Denomination Flashcards
Saint-Estèphe AOC
Bordeaux, Left Bank
This is the most northerly and coolest of the four prestigious Left Bank Médoc communes, as it is closest to the Atlantic Ocean.
At 40 per cent, it has more Merlot planted than the other three, as it can ripen successfully here and is well suited to the clay soils away from the estuary.
Cabernet Sauvignon makes up 50 per cent of the plantings and performs best on the gravel banks close to the estuary.
Pockets of clay in Saint-Estèphe: the wines from such soils, while robust and characterful, have not achieved the same acclaim as those grown on gravel.
Due its cooler regional climate, Saint-Estèphe has a reputation for rustic wines that need many years in the bottle to soften the tannins.
However, some wines are softer and more accessible, especially from the warmer gravel soils or where there is a significant proportion of Merlot in the blend.
Furthermore, the water retaining capacity of the clay soils has proven to be advantageous in recent dry, hot summers.
It has no First growths, but it does have Second growths and a large number of Cru Bourgeois.
Margaux AOC
Bordeaux, Left Bank
Gravel mounds are not especially high (highest in Margaux at 32 m)
Pomerol
Bordeaux, Right Bank
in Pomerol soils are rarely more than a metre deep and, as a result, the vines can suffer, as was seen in the very dry summer of 2016.
Bordeaux AOC - Bordeaux Supérieur AOC
Red wines, mainly Merlot, typically have:
- medium intensity red fruit,
- high acidity,
- medium (+) tannins,
- medium body and
- medium alcohol.
White wines are made with
increasing amounts of Sauvignon Blanc and have
- medium intensity gooseberry and lemon fruit,
- medium body,
- high acidity and
- medium alcohol.
Most of the wines are
- acceptable to good quality and
- inexpensive to mid-priced.
Bordeaux AOC is the vast regional appellation for still red, rosé and white wines.
- Maximum yield is 67 hL/ha for whites,
- 62 hL/ha for rosés
- 60 hL/ha for reds,
resulting in some wines
of low flavour concentration.
In Bordeaux Supérieur AOC:
- same whole region
- maximum yield is 59 hL/ha for red wine
- slightly stricter rules regarding ageing and minimum alcohol levels than a Bordeaux AOC.
Médoc AoC and Haut-Médoc AoC
These appellations are situated on the left bank of the Gironde to the north of the city of
Bordeaux. Both of these appellations are for red wine only and maximum yield is 55 hL/ha.
Wines can only be sold for consumption from mid-June of the year after the harvest.
Médoc AOC covers the northern end of the area and is mainly planted with Merlot
and Cabernet Sauvignon, though the wines are often predominantly Merlot. Haut-Médoc
AOC covers the area closest to Bordeaux city and includes the famous Left Bank individual
communes discussed immediately below. Here, the soils include warm, gravelly sites for
Merlot (49 per cent) and Cabernet Sauvignon (44 per cent of plantings). As these are large
areas, wines labelled Médoc and Haut-Médoc come in a wide range of prices and quality
levels. However, as lower yields are required than for Bordeaux AOC, Médoc AOC wines
typically have slightly higher fruit concentration, with medium (+) red fruit.
The Haut-Médoc sub-region is the location of four famous single commune appellations:
Saint-Estèphe, Pauillac, Saint-Julien and Margaux. These appellations are adjacent to the
Gironde estuary and its moderating influence and have a high proportion of warm, gravelly
soils enabling Cabernet Sauvignon to ripen. These four appellations are for red wines only,
with a maximum yield of 57 hL/ha. The wines typically have pronounced intensity blackcurrant,
green bell pepper (especially in cooler vintages) and red plum fruit, with vanilla and cedar oak
notes. They have medium to high alcohol, high tannins and are medium (+) bodied. The wines
in these four communal AOCs are typically very good to outstanding in quality and premium to
super-premium in price.
Pauillac AOC
Bordeaux, Left Bank
This appellation has a high proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon planted (around 62 per cent)
often on the gravel banks close to the estuary, enabling the variety to ripen fully in most years.
Many of the top estates have an even higher proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend
(70–80 per cent), resulting in wines of high concentration and great longevity.
Stylistically, it is regarded as the most structured wine of the Left Bank, with
- high tannins and high acidity, giving it the capacity for long ageing.
Pauillac has three of the five First growths.
It also has the highest proportion of production of cru classé wine, around 85 per cent of production, followed closely by Saint-Julien.
Saint-Julien AOC
Like Pauillac, this appellation has a very high proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon planted and a
high proportion of cru classé production.
It has very homogenous gravel soils.
Stylistically it is often regarded as a mid-way point between the powerful structure of Pauillac and the finesse of Margaux.
It has no First growths but five Second growths.
Pauillac AOC
Bordeaux, Left Bank
This appellation has a high proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon planted (around 62 per cent)
often on the gravel banks close to the estuary, enabling the variety to ripen fully in most years.
Many of the top estates have an even higher proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend
(70–80 per cent), resulting in wines of high concentration and great longevity.
Stylistically, it is regarded as the most structured wine of the Left Bank, with
- high tannins and high acidity, giving it the capacity for long ageing.
Pauillac has three of the five First growths.
It also has the highest proportion of production of cru classé wine, around 85 per cent of production, followed closely by Saint-Julien.
Saint-Julien AOC
Bordeaux, Left Bank
Like Pauillac, this appellation has a very high proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon planted and a
high proportion of cru classé production.
It has very homogenous gravel soils.
Stylistically it is often regarded as a mid-way point between the powerful structure of Pauillac and the finesse of Margaux.
It has no First growths but five Second growths.
Pauillac AOC
Bordeaux, Left Bank
This appellation has a high proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon planted (around 62 per cent)
often on the gravel banks close to the estuary, enabling the variety to ripen fully in most years.
Many of the top estates have an even higher proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend
(70–80 per cent), resulting in wines of high concentration and great longevity.
Stylistically, it is regarded as the most structured wine of the Left Bank, with
- high tannins and high acidity, giving it the capacity for long ageing.
Pauillac has three of the five First growths.
It also has the highest proportion of production of cru classé wine, around 85 per cent of production, followed closely by Saint-Julien.
Saint-Julien AOC
Bordeaux, Left Bank
- Very high proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon planted
- Very homogenous gravel soils.
- high proportion of cru classé production.
It has
Stylistically it is often regarded as a mid-way point between the powerful structure of Pauillac and the finesse of Margaux.
It has no First growths but five Second growths.
