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France - Bordeaux Flashcards

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1
Q

Six red varietals allowed in Bordeaux:

A 
Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Franc
Merlot
Carmeniere
Malbec
Petit Verdot
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2
Q

Seven white varietals allowed in Bordeaux:

A 
Sauvignon Blanc
Semillon
Muscadelle
Ugni Blanc
Colombard
Merlot Blanc
Sauvignon Gris
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3
Q

What is the Bordeaux climate?

A

Maritime. Atlantic and the Gironde estuary acts to moderate temperatures.
More continental toward St-Emilion and Pomerol (right bank).
Increases vintage variation.

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4
Q

Most widely planted grape in Bordeaux:

A

Merlot

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5
Q

“Chateau” in Bordeaux:

A

Estate under single ownership

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6
Q

“Courtier” in Bordeaux:

A

Brokers of wine. A middleman acting between the chateaux and Bordeaux merchants. Provide financial backing to chateaux while gaining total control over the actual trade of wine.

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7
Q

En Primeur Sales:

A

Futures. Early release of wine for sale

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8
Q

“Negociants” in Bordeaux:

A

Acted as one type of intermediary, buying fruit or wine in barrel to age in their own cellars before selling the bottled wine. Influence faded after World War II

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9
Q

What is the soil like in Medoc and Northern Graves?

A

Gravel

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10
Q

What is the soil type in St-Emilion?

A

Gravel over limestone

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11
Q

What is the soil type in Pomerol?

A

Iron pan under sand and clay

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12
Q

Rivers of Bordeaux:

A

Gironde (Main estuary)
Garonne (on the left)
Dardogne (on the right)

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13
Q

What are the grapes of Left bank blends:

A

70% cabernet sauvignon
30% merlot and minor varietals

Cabernet Sauvignon performs well in gravel soils, allowing the root system to dig deeply while slight water stress adds concentration to the fruit.

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14
Q

What are the grapes of Right bank blends:

A

70% merlot
25% cabernet franc
5% cabernet sauvignon and others

Merlot prefers clay-based soils as they delay its natural vigor
Cabernet franc performs well in limestone based soils

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15
Q

Explain Ageing in Bordeaux:

A

A top chateau in one of the commune appelations will often age its red wines for up to two years in barriques (225-liter capacity barrels), a large percentage of which will be new each vintage.

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16
Q

What are the Generic Bordeaux Appellations?

A

Bordeaux AOC
Bordeaux Superieur AOC
Cremant de Bordeaux AOC

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17
Q

1855 Classification First Growths (Premier Crus)

A 
Chateau Lafite-Rothschild (Pauillac)
Chateau Latour (Pauillac)
Chateau Mouton-Rothschild (Pauillac) (promoted in 1973)
Chateau Margaux (Margaux)
Chateau Haut-Brion (Grave)
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18
Q

1855 Classification - 5 facts

A
  1. Commissioned by Napoleon III for the Universal Exposition in Paris
  2. Based on historical marketplace prices and demand more so than quality
  3. Only communes on the Left Bank included in classification
  4. Of the 5 First Growths, 4 are in Medoc, one is in Graves
  5. 61 Chateaux ranked in 5 growths. The rankings stand today but are outside of the AOP.
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19
Q

Five major Chateaux in Pomerol

A 
Château Pétrus
Vieux-Château-Certan
Château Lafleur
Château Le Pin
Château Trotanoy
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20
Q

Primary varietals in Listrac and Moulis

A

Cabernet Sauvignon blended with Merlot and/or Cabernet Franc

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21
Q

Explain Medoc AOC?

A

AKA “Bas-Medoc”
Typically only used by those chateaux who do not qualify for a more precise appellation.
Merlot is grown in a higher proportion than the Haut-Medoc

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22
Q

Explain Haut-Medoc AOC?

A

Best vineyards have well-drained gravelly soils, perfectly suited for cabernet sauvignon

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23
Q

What are the Haut-Medoc communes?

A 
St-Estephe
Pauillac
St-Julien
Listrac-Medoc
Moulis-en-Medoc
Margaux
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24
Q

Explain St-Estephe:

A

Sturdy full-bodied reds. Higher percentage of merlot due to a higher proportion of clay amongst the gravel.
No first growths.
Chateau Cos d’Estournel is a “super second” (modernized Bordeaux)

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25
Explain Pauillac:
Wines balance power and finesse with aromatic complexity Gravel topsoil is at its deepest for Haut-Medoc Three first growths Chateau Lafite Rothschild (empasize aromatics and elegance) Chateau Latour (depth and concentration) Chateau Mouton-Rothschild
26
Explain St-Julien:
Typically elegant style Approximately 80% is Cru Classe. No first growths but has five second growths including "super seconds": Chateau Leoville Las Cases Chateau Ducru-Beaucaillou
27
What is Listrac-Medoc and Moulic-en-Medoc?
Lesser appellations without classified growths. | Chateau Chasse-Spleen in Moulis is the most famous
28
Explain Margaux:
Largest in Haut-Medoc spreading over five villages. 21 classified growths including one first growth (Chateau Margaux) Wines are "feminine", with an emphasis on floral bouquet, exotic character, and finesse.
29
What are some Medoc Highly Regarded Vintages?
1945, 1961, 1982, 1989, 1990, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2005, 2009, 2010
30
What is the Graves Soil type:
Similar to the Medoc but becomes sandier toward the south. The mixture of sand, gravel, and clay is known as "boulbenes"
31
What is the Graves Wine type:
Appellation for red and dry white wines
32
What are the Graves Classifications?
13 estates are classified as cru classe for red wine, 9 for whites. Chateau Haut-Brion retains its first growth classification
33
Explain Pessac-Leognan:
Prestigious appellation for both red and dry white wines. All cru classe properties are loacted here
34
Explain the Sweet wines of Graves:
All sweet wines can be produced as Graves Superieur. Three smaller appellations: Cerons, Barsac, and Sauternes (Produced from Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc, and Muscadelle affected by Botrytis cinerea). Botrytis dehydrates the grapes so the sugar, acidity, and glycerol content are heightened
35
What is the Geography of Sauternes?
Sauternes lies at the conflux of the Ciron and Garonne rivers. Cool morning mists blow off the Ciron and encoutner the warmer waters of the Garonne, producing autumn afternoon humidity perfect for incubating the Botrytis spores. Botrytis does not attack the grapes evenly, requiring the producer to pick the grapes individually in separate trips through the vineyard (tries)
36
What are the Sauternes Wine Classifications:
Classified alongside the Medoc in 1855. Divided into second growths, first growths, and one Premier Cru Superieur (Chateau d'Yquem).
37
Right Bank Appellations:
St-Emilion Pomerol Bourg & Blaye
38
Explain St-Emilion:
Merlot and Cabernet Franc dominated wines
39
What is the St-Emilion Classification?
Three tier classification: Premier Grand Cru Classe A Premier Grand Cru Classe B Grand Cru Classe
40
Satellite appellations for St-Emilion:
Lussac St-Georges Montagne Puisseguin
41
What is the wine like in Pomerol?
No classification Merlot is particularly successful in the clay-based soil Chateau Petrus is most successful
42
What are Pomerol's neighboring red wine districts?
Lalande-de-Pomerol (contains the communes Lalande-de-Pomerol and Neac) Fronsac Canon-Fronsac
43
What is Bourge and Blaye?
Oldest vineyards in Bordeaux Predominantly red wines Consolidated as of the 2008 vintage to Cotes de Bordeaux AOC
44
Explain Entre-Deux-Mers:
"Land between two seas" -- Dardogne and Garonne rivers | Exclusively produces dry white wines
45
What protect the Medoc from harsh west and northwesterly winds?
Costal pine forests
46
What is Clairet?
A darker, more aromatic style of rose that evokes the original claret wines shipped to England.
47
What is the french word for "blend"?
Assemblage
48
What is encepagement?
The makeup of grape varieties in the vineyard (or sometimes the blend)
49
What is the name of the drainage channels that prevent the Medoc from reverting to a marsh?
Jalles
50
What 2 other designations other than the 1855 classification mark quality in bordeaux?
Cru Artisan, and Cru Bourgeois.
51
What is Cru Bourgeois?
Nullified in early 2000's, and reinstated in 2008, it is a guarantee of quality, and chateaux must reapply regularly with wines submitted to blind tastings. (cru bourgeois exceptional and cru bourgeois superior were permanently eliminated when this designation was first nullified)
52
What makes blending so important in Bordeaux?
The wines of Bordeaux are usually blends of two or more grapes. Blends are traditional here as they allow vintners to grow varieties that ripen at different times thus minimizing the possibility of losing an entire crop in bad weather vintages.
53
What are the Premier Grand Cru Classé A of St-Émilion?
Chateau Angélus, Chateau Ausone, Chateau Cheval-Blanc and Chateau Pavie
54
Give another name for noble rot and botrytis cinerea:
Pourriture Noble
55
Name two rivers found in Sauternes:
Ciron and Garonne
56
What is tries?
Picking/Harvesting grapes at different times usually associated with ones which are nobly affected
57
When does Y'grec first made?
1959. Dry and labelled as Bordeaux AOP or Bordeaux Superieur AOP
58
Name the 5 villages that Sauternes AOP covers.
Sauternes, Barsac , Fargues, Bommes, Preignac
59
Where do you find cotes & graves soil term in Bordeaux?
St Emilion. Cotes mean steep limestone slopes and grave means gravel limestone plateau
60
Name all St Emilion Premier Cru Classe A:
Cheval Blanc. Ausone, Angelus & Pavie | *2012 elevation
61
What is another name for Cabernet Franc in Pomerol?
Bouchet
62
Name the 5 villages of Margaux.
Soussans, Margaux, Cantenac, Labarde & Arsac
63
How does Chateau Figeac differs than the rest?
A St Emilion Grand Cru Classes B that used Cab Sauv a major component of its blend.
64
Does St Emilion AOP produces a white and rose?
No, only red
65
Name 3 sweet wine appellation on the eastern part of Ceron, Barsac and Sauternes.
Cadillac, Loupiac & St Croix du Mont
66
What is the different in style of Cotes de Blaye and Blaye?
Cotes de Blaye produces dry white from Colombard & Ugni Blanc and Blaye AOP does red only
67
What is Pressac?
Malbec in right bank of Bordeaux
68
What is INAO?
Institut National des Appellations d'Origine. Created in 1935 to delimit and enforce France's appellation system.
69
How is the size of barriques?
225L
70
What is jalles?
Drainage channels.
71
What is boulbenes and where you can find it?
Mixture of sand, gravel & light clay in Graves.
72
What is millerandage?
Different berries size due to wet, rainy and decrease in temperature during spring where flowering taken place. Pollination occurs at that time and dry weather is imminent.
73
What is the composition of Bordeaux mixture?
Lime, copper sulphate and water. To prevent fungal diseases
74
Which two sub cru were eliminated in 2008?
Cru Exceptionelle & Cru Bourgeois Superieur
75
What is super seconds?
2nd growth of Bordeaux Cos d' Estournel Leoville Las Cases Ducru Beaucaillou
76
Name all the communes of Pessac Leognan.
Pessac, Leognan, Cadaujac, Canejan, Gradignan, Martillac, Merignac, Saint-Medard-d'Eyrans, Talence and Vellenave-d'Ornons
77
What is the first estate to be established in Bordeaux?
Pape Clement, Graves
78
What is garagistes?
Microchateau
79
Name the two village of Pomerol
Lisborne & Pomerol
80
Which two Medoc 1855 classification are still family owned?
Mouton Rothschild and Leoville Barton
81
Why is there a wide swings in price from one vintage to another?
Bordeaux's climate, while mild, is therefore notoriously unpredictable, permitting one spectacular year of warmth and sunshine while washing the next harvest out with sustained rain. Bordeaux's capricious climate and weather events are responsible for wide swings in vintage quality and the resulting price fluctuation at the upper end of the market.
82
The most planted white grape in Bordeaux:
Semillon
83
Can you blend white and red must together to make Rose wines?
NO
84
Usually Bordeaux Rose production goes thru more than 12 hours maceration. True or False
False. Total maceration time for rosé wines rarely exceeds 12 hours.
85
What is a chai?
Bordelais term for a place where wine filled barriques are stored and élevage is instituted.
86
What was the only change ever made to the 1855 Classification?
In 1973 Chateau Mouton-Rothschild was promoted to a first grown from a second growth.
87
What grape is botrytis most likely to affect?
Semillon
88
No. Of Chateau in Grand Cru:
61
89
No. of Medoc commune
16
90
Chateau Latour second wine:
Les Forts de Latour
91
Chateau Margaux second wine
Pavillon Rouge du Chateau Margaux
92
Chateau Haut-Brion second wine
Le Clerence de Haut-Brion
93
Chateau Mouton Rothschild second wine
Le Petit Mouton de Mouton Rothschild
94
Chateau Rauzan Segla second wine
Segla

Certified Sommelier (35 decks)

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