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CAPS - Entire Year of Flashcards > OW4a: Bordeaux > Flashcards

OW4a: Bordeaux Flashcards

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1
Q

Bordeaux: largest wine growing region in France?

A

Second after Southern France

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2
Q

Bordeaux climate:

A

Moderate maritime

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3
Q

Bordeaux disease pressure:

A

Mould and rot

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4
Q

Bordeaux weather hazards:

A

Spring frost
Hail
Autumn rain

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5
Q

Number of bottles produced in Bordeaux each year:

A

900 million

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6
Q

How and when did Bordeaux become connected to England?

A

Marriage of Eleanor of Aquitaine to Henry II, king of England in 1152 created strong economic ties and a market for Bordeaux wines.

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7
Q

When did the French retake Bordeaux

A

End of 100 Years war in 1453 at Battle of Castillon

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8
Q

When did the Dutch drain the Médoc and why?

A

1600’s - left behind gravel beds. They wanted white wine to distill into eau de vie and sweet table wines.

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9
Q

What happened in Bordeaux in the 1700’s?

A

Bordeaux wine market expanded other include the British - second Golden Age

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10
Q

What happened during the French Revolution?

A

Bordeaux merchants scared away and nearly brought Bordeaux wine trade to a stop.

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11
Q

What did Napoleon do to the Bordeaux wine trade?

A

Re-established ties with Britain in 1852.

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12
Q

Three bad events that occurred in Bordeaux:

A

Powdery Mildew - 1852
Phylloxera - 1856
Downy Mildew in 1880

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13
Q

What happened after the deep freeze in Bordeaux in 1956??

A

Many vines destroyed. Merlon planted instead because it was resistant to cold.

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14
Q

What happened in Bordeaux in 1982?

A

Robert Parker praised Bordeaux wines - Third Golden Age.

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15
Q

List the 3 Golden Ages in Bordeaux

A

1152 - 1453: Aquitaine and England connected

1700s: British included again

1982: Robert Parker

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16
Q

Feature that protects Bordeaux from Atlantic:

A

Les Landes forest

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17
Q

Can summers in Bordeaux be cloudy?

A

Yes - Atlantic influence

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18
Q

Are Bordeaux winters harsh?

A

Not usually but freezes can happen

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19
Q

Bordeaux soil:

A

Sedimentary
Gravel terraces sprinkled with sand, silt, clay and limestone

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20
Q

Bordeaux: hilly or flat?

A

Mostly flat: elevation peaks at 377ft

Right Bank: small hills
Left Bank: fairly level gravel mounds
Entre Deux Mers: slopes

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21
Q

Describe gravel and sand in Bordeaux. Where is it mainly found?

A

Gravel and sand drain water away; warms up more quickly in the sun

Radiates heat to the vine

Found mainly in the Left Bank and Entre Deux Mers

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22
Q

Gravel and sand are good for what Bordeaux varieties?

A

Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot

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23
Q

How does gravel in Bordeaux contribute to structure?

A

Gives firm tannin and structure

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24
Q

What ripens earlier: CS or Merlot

A

Merlot ripens 2-3 weeks earlier

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25
Are clay and limestone cooler than gravel and sand?
Yes - because they don't drain as easily, they retain moisture and warm up more slowly
26
Where are clay and limestone found?
Right bank Hillsides of Entre Deux Mers
27
What Bordeaux grapes are well suited for clay and limestone?
Merlot, CF and Malbec
28
Why does limestone create crisper wines?
Limestone is more basic so grapes have more acid to compensate. It also creates lean, polished tannins.
29
What does Petit Verdot add to a wine?
Colour, tannin and spice
30
Which has more plush tannins: CS or Merlot?
Merlot
31
What does CF provide in Bordeaux?
Acidity
32
What does CS provide in Bordeaux wines?
Structure and aromatics
33
Bordeaux red grapes:
Primary: Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot Cabernet Franc Secondary: Malbec Carmenère Petit Verdot New Additions: Arinarnoa Castets Marselan Touriga Nacional
34
Bordeaux white grapes:
**Primary Grapes** Sémillon Muscadelle Sauvignon Blanc Sauvignon Gris **Secondary Grapes** Ugni Blanc Merlot Blanc Colombard **New Additions** Alvarinho Lilliorila
35
Is blending common in Bordeaux?
Blending is constant due to weather variations.
36
Merlot grape characteristics: | Bordeaux context
Adds "flesh" to CS skeletal structure Adds fruit to herbaciousness of CF Ripens earlier than Merlot Resistant to PM (powder is dry) Susceptible to DM and Grey Rot Prefers cool, moisture retaining soil
37
Cabernet Sauvignon characteristics: | Bordeaux context
Backbone of Left Bank blends Inherent structure = ageable wines Thick skinned Small berry size Disease resistant Prefers gravel
38
Cabernet Franc characteristics: | Bordeaux context
Significant role in Saint Emilion: 30-35% of blends Backbone of red blends found in the Côtes Flavour and structure like CS but to lesser degree Thinner skinned than CS Buds / ripens a week earlier than CS DM and PM Cold resistant Prefers limestone and sand
39
Malbec characteristics: | Bordeaux context
Low acid nature softens blends Adds black fruit
40
Petit Verdot characteristics: | Bordeaux context
Adds tannin, pigment and spice
41
Carmenère characteristics: | Bordeaux context
Rare in Bordeaux blends Succumbed to disease in 1800's and not replanted
42
Sémillon characteristics: | Bordeaux context
Thin skinned so susecptible to NR Primary grape for sweet wine Takes well to oak
43
Sauvignon Blanc characteristics: | Bordeaux context
Dominates Bordeaux white blends
44
Muscadelle characteristics: | Bordeaux context
Intense aromatics used in small amounts (5% or less) to boost aromatics
45
Sauvignon Gris characteristics: | Bordeaux context
Adds depth and texture with muskier aromatics of boxwood
46
Three general appellations of Bordeaux: | Bordeaux context
Bordeaux AOP Bordeaux Supérior AOP Crèmant de Bordeaux AOP
47
Bordeaux AOP description:
All colours Clairet (light red) Dry to semi-sweet All varietals allowed Subzone: Haut-Benauge in EDM running parallel to Garonne Makes dry to semi-sweet SB/Sém
48
Bordeaux Supérior AOP description:
Red Semi-sweet white (min 17g/l) All varietals allowed except Alvarinho Stricter production: lower max yield, higher min abv, longer ageing) Some oaking Must be estate bottled
49
Crémant de Bordeaux description:
Sparking white and rosé All varietals 9 months on lees minimum
50
Left Bank dimensions | Bordeaux context
80km stretch 1600HA
51
Left Bank production | Bordeaux context
100 million bottles 50% of wine exported 15% of Bordeaux production
52
Number of Bordeaux châteaux and brands
600 châteaux 1000 brands
53
Bordeaux: white or black grapes?
Overwhelmingly black
54
In Bordeaux, what is a classification attached to?
Classification is attached to a château and not a parcel of land.
55
Saint Emilion Classfication system:
Saint Emilion Grand Cru Classé A (Chevel Blanc, Ausone, Angelus left after Pavie and Figeac added in 2012) Saint Emilion Grand Cru Classé B (15 Châteaux) Saint Emilion Grand Cru Classe Saint Emilion Grand Cru Saint Emilion Satellite regions: Lussac, Montagnè, Saint Georges, Puisseguin
56
Eight Médoc AOC's:
1. Médoc 2. Haut-Médoc 3. Saint Estephe 4. Paulliac 5. Saint Julien 6. Margaux 7. Listrac et Moulis
57
Médoc AOC description:
Cool climate impacted by Atlantic Lower elevation Varied soil types Best suited for Merlot Red only 3 g/l
58
Haut Médoc AOC description:
Moderating influences: closer to estuary, farther from Gironde, more diurnal shift Mostly gravel and clay Red only
59
Saint Estephe description:
Tannic, austere, rustic More clay so bigger tannin structure Montrose, Cos, Calon Segur
60
Paulliac AOC description:
Aristocratic, powerful, long lived First Growths (3)
61
What is a Cru Artisan in Bordeaux mean?
Created in 2022 Small estates Owner operated and directly involved Classification constantly updated
62
What is a Cru Bourgeois?
Higher level of quality than basic Bordeaux Cru Bourgeouis Cru Bourgeouis Superior Cru Bourgeouis Exceptionnel
63
What is a "tech" wine?
Tech used to ensure that the wine is made correctly Different from using tech to manipulate wine
64
Graves wine styles:
Red White Sweet
65
Graves location:
South of Bordeaux
66
Graves soils:
Gravel mounds along left bank of Garonne Cérons: gravel starts to include clay, marl, limestone and sand
67
Moderating influence west of Graves:
Les Landes
68
Six Graves appellations:
Graves Graves Supérior Pessac-Leognan Sauternes Barsac Cérons
69
Graves AOC description:
Dry reds (85%): 3 g/l Dry whites (15%): 4 g/l Whites: oaked or unoaked
70
Graves Supérior description:
Semi-sweet white: 34 g/l Hand harvest in tries NR
71
Pessac-Leognan description:
Dry whites: often oak with high acidity so good for ageing Dry reds: cloves on finish Once part of Graves: own AOC in 1987 Noteworthy CS dominant because of gravel
72
Sauternais description:
Home to all sweet wine AOCs Poor soils Microclimate supports NR Ciron River = morning mists
73
Sauternes description:
Min RS of 45 g/l Can age for decades
74
Barsac description:
Left bank of Ciron river 45 g/l Producers can label wine as Sauternes so most do: more $$$$
75
Cérons AOC:
45 g/l
76
Entre Deux Mers wine style:
White: mostly SB Red: bottled as AOC Sweet
77
Entre Deux Mers AOC description:
Entre Deux Mers: dry whites 25% of Bordeaux dry white wines
78
Three Entre Deux Mers AOC that produce sweet wines:
Cadillac (51 g/l) Loupiac (45 g/l) Saint Croix du Mont (45 g/l) - most prestigious because more gravel soils
79
Three minor Entre-Deux-Mers AOC's:
Graves de Vayres (most red, some white and semi-sweet whites) Premières Côtes de Bordeaux (semi-sweet to sweet @ 45 g/l) Côtes de Bordeaux Saint-Macaire (white, dry to sweet)
80
Libournais description:
Libourne is the main city Reds: mostly Merlot and CF Merlot dominant = silky, less powerful structure Some CS where soil allows Garagiste movement
81
List 4 Saint Emilion satellite AOC's:
Lussac St E Montagne St E Puisseguin St E Saint Georges St E
82
Saint Emilion satellite wine style:
Red only Same flavour profile as St E but more delicate structure
83

CAPS - Entire Year of Flashcards (59 decks)

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