Bordeaux Flashcards

1
Q

Historically important foreign buyers of Bordeaux wine

A

English and Dutch. The Dutch drained the Medoc and funded building of channels

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2
Q

Where is Bordeaux

A

Southwestern part of France. Inland from the Atlantic on 45 degree parallel

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3
Q

Climate and vine risks

A

Maritime. Rain and Frost

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4
Q

What protects vines from the Atlantic

A

Man made pine forest. Gulf stream warms vines

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5
Q

Two rivers that form the Gironde Estuary near Bordeaux

A

Dordogne and Garonne

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6
Q

Where does Entre Deux Mers lie

A

Between the two rivers

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7
Q

Soil types

A

Medoc and Graves (left bank) GRAVEL. St. Emillion (right bank) silt, clay, gravel, limestone, sand. Pomerol (right bank) iron rich clay

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8
Q

Minor grapes of Bordeaux

A

Carmanere, Malbec, Petite Verdot

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9
Q

Why are most Bordeaux wines traditionally blended

A

To allow varietals to ripen at different times. Minimize crop loss.

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10
Q

Left Bank red wine styles are typically

A

70% Cab Sauv. 30% Merlot plus minor varietal and New French Oak aged.

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11
Q

Right bank red wine styles are typically

A

70% Merlot. 30% Cab Franc. Wines spend some time in French Oak

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12
Q

Dry White Wine styles from Graves Primarily Pessac-Leonan

A

Dry white. 80% Sauv. Blanc 20%Semillion. Only upper tier priced wines are oaked in New French Oak

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13
Q

Sweet wite wines from Sauternes are primarily

A

80% Semillion and 20% Sauv. Blanc. Small percentages of Muscadelle. Many are aged in New French Oak

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14
Q

Yearly weather and vintages

A

vary due to climate variances

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15
Q

Largest Regional Appellation in Bordeaux

A

Bordeaux AOP. Wines can comes from anywhere in the region and be dry or sweet

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16
Q

Sub-Regional or District Appellations

A

Haut-Medoc AOP, Entre Deux Mers AOP (smaller more specific Commune)

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17
Q

COMMUNE APPELLATIONS

A

Small prestigous high quality communes, St. Esteph, St. Julienne, St. Emillion, Pomeral, Margaux

18
Q

Definition of a chateau in Bordeaux

A

Single vineyard ownership

19
Q

Bordeaux’s most famous red wine area

A

Medoc

20
Q

The soils of the Medoc are comprised of

A

Gravel

21
Q

What are the two main regions or subregons of the Medoc

A

Medoc, Haut-Medoc AOP

22
Q

What are the four most famous communes of the Medoc

A

St. Esteph, St. Julienne, Paulliiac, Margaux

23
Q

Who comissioned the ranking of wines in 1855

A

Napoleon II

24
Q

Which bank was excluded from the ranking

A

Right

25
Q

What was the only Chateau south of the Medoc inclued in the classification

A

Chateau Haut-Brion in Graves

26
Q

Is this classification system part of the AOP?

A

No

27
Q

What are the top first growths in order of rank

A

Chateau Lafit Rothschild, Chateau Latour, Chateau Mouton Rothschild, Chateau Margaux, Chateau Haut Brion

28
Q

What are the most recent top vintages

A

Every year from 2005 to 2015

29
Q

Where is Graves and what wines and soils are typical

A

Graves south of and around the city of Bordeaux. Soils are gravel. Wines primarily WHITE and dry. Can be oaked. There are dry red wines too.

30
Q

Most highly regarded chateau in Graves AOP

A

Pessaac-Leonan,

31
Q

Second sub-region of Graves AOP famous for it’s sweet white wines

A

Sauternes

32
Q

What are wines like out of Entre deux Mers AOP

A

Dry only red and white, stainless steel, little to NO OAK, soils are silty

33
Q

Describe St. Emillion from Right Bank

A

Close to town of Liournais, along the Dordogne River

34
Q

Soils of St. Emillion

A

Silt, clay, gravel, sand, limestone

35
Q

What is uniques about wines from St. Emillion

A

They are RED only (merlot and cab franc) and not part of the 1855 classification system. Rather there is St. Emillion AOP and St. Emillion Grand Cru (longer aging, .5 higher alc.) AOP

36
Q

In 1955 St. Emillion created it’s own classification system Premiers Grands Crus Classes A. This is superior to a Grand Cru

A

Chateau Ausone, Chateau Angeles, Chateau Pavie, Chateau Cheval Blanc. These are the most famous 4 of the 18.

37
Q

Premier Grands Crus Classes B This is superior to a Grand Cru.

A

14 qualify

38
Q

Grand Crus Classes

A

64 qualify. This level is still part of the St. Emillion classification and not the regular Grand Cru AOP.

39
Q

Wines of Pomerol

A

Merlot and Cab Franc. Pomerol sits near the town of Libournais along the Dordonge River. A small plot only 3 hectares

40
Q

Soils and appellations of Pomeral

A

Iron rich clay, sand, gravel, Pomerol AOC. Red wines only. Dry

41
Q

Does Pomerol have a classification

A

No. Only St. Emillion on the Right Bank