Chapter 12-Introduction to France

Question 1

What is the climate of Bordeaux?

Answer 1

Moderate Maritime Climate

Question 2

What warming influence impacts Bordeaux?

Answer 2

The Gulf Stream

Question 3

What impact does the Atlantic Ocean have on Bordeaux?

Answer 3

Rainfall and humidity

Question 4

What protects Bordeaux vineyards from the worst of the Atlantic storms?

Answer 4

Landes Forest and coastal sand dunes to the west of the region

Question 5

What are the 4 dominating black varieties of Bordeaux?

Answer 5

Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Franc
Merlot
Petit Verdot

Question 6

What is top quality Bordeaux aged in?

Answer 6

Small oak barriques of 225 litres

Question 7

What is the most important variety for sweet wine in Bordeaux?

Answer 7

Sémillon

Question 8

What is the style of Sauvignon Blanc in Bordeaux?

Answer 8

Wines with citrus and green fruit aromas

Question 9

What are the characteristics of the Muscadelle grape?

Answer 9

Grapey, floral character, plays a supporting role in sweet and dry wine production

Question 10

What are the generic appellations for Bordeaux?

Answer 10

Boudreaux and Bordeaux Superieur?

Question 11

What is the difference between Bordeaux and Bordeaux Supérieur?

Answer 11

Bordeaux Supérieur requires a higher level of alcohol in the final wine

Question 12

What are the characteristics of a red Bordeaux/ Bordeaux Supérieur?

Answer 12

Medium bodied wine with ripe red and black fruit, some cedar notes from oak

Question 13

What are the soils of the Medoc?

Answer 13

Predominantly clay, but outcrops of Gravel

Question 14

What typifies the wines of the Bas-Medoc vs those in the south?

Answer 14

Higher proportion of merlot, more early drinking

Question 15

Name the 4 smaller appellations (communes) in the Haut Medoc from North to South

Answer 15

Saint Estèphe
Pauillac
Saint-Julian
Margaux

Question 16

What characterises the communes within the Haut-Medoc area?

Answer 16

High percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend. Core of blackcurrant fruit, cedar notes from oak. Grippy tannins when young, long ageing potential.

Question 17

What is the most highly rated area of the Graves?

Answer 17

Pessac Leognan

Question 18

What are the soils of the Pessac Lèognan?

Answer 18

Gravelley, suited to cab sav

Question 19

What is the difference between finest wines of the Haut Medoc and Pessac Lèognan wines?

Answer 19

Pessac Lèognan lighter in body and more fragrant

Question 20

what wines are made in the Graves?

Answer 20

Less concentrated and complex, higher proportion of merlot

Question 21

What grape are Right Bank Bordeaux blends dominated by?

Answer 21

Merlot

Cabernet Franc to a lesser extent

Question 22

What are the two principal appellations of Right Bank Bordeaux?

Answer 22

Saint Émillion

Pomerol

Question 23

Within Saint Emillion there are three distinct groups of vineyards on differing soils. What characterises the vineyards on a plateau to the north and west of the Saint emillion town?

Answer 23

Warm, well drained gravel and limestone soils encourage Cabernet Franc and sometimes Cabernet Sauvignon

Question 24

Within Saint Emillion there are three distinct groups of vineyards on differing soils. What characterises the vineyards on the escarpment to the south east?

Answer 24

Medium to high tannins but compared with more structured wines of left bank, softer mouthfeel, complex red berry and plum aromas. Develop tobacco and cedar notes as they evolve.

Question 25

Within Saint Emillion there are three distinct groups of vineyards on differing soils. What characterises the sandy soils at the foot of the escarpment?

Answer 25

Lighter bodied, less prestigious

Question 26

What characterises pomerol wines?

Answer 26

Richer with a spicier blackberry fruit character

Question 27

What characterises the wines from the Cotes de Bordeaux?

Answer 27

Merlot based | Early drinking

Question 28

What appellations are able to put their names in front of cote de Bordeaux?

Answer 28

Blaye Cadillac Castillon Francs

Question 29

What is the name of the appellation located between the Rivers Garonne and Dordogne?

Answer 29

Entre- Deux Mers

Question 30

What is produced in Entre Deux-Mers?

Answer 30

White wines

Question 31

What characterises the white wines of Graves and Pessac Léognan?

Answer 31

Sauvignon Blanc | Unoaked style

Question 32

What is Pessac Lèognan the home of?

Answer 32

Dry whites. Premium blends of Sauvignon Blanc and semillon. Matured/fernented partly in new oak. Med-full body, toasty oak flavours

Question 33

Where are the top sweet Bordeaux appellations located?

Answer 33

On the banks of the Garonne and its tributary the Ciron

Question 34

Why are the rivers of the Garonne/Ciron the top sweet wine appellations of Bordeaux?

Answer 34

Rivers create ideal misty autumn conditions for noble rot to develop on fully ripened grapes

Question 35

What is needed in years where there is little noble rot?

Answer 35

Passerillage

Question 36

Where do the best sweet wines of Bordeaux come from?

Answer 36

Sauternes, lies on the West Bank of the Garonne

Question 37

What does AOC mean?

Answer 37

Appellation d'origine contrôlée.

Question 38

What does Vin de Pays mean?

Answer 38

French for protected geographical indication

Question 39

What is IGP?

Answer 39

French for IGP

Question 40

What does the labelling term Vin de France mean?

Answer 40

Wines without a GI are termed Vin de France

Question 41

What are cru classés?

Answer 41

Bordeaux 1855 classification listing best red wines of the Medoc and white wines of Sauternes

Question 42

What is does the classification cru bourgeois mean?

Answer 42

Later introduced for other chateaux after 1855 classification. Cru Bourgeois only awarded to wines Ina specific vintage rather than chateau itself

Question 43

What prestigious village lies within Sauternes?

Answer 43

Barsac

Question 44

What wines dominate in Sauternes and Barsac and why?

Answer 44

Semillion because of thick skin and susceptibility to botrysis

Question 45

What grapes are used in Sauternes and Barsac wines?

Answer 45

Sémillion Sauvignon Blanc Muscadelle

Question 46

What does Sauvignon Blanc add to a Sauternes?

Answer 46

Refreshing acidity and fruity aromas

Question 47

What does Muscadelle add to Sauternes?

Answer 47

Exotic perfume

Question 48

What do the best wines of Sauternes demonstrate?

Answer 48

``` High alcohol Sweet Balanced by high acidity Apricot and citrus peek of noble rot Toast and vanilla from oak fermentation/maturation ```