FR_Bordeaux Flashcards
(16 cards)
Red Grapes of Bordeaux
* 3 Major
* 3 Minor
* What they contribute
MAJOR
* Cabernet Sauvignon: Structure, power, and longevity
* Merlot: fleshy, juicy texture that can soften the austerity of Cabernet Sauvignon
* Cabernet Franc: More tannin than Merlot, less muscle and weight than Cabernet Sauvignon, imparts herbal spice and red fruit aromatics
MINOR
* Petit Verdot: Inky, last grape in Bordeaux to ripen, occasionally added on the Left Bank in minute quantities for color, depth and exotic perfume
* Malbec: Performs similarly to Merlot in blends, seldom encountered in Bordeaux
* Carmenere (kaar-muh-nehr): Virtually extinct
White Grapes of Bordeaux
* 2 Major
* 5 Minor
MAJOR: Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon (se-mi-yon)
MINOR: Muscadelle, Uni Blanc,
Merlot Blanc, Sauvignon Gris, Colombard
5 Styles of Bordeaux Wines
Dry: Red/White/Rosé/Claret
Off Dry to Sweet: White
Dry to sweet White (SB/Sémillon/Muscadelle) and Rosé Sparkling (Cab/Merlot)
Moelleux (moy-loo): Sweet (Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon)
Liquoreux: Richer/Sweeter than Moelleux (Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon)
All styles of wine are produced in Bordeaux and can vary greatly
Location of Bordeaux
3 Facts
• West Coast of France
• On the Atlantic Ocean
• 124 miles north of Spain
3 Geological Features of Bordeaux
• Gironde Estuary (zhu-rond)
• Dordogne River in the north
passes through Pomerol and St. Emilion, towards Bergerac.
• Garonne River (ga-ron) in the south, travels through Grave, Pessac-Leognan to Sauternes
Climate of Bordeaux
+4 Facts
- Maritime
- Short/mild winters, rainy springs, warm summers
- small seasonal diurnal shifts
- the most annual rainfall in France (40in)
- Can be humid, which causes rot
Soils of Bordeaux
* Left Bank
* Entre-Deux-Mers/Graves
* Right Bank
- Left Bank: Gravel outcroppings, clay and some limestone
- Entre-Deux-Mers/Graves: Boulbenes (bool-ben): Very fine and silicious
- Right Bank: iron and clay
What is Clairet
When did it become popular
- English term for light-bodied reds or
dark rosés from Bordeaux - 11th to 15th Century: during this time, Bordeaux was under English rule. There is still a strong trade agreement between Bordeaux and England today
Courtiers
Define
What they did
What they do now
- Person who attends a royal court as a companion or adviser to the king or queen
- provided financial support to Château and estates, became authority over wine trade.
- Run En Primeurs / Wine Futures (Events where wine is tasted and purchased while still in the barrel)
1855 Cru Classification System
Who created it
Why
Bordeaux vs Burgundy
- Napoleon III
- Created for the 1855 World Fair to classify 61 Bordeaux château into a five tier system
- Bordeaux classified by château, not vineyard. Château can purchase vineyards not originally attached to the estate.
Bordeaux Winemaking Preference
Why Blend (3)
Red vs White
Aging Vessels
- Unpredictable weather
- Different varieties ripen at different times
- Security for producers
- Reds are always blended
- Whites can be blend or varietal
- Stainless steel, Neutral Oak, French Oak
Bordeaux AOP
5 Types
Red
Clairet
Sec blanc
Rosé
Haut Benauge: sub-zone for dry or sweet white wines in Entre-Deux-Mers
Bordeaux Superieur AOP
2 Types
1 Fact
- Red
- Off dry to sweet White
- Considered better quality than Bordeaux AOP
Cremant de Bordeaux AOP
4 Facts
- Blanc are mostly red varieties and a little white
- Rosé are red varieties only
- Must undergo 2nd fermentatoin
- Minimum of 9 months on lees is required
Côtes de Bordeaux AOP
who is included (4)
what is produced
Includes
* Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux
* Francs Côtes de Bordeaux
* Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux
* Cadillac Côtes de Bordeaux.
* Mostly Merlot-based dry reds
* Blaye includes dry whites
* Francs includes includes dry to sweet whites.
Premiére Côtes de Bordeaux AOP
Define
- Sweet white wines only (SINCE 2014)
