Bordeaux (R) Flashcards
1
Q
Main wine style in Saint-Emilion?
A
Dry red (Merlot/Cab Franc)
2
Q
Bordeaux - primary climate moderators?
A
- Waterways and Atlantic Ocean
- Gulf Stream current brings warm water up from the Caribbean, keeping weather mild yet humid
3
Q
Which rivers divide Bordeaux?
A
- Gironde
- Dordogne
- Garrone
4
Q
Entre-Deux-Mers - soil?
A
Very fertile silt
5
Q
Entre-Deux-Mers - grape varieties?
A
White Only
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Semillion
- Muscadalle
6
Q
Medoc AOPs - communes?
A
- Saint-Estephe AOP
- Pauillac AOP
- Saint-Julien AOP
- Margaux AOP
7
Q
Aging wine in __________ is a routine practice in Bordeaux.
A
- Barriques (225-liter oak barrels)
8
Q
Graves - sub-regions?
A
- Pessac-Leognan AOP
- Sauternes AOP
9
Q
Typical wine style - dry white wines from Graves (Pessac-Leognan) (left bank) and Entre-Deux-Mers?
A
- 80% Sauvignon Blanc
- 20% Semillion
- Majority of inexpensive wines made without oak
- Prestigious wines in upper price tiers tend to be aged in new, French oak barriques
10
Q
Typical wine style - red wine from Saint-Emilion and Pomerol (right bank)?
A
- 70% Merlot
- 30% Cabernet Franc
- Also some time in French oak barrels
11
Q
Graves - soil?
A
Gravel
12
Q
Where is Bordeaux located?
A
- Southwestern France; inland from Atlantic Ocean
13
Q
Pessac-Leognan AOP - location?
A
- Northernmost part of Graves (contains Chateau Haut-Brion)
14
Q
Bordeaux - red grape varieties?
A
- Merlot (most widely planted)
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Cabernet Franc
- Petit Verdot (small quantities)
- Malbec (allowed but rarely seen today)
- Carmenere (also allowed bu rarely seen)
15
Q
What year did the classification of first growths take place?
A
1855
16
Q
Top recent vintages of the Medoc?
A
2005, 2009, 2010, 2015
17
Q
Medoc - location?
A
- North of Bordeaux
- Along the Gironde Estuary
18
Q
Where is the Right Bank in relation to the main rivers?
A
East of the Gironde and North of the Dordogne
19
Q
Each of the regions in Bordeaux is known for a specific __________ that is matched with the __________ that grow best there.
A
- Soil type
- Grape varieties
20
Q
Pomerol AOP - grape varieties?
A
- Merlot and Cabernet France-based blends
21
Q
How many properties and tiers were included in the 1855 classification?
A
61 properties; five tiers (1st growth - 5th growth)
22
Q
Saint-Emilion - soil?
A
Proportions vary depending on location:
- Large bed of silt, clay, gravel
- Limestone plateau
- Sand
23
Q
Bordeaux - climate threats?
A
- Rain (at harvest)
2. Frost
24
Q
Sauternes AOP - primary vinification practices?
A
- Botrytis-affected sweet wines
- Oak aged; often new, French barrique
25
Appellations in Saint-Emilion?
- Saint-Emilion AOP
| - Saint-Emilion Grand Cru AOP
26
Pomerol AOP - soil?
- Sand
- Clay
- Gravel
- Subsoild of iron pan and rich clay
27
Explain the four aspects that characterize the Bordeaux chateaux concept.
1. Vineyards known by names of a Chateaux (rather than a plot of land like Burgundy)
2. A Bordeaux chateaux is an estate under a single ownership
3. Size of an estate can change over time with the sale and purchase of vineyards and land (ie. Petrus 50% more land today than 50yrs ago)
4. Thus a Chateau name is more a brand than a specific vineyard location
28
What is the 1855 Classification?
- Napoleon III commission the ranking of Bordeaux's top chateaux for the Universal Exposition in Paris
29
Bordeaux - climate?
- Maritime; moderated by waterways and Atlantic Ocean
| - Gulf Stream current brings warm water up from the Caribbean, keeping weather mild yet humid
30
Pomerol AOP - location?
- Along Dordogne River, near town of Libourne; northwest of Saint-Emilion
- Only 3 square miles!
31
What is important about the soil in Medoc and what grows best there as a result?
- Drainage; Cabernet Sauvignon
32
Evidence of wine production in the greater Bordeaux region dates back to __________.
The 4th century AD
33
What is Bordeaux's commercial success and international reknown linked to?
The region's importance as a center of trade and easy access to the Atlantic Ocean
34
Pomerol AOP - appellations?
Pomerol AOP
| - Red wines only
35
Main wine style in Medoc?
Dry red (Cab Sauv/Merlot)
36
Bordeaux - primary viticultural considerations?
- Region suffers from rain at harvest and frost
37
Saint-Emilion - location?
Right bank; along the Dordogne River near town of Libourne
38
Where is Entre-Deux-Mers in relation to the main rivers?
In between the Dordogne and Garonne
39
What characterizes Bordeaux's historical background and what led to this factor?
- Trade
- Middle Ages:Trade in wine among inland areas boomed; England became most important foreign market
- Mid-1600's: Dutch merchants - looking to expand trade - complex series of channels - drained marshes - more land suitable for viticulture
- Wines from these new vineyards were shipped worldwide; became famous.
40
Right Bank - St-Emilion - soil?
Gravel, limestone, sand
41
Main wine style in Graves?
Dry white (Sauv Blanc/Semillion)
42
Classification system in Entre-Deux-Mers?
None
43
Name the first-growths.
1. Chateau Lafite-Rothschild
2. Chateau Latour
3. Chateau Mouton-Rothschild (elevated to 1st growth status in 1973)
4. Chateau Margaux
5. Chateua Haut-Brion (in Graves)
44
Premier Grand Cru Classe - how many named chateaux?
64
45
How does the Gulf Stream current impact Bordeaux's climate?
- Brings warm waters up from Caribbean
| - Keeps weather mild yet humid
46
What defines the commune appellation designation in Bordeaux?
- Smallest AOP's in each region
- Generally highest quality wine
- Examples: Pauillac, Margaux, Pomerol, Saint Julien, Saint Estephe, St. Emilion
47
What is the big picture difference between Left Bank soil and Right Bank Soil?
- Left Bank: Gravel
| - Right Bank: Sand or Clay
48
What does Entre-Deux-Mers translate to?
"Land between two seas"
49
Medoc - soil?
Gravel
50
What defines the Saint-Emilion Grand Cru AOP?
- It is an appellation, NOT a classification
- Wines have an additional +0.5% alcohol
- Must undergo longer aging requirements than just Saint-Emilion AOP
51
How many properties outside of Medoc were included in the 1855 Classification? Name the region(s), commune(s), chateau(s).
1; Chateau Haut-Brion in the Pessac-Leognan commune in Graves
52
Saint-Emilion - grape varieties?
AOP for Red Wines Only:
- Merlot
- Cabernet Franc
53
Where is Entre-Deux-Mers located?
Large areas between the Garrone River to the south and Dordogne River to the north
54
Medoc AOPs - sub-regions?
- Medoc AOP
| - Haut-Medoc AOP
55
Premier Grand Crus Classe B - how many named chateaux?
14
56
Right Bank - Pomerol - soil?
Iron pan under sand and clay
57
Were communes in the right bank a part of the 1855 classification?
No
58
Main wine style in Sauternes?
Sweet
59
Medoc - grape varieties?
- Cabernet Sauvignon-based blends
60
Graves - location?
South of the Medoc; directly south and around city of Bordeaux
61
What defines the regional appellation designation in Bordeaux?
- Bordeaux AOP
- Largest appellation in size and production
- Grapes can come from anywhere in the entire region
- Red and white; sweet and dry
62
When was the classification system implemented in Saint-Emilion?
Instituted in 1955
63
Graves - grape varieties?
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Semillion
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Merlot
- Cabernet Franc
64
Typical wine style - sweet wines from Sauternes and nearby communes?
- 80% Semillion
- 20% Sauvignon Blanc
- Muscadelle (small percentage)
- Many sweet wines of Bordeaux are aged in new French oak barrels
65
Main wine style in Pessac-Leognan?
Dry white (Sauv Blanc/Semillion)
66
What protects the region from harsh storms and winds from the Atlantic?
A large pine forest along the coast to the west
67
Graves - soil?
Gravel
68
Medoc - soil?
- Gravel
69
Medoc - historical background?
- Bordeaux's most renowned red wine area
- Salt marsh and pine forest; Dutch engineers drained in mid-17th century
- Discovered beds of gravel
- Best Cabernet Sauvignon in France; benchmark for grape in rest of world
- Majestic mansion/chateaux; synonymous with very idea of Bordeux wine
70
Appellations in Entre-Deux-Mers?
Entre-Deux-Mers AOP
71
Bordeaux - white grape varieties?
1. Sauvignon Blanc
2. Semillion
3. Muscadaelle (small quantities)
72
What is key to the soil in Bordeaux?
Drainage
73
What defines the sub-regional or district appellation designation in Bordeaux?
- May be the highest appellation attainable in a particular locale
- OR may encompass a number of separate commune appellations
- Examples: Haut-Medoc AOP, Entre-Deux-Mers AOP
74
The weather in Bordeaux is __________ from year to year.
Inconsistent
75
Typical wine style - red wine from Medoc communces (left bank)?
- 70% Cabernet Sauvignon
- 30% Merlot
- Plus... Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot
- Usually aged in new, French oak barrels
76
Larger proportions of new barrels are typically employed for the more __________ wines - whether red or white, dry or sweet.
- Prestigious
77
Left Bank - soil?
Gravel
78
Pomerol AOP - classification system?
None
79
Bordeaux - what parallel?
The 45th
80
Medoc - wine styles?
- Dry red wines only
81
Is Saint-Emilion on the left bank or right bank?
Right bank
82
Pessac-Leognan AOP - primary vinification practices?
- Dry white wine
- Dry red wine
- New French oak
83
How were the rankings determined?
- Historical price records each property commanded in the marketplace
- Higher prices resulted in a higher ranking
84
How often is the Saint-Emilion classification system revised?
Every 10 years
85
Main wine style in Pomerol?
Dry red (Merlot/Cab Franc)
86
What characterizes the weather in Bordeaux?
- Variation resulting in vintage variation
| - Rain at harvest and spring frosts
87
Saint-Emilion Classification 2012 - name four Premier Grand Crus Classe A.
1. Chateau Ausone
2. Chateau Angelus
3. Chateau Pavie
4. Chateau Cheval-Blanc
88
Entre-Deux-Mers - primary vinification aspects?
- Dry white wine only
- Little to no oak; stainless steel
- Red wines made here fall under Bordeaux AOP
89
Sauternes AOP - location?
- Southermost part of Graves; bordered by Garonne and Ciron Rivers
90
When was the most recent revision of the Saint-Emilion classification system?
2012
91
Bordeaux - primary vinification considerations?
- Blends of two or more grape varieties in the Bordeaux family
92
Where is the Left Bank in relation to the main rivers?
West of the Gironde and Garonne
93
List the Bordeaux Appellation hierarchy.
1. Regional Appellations (Bordeuax AOP)
2. Sub-Regional or District Appellations
3. Commune Appellations
94
What are the primary regions in Bordeaux?
1. Medoc (Left Bank)
2. Graves (Left Bank)
3. St-Emilion (Right Bank)
4. Pomerol (Right Bank)
5. Entre-Deux-Mers
95
Chateaux is the French word for __________.
Castle or manor house
96
Which rivers meet to form the __________ Estuary?
- Garonne and Dordogne
| - Gironde
