Grape Varieties - Bordeaux and South West Flashcards
(45 cards)
Why are the six permitted black varieties of Bordeaux?
Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Petit Verdot and Carmenere.
What percentage of plantings do black grapes make up in Bordeaux and what is the most widely planted single variety?
- 89% of total plantings.
- The single most planted black variety is Merlot Noir accounting for 65% of plantings (CIVB 2014).
Why soil in Bordeaux does Merlot Noir prefer?
The damper, cooler more clay based soils of the right bank that Cabernet Sauvignon struggles to ripen on.
What are the physical characteristics of Merlot Noir?
A high yielder with thin skins and large loose bunches. A high flesh to skin ratio gives it lower colour and tannin. It can require hard pruning as it cannot produce good wine at high yields.
What viticultural problems does Merlot Noir face?
It flowers earlier than Cabernet Sauvignon (up to two weeks) meaning that it can be susceptible to Spring frosts. General unsettled weather at flowering can cause issues with Coloure and Millerandage.
What is Merlot Noir said to give to the blends of Bordeaux?
Soft, early maturing, rounded plummy wines. They often are used to fill out the mid palate of Cabernet Sauvignon.
What percentage of black grape plantings does Cabernet Sauvignon represent in Bordeaux?
22% a third of Merlot Noir.
Where is most Cabernet Sauvignon planted in Bordeaux?
In the left bank appellations on gravel soils which help its ripening.
What are Cabernet Sauvignon’s physical characteristics?
Thick skinned with small berries making it less prone to rot. It has a high skin to pulp ration meaning it has increased tannin and colour. It buds and ripens late.
What difficulties does Cabernet Sauvignon face in the vineyard?
- Powdery mildew and Eutypa Dieback.
- It’s vigour means it needs to be grafted on to low vigour rootstock.
- Difficult to ripen in Bordeaux’s climate.
What is Cabernet Sauvignon said to bring to the blends of Bordeaux?
It gives tannin, colour and acidity. It has distinctive blackcurrant qualities and green bell pepper aroma. Its high acid and tannin give wines longevity.
Where is Cabernet Franc predominantly planted and what percentage of black varieties does it make up? What is it also known as and where?
Predominantly in the right bank appellations and it makes up 10% of black grape plantings. It is also known as Bouchet in the Libournais appellations.
Why is Cabernet Franc seen as a compromise between Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot?
Because it ripens later than Merlot but earlier than Cabernet Sauvignon.
What are the physical characteristics of Cabernet Franc?
Flowers and ripens later than Merlot but earlier than Cab Sauv. Small berries like Cab Sauv but thinner skins resulting in less tannin and colour. High yielding.
Why is Cabernet Franc viewed as ‘insurance’ to Cabernet Sauvignon?
It is easier to fully ripen than Cabernet Sauvignon and is happier in a wider range of soils.
What does Cabernet Franc give to wines of Bordeaux?
Early maturing light to medium body wines with up front fruit, but less finesse and structure. Flavours of raspberries, violets and pencil shavings.
Carmenere has virtually disappeared now, why?
As a very late ripener it is susceptible to virtually all disease pressures.
The much declined Malbec is now most seen in what parts of Bordeaux?
Entre-Duex-Mare and the Bourg and Blaye areas.
Describe the Malbec of Bordeaux.
Dark and thick skinned giving colour and tannin to blends but low acidity. It buds and ripens early making it susceptible to Colure. It is also prone to Downy Mildew, rot and frost.
When was Petit Verdot mostly abandoned and why?
1960’s and 70’s due to its inconvenient late ripening.
Describe Petit Verdot and what it can lend to Bordeaux blends.
Dark and thick skinned with good levels of colour and tannin, it ripens even later than Cab Sauv and when it does it is usually in the warmer vintages, it has good levels of rot resistance
It can lend richness, ageworthyness and spice to a blend.
What is the dominant white variety in Bordeaux and proportion of plantings does it make up?
Semillon - 49%
Describe the physical characters of Semillon.
It is thin skinned, which is desirable for botrytis infection, it is low in acidity and fairly neutral in flavour and aroma with most of its character coming from botrytis or oak ageing.
How does Semillon perform viticulturaly in Bordeaux?
A high yielder that favours clay soils. It buds later than Sauvignon Blanc and apart from Botrytis is not prone to colure or any other disease making it hardy and reliable.
