FR_Bordeaux

Question 1

Red Grapes of Bordeaux
* 3 Major
* 3 Minor
* What they contribute

Answer 1

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

Question 2

White Grapes of Bordeaux
* 2 Major
* 5 Minor

Answer 2

MAJOR: Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon (se-mi-yon)
MINOR: Muscadelle, Uni Blanc,
Merlot Blanc, Sauvignon Gris, Colombard

Question 3

5 Styles of Bordeaux Wines

Answer 3

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

Question 4

Location of Bordeaux
4 Facts

Answer 4

* Southwest Coast of France
* On the Atlantic Ocean
* 124 miles north of Spain on the 45th Parallel

Question 5

3 Geological Features of Bordeaux

Answer 5

Dordogne River (dor-dow-nyuh) to the north passes Pomerol, St. Emilion,and heads to Bergerac. Garonne River (gah-rone) to the south passes Pessac-Leognan, Graves and Sauternes. The two rivers meet north of Bordeaux City and form the Gironde Estuary (gir-ond).

Question 6

Climate of Bordeaux
+5 Facts

Answer 6

• 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
• Moderated by waterways and proximity to the Atlantic Ocean. Gulf stream
  delivers warm water from Caribbean to keep weather mild and humid

Question 7

Soils of Bordeaux
* Left Bank
* Entre-Deux-Mers/Graves
* Right Bank

Answer 7

• Left Bank: Gravel outcroppings, clay and some limestone
• Entre-Deux-Mers/Graves: Boulbenes (bool-ben): Very fine and silicious
• Right Bank: iron, clay and limestone

Question 8

What is Clairet

When did it become popular

Answer 8

• 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

Question 9

Courtiers
Define
What they did
What they do now

Answer 9

• 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)

Question 10

Bordeaux Winemaking Preference
Why Blend (3)
Red vs White
Aging Vessels

Answer 10

• 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

Question 11

Bordeaux 3 Appellation Tiers
4 sub Tiers

Answer 11

• Appelation/: Highest Level
• Sub Regional/District Appelation: Second Highest
• Regional/Bordeaux AOP: includes Bordeaux Superior AOP, Cremant de Bordeaux, Côtes de Bordeaux, Premier Côtes de Bordeaux

Question 12

Bordeaux AOP
5 Types

Answer 12

Red
Clairet
Rosé
Sec Blanc
Bordeaux-Haut-Benauge is a sub-zone for dry or sweet white wines in Entre-Deux-Mers

Question 13

Bordeaux Superieur AOP
2 Types
1 Fact

Answer 13

• Red
• Off dry to sweet White
• Considered better quality than Bordeaux AOP

Question 14

Cremant de Bordeaux AOP
4 Facts

Answer 14

• 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

Question 15

Côtes de Bordeaux AOP
who is included (4)
Location
what is produced

Answer 15

• Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux: Includes dry whites
• Francs Côtes de Bordeaux: Includes dry to sweet whites
• Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux
• Cadillac Côtes de Bordeaux: Entre-Deux Mers. Other threee in Right Bank.
• Mostly Merlot-based dry reds

Question 16

Premiéres Côtes de Bordeaux AOP
Define

Answer 16

• Sweet white wines with grapes from Entre-Deux-Mers.
• Usually influenced by noble rot.
• “Poor mans Sauterns.”
• Sauv Blanc, Semillon, Muscadelle.

Question 17

Historical success of Bordeaux
2 Reasons Why

Answer 17

• importance as a center of trade and
• accessibility to Atlantic Ocean