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France - Bordeaux Flashcards

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1
Q

Where in France is Bordeaux Located?

A

Southwest France

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2
Q

What are the two major areas of Médoc?

A
  • Haut-Médoc
  • Medoc (Bas-Médoc)
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3
Q

Wines labeled “Appellation Médoc Controlèe were made from what part of Mèdoc?

A

Châteaux in Bas-Médoc

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4
Q

What is the dominant grape of Médoc?

A

Cabernet Sauvignon

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5
Q

What are the two main red wines used to blend with Cabernet Sauvignon left bank wines?

A
  • Cabernet Franc: used to soften the tannin structure and to add herbaceous and aromatic notes.
  • Merlot: used to soften tannins and add ripe fruit characteristics.
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6
Q

True or False:

Haut-Médoc has the more superior type of soil than the rest of Medoc?

A

True

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7
Q

How are high quality wines from Haut-Médoc labeled?

A

Appellation Haut-Médoc Contrôlèe

Note:
Are often high quality wines

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8
Q

What are the 4 communes of Haut-Médoc?

A

From north to south

  • St. Estèphe
  • Pauillac
  • St. Julien
  • Margaux
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9
Q

What is the main soil type of Médoc?

A

Gravel

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10
Q

What are the two largest areas on the left bank of the Gironde Estuary and Garonne River?

A

Médoc and Graves

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11
Q

What is the most widely grown grape in Bordeaux?

A

Merlot

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12
Q

What are the 5+1 red grape varietals used in Bordeaux?

A

Cabernet Sauvignon
Merlot
Cabernet Franc
Petite Verdot
Malbec
* Carménère

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13
Q

What are the 3 primary white grape varietals in Bordeaux?

A

Sauvignon Blanc
Sémillon
Muscadelle

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14
Q

What is the northernmost Commune in Haut-Médoc?

A

St. Estèphe

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15
Q

Which commune in Bordeaux is known to being an important appellation, including three of the five Premier Cru Château?

A

Pauillac AOC

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16
Q

What are the five 1st Growth Classification Wines of 1855?

A

Château Latour (Pauillac)
Château Lafite-Rothschild (Pauillac)
Château Mouton-Rothschild (Pauillac)
Château Margaux (Margaux)
Château Haut-Brion (Pessac-Leognon, Graves)

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17
Q

What are the three communes found in Pauillac?

A

Château Latour
Château Lafite-Rothschild
Château Mouton-Rothschild

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18
Q

What is the smallest commune in Haut-Médoc?

A

St. Julien

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19
Q

What type of soil is Boulbènes?

A

Boulbènes is a fine, compacted silt which is easily compressed, hard to work with and creates a barrier for all but the most determined vine roots. Boulbènes is found on the right bank of Bordeaux.

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20
Q

True or False:

Graves may only produce red wines?

A

False

Graves may produce both red and white wines.
Médoc and Haut-Médoc may only produce red wines.

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21
Q

What are the 3 major bodies of water in Bordeaux?

A

Gironde Estuary
Garonne River
Dordogne River

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22
Q

What area in the Left Bank is known for its sweet white wines?

A

Barsac and Sauternes

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23
Q

What is the name of the fungus in Sauternes and Barsac that helps produces sweet white wines?

A

Botrytis Cinerea

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24
Q

Which grape in Bordeaux is most susceptible to Botrytis Cinerea and why?

A

Sémillon - Thin skin and high sugar content.

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25
What conditions cause Noble Rot?
Cool misty mornings followed by later sunshine.
26
What white wine that is produced in Pessac-Lèognan?
Sauvignon Blanc
27
What type of soil is most common in the right bank of Bordeaux?
Clay
28
What are the two most common grapes grown in the right bank of Bordeaux?
Merlot and Cabernet Franc
29
Which right bank appellations in Bordeaux produce white wines?
Côtes de Blaye and Côtes de Bourg
30
What are the two primary red wine regions in the right bank of Bordeaux?
Pomerol and Saint-Èmilion
31
What is the smallest commune of all the quality communes in Bordeaux?
Pomerol Note: Limited supply has caused prices in the appellation to skyrocket.
32
What is the major grape grown in Pomerol?
Merlot
33
What is the top château in Pomerol?
Château Pètrus
34
What is the main grape of Saint-Èmilion?
Merlot
35
True or False Saint-Èmilion was apart of the 1855 Classification?
False : Saint-Èmilion created its own appellation, Appellation Saint-Èmilion Grand Cru Contrôlèe”
36
What are two top producers in Saint-Èmilion?
Château Cheval Blanc and Château Ausone
37
What does 'Entre-Deux-Mers' mean?
Between two seas
38
What type wines are exclusively sold in Entre-Deux-Mers?
Dry white wines
39
What is the dominant grape in Entre-Deux-Mers?
Sauvignon Blanc
40
What type of wine is produced in Sauternes?
Sweet white wine
41
What is the Southern most sweet wine region of Bordeaux?
Sauternes
42
True or False: Sauternes wines are made every year?
False Sauternes are made only during the best vintage years. During bad vintages the wines are sold off to other producers
43
What is the only Premier Cru Supérieur Château in Sauternes?
Château d’Yquem
44
On which bank of Bordeaux is Sauternes located?
Left Bank
45
What is the vast stretch of land between the Garonne River and Dordogne River in Bordeaux?
Entre-Deux-Mers
46
The Entre-Deux-Mers sits between which two rivers in Bordeaux?
Garonne River and Dordogne River
47
What is the climate of Bordeaux?
Moderate Maritime (Atlantic influence)
48
What area in France receives the most rainfall?
Médoc
49
What are typically the driest months of Bordeaux?
July and August
50
Which parallel runs just north of Bordeaux?
45th parallel
51
What influence does the Atlantic Gulf Stream Current bring to Bordeaux?
Warm Caribbean water keeps the climate mild.
52
What is the most widely planted white grape in Bordeaux?
Sémillon
53
What are some notes that Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Carmenère, and Sauvignon Blanc from Bordeaux share?
Green notes: Bell Pepper, Grass and Sage
54
Cabernet Franc goes by what other name on the right bank of Bordeaux?
Bouchet
55
Malbec goes by what two other names in France?
Côt - West France Pressac - Bordeaux right bank around Lisbourne
56
How many châteaux were chosen in the classification of 1855 and how many categories were designated?
57 5 categories called Grand Cru Classé
57
How many Sauternes were chosen in the classification of 1855 and how many categories were designated?
21 across 3 categories Second Crus Premier Crus Premier Cru Supérior
58
What were the original 4 châteaux chosen for the classification of 1855?
Château Latour (Pauillac) Château Lafite-Rothschild (Pauillac) Château Margaux (Margaux) Château Haut-Brion (Pessac-Leognon, Graves) Château Mouton-Rothschild was upgraded in 1973.
59
What château received the Premier Cru Supérieur in Sauternes?
Château d’Yquem
60
What date was the Bordeaux classification of _____?
April 18, 1855
61
When was château Mouton-Rothschild upgraded to a first growth?
1973
62
What is most common vine training system in Bordeaux and why?
Guyot Vine Training System Vertical training that produces larger berries.
63
What type of vine training system is used for Sauternes and why?
Cordon Training Produces slightly smaller berries that attract Botrytis Cinerea.
64
What disease is common with using the Guyot Cane Training?
Grey Rot (Overly humid product of Botrytis Cinerea)
65
Do the canopies hang high or low off the ground in Médoc?
Low: One meter (3.25') off the ground to take advantage of the stony soil.
66
What is the requirement of "vine per hectare" on the left bank of Bordeaux?
7,000 vines per hectare
67
What is the requirement of "vine per hectare" in Saint-Èmilion and Pomerol?
5,500 vines per hectare
68
True or False: Chaptalization is allowed in Bordeaux.
True
69
What type of barrel is used to age red wines in Bordeaux?
New French oak barriques (225 Liters)
70
What is the barrique size in Bordeaux?
225 Liters
71
What is Cliquage?
Technique of injecting large amounts of oxygen into wine. Also called "Macro-oxygenation".
72
What are the two versions of assemblage are used in Bordeaux?
1) Create the final blend early in the year after harvest in time for the April en primeur tasting. 2) Create the blend just before bottling in order to isolate and observe the maturation of separate components for as long as possible.
73
When does bottling typically occurs in Bordeaux?
April
74
True or False: A cork seal is a requirement mandated by Bordeaux AOC law.
False
75
What are the five latest top vintages of Bordeaux?
2010, 2015, 2016, 2018 & 2019
76
What physical feature in Médoc shields the region’s vineyards from Atlantic weather and winds?
Landes Forest
77
How many AOPs are in Médoc?
8 Médoc AOP Haut-Médoc AOP St Estèphe AOP Pauillac AOP Saint Juilian AOP Margaux AOP Listrac-Médoc AOP Moulis AOP
78
What are some characteristics of wine from Saint Estèphe?
Firm, tannic, earthy, chunky, full bodied, sturdy and slow to mature.
79
What grape accounts for 40% of Saint Estèphe communes?
Merlot
80
What château marks the northern boundary of Pauillac?
Château Lafite-Rothschild
81
What château makes up the southern boundary of Pauillac?
Château Latour
82
What are some characteristics of wine from Pauillac?
Rich, powerful, firm, and tannic, with blackcurrant and cedar aromas and flavors?
83
Pauillac is home to how many first growth wines?
3 * Château Lafite-Rothschild * Château Mouton-Rothschild * Château Latour
84
What is Château Léoville and where is it located?
It is the principal estate of Saint Julien. Once the biggest Commune in the AOP but was divided into 3: * Château Léoville Las Cases - The most extensive vineyards of the three. Is priced sometimes as a first growth. * Château Léoville Baron - Set next to Château Langoa Barton. Both owned by Irish merchant family “The Barons”. * Château Poyferré - Usually produces second growth quality wines
85
What are some characteristics of wine from Saint Julien?
Rich, flavorful and elegant with cedar bouquet.
86
What is the smallest Commune in Médoc?
Saint Julien
87
Which commune in Bordeaux had the most châteaux in the 1855 Classification?
Margaux with 21 communes
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Certified Somm General (7 decks)

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