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70 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
When and why did the French wine laws start
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Late 1800's Powdery mildew, phyloxera and Downy Mildew devastate the vineyards.
Demand outstrips supply. Fraudulent wines show up on market. |
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Describe:
Vin de Table |
Most basic wines
No mention of grape variety, region or vintage Bulk and low quality. 15% of all French wine |
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Describe:
Vin de Pays |
Has some regulation
Region, grape variety and vintage may appear on label Sometimes used by AoC producers to experiment 30% of all French wine. Not complex |
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Describe:
Vins Délimités de Qualité Supérieure |
Stepping stone to top level
Small percentage of French wine (1%) |
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Describe AOC
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Appellation d' Origine Controlée
Top level French wines Governed by INAO Strict regulations Defined geographical areas Defined grape varieties Defined methods of production |
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What two countries does the Bordeax area have a historical relationship with?
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England
* Important market for hundreds of years * Bordeaux called Claret in England * Marriage of Henry II to Elanor of Aquitaine Dutch * Important for trade * Drained the Médoc (Dutchies are good with water) in 1700s |
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Name the three types of AOC levels in Bordeaux
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Regional
* Entire area District * More specific * Medoc AOC Commune * Most specific * Not all districts contain commune AOCs * Pauillac |
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Bordeaux Classification system is defined by?
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Property lines (chateau specific)
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Bordeaux Classification system in relation to AOC?
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Different from AOC
In addition to AOC Referred to more frequently than AOC |
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Bordeaux Classification system governed by law?
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No
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Bordeaux Classification system similar in all districts?
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No.
Unique to district. Not all districts have classification systems. |
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1855 Bordeaux classification covers what districts?
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Médoc and Sauternes
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1855 Bordeaux classification commissioned by whom?
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Bordeaux Chamber of Commerce
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1855 Bordeaux classification based on what criteria?
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Selling price over last 100 years
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Bordeaux location
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Southwest France
Gironde estuary |
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Bordeaux climate
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Maritime
Atlantic ocean moderates Humidity is a hazard (however good for Noble Rot) Considerable vintage variation Landes forest in the South moderates wind |
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Bordeaux left bank soil
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Deep gravel
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Bordeaux right bank soil
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Clay, limestone, some gravel and sand.
Generally richer and more water |
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Bordeaux soil between Dordogne & Garonne
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Clay and limestone
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Bordeaux red varietals
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Merlot
Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Franc Malbec Petit Verdot |
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Bordeaux white varietals
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Semillion
Sauvignon Blanc Muscadelle |
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Bordeaux vine training style?
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Guyot or Cordon trained
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Bordeaux harvest time?
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Sept to Oct (up to Nov)
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Bordeaux vine density?
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High. (Makes the roots go deep)
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Bordeaux typically single varietal or blend?
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Blend
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Bordeaux reds are fermented in
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Large oak
Stainless steel Cement (cuves) |
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Bordeaux top wines aged in
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Barriques (up to 24 months)
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Bordeaux blending is called
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Assemblage
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Bordeaux whites fermented in?
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Stainless steel or small oak barrels
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Bordeaux whites aged in?
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Top whites aged in barrique
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Red grapes in Bordeaux AOC and Bordeaux Superieur AOC?
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Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Malbec
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White grapes in Bordeaux AOC and Bordeaux Superieur AOC?
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Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and Muscadelle
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Difference between Bordeaux AOC and Bordeaux Superieur AOC
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Bordeaux Superieur AOC has 0.5% higher minimum alcohol
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Name left bank district AOCs
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Medoc AOC (Bas Medoc)
Haute-Medoc AOC |
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Describe Médoc AOC (Bas Medoc)
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Reds only
Average to good quality Clay dominates |
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Describe Haut-Médoc AOC
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Reds only
Cabernet Sauvignon based Good quality Some classified growth chateaus Gravel dominates |
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Name the commune AOCs in Haute-Medoc AOC
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St Estèphe AOC
Pauillac AOC St Julien AOC Margaux AOC Listrac & Moulis AOC |
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St Estephe AOC is in what AOC district?
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Haut Medoc
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Describe the wines from St Estephe AOC
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Tend to be fuller and firmer with higher acidity
Austere in their youth. Require longer aging. Primarily Cab Sauvignon. Some estates have increased proportion of Merlot in blends. (Left Bank in Haute Medoc) |
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Name a couple well known chateaux in St Estephe AOC
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Chateau Cos d'Estournel
Chateau Montrose |
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Pauillac AOC is in that AOC district?
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Haut-Medoc AOC
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Describe the wine from Pauillac AOC
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Considered to have quintessential Bordeaux flavour
Longevity and concentration Classic structure and length Dry, soft fruit, cassis and cigar box |
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Name a couple well known chateau estates in Pauillac AOC
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Chateau Mouton Rothschild
Chateau Latour Chateau Lafite Rothschild |
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What commune AOC is considered to be "classic Bordeax"
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Pauillac AOC
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What district AOC is the Saint-Julien commune in?
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Haut Medoc AOC
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Describe the wine from Saint-Julien AOC
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Smallest production
Considered to be the reliable commune Wines style falls in between Pauillac and Margaux. Structured but polished and fragrant Subtlety, elegance & balance (Left bank Cabernet Sauvignon based) |
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Name a couple well known chateau estates in Saint-Julien AOC
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Chateau Gruaud Larose
Chateau Leoville-Las-Cases |
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In what AOC district is commune Margaux AOC?
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Haut-Medoc AOC
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Describe the wines of Margaux AOC
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Considered make Medoc's most polished and fragrant wines
Feminine Historically underachieving but many recent changes has increased quality (Left bank Cabernet Sauvignon based) |
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Name a couple well known chateau estates in Margaux AOC commune
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Chateau Margaux
Chateau Palmer |
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Describe the wines of Graves and Pessac-Léognan AOCs
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Red and White is made
Cabernet Sauvignon dominates the blend Reds are minerally scented (flint, smoke) Whites are dry and some are age-worthy (Left bank) |
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Name the AOCs in Bordeaux known for producing sweet wine
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Sauternes AOC
Barsac AOC (commune within Sauternes) Loupiac AOC (across river from Sauternes) St. Croix-du-Mont AOC (across river from Sauternes) |
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Varietals used in Sauternes AOC?
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Semillion, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle
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Sauternes AOC benefits from what mists and why?
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Mists from the Ciron river make the conditions right for Botrytis which produces high quality sweet wine.
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Describe wines from Barsac AOC?
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Commune within Sauternes
Wines similar to Sauternes but lighter |
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Describe wines from Loupiac AOC and St. Croix-du-Mont AOC
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Similar to Sauternes
Sweet botrytis affected wines Less concentrated and less expensive than Sauternes. Rustic. |
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Describe wines from Entre-Deux-Mers
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Entre-Deux-Mers AOC is dry white only
Range of styles (oaked as well as stainless steel) Fresh and aromatic Good value. Drink now. Reds from this area sold as Bordeaux AOC (Between the two rivers) |
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Where is Entre-Deux-Mers?
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Bordeaux between Garonne and Dordogne rivers (the middle).
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Where is St Emilion AOC?
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Bordeaux right bank
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Describe wines from St Emilion AOC
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Reds only
Merlot based with high percentage of Cabernet Franc and a small amount of Cab Sauv Ready to drink earlier (Right Bank) |
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Describe soil in St Emilion AOC
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Three distinct soil types:
1) Sandy gravelly soils on plateau 2) Chalky soils on the escarpment 3) Sandy soils on the plains (lighter wines) |
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Name a few of the best known estates in St Emilion AOC
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Chateau Ausone
Chateau Cheval Blanc Chateau Figeac |
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Where is Pomerol AOC?
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Bordeax right bank
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Describe the wines from Pomerol AOC
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Reds only
Very high percentage of Merlot Considered to be the gentlest, richest and most instantly appealing of all the red wines in Bordeaux Opulent and fruit forward Bets wine comes from gravel soil interleaved with clay |
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Name a couple well known chateau estates in Pomerol AOC
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Chateau Petrus
Chateau Le Pin |
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Name two up and coming Right Bank AOCs
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Fronsac AOC
Canon-Fronsac AOC Côtes de Castillon AOC |
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Style of cuisine in Bordeax?
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Elegant and refined
Basque influence in the south |
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Name three well known Bordeaux dishes
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Lamprey a la Bordelaise (eels in wine)
Gigot d'Agneau (loin of lamb) Foie Gras |
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Name three common seafood ingredients in Bordeaux
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Oysters
Eel Pike |
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Name two common cheeses in Bordeaux
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Brébis (sheep milk)
Mimolette (cows milk) |