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46 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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What geographical advantage gave rise to Bordeaux's success?
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It was an important center of trade, likely linked to its proximity to the Atlantic
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Negociants
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intermediaries who buy fruit or wine in barrels to age in their own cellar before selling the wine
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Courtiers
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- brokers of wine who provide financial backing and, as a result, gained control of the trade of Bordeaux wine
- courtiers are responsible for the current "en primeur" system sales in which Bordeaux is offered yearly and sold as futures |
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Bordeaux (Climate)
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- maritime
- the Atlantic and the Gironde estuary protect the vines from winter freezes and spring frosts - short winters, damp springs, and summers can be very hot - coastal Medoc pines protect from harsh northwesterly winds, but rain a concern, especially at harvest - climate becomes more continental toward St.-Emilion and Pomerol |
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Bordeaux "mixture"
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- a mixture of lime, copper sulfate, and water is applied throughout the region to protect from reduced yields that can result from springtime frosts (which lead to coloure and millerandage
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Coloure and Millerandage
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Coloure - gaps where no berries form
Millerandage - small, seedless berries amid normal berries - both of these are issues that can arise in cooler climates if climatic conditions are subpar during flowering |
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Noble Grapes of Bordeaux
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Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Petit Verdot, Carmenere
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Merlot
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- most widely planted grape in Bordeaux
- the earliest of the noble grapes to ripen - prefers clay-based soils, as they delay its natural vigor - contributes a fleshy, juicy texture that can soften the austerity of Cab Sauv - along with Cab Franc (1/4), Merlot (3/4) dominats the blends of the Right Bank |
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Cabernet Sauvignon
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- performs best in well-drained gravel as it allows the vine's root system to dig deeply --> slight water stress adds concentration to the fruit
- has difficulty ripening in colder limestone and clay soils - highly pigmented and tannic - gives the wine structure, power, and longevity - comprises about 2/3 of blends on the Left Bank (Graves & Medoc) |
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Petit Verdot
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- inky
- last of the noble grapes to ripen - in minute quantities, it adds color, depth, and exotic perfume - it is occasionally added to Left Bank blends, but it is virtually non-existent on the Right Bank |
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Malbec
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- known as Pressac on the Right Bank
- performs similarly to Merlot in the blends - infrequently found in Merlot |
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Carmenere
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- virtually extinct in Bordeaux
- in 2011, Brane-Cantenac added .05% to its blend citing global warming as the reason - inky and late to ripen (BC harvested three weeks later) - gives the wine a "little zing" |
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Bordeaux AOP White Grapes
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- Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc, Muscadelle dominate the blends
- Ugni Blanc, Merlot Blanc, and Colombard are restricted to a max of 30% |
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Sauvignon Blanc
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offers pungency, high acidity, and citrus flavors
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Semillon
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- creamy, waxy texture and aromas of honey and beeswax offset the sharpness of SB
- quicker to ripen than SB |
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Muscadelle
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- added sparingly to the blends
- intense floral character - if used too liberally, its intense character can quickly overtake the wine's balance |
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Barriques
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- have a capacity of 225 liters
- widely used by top chateaux in Bordeaux |
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Bas-Medoc
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- northern region of Medoc
- production is Merlot driven (as Merlot performs better in water-logged, clay-heavy soils) - farmhouses, not chateaus - not aged in oak, due to financial constraints |
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Haut-Medoc
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- well-drained, gravelly soils, perfectly suited to the production of Cabernet Sauvignon
- better chateau situated on "croupes" (gravel mounds) - St.-Estephe, Pauillac, St.-Julien, Listrac-Moulis, Moulis-en-Medoc, and Margaux |
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St.-Estephe AOP
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- northernmost commune in Haut-Medoc
- sturdy, full-bodied reds with a slightly higher % of Merlot, due to higher proportion of clay amongst the gravel - no first growths (only 5 classified growths overall) - Cos d'Estournel (super-second) is most notable; makes wines in a polished and modern style |
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Pauillac AOP
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- considered classic claret
- 3 First Growths (Lafite-Rothschild, Mouton-Rothschild, Latour) - gravel topsoil at its deepest point - CS-based wines are structured and long-lived |
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Latour (style)
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- First Growth in Pauillac
- CS-based wines - brooding depth and concentration |
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Lafite-Rothschild (style)
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- First Growth in Pauillac
- CS-based wines - emphasizes aromatics and elegance |
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St.-Julien AOP
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- produces less wine than other communes, but 80% of AOP is grand cru classe
- no first growths, but 5 second growths - super-seconds: Leoville-Las-Cases, Ducru-Beaucaillou - wines typically demonstrate elegance and style |
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Listrac-Medoc AOP/Moulis-en-Medoc AOP
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- lesser appellations without any classified growths
- good values in better vintages - most notable in either is Chateau Chasse-Spleen (Moulis) |
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Margaux AOP
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- largest communal appellation of Haut-Medoc
- rests on thin, sand gravel deposited over limestone (though croupes are more shallow than St.-Julien or Pauillac) - great diversity of soil types (more clay in outlying areas) - most classified growths of any commune (21) - One First Growth: Chateau Margaux - Second Growths are underperformers, though Ch. Palmer (3rd) is excellent - wines are typically "feminine" with an emphasis on floral bouquet, exotic character, and finesse |
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Graves AOP
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- only one classified growth: Haut-Brion (1st)
- soils are similar to the Medoc, but becomes sandier farther south --> "boulbenes" - both whites and reds can be labelled as AOP wines - in 1987, Pessac-Leognan was created and quickly became the prestige appellation in the commune |
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Boulbenes
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mixture of sand, gravel, and light clay commonly found in Graves
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Sauternes AOP
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- sweet wines were classified with the 1855 classification (only Yquem rated 1er Cru Superieur)
- grapes harvested at 221 g/L; finished wines must contain a minimum of 45 g/L RS and are typically aged two years in oak prior to release |
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Ygrec (aka "Y")
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a dry white sometimes produced by Chateau d'Yquem and is labelled Bordeaux Superieur
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Years Yquem not produced
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1992, 1974
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Chateau Gilette
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- unclassified producer in Sauternes AOP that releases a wine called "Creme de Tete" after a decades-long maturation in concrete vats
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Graves Appellations
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- Graves AOP
- Graves Superieur AOP - Pessac-Leognan AOP - Cerons AOP - Barsac AOP - Sauternes AOP |
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Chateau Figeac
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- producer in St. Emilion known for using a more significant amount of Cab Sauv than others in the region
- 1/3 each of Merlot, CS, and CF |
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Right Bank Bordeaux
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- most notably made up of St.-Emilion and Pomerol
- wines dominated by Merlot and Cabernet Franc |
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St.-Emilion AOP
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- 4 Premier Cru Classe A
- 14 Premier Cru Classe B - 64 Grand Cru Classe |
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St.-Emilion AOP (Soil Types)
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- hillside "cotes" (steep limestone soils)
- "graves" (gravelly limestone plateau resembling the soils of the Medoc) |
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St.-Emilion Grand Cru AOP
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- an appellation, NOT a classification
- must show an additional .5% ABV and undergo longer elevage than St.-Emilion AOP |
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Pomerol AOP
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- tiny compared to St.-Emilion (just 1930 acres)
- best wines are hedonistic, plump, and opulent - approachable sooner than their Medoc counterparts - wines are generally comprised of 70-80% Merlot and 20-25% Cab Franc - home to Ch. Petrus, Vieux-Chateau-Certan, Ch. Lafleur, Ch. Le Pin, Ch. Trotanoy |
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Pomerol (Soil Types)
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- sand, clay, and gravel, with a subsoil of iron pan and rich clay (known as "crasse de fer")
- Merlot is particularly successful in these clay-based soils (esp. Petrus where clay subsoil is very close to the surface) |
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Bouchet
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what Cabernet Franc is called in Pomerol
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"Garagistes" movement
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- aka "microchateau"
- started in the latter part of the 20th century - Le Pin (Pomerol) and Valandraud and La Mondotte (St.-Emilion) are most notable - extremely small production from just a handful of acres - wines are powerfully ripe, polished, and modern |
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Cotes de Bourg and Bourg AOP
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- oldest cultivated vineyards in Bordeaux
- Romans introduces viticulture to Bourg and Blaye - limestone slopes |
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Blaye AOP
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- produces reds and whites
- Coets de Blaye AOP which uniquely incorporates a large percentage of Ugni Blanc and Comobrad into its dry whites |
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Cotes de Bordeaux AOP
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- as of 2008, several preexisting appellations were consolidated into this appellation, simplifying language and offering a cost-effective alternative to the luxury-priced grand crus
- wines are predominantly red and come from (and may list on the label) the following: Francs, Castillo, Blaye, and Cadillac |
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Entre-Deux-Mers AOP
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- "the land between two seas" (the Dordogne and Garonne rivers)
- one of Bordeaux's largest regions - only produces dry white wines - may use geographical designation "Haut-Benauge" but the wines must be dry |
