Bordeaux

Front 1

What is Bordeaux’s climate and what factors influence it?

Back 1

Bordeaux’s climate is a moderate maritime climate Influenced by the Gulf Stream.

Front 2

What are both the positive and negative factors the Gulf Stream has on Bordeaux’s climate?

Back 2

Positive - Extends the ripping season and helps prevent spring frosts.

Negative - High levels of rainfall and humidity. The rainfall can disrupt flowering and fruit set, as well as promote rot and dilute flavours at harvest.

Front 3

What helps mitigate the negative affects of the Gulf Steam?

Back 3

Bordeaux’s vineyards are protected from the worst of the Atlantic storms by the Landes forest and sand dunes that lie to the west.

Front 4

Why is Bordeaux wine almost always a blend?

Back 4

The variability in weather, in particular rainfall, means it’s dangerous to rely heavily on one crop.

Of the permitted varieties in Bordeaux, they all flower and ripen at different times, meaning one bad frost or heavy shower is unlikely to ruin an entire crop.

Front 5

What are the four main black varieties of Bordeaux?

Back 5

Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc.

Front 6

How is top quality red Bordeaux wine made and matured?

Back 6

These wines are aged in small 225 litre oak barriques, in the finest châteaux all of these will be new oak.

These wines aim to be ripe, fruitful and concentrated, even in difficult years.

Front 7

What are the three main white varieties of Bordeaux?

Back 7

Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle.

Front 8

What are the different styles of white wines made in Bordeaux?

Back 8

Sweet wines - predominantly made from Sémillon and affected by Nobel rot. The best of these are fermented and matured in new oak barrels.

Dry white blends - ranging from inexpensive fresh and fruity versions without the use of oak, to the premium blends fermented and matured in new oak.

Front 9

What are the three main white varieties of Bordeaux?

Back 9

Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle.

Front 10

What are the different styles of white wines made in Bordeaux?

Back 10

Sweet wines - predominantly made from Sémillon and affected by Nobel rot. The best of these are fermented and matured in new oak barrels.

Dry white blends - ranging from inexpensive fresh and fruity versions without the use of oak, to the premium blends fermented and matured in new oak.

Front 11

What are the four highest regarded châteaux’s of Haut-Médoc and what are these wines like?

Back 11

Saint Estèphe, Pauillac, Saint-Julien and Margaux.

These wines have a high percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon, with a core blackcurrant fruit and notes of cedar from oak. They have grippy tannins when young and a long ageing potential.

Front 12

What are the important communes in Graves, and how does this wines differ from those of the Médoc?

Back 12

Graves, as well as Pessac-Léognan are the important communes lying south of Bordeaux.

The wines of Pessac-Léognan wines tend to be a little lighter in body and more fragrant than those of of the Haut-Médoc.

The wines of Graves are similar, though less concentrated and complex, usually with a higher portion of Merlot.

Front 13

What different soil types do the reds of Bordeaux prefer?

Back 13

Cabernet Sauvignon and Franc prefer a high stone/gravel soil type with good drainage in order to ripen fully.

Merlot, however, can ripen in the cooler clay soils.

Front 14

What would a generic Bordeaux AC wine likely taste like?

Back 14

The best would be early drinking medium-bodied reds with both ripe red and black fruits, and potential some cedar from oak.

The lesser with lighter body than above and more astringent tannins.

Front 15

What are the important appellations of the right bank, and what would these wines be made of and look like?

Back 15

Saint-Émilion and Pomerol.

Saint-Émilion produces wines that amongst Merlot can also include Cabernet Franc and some Cabernet Sauvignon. Stylistically they have medium to high tannins and red berry fruit and plum aromas, though compared to the left bank have a soft and rich mouthfeel.

Pomerol wines tend to be richer, with a spicer black fruit character.

Front 16

What is a movement particularly associated with these right bank wines and what are they referred to as?

Back 16

Full bodied, incredibly ripe wines made in tiny quantities from small pots, with no expense spared in the vineyard or winery.

They are known as ‘vins de garage’.

Front 17

Which appellations can use Côtes de Bordeaux and what are these wine made from and look like?

Back 17

Blaye, Cadillac, Castillon and Francs can use the Côtes de Bordeaux label.

These wines tend to be made from Merlot and are meant for early drinking.

Front 18

Which Bordeaux appellations can produce dry white wines and in what styles would they be?

Back 18

Entre-Deux-Mers, Graves and Pessac-Léognan.

Entre-Deux-Mers and Graves produce Sauvignon Blanc in an unoaked style.

Pessac-Léognan can produce cru classé eligible whites, which tend to be a blend of both Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillion and aged at least partly in new oak.

Front 19

Where are the top sweet wine appellations of Bordeaux found? Why is this the best area for premium sweet wines?

Back 19

These appellations are grouped on the banks of the Garonne and it’s tributary the Ciron.

The river create the ideal misty autumn conditions for noble rot to develop on fully ripened grapes.

Front 20

Where do the best sweet wines from within this area come from and what is the most famous village within this area?

Back 20

Sauternes, within lies the village of Barsac.

Front 21

What do the sweet wines of Barsac look like in terms of variates and wine characteristics?

Back 21

These wines tend to be Sémillion dominate, due to its thin skin and susceptibility to botrytis. Sauvignon Blanc supplies the acidity and fruity aromas and Muscadelle, when used, adds exotic perfume.

The best wines are categorised by their high alcohol, sweetens balanced with high acidity, display the citrus peel and apricot aromas of the noble rot, alongside the toast and vanilla from oak.