Isg Wine Fundamentals 2. Session 3: Bordeaux

Front 1

When and why did the French wine laws start

Back 1

Late 1800's Powdery mildew, phyloxera and Downy Mildew devastate the vineyards.

Demand outstrips supply.

Fraudulent wines show up on market.

Front 2

Describe:
Vin de Table

Back 2

Most basic wines

No mention of grape variety, region or vintage

Bulk and low quality.
15% of all French wine

Front 3

Describe:
Vin de Pays

Back 3

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

Front 4

Describe:
Vins Délimités de Qualité Supérieure

Back 4

Stepping stone to top level

Small percentage of French wine (1%)

Front 5

Describe AOC

Back 5

Appellation d' Origine Controlée

Top level French wines
Governed by INAO
Strict regulations
Defined geographical areas
Defined grape varieties
Defined methods of production

Front 6

What two countries does the Bordeax area have a historical relationship with?

Back 6

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

Front 7

Name the three types of AOC levels in Bordeaux

Back 7

Regional
* Entire area

District
* More specific
* Medoc AOC

Commune
* Most specific
* Not all districts contain commune AOCs
* Pauillac

Front 8

Bordeaux Classification system is defined by?

Back 8

Property lines (chateau specific)

Front 9

Bordeaux Classification system in relation to AOC?

Back 9

Different from AOC

In addition to AOC

Referred to more frequently than AOC

Front 10

Bordeaux Classification system governed by law?

Back 10

No

Front 11

Bordeaux Classification system similar in all districts?

Back 11

No.

Unique to district.

Not all districts have classification systems.

Front 12

1855 Bordeaux classification covers what districts?

Back 12

Médoc and Sauternes

Front 13

1855 Bordeaux classification commissioned by whom?

Back 13

Bordeaux Chamber of Commerce

Front 14

1855 Bordeaux classification based on what criteria?

Back 14

Selling price over last 100 years

Front 15

Bordeaux location

Back 15

Southwest France

Gironde estuary

Front 16

Bordeaux climate

Back 16

Maritime

Atlantic ocean moderates

Humidity is a hazard (however good for Noble Rot)

Considerable vintage variation

Landes forest in the South moderates wind

Front 17

Bordeaux left bank soil

Back 17

Deep gravel

Front 18

Bordeaux right bank soil

Back 18

Clay, limestone, some gravel and sand.

Generally richer and more water

Front 19

Bordeaux soil between Dordogne & Garonne

Back 19

Clay and limestone

Front 20

Bordeaux red varietals

Back 20

Merlot

Cabernet Sauvignon

Cabernet Franc

Malbec

Petit Verdot

Front 21

Bordeaux white varietals

Back 21

Semillion

Sauvignon Blanc

Muscadelle

Front 22

Bordeaux vine training style?

Back 22

Guyot or Cordon trained

Front 23

Bordeaux harvest time?

Back 23

Sept to Oct (up to Nov)

Front 24

Bordeaux vine density?

Back 24

High. (Makes the roots go deep)

Front 25

Bordeaux typically single varietal or blend?

Back 25

Blend

Front 26

Bordeaux reds are fermented in

Back 26

Large oak

Stainless steel

Cement (cuves)

Front 27

Bordeaux top wines aged in

Back 27

Barriques (up to 24 months)

Front 28

Bordeaux blending is called

Back 28

Assemblage

Front 29

Bordeaux whites fermented in?

Back 29

Stainless steel or small oak barrels

Front 30

Bordeaux whites aged in?

Back 30

Top whites aged in barrique

Front 31

Red grapes in Bordeaux AOC and Bordeaux Superieur AOC?

Back 31

Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Malbec

Front 32

White grapes in Bordeaux AOC and Bordeaux Superieur AOC?

Back 32

Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and Muscadelle

Front 33

Difference between Bordeaux AOC and Bordeaux Superieur AOC

Back 33

Bordeaux Superieur AOC has 0.5% higher minimum alcohol

Front 34

Name left bank district AOCs

Back 34

Medoc AOC (Bas Medoc)

Haute-Medoc AOC

Front 35

Describe Médoc AOC (Bas Medoc)

Back 35

Reds only

Average to good quality

Clay dominates

Front 36

Describe Haut-Médoc AOC

Back 36

Reds only

Cabernet Sauvignon based

Good quality

Some classified growth chateaus

Gravel dominates

Front 37

Name the commune AOCs in Haute-Medoc AOC

Back 37

St Estèphe AOC

Pauillac AOC

St Julien AOC

Margaux AOC

Listrac & Moulis AOC

Front 38

St Estephe AOC is in what AOC district?

Back 38

Haut Medoc

Front 39

Describe the wines from St Estephe AOC

Back 39

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)

Front 40

Name a couple well known chateaux in St Estephe AOC

Back 40

Chateau Cos d'Estournel
Chateau Montrose

Front 41

Pauillac AOC is in that AOC district?

Back 41

Haut-Medoc AOC

Front 42

Describe the wine from Pauillac AOC

Back 42

Considered to have quintessential Bordeaux flavour

Longevity and concentration

Classic structure and length

Dry, soft fruit, cassis and cigar box

Front 43

Name a couple well known chateau estates in Pauillac AOC

Back 43

Chateau Mouton Rothschild

Chateau Latour

Chateau Lafite Rothschild

Front 44

What commune AOC is considered to be "classic Bordeax"

Back 44

Pauillac AOC

Front 45

What district AOC is the Saint-Julien commune in?

Back 45

Haut Medoc AOC

Front 46

Describe the wine from Saint-Julien AOC

Back 46

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)

Front 47

Name a couple well known chateau estates in Saint-Julien AOC

Back 47

Chateau Gruaud Larose

Chateau Leoville-Las-Cases

Front 48

In what AOC district is commune Margaux AOC?

Back 48

Haut-Medoc AOC

Front 49

Describe the wines of Margaux AOC

Back 49

Considered make Medoc's most polished and fragrant wines

Feminine

Historically underachieving but many recent changes has increased quality

(Left bank Cabernet Sauvignon based)

Front 50

Name a couple well known chateau estates in Margaux AOC commune

Back 50

Chateau Margaux

Chateau Palmer

Front 51

Describe the wines of Graves and Pessac-Léognan AOCs

Back 51

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)

Front 52

Name the AOCs in Bordeaux known for producing sweet wine

Back 52

Sauternes AOC

Barsac AOC (commune within Sauternes)

Loupiac AOC (across river from Sauternes)

St. Croix-du-Mont AOC (across river from Sauternes)

Front 53

Varietals used in Sauternes AOC?

Back 53

Semillion, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle

Front 54

Sauternes AOC benefits from what mists and why?

Back 54

Mists from the Ciron river make the conditions right for Botrytis which produces high quality sweet wine.

Front 55

Describe wines from Barsac AOC?

Back 55

Commune within Sauternes

Wines similar to Sauternes but lighter

Front 56

Describe wines from Loupiac AOC and St. Croix-du-Mont AOC

Back 56

Similar to Sauternes

Sweet botrytis affected wines

Less concentrated and less expensive than Sauternes. Rustic.

Front 57

Describe wines from Entre-Deux-Mers

Back 57

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)

Front 58

Where is Entre-Deux-Mers?

Back 58

Bordeaux between Garonne and Dordogne rivers (the middle).

Front 59

Where is St Emilion AOC?

Back 59

Bordeaux right bank

Front 60

Describe wines from St Emilion AOC

Back 60

Reds only

Merlot based with high percentage of Cabernet Franc and a small amount of Cab Sauv

Ready to drink earlier

(Right Bank)

Front 61

Describe soil in St Emilion AOC

Back 61

Three distinct soil types:

1) Sandy gravelly soils on plateau
2) Chalky soils on the escarpment
3) Sandy soils on the plains (lighter wines)

Front 62

Name a few of the best known estates in St Emilion AOC

Back 62

Chateau Ausone

Chateau Cheval Blanc

Chateau Figeac

Front 63

Where is Pomerol AOC?

Back 63

Bordeax right bank

Front 64

Describe the wines from Pomerol AOC

Back 64

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

Front 65

Name a couple well known chateau estates in Pomerol AOC

Back 65

Chateau Petrus

Chateau Le Pin

Front 66

Name two up and coming Right Bank AOCs

Back 66

Fronsac AOC

Canon-Fronsac AOC

Côtes de Castillon AOC

Front 67

Style of cuisine in Bordeax?

Back 67

Elegant and refined
Basque influence in the south

Front 68

Name three well known Bordeaux dishes

Back 68

Lamprey a la Bordelaise (eels in wine)

Gigot d'Agneau (loin of lamb)

Foie Gras

Front 69

Name three common seafood ingredients in Bordeaux

Back 69

Oysters
Eel
Pike

Front 70

Name two common cheeses in Bordeaux

Back 70

Brébis (sheep milk)

Mimolette (cows milk)