Left Bank: Medoc Flashcards
(35 cards)
Where is the Medoc AOP located?
The left bank of the Gironde Estuary, 50-mile stretch Northward from the city of Bordeaux.
What chateaux use the Medoc AOP on their labels?
Ones that don’t qualify for a more precise appellation, namely those located in the marshy region north of St-Estephe.
How much land in the Medoc is planted to white grapes?
123 acres
What grapes are more likely used in the Bas-Medoc compared to the Haut-Medoc?
Bas-Medoc wines are more likely made with Merlot, as this grape performs better in the clay-heavy soils located here.
What makes the Haut-Medoc so conducive to Cabernet Sauvignon?
Well-drained gravelly soils
Who was responsible for commissioning the 1855 Classification of Bordeaux?
Emperor Napoleon III
What is the only Chateau from outside the Medoc that was included in the 1855 Classification? Where is it located?
Chateau Haut-Brion, in Graves
What is the main difference between classification of Bordeaux versus Burgundy?
In Bordeaux, the Chateaux are classified; in Burgundy, the vineyards themselves carry the classification.
What year was the 1855 Classification changed? What happened?
1973, Baron Philippe de Rothschild got Chateau Mouton Rothschild elevated from 2nd growth to 1st after years of lobbying
What other designations mark Chateaux of quality in Bordeaux?
Cru Artisan and Cru Bourgeois
Northernmost commune of Haut-Medoc, producing sturdy and full-bodied reds with a slightly higher percentage of Merlot, due to a higher proportion of clay amongst the gravel.
St-Estephe
How many classified growths are located in St-Estephe? What is the most notable?
It hosts only five classified growths, the most notable of which is the “Super-Second,” Chateau Cos d’Estournel, making powerful wines in a polished modern style.
What appellation in Haut-Medoc is considered classic claret? What are its most notable Chateaux?
Pauillac AOP, it hosts three 1st growths; Lafita, Mouton, and Latour
What AOP produces less wine than the other communes, yet retains great quality?
St-Julien AOP, approx. 80%. Of the AOP is “Cru Classe” wine.
What are the most notable Chateaux in St-Julien?
Although there are no 1st growths, it contains five 2nd growths:
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What are the possible wine types of Bordeaux AOP?
Red, white, rose or “Clairet” (a darker, more aromatic style of rose that evokes the original claret wines shipped to England in the Middle Ages)
What are the six grapes allowed for Red Bordeaux AOP wines?
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec, and Carmenere
What is the most widely planted grape in Bordeaux?
Merlot
What differentiates Merlot from other red grapes of Bordeaux?
It is the earliest to ripen, prefers clay-based soils, as they delay its natural vigor.
What soils do Cabernet Sauvignon thrive in? Why?
Well-drained gravel, it allows the vine’s root system to dig deeply while slight water stress adds concentration to the fruit.
What soils are difficult for Cabernet Sauvignon to ripen in?
colder limestone and clay soils
What soils are best for Cabernet Franc? Why?
limestone-based soils, they promote acidity and freshness in wines
Why do Bordeaux estates tend to blend their grapes?
It gives Chateaux insurance, as well as providing balance and complexity to the resulting wine.
What does Cabernet Sauvignon contribute to Bordeaux blends?
It is highly pigmented and tannic, giving structure, power and longevity
