France - Bordeaux Flashcards
(118 cards)
1
Q
What region of France has the most acres under vine?
A
Bordeaux
2
Q
What is the climate of Bordeaux?
A
Atlantic influenced, the Gironde estuary acts as a funnel, rain throughout the year, more consistent/fewer spikes of temperature within each year - but year to year can vary hugely. No large diurnal shift.
3
Q
What ocean current affects Bordeaux weather and climate
A
Atlantic Gulf Stream, brings warm water direct from the Caribbean.
4
Q
What red grapes are authorized for basic Bordeaux AOP?
A
Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec, and Carmenère
5
Q
What white grapes are authorized for Bordeaux AOP?
A
Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc (and Gris), Muscadelle, Ugni Blanc, Merlot Blanc, and Colombard
6
Q
What is Bordeaux’s most planted white grape?
A
Semillon
7
Q
What is a typical right bank red cepage?
A
70% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc
8
Q
What three diseases arrived to Bordeaux from America in the late 19th C?
A
oidium, phylloxera, and peronospera
9
Q
What is oidium and how is it treated in Bordeaux?
A
powdery mildew - treated with sulphur
10
Q
What is peronospera and how is it treated in Bordeaux?
A
Downy mildew - treated with copper sulphate
11
Q
What is Bordeaux mixture and what does it great?
A
Copper sulphate-lime mix, treats oidium and peronospora
12
Q
When did plantings of Carmenere and Malbec diminish in Bordeaux?
A
Post-phylloxera, these grapes were difficult to graft on the new rootstock
13
Q
What are 3 great mid-century vintages in Bordeaux?
A
1945, then 1947 and 1949
14
Q
What was the first Bordeaux chateau to estate-bottle its entire production? When?
A
Mouton-Rothschild, in 1924
15
Q
When did estate bottling become widespread in Bordeaux?
A
1960s
16
Q
When did estate bottling become compulsory for Medoc classified estates?
A
1972
17
Q
What role does the courtier serve in Bordeaux?
A
Acts as intermediary between the producers and the negociants
18
Q
What was the first notable Chateau to opt out of the en primeur system?
A
Chateau Latour, in 2012
19
Q
What trellising system is most often found in Bordeaux’s left bank?
A
Guyot - double
20
Q
What trellising system is most often found in Bordeaux’s right bank?
A
Guyot - simple
21
Q
What trellising system is found in Sauternes? Why?
A
Cordon - helps produce smaller berries that will attract botrytis
22
Q
What is minimum vine spacing for Medoc?
A
7000 vines/hectare (though 1 x 1 spacing is often found at top properties)
23
Q
What is minimum vine spacing for St. Émilion and Pomerol?
A
5500 vines/hectare
24
Q
Why are spacing requirements typically lower on the right bank than on the left?
A
Soils are often shallower, so vines spread outward instead of down
25
What Bordeaux region has the lowest mandated vine spacing?
Entre-Deux-Mers - 2.5 m
26
What was the first certified biodynamic producer in the Medoc?
Chateau Pontet-Canet
27
What Sauternes producer has embraced biodynamics?
Chateau Climens
28
What are three types of sorting tables found in Bordeaux?
optical, density, and hand sorting
29
When is micro oxygenation used?
First developed in Madiran, this introduces oxygen during fermentation, and will help soften tannins
30
What is cliquage?
Micro oxygenation that takes place in barrel during elevage. Controversial, as it potentially sacrifices long term stability.
31
What are the 8 appellations of the Medoc?
Medoc, Haut-Medoc, Margaux, Pauillac, St. Estephe, St. Julien, Listrac-Moulis, Moulis/Moulis en Medoc
32
Name a quality producer labeled as "Medoc"
Chateau Potensac, far north in Bas-Medoc
33
Name a quality producer labeled as "Haut-Medoc"
Chateau Sociando-Mallet, just north of St Estephe
34
What is the northernmost commune AOP in the Medoc?
Saint-Estephe
35
What is a jalle?
Drainage canal
36
What marks the southern border of Saint Estephe?
Jalle de Breiul
37
What two properties does the Jalle de Breiul divide?
Cos d'Estournel (St Estephe) and Laftite-Rothschild (Pauillac)
38
What are the leading estates of Saint Estephe?
Cos d'Estournel and Montrose
39
What is the most planted wine region of France?
Bordeaux - 117,500 ha in 2011
40
Great Bordeaux vintages of the 40s
1945, 1947, 1949
41
Why is Cordon training used in Sauternes?
cordon-training produces smaller berries that attract botrytis
42
How long does a BDX grand vin usually spend in barrel?
18-24 months
43
describe elevage for a Medoc grand vin
18-24 mo. in oak, usually 100% new, racking every three months, Malo unusual for whites
44
When did the practice of producing a second wine become popular?
1982 vintage
45
Name a commune the Medoc where Merlot is seeing increased plantings. Why
St-Estephe, higher proportion of clay
46
Does Cabernet or Merlot ripen first?
Merlot
47
In a warmer vintage in Pauillac, will percentages of Cabernet go up or down?
Cabernet percent will likely increase, as the berries have a chance to ripen thoroughly
48
What are the 5 communes in Margaux AOP? Which have the most Chateaux?
Margaux and Cantenac, then Soussans, Arsac, and Labarde
49
Two cru bourgeois producers of Moulis
Château Chasse-Spleen and Château Poujeaux
50
What was the last Medoc commune to reach AOP status?
Listrac, in 1957
51
What are challenges to viticulture in Listrac and Moulis?
Lack of proximity to the Gironde, more difficult to ripen grapes, especially Cabernet. Merlot plantings on the rise
52
What are Cru Artisan producers?
Officially recognized in 2002, after more than a century of use - they are small estates (average 6 ha.) that are noted stewards of the land and craft of winemaking, without the financing or apparatus of large-scale operations
53
Why have planted acres shrunk in the northern parts of Graves (typically high quality area)?
The expanding suburbs of Bordeaux
54
What is the only major region of Bordeaux to produce dry red, white, and sweet white wines?
Graves
55
How does the terroir of Graves differ from N to S?
More gravel deposits (croupes) in the north, left behind from the Garonne river over millennia. In the south, more clay and limestone is found.
56
Graves Supérieures AOP
only sweet white wines from Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc, Sauvignon Gris, Muscadelle
57
Graves AOP
only dry red and white wines, from the classic complement of BDX grapes
58
What are the two regional Graves appellations and how do they differ?
Graves Supérieures AOP and Graves AOP. Superieures is for sweet white wines, Graves AOP is for red and white dry wines.
59
When, and why, was the Pessac-Léognan AOC created?
1987, under efforts led by André Lurton, to define the northern communes from Graves, with their predominance of gravel soils and all the classed chateaux, as separate from the south.
60
Pessac-Léognan AOP
dry reds (accounting for 80%) of production and dry whites from the standard complement of BDX grapes. higher vine planting density and lower yield requirements than Graves AOP
61
Two top quality white wine producers in Pessac-Léognan AOP
Haut-Brion and Domaine de Chevalier
62
What winemaking processes are allowed in Sauternes to increase must concentration?
Cryoextraction and chaptalization
63
Producers in Barsac have the choice of what two appellations for their sweet wines?
Barsac AOP and Sauternes AOP
64
What appellation is Chateau d'Yquem's Ygrec entitled to?
Bordeaux AOP - Graves AOP does not cover the territory, and Sauternes AOP allows only sweet wines
65
Minumum rs for Cerons, Barsac, and Sauternes AOPs
45 g/l - for all
66
Cérons AOP allows what style of wine
sweet white wine
67
Producers in Cérons may use what AOPs?
Cérons AOP for sweet white, or Graves AOP for dry red and white
68
What is Chateau Palmer's "Historical XIX Century" wine?
blend of 85% cabernet with 15% Rhone Syrah, produced in 2004, 2006, 2007, 2010 and 2013, 2014, 2016
69
Laville Haut Brion (blanc) is now called what?
La Mission Haut Brion blanc - as of 2009
70
What was the final vintage of Chateau La Tour Haut Brion (rouge) and where does the wine now go?
2005. The wine is now incorporated in the La Chapelle de La Mission Haut Brion.
71
Name three Barsac producers
Climens, Coutet, Doisy-Daëne
72
Name three Sauternes producers
Yquem, Suduiraut, Lafleurie-Peyraguey, Rieussec, Chateau Gilette (unoaked example)
73
5 Pessac Leognac red wine producers (other than Haut Brion and La Mission)
Smith Haut Lafitte, Malartic Lagraviere, Haut Bailly, Pape Clement, Château La Louvière
74
Does Medoc or Haut Medoc have a higher minimum planting density?
Haut Medoc (6500 vines/ha vs. 5000)
75
What is the large co-op in Listrac?
Cave Grand-Listrac
76
Name 2 high quality producer in Listrac
Château Bellegrave, Chateau Clarke
77
Which is the smallest of the Medoc appellations?
Moulis-en-Médoc
78
Min alcohol for all Medoc AOPs
11%
79
Does Pichon Baron or Pichon Lalande have more structure?
Pichon Baron - higher use of Cabernet Sauvignon; Pichon Lalande is quite high in Merlot for Pauillac at 30%
80
Two leading cru bourgeois producers of St-Estephe
Chateau Les Ormes de Pez, Phelan Segur
81
Are there any Médoc appellations for white wine?
Only generic Bordeaux AOP covers white wine production in the Médoc
82
Which river separates Pomerol from Lalande-de-Pomerol (and St. Emilion from its satellites)?
The Barbanne
83
Describe the terroir of St. Emilion
Center is a limestone plateau, and the growing areas are famously the hillsides (or cotes) that feature cool clay soils. There are gravel (graves) sections found to the northwest - approaching Pomerol - where Cabernet is more dominant (as in the Cabernet Sauvignon heavy wines of Figeac and the Cab Franc dominant wines of Cheval Blanc)
84
What are the two red wine only appellations for St. Emilion? What are the differences?
Saint-Émilion AOP (1936) and Saint-Émilion Grand Cru AOP (1954) Grand Cru wines must be estate bottled, have lower yields, and longer elevage (an additional year).
85
What does Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé mean vs. Saint-Émilion Grand Cru?
Classé is the classification, the other the AOP
86
Is Carmenere allowed in Pomerol AOP wines?
No
87
How much Petit Verdot may be in a bottle of St-Emilion AOP?
max. 10% Petit Verdot
88
Name 10 Pomerol producers
Vieux Chateau Certan, Petrus, Château La Conseillante, Château Lafleur, Château Clinet, Château Latour à Pomerol, L’Évangile, Trotanoy, Château Certan de May
89
Soils of Chateau Petrus
blue-clay
90
Terroir of Pomerol
Plateau with 3 distinct terraces 1) light sandy soils (lesser wines/terroir) near the Dordogne and Libourne; 2) clay and gravel glacial deposits, mixed with the crasse de fer - iron-rich sands; 3) highest point, in the east - purer, water-retaining clay with some gravel, especially the buttonière with its blue clays
91
When did the Côtes de Bordeaux AOP debut?
2009 - outlying areas, varying soils/terroirs, united under a unifying marketing banner.
92
How is most rosé producer in Bordeaux?
saignée
93
What styles of wines are allowed under Entre-deux-Mers AOP?
```
Blanc Sec (and Haut-Benauge geographic designation) from Min. 70% combined Sauvignon Blanc, Sauvignon Gris, Muscadelle, and Sémillon - at least 2 must be present, varietal wines not allowed.
Accessory Varieties: Max. 30% Merlot Blanc; max. 10% combined Mauzac, Colombard, and Ugni Blanc
```
94
What are three AOPs for sweet wines in the Entre-deux-Mers
Cadillac, Loupiac, and Sainte-Croix-du-Mont AOPs
95
Which AOP is directly across the Garonne from Sauternes?
Sainte Croix du Mont
96
Which AOP is directly across the river from Barsac?
Loupiac
97
Styles of wine permitted in Côtes de Bordeaux-Saint-Macaire AOP?
Blanc (Sec, Moelleux, and Liquoreux): Muscadelle, Sauvignon Blanc, Sauvignon Gris, Sémillon
98
Minimum rs in Sainte Croix du Mont, Loupiac, and Cadillac?
51 g/l in Cadillac, 45 in Loupiac and Sainte Croix
99
Which AOP is situated directly across the river from Fronsac? Which river?
Graves de Vayres AOP. The Dordogne.
100
Styles of wine permitted in Graves de Vayres AOP?
Blanc, blanc sec, rouge
101
Bourg AOP grapes and permitted styles
Blanc: Sauvignon Blanc, Sauvignon Gris, Sémillon, Muscadelle, Colombard
Rouge: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Cot, and Merlot
102
Blaye AOP permitted wine styles and grapes?
Rouge:
Principal Varieties: Min. 50% combined Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot
Accessory Varieties: Cot (Malbec), plus a max. 15% combined Petit Verdot and Carmenère (max. 10% Carmenère)
103
Is white wine authorized under Blaye AOP?
no
104
Which IGP may Bordeaux producers use?
Atlantique IGP - in practice, few do, and more often this is seen in Bergerac, Duras, or Cognac
105
What does "sur souches" refer to?
Pricing agreed to prior to harvest (via negociants) based on previous year's pricing
106
What is the more widespread method of cap management during vinification in Bordeaux?
Remontage (though the gentler, Burgundian pigeage has its defenders)
107
What was the Jurade of Saint-Émilion?
In 1199, Eleanor of Aquitaine’s son granted Saint-Émilion autonomy as a free “jurisdiction” effectively independent of English rule, establishing the Jurade, or regional administration, to oversee governance.
108
What are the factors that moderate the strong Atlantic influence in Bordeaux?
Moderating factors:
Coastal Landes forest
Gironde estuary
109
What are the sources of the alluvial soils prevalent in Bordeaux?
Pyrenees and the Massif Central; Dordogne originates in the Massif Central, Garonne from the Pyrenees
110
When did Merlot become prominent on the Right Bank?
after the 1956 freeze because Malbec and Cabernet Franc-less hardy and later ripening
111
What are some viticultural challenges (and benefits) of Merlot?
Can overproduce sugars in hot vintages. Thin skinned and susceptible to rot (downy mildew), coulure if weather is poor during flowering. Vigorous vine and long lived - up to 100 years. Early ripening.
112
What are three (unofficial) subzones of St. Emilion?
1) Gravel border with Pomerol
2) Limestone plateau, village of St. Emilion and stretching out to the east
3) Cotes-Hillsides around the village of St. Emilion
113
Describe the terroir of Lussac- St Emilion?
Most northerly of satellites - Cooler, higher elevation
Varied soils – clay/gravel & silt in the valleys, clay/limestone on slopes, clay/sand on plateau
Bands of limestone throughout the region are where the best estates are
60% Merlot, 30% CF
114
Describe the terroir of Saint Georges St Emilion?
most uniform soils of limestone, smallest satellite, may also use the Montagne AOP designation
115
Describe the terroir of Montagne St Emilion?
clay limestone soils
high proportion of Merlot
Largest producer of St. Em Satellite wine
116
Describe the terroir of Puisseguin Saint-Émilion AOP
High, coolest site, clay limestone soils
117
Which grapes were approved in June 2019 for use in Bordeaux (pending INAO approval)?
Arinarnoa, Touriga Nacional, Marselan, and Castets for reds, and Alvarinho, Petit Manseng, and Liliorila for whites
118
What is Bordeaux's most expensive bottling?
Liber Pater - own rooted, ancient varieties
