FR: Right Bank Bordeaux Flashcards

1
Q

Malbec in BDX

A

most plantings in St-Emilion
“Pressac”

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2
Q

St-Emilion sits between what 2 rivers

A

Dordogne
Barbanne

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3
Q

St-Emilion côtes vs graves

A

Côtes: Limestone plateau near the town itself. Most classed estates here. Cool clay topsoils.

Graves: NW sector near Pomerol’s gravelly terrace. Topsoils feature more clay than gravel, favors higher % of CF
** Ch Figeac, Cheval Blanc

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4
Q

Saint-Emilion AC vs Grand Cru AC
- release date, yields, ABV

A
  • RELEASE: May 15 of 2nd year post harvest (vs April 15 of 1st year)
  • 11.5% min ABV (vs 11%)
  • MAX YIELD 46 hl/ha (vs 53) from same min. density.. 5500

All classed estates are St Em GC, but not all St Em GC are classed.

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5
Q

St-Emilion’s promotional body

A

The Jurade of Saint-Émilion
* named for the governing body of St-Em when granted autonomy from English rule in 1199
* set harvest date
* reborn in 1948 as the trade/marketing body

Saint-Émilion, Lussac Saint-Émilion, and Puisseguin Saint-Émilion

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6
Q

St-Emilion classification timeline

A

1955 (legally enacted in 1958)
Updates:
- 1969, 1986, 1996
- 2006 (contested, demotions nixed in 2009)
- 2012 (authority shifts to INAO, appeals process established)
- 2022

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7
Q

Saint-Emilion classification principles

A
  1. analyses of soil, topography, viticultural, and winemaking techniques
  2. an examination of the estate’s reputation
  3. tasting spanning a decade of vintages
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8
Q

What 4 properties left the St-Emilion classification entirely in 2022

A
  1. Cheval Blanc (Classe A)
  2. Angelus (Classe A)
  3. Ausone (Classe A)
  4. Château La Gaffelière (Classe B)
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9
Q

St-Émilion Premiers Grands Crus Classés A

A
  1. Château Pavie
  2. Château Figeac (Promoted in 2022)
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10
Q

Name 5 St-Émilion Premiers Grands Crus Classés B (12)

A
  1. Château Beau-Séjour Bécot
  2. Château Beauséjour
  3. Château Bélair-Monange
  4. Château Canon
  5. Château Canon-la-Gaffelière
  6. Clos Fourtet
  7. Château Larcis-Ducasse
  8. La Mondotte
  9. Château Pavie-Macquin
  10. Château Troplong-Mondot
  11. Château Trotte Vieille
  12. Château Valandraud
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11
Q

INAO scoring criteria for Saint-Emilion Grand Cru Classe & Premier Cru Classe

A

14/20 total points
1. (50%) tasting of 10 vintages
2. (20%) analysis of topography/ soil
3. (10%) analysis of viticulture, winemaking
4. (20%) reputation of the estate

PREMIER CRU - 16/20:
all above + tasting of an additional - 5 vintages of the wine (with greater maturity)
(heavier weight on each point across the board rather than 50% for tasting)

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12
Q

Pomerol major rivers

A

Isle
Barbanne

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13
Q

Smallest “village appellation” in Bordeaux?

A

Pomerol, 800ha

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14
Q

Pomerol communes

A

Libourne
Pomerol

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15
Q

Pomerol soils

A

Gently rising plateau w 3 terraces of glacial deposits of sand, gravel, clay
* lighter, sandy soils near Libourne
* glacial gravel deposits accumulate as you move east/up
* easternmost/highest point has the purest water-retaining clay with just a little gravel. Emphasis on deep clay.

Crasse de fer = iron rich sand deposits

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16
Q

Best commune of Fronsac?

A

Saillans

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17
Q

Fronsac soils

A

Fronsadais molasse: mix of soft limestone and clay
* found in best hillside sites of Fronsac and in Canon Fronsac

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18
Q

2 best Canon-Fronsac estates

A

Château Grand-Renouil
Château Gaby

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19
Q

Name 3 Fronsac estates

A

Château Dalem
Château de La Dauphine
Chateau Fontenil
Chateau La Vieille Cure

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20
Q

Saint-Emilion satellites

A
  1. Lussac-Saint-Émilion AOP
  2. Puisseguin-Saint-Émilion AOP
  3. Montagne-Saint-Émilion AOP
  4. Saint-Georges-Saint-Émilion AOP

Similar soils to St-Em: vaying mix of limestone, gravel, clay. However, generally hillier, cooler and later harvesting.

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21
Q

River between St-Emilion and satellites - significance of this boundary?

A

Barbanne River
* linguistic boundary - makes separation of langue d’oc vs langue d’oil of the north

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22
Q

Which appellations may append “cotes de bordeaux” to their names?

A
  1. Blaye (red only),
  2. Blaye cotes de bordeaux (red and white),
  3. Cote de blaye (white only - minimum 60-90% ugni/colombard)
  4. Cadillac (red only),
  5. Castillon (red only),
  6. Francs,
  7. Sainte Foy Bordeaux
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23
Q

Easternmost Bordeaux AC?

A

Sainte Foy Bordeaux
* Dry red, whites
* ~20 producers, 2 coops
* close to Bergerac
* clay, gravel, limestone

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24
Q

Soil types of Fronsac and Canon-Fronsac?

A

Molasses du Fronsadais - limestone mixed with sand and clay;

Calcaires a Asteries - limestone mixed with marine fossils

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25
Q

How does a St. Emilion Chateaux become 1er Grand Cru Classe?

A

Pass a tasting of 15 vintages rather than 10;

less emphasis on winemaking and more on soil/topography analysis,

and higher reputation

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26
Q

A CF dominated Pomerol ?

A

Chateau Lafleur - 53% CF on mainly gravel soils

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27
Q

A CS dominated Pomerol?

A

Chateau de Sales (Largest Estate in Pomerol - 47ha)

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28
Q

What is the most highly regarded sector of Pomerol?

A

The eastern sector bordering Saint Emilion - high terrace

(Petrus, Trotanoy, VCC, La Conseillante, l’Evangile, Certan de May de Certan, l’Eglise-Clinet, Lafleur, Petit Village, Gazin, Lafleur Petrus, Bon Pasteur, Beau Regard, La Violette, Le Pin, Clinet)

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29
Q

What is the name of the predominant soils in Pomerol?

A

Crasse de Fer - iron-rich clay - higher terraces and the highest Boutonniere de Petrus - with blue smectite, lower terraces have sandier soils = less quality, lighter wines

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30
Q

Who are some of the original “garagistes” who launched in the 1990s?

A

Tertre Roteboeuf (SE - F. Mitjaville),

Valandraud (SE - JL Thunevin),

La Mondotte (SE - S. Von Neipperg)

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31
Q

Stefan Von Neipperg other estates?

A

Canon La Gaffeliere,

Clos de l’Oratoire (1st employer of Derenoncourt)

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32
Q

Derenoncourt Estates

A
Canon La Gaffelier, 
Teyssier, 
Beausejour, 
La Mondotte, 
Poujeaux, 
Talbot, 
Paveil de Luze
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33
Q

What are the primary soils of the 1er GC Classes?

A

Ausone - calcaire a astéries;
Cheval - gravels;
Angelus - sands;
Pavie - molasses (clay/sand/soft limestone bedrock)

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34
Q

What tributary separates Canon Fronsac and Fronsac from Pomerol?

A

L’Isle

35
Q

Name 2 producers of Fronsac?

A
La Dauphine, 
Fontenil, 
Dalem, 
La Huste, 
Les Trois Croix, 
La Vielle Cure
36
Q

T or F a classified estate in Saint Emilion may grow or shrink in size as on the Left Bank

A

False! sometimes only part of the vineyard will meet the classification standards ex. Angelus’ 27 out of 29 hectares

37
Q

Where do grapes ripen earlier between Saint Emilion and Pomerol?

A

Pomerol - warming effect of gravel

38
Q

Where are the best sites in Fronsac and Canon Fronsac?

A

Saillans, La Riviere - hillsides with higher limestone content

39
Q

What is the smallest satellite of Saint Emilion

A

Saint Georges (can also be labelled Montagne - the largest)

40
Q

What is the highest satellite and last to ripen?

A

Puisseguin

41
Q

All of the Right Bank AOC’s (except SE GC) have a min. abv of _____

A

11% (SE GC has 11.5%)

42
Q

Of the Right Bank appellations which maintains the longest elevage?

A

Saint Emilion GC - May 15 of 2nd year after harvest;

Blaye - March 31, 2nd year after harvest

43
Q

Who makes ‘Trilogy’?

A

Le Pin - 3 vintages of nonclassified wine (like Overture)

44
Q

White wines from the RB are released as…

A

Bdx blanc

45
Q

Cotes de Bordeaux Castillon producer?

A

Domaine de l’A - Derenoncourt

46
Q

Planting density minimum on the RB

A

5,500 vines/ha

47
Q

Synonym for CF in Pomerol

A

Bouchet

48
Q

The Right Bank is the bank of which river?

A

Dordogne

49
Q

Cabernet Franc prefers what type of soil

A

Limestone

50
Q

Where are the oldest cultivated vineyards in Bordeaux

A

Bourg

51
Q

What differentiates the climate of the Medoc and the Right Bank?

A

Right Bank has more continental influence, less maritime

52
Q

Which 2 chateaux were upgraded to A class in 2012?

A

Pavie & Angelus

53
Q

Name 2 most prominent garagistes

A

Valandraud, Le Pin, La Mondotte, Tertre Rôteboeuf

54
Q

Advantage of vineyards on St-Emilion’s Cotes

A

Frost protection due to aspect toward sun, and shelter from the North and West from the escarpment

55
Q

Communes of Lalande de Pomerol

A

Lalande & Neac

56
Q

Chateau Figeac not included in classe A in 2006 because…

A

prices were too low

57
Q

RB proprietors with wineries in Napa

A

Christian Moueix - Dominus; Teyssier-World’s End

58
Q

Only AOP which does not permit carmenere?

A

Pomerol

59
Q

Who produces Trilogie 2nd label?

A

Le Pin

60
Q

Saint Emilion producers on the Graves soils

A

Cheval Blanc, Figeac

more gravel = more CF

61
Q

sandy soil Saint Emilions

A

Monbousquet, Tessier, Canon la Gaffeliere

62
Q

Saint Emilion GCs NOT pursuing classification A or B

A

Tertre Rôteboeuf, Le Dome

63
Q

Why did Cheval and Ausone pull out of classification in 2021?

A

New classification standards included tourism infrastructure, social media presence, and product placement.

64
Q

Le Pin

A

Pomerol
* 2.7ha, est 1979 by the Thienpont family (VCC)
* 92% Merlot, 8% CF. Vineyard on the plateau. Typically 100% Merlot
* 1st vintage 1979

65
Q

La Conseillante

A

Pomerol
Duo de Conseillante
* 80% Merlot, 20% CF

16, 19, 20 = recent outstanding vintages

66
Q

Vieux Chateau Certan
- location
- 2nd wine

A

Pomerol
La Gravette de Certan
* 65% Merlot, 30% CF, 5% CS
(2020 blend - 85M/15CF)

Neighbors Petrus, La Conseillante, L’Evangile. Highest point of the plateau is where VCC’s vines meet Petrus’

67
Q

Chateau Figeac

A

Saint-Emilion
Premier Grand Cru Classe A (only A promotion in 2022)
* 2nd: Petit-Figeac

35% CF, 35% CS, 30% Merlot

68
Q

Chateau Angelus

A

Saint-Emilion
* no classification - formerly Grand Cru Classe A
* 2nd: Carillon d’Angélus
* 53% Merlot, 46% CF 1% PV
(2020 - 60M/40CF)

69
Q

Chateau Cheval Blanc

A

Saint-Emilion
* 2nd: Le Petit Cheval
49% CF, 47% Merlot, 4% CS
(always 100% new oak)
Once part of Figeac
LVMH

70
Q

Chateau Ausone

A

Saint-Emilion - left the classification in 2021
* 55% CF, 45% Merlot
* 2nd: Chapelle de Ausone

71
Q

Tertre Roteboeuf

A

Saint-Emilion
No classification, no 2nd wine
SE sector of St-Em

72
Q

Clos Fourtet

A

St-Émilion
Premiers Grands Crus Classés B
* 2nd: La Closerie de Fourtet
* 80% Merlot, 10% CF, 10% CS

73
Q

Chateau Valandraud

A

St-Émilion Premiers Grands Crus Classés B
Jean-Luc Thunevin
* 90% Merlot, 10% CF
* 2nd: Virginie de Valandraud
* the OG garagiste

74
Q

La Mondotte

A

St-Émilion Premiers Grands Crus Classés B
* 75% Merlot, 25% CF

75
Q

Chateau Clinet

A

Pomerol
* Fleur de Clinet
* 90% Merlot, 9% CS, 1% CF (vyd in both plateau and sandy gravel near the Church)

76
Q

Chateau Petrus

A

Pomerol
97% Merlot, 3% CF (rarely in blend)
* the “buttonhole”: rich blueish clay over a subsoil of gravel which itself is over a layer of crass de fer
** only 1h of 11.5 are on gravel

77
Q

number of classifieds in 2022 St Em

A
  • Premier Grand Cru Classe A: 2
  • Premier Grands Crus Classés (B): 12
  • Grands Crus Classés: 71
78
Q

Hillside communes of Saint-Emilion

A
  1. St-Emilion/Libourne
  2. St-Etienne-de-Lise
  3. St-Christopher des Bardes
  4. St-Hippolyte
  5. St-Laurent-des-Combes

[St-Sulipce-de-Faleyrens, Vignonet, St-Pey-d’Armens are on the plains]

79
Q

Saint-Emilion name for Cab Franc

A

bouchet

80
Q

Saint-Emilion plateau soils

A

loam and clay over weathered limestone
* not porous or fissured - roots cannot penetrate this limestone

81
Q

Saint-Emilion cotes soils, producers

A

Similar to plateau - loam and clay over limestone
* Pavie, Larcis-Ducasse

82
Q

Original 2 Premiers Cru Classe A in the 1955 St-Em?

A

Cheval Blanc
Ausone

83
Q

Chateau Pavie

A

Saint-Emilion 1GCCA since ‘12
* 2nd: Arômes de Pavie
* 65% Merlot, 25% CF, 10% CS

84
Q

What is Bouchet?

A

Pomerol name for Cab Franc