 15

It is mostly a clay-limestone plateau.

Question 16

What distinguishes the wines of Barsac?

Answer 16

They display a distinctive lemony freshness that is attributed to the limestone.

Question 17

When was Cerons AOC awarded?

Answer 17

1936.

Question 18

What are the soils of Ceron?

Answer 18

It has a higher sand and gravel content than Sauternes and Barsac.

Question 19

What area is under vine in Cerons?

Answer 19

Small at 81.5 ac/33 ha. It has higher yields than Sauternes.

Question 20

How are reds and whites of Cerons AOC bottled?

Answer 20

They can be Graves AOC. The semi-sweet whites can be Graves Superieres AOC.

Question 21

Where is Entre-Deux-Mers, (EDM) located in Bordeaux?

Answer 21

It is between the Dordogne and Garonne rivers.

Question 22

What is the make up of soils in Entre-Deux-Mers (EDM)?

Answer 22

They are quite complex. Alluvial along the rivers.Some slopes are pure gravel. On plateaus and hillside they are clay-limestone as well as clay and sand.

Question 23

What are the main styles of wine in EDM?

Answer 23

Dry and sweet whites made from Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and Muscadelle. (Mainly SB.)
Reds are mainly Merlot and both Cabernets and bottled as Bordeaux AOC.

Question 24

What are the 7 main AOCs in EDM?

Answer 24

Entre-Deux-Mers AOC; Cadillac AOC; Loupiac AOC; Saint-Croix-du-Mont AOC; Graves-de-Vayres AOC; Premieres-Cotes-de-Bordeaux AOC; Cotes-de-Bordeaux-Saint-Macquaire AOC.

Question 25

When was Entre-Deux-Mers AOC awarded? for what styles? which Primary grapes?

Answer 25

Awarded in 1937 for Dry white. White ;(P) Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle; WINES MUST BE A BLEND. It covers the whole sub-region.

Question 26

What % of overall Bordeaux dry white wine is produced in EDM?

Answer 26

25% compared to Bordeaux AOC of 60%. Wines must be a blend.

Question 27

What is the DGC of EDM and what does it produce?

Answer 27

EDM Haut-Benauge produces dry whites only. It is also a DGC of Bordeaux AOC.

Question 28

Which three EDM AOCs are located across the Garonne from Sauternais? What style do they all produce?

Answer 28

They all produce sweet white with different RS requirements. Cadillac AOC ; Loupiac AOC; Saint Croix-du-Mont AOC.

Question 29

When was Cadillac AOC awarded? what is the minimum RS level?

Answer 29

Awarded in 1973. Min. RS is 5.1% (51g/l).

Question 30

When was Loupiac AOC awarded? what is the minimum RS level?

Answer 30

Awarded in 1936. Min. RS is 4.5% (45g/l).

Question 31

When was Saint-Croix-du-Mont AOC awarded? what is the minimum RS level?

Answer 31

Awarded in 1936. Min. RS is 4.5% (45g/l).

Question 32

Why is Sainte-Croix-du-Mont considered more prestigious than its other EDM neighbours?

Answer 32

Because of the greater concentration of gravels in its soils.

Question 33

How does the climate of the dedicated sweet wine areas of EDM differ from that of Sauternais across the river?

Answer 33

It is similar but there is less morning mist on the right bank of the Garonne.

Question 34

What are the primary grape varieties of Cadillac AOC, Loupiac AOC and Saint Croix-du-Mont AOC?

Answer 34

White; (P) Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle;

Question 35

When was Graves de Vayres AOC awarded? for which styles?

Answer 35

Awarded in 1937 for dry white, red, semi-sweet white.

Question 36

Which primary grapes are used in Graves de Vayres?

Answer 36

White: (P) Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc, Muscadelle; Rose/Gris: Red: (P) Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cot, Petit Verdot and Carmenere.

Question 37

What are the soils of Graves de Vayres?

Answer 37

Gravel beds deposited by the Isle River which joins the Dordogne opposite the AOC.

Question 38

What is the main grapes in white wines in Graves de Vayres?

Answer 38

Mostly Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon blends but may have some Merlot Blanc (< 35%).

Question 39

What is the main style in Graves de Vayres?

Answer 39

Mainly red blends.

Question 40

When was Premieres Cotes de Bordeaux AOC awarded? for which styles?

Answer 40

Awarded in 1937 for semi-sweet to sweet white. Min RS is 34 g/l (3.4%). Usual white varieties.

Question 41

When was Cotes de Bordeaux Saint-Macaire AOC awarded? for which styles?

Answer 41

Awarded in 1937 for dry white, semi-sweet and sweet white. Min RS is semi-sweet -between 34-45 g/l (3.4-4.5%); Sweet is 4.5% (45g/l) Usual white varieties.