Graves / Entre Deux Mers

Question 1

NO - it retains its own cahier des charges (unlike Blaye)

Answer 1

It is both rainier and warmer (effect of the city and the forest)

Question 2

What are the major soils of Graves?

Answer 2

Lots of gravel in the North and “Boulbenes” - gravel mixed with sand and clay

Question 3

What are the principal and accessory varieties admitted for Bordeaux Blanc?

Answer 3

Min. 70% semillon, sauvignon blanc, sauvignon gris, muscadelle;

acc. max. 30% ugni blanc, merlot blanc, colombard

Question 4

What does ‘Haut Benauge’ on a Bordeaux label signify?

Answer 4

A geographical indication for a district (9 communes along the border with Saint Macaire) within Entre-Deux-Mers.

It can be appended to Bordeaux AOC (dry or sweet) or EDM AOC (dry). Min. potential alcohol is 11.5%

Question 5

Name the sweet white appellations on the right bank of the Garonne

Answer 5

Loupiac, 
Cadillac, 
Sainte-Croix-du-Mont, 
Cotes-de-Bordeaux-St-Macaire, 
Premieres Cotes de Bordeaux (34 g/L RS)

Question 6

What is the minimum RS for Sauternes, Barsac, and Cerons?

Answer 6

45 g/L (in practice it can reach 120-160 with botrytis, chaptalization, and cryoextraction)

Question 7

Which sweet wine appellation in Entre Deux Mers has the highest minimum RS content?

Answer 7

Cadillac - 51 g/L

Question 8

Which appellations may append “cotes de bordeaux” to their names?

Answer 8

Blaye (red only),
Blaye cotes de bordeaux (red and white),
cote de blaye (white only - minimum 60-90% ugni/colombard),
Cadillac (red only),
Castillon (red only),
Francs,
Sainte Foy Bordeaux

Question 9

Which Cru Classe of Graves (1959) are classed for white wine only?

Answer 9

Ch. Couhins,
Ch. Couhins-Lurton,
Ch. Laville Haut-Brion (final vintage 2008)

Question 10

Who makes Creme de Tete?

Answer 10

Produced by Ch. Gilette - aged for 20+ years, 2-3 bottles, no new oak, declassifies more vintages than Yquem (also produced by Suduiraut)

Question 11

Who makes ‘l’Extravagant’

Answer 11

Ch. Doisy Daene - majority/sometimes 100% SB harvested late so very sweet (extremely sweet - 200+ g/L)

Question 12

Who makes Y, S, and G?

Answer 12

Dry white wines from Yquem, Suiduiraut, and Guiraud

Question 13

Can Graves blanc be sweet?

Answer 13

If labeled Graves Supérieur, it is liquoreux (min. 34 g/L)

Question 14

When were the chateaux of Graves classified?

Answer 14

1959 - originally 15 but now 16 (Couhins divided into two)

Question 15

Which two classified estates were absorbed by La Mission Haut Brion?

Answer 15

Latour Haut Brion (2005) and Laville Haut Brion (2008)

Question 16

Who was the impetus behind the Pessac-Leognan AOC

Answer 16

Andre Lurton - approved in 1987 - helped stem the tide of suburban sprawl

Question 17

What % of Pessac Leognan is planted to white grapes?

Answer 17

20%

Question 18

Which chateaux in Pessac Leognan are inside the city of Bordeaux?

Answer 18

Haut Brion,
La Mission Haut Brion,
Ch. les Carmes Haut Brion (formerly part of Haut Brion but donated by Jean de Pontac in 1584 to the carmelite monks)

Question 19

Top producers of Pessac Leognan blanc?

Answer 19

Domaine de Chevalier, 
Smith Haut-Lafite, 
Carbonnieux, 
Pape Clement, 
Haut Brion, 
La Mission Haut Brion, 
Chateau de Fieuzal, 
Malartic Lagraviere

Question 20

Denis Dubordieu perfected what technique in the 80’s?

Answer 20

maceration pelliculaire - skin contact from 2-24 hours before pressing and fermentation to increase aroma and body; now regular practiced on sauvignon blanc

Question 21

What are the communes of Pessac that are home to classed growths?

Answer 21

PTVCLM - Push Those Very Clean Lawn Mowers - 
Pessac 
Talence 
Villenave (d’Ornon) 
Cadaujac 
Leognan 
Martillac

Question 22

In which commune is Haut Brion located?

Answer 22

Pessac

Question 23

In which commune is La Mission?

Answer 23

Talence

Question 24

In which commune is Couhins-Lurton?

Answer 24

Villenave d’Ornon

Question 25

In which commune is Bouscaut?

Answer 25

Cadaujac

Question 26

In which commune is Chevalier?

Answer 26

Leognan

Question 27

In which commune is Smith Haut Lafite?

Answer 27

Martillac

Question 28

Which two rivers contribute to the humidity in Sauternes?

Answer 28

The Ciron (cool) and the Garonne (warm)

Question 29

The Ciron (cool) and the Garonne (warm)

Answer 29

The mold permeates the grape skins and dehydrates it to concentrate the sugar, acids, and glycerol - flavors of honey, saffron, ginger, spice

Question 30

How many ‘tries’ or vineyard passes are common in a sauternes harvest?

Answer 30

3-4

Question 31

T or F - new oak is common for barrel fermentation and elevage in Sauternes?

Answer 31

TRUE

Question 32

Define cryoextraction?

Answer 32

“Fake Ice Wine” The method of cooling grapes to the point of freezing and filtering out ice crystals to achieve more must concentration - there is virtually no loss of flavor

Question 33

What was the most expensive ex-cellar price for a bottle of wine ever (from the Graves area)?

Answer 33

2015 Liber Pater from Loic Pasquet - selling for 30,000 euros a bottle. pre-phylloxera, ungrafted vines - old varieties- castet, coulant, tarnay, petit vidure, saint macaire, horse plowing, aging in amphorae

Question 34

What training system is most commonly used in Sauternes?

Answer 34

Cordon - helps encourage smaller berries to attract botrytis rather than gray rot

Question 35

Name a biodynamic producer in Sauternes

Answer 35

Chateau Climens, Yquem in conversion

Question 36

Name a producer of 1005 sémillon Sauternes

Answer 36

Chateau Climens

Question 37

Name an organic producer?

Answer 37

Chateau Guiraud

Question 38

Producer with a high % of SB in Sauternes

Answer 38

Chateau Guiraud

Question 39

What is so special about Chateau d’Yquem?

Answer 39

The vineyard is planted on similar smectite clay to Petrus (buttonhole?), it is the highest site in Sauternes, famous for performing MANY vineyard passes - up to 11 in 1974 only to reject the wine - lowest avg yields 8 hl/ha

Question 40

Name a quality producer from Barsac (largest commune)

Answer 40

Climens (chalky limestone - elegance); Coutet (largest estate in Barsac - elegant);

Question 41

What are the communes authorized for the production of Sauternes/Barsac?

Answer 41

Sauternes, Barsac, Fargues, Preignac, Bommes (some boys fart pretty bad)

Question 42

Name a quality producer from Fargues

Answer 42

Rieussec (deep and rich- own cooperage)

Question 43

Name a quality producer from Preignac

Answer 43

Suduiraut (lush and sumptuous), Ch. Gilette

Question 44

Name a quality producer from Sauternes

Answer 44

``` Raymond-Lafon (unclassified), Sigalas Rabaud, Guiraud, Filhot, Yquem ```

Question 45

Name a quality producer from Bommes

Answer 45

Climens, Lafaurie-Peyraguay (floral)

Question 46

Who made the first intentional botrytis harvest?

Answer 46

Ch. Latour Blanche in 1836

Question 47

What is the soil of Entre Deux Mers ?

Answer 47

Limestone plateau with sand and clay

Question 48

Are there any famous SB wines from the right bank?

Answer 48

Yes! Petit Cheval Blanc - produced and released since 2014, Chateau Monbousquet

Question 49

How much Bordeaux wine is produced in the Entre Deux Mers zone?

Answer 49

75% - most of it merlot labeled Bordeaux or Bordeaux Sup

Question 50

What is the major difference between Graves and Entre Deux Mers?

Answer 50

The latter is typically unoaked, fruity

Question 51

What is the dominant grape of Premieres Cotes de Bordeaux?

Answer 51

sémillon

Question 52

What is the dominant grape of Entre Deux Mers?

Answer 52

sauv blanc

Question 53

Which 3 superior sweet wine AOPs fall within Premieres Cotes geographical boundaries?

Answer 53

Cadillac, Loupiac, Saint-Croix du Mont - hand-picking in tries is required, lower yields

Question 54

Where is Graves de Vayre AOP located?

Answer 54

Just west of the Libourne across from the Dordogne in the EDM zone

Question 55

What is the general style of Cotes de Bordeaux wines?

Answer 55

Mostly merlot-dominant reds, while Blaye, Francs, and Sainte-Foye may produce white wines as well (Castillon & Cadillac for reds)

Question 56

Does Bourg/Cotes de Bourg comply with the Cotes de Bordeaux AOP?

Answer 56

NO - it retains its own cahier des charges (unlike Blaye)

Question 57

The final abv of Sauternes usually reaches

Answer 57

14%

Question 58

Can any of the vins liquoreux de Graves be made by passerillage instead of botrytis?

Answer 58

YES - Cerons and Graves Superieur may be made by passerillage

Question 59

What river separates Sauternes from Barsac?

Answer 59

Le Ciron

Question 60

1855 classified 2nd growth located in Bommes?

Answer 60

NONE - all 1st growths

Question 61

Max yields for Sauternes=Barsac

Answer 61

25 hl/ha; 40 hl/ha for Cerons, Graves Sup, Loupiac, Saint Croix; 37 hl/ha for Cadillac and CdBDX Saint Macaire

Question 62

Unclassified growths of Sauternes

Answer 62

Raymond-Lafon, Gilette

Question 63

Denis Dubordieu (owner of Doisy-Daene) purchased what other estate in 2014?

Answer 63

Doisy-Dubroca - absorbed into Doisy Daene

Question 64

If a Sauternes producer makes a dry wine, what can they label it?

Answer 64

Bordeaux Blanc

Question 65

Late harvested wine in Sauternes date back to

Answer 65

Early 18th century and later was prized by the European and Russian noblesse

Question 66

3 communes of Cerons

Answer 66

Cerons, Potensac, Illats

Question 67

Sweet wine AOPs in Blaye & Bourg?

Answer 67

NONE

Question 68

What are the sweet wine appellations with the highest min. RS

Answer 68

Cadillac; | Cotes de Bordeaux: Sainte Foy de Bordeaux & Francs

Question 69

Which commune in Sauternes is home to the # least of classified chateau

Answer 69

Preignac - Suduiraut (1e) and Ch. de Malle (2e)

Question 70

Most northerly classified chateau of Sauternes

Answer 70

Ch. Nairac (2e Barsac)

Question 71

Soil differences between Sauternes and Barsac?

Answer 71

Barsac - brighter and fresher; Sauternes - richer and fuller

Question 72

Best vintages of past 20 years in Sauternes

Answer 72

01, 03, 07, 09*, 10*, 11*, 13, 14*, 15*, 17 (good semillon, concentration + freshness), * really good

Question 73

Worst recent Sauternes vintages

Answer 73

18 (dry and sunny no botrytis, and some hail damage), 12 - rain in October and November, 08, 06

Question 74

Who owns Ch. Rieussec

Answer 74

Ch. Lafite

Question 75

3 most recent vintages no Yquem was made

Answer 75

2012, 1992, 1974

Question 76

Name a producer of Loupiac

Answer 76

Loupiac Gaudier,

Question 77

Filhot

Answer 77

2e, Sauternes

Question 78

Rieussec

Answer 78

1e, Fargues

Question 79

Ch. de Malle

Answer 79

2e, Preignac

Question 80

La Tour Blanche

Answer 80

1e, Bommes

Question 81

Doisy-Daene

Answer 81

2e, Barsac

Question 82

Ch. La Rame is located where?

Answer 82

Saint Croix du Mont (also makes Cadillac)

Question 83

Noble rot vs. Gray rot (bunch rot)

Answer 83

When the humidity drops below 60% (if the sun comes out in the afternoons) the grapes are allowed to dry, leading to noble rot

Question 84

Chateau Climens dry wine?

Answer 84

Asphodel - collaboration with Pascal Jolivet (semillon done in sancerre style)

Question 85

Who owns Ch. d’Yquem

Answer 85

LVMH - Lur Saluces

Question 86

What are the 1er cru classe of Barsac?

Answer 86

Ch. Coutet, | Ch. Climens

Question 87

2e crus of Sauternes?

Answer 87

Filhot, d’Arche, Lamothe-Guignard

Question 88

What is the Source of the Dordogne?

Answer 88

Massif Central

Question 89

and the Garonne?

Answer 89

Pyrenees

Question 90

EDM Haut Benoge?

Answer 90

still dry whites, 9 communes in EDM, min. 11.5%

Question 91

Bordeaux Haut Benoge sweetness levels

Answer 91

can be off-dry or dry

Question 92

Dry wines from Premieres Cotes de Bordeaux would be labeled

Answer 92

Bordeaux Blanc - NOT EDM

Question 93

What are Boulbenes?

Answer 93

Sandy limestone - in Graves, EDM, Cognac

Question 94

Which Cotes de Bordeaux are for reds only

Answer 94

Cadillac and Castillon

Question 95

Which Cotes de Bordeaux allow sweet whites

Answer 95

Sainte Foy, | Francs

Question 96

Producer of Cadillac?

Answer 96

Chateau Fayau

Question 97

What major estates does Pierre Lurton manage?

Answer 97

Cheval Blanc | Ch. Yquem