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48 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
- 3rd side (hint)
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Rivers in Bordeaux |
Garonne (South) and Dordogne (North) |
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Name of Estuuary in Bordeaux |
Gironde. |
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% AOC production of Black, White, Sweet and Rose in Bordeaux |
85% Black. 10% White. 1 % Sweet. 4% Rose |
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Area under vine in Bordeaux |
111,000Ha |
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How much Bordeuax production is inexpensive to mid-priced? |
70% |
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How much Bordeuax is premium or super premium? |
30% |
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Climate in Bordeaux |
Moderate maritime |
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What protects the left bank from Atlantic storms? |
Landes Forest to West |
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Average rainfall in Bordeaux |
950mm |
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Is rainfall consistent in Bordeaux? |
No. Marked variation in terms of amount and when it falls. |
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What issues does excessive rainfall cause in Bordeaux at Flowering? |
Poor fruit set |
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Excessive rain during growing season can cause? |
Increased disease pressure |
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Excessive rain at and following veraison can cause? |
Unripe fruit and fungal disease |
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Excessive rain at harvest can? |
Dilute flavours |
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In Medoc what environmental factor tends to influence the most prestigious wines? Why? |
Proximity to Gironde Estuary due to moderating influence. |
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Soil in Left Bank of top estates? Name in French? |
Gravel mounds. Croupes. |
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Benefits of Gravel Soils? |
Excellent drainage so grapes can ripen even if there is lots of rain. Heat retention. |
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Negative of Gravel Soils? |
In hot dry years it can encourage drought conditions. |
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Is all the soil in Left Bank gravel? |
No. Clay pockets. Especially in Saint Estephe. |
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Is all the soil on Right Bank clay? |
No. Gravel pockets. |
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Is Merlot early or late budding? What does this mean it is at risk of? |
Early budding. Vulnerable to sprint frosts. |
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When does Merlot Ripen? Early/Mid/Late. What is the benefit of this in Bordeaux. |
Mid ripening. Can be picked before the early autumn rain. |
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What diseases is Merlot susceptible too? |
Coloure, Drought, Boirytis Bunch Rot |
3 |
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Why is clay good for Merlot? |
Cooler soils that retain more water that allows the Merlot's large berry size to be produced. |
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What was once seen as an advantage of Merlot but is less so now? Why |
High sugar levels. Climate change renders this less important. |
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Typical primary flavours of Merlot in cool years? |
Strawberry, red plum, herbaceous. |
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Typical primary flavours of merlot in warm vintages? |
Cooked blackberry, black plum |
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Merlot tannins are? |
Medium and really chalky and broad. |
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When does Cabernet bud? Benefits? |
Late. Protection from spring frosts. |
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When does Cabernet Sauvingon Ripen? What does this help explain? What is a drawback of this? |
Late. Why is does well on warmer sites with gravel soils. Vulnerable to early autumn rains. |
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What are Cabernet Berries like? |
Small and thick skinned = high tannins |
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Cabernet Sauvingon tannins are? |
High level and coarse |
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Typical Cabernet Sauvignon primary character? |
Blackcurrant, violet, black cherry, methol/herbaceous |
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Typical acidity of Cabernet Sauvingon? |
High |
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What does Cabernet Franc bring to a Bordeaux Blend? |
Red fruit, high acidity, medium tannins |
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What does Cabernet Sauvingon lend to a Bordeaux Blend? |
Dark fruit, high acidity, tannin, colour |
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Why is Petit Verdot unpopular with growers? Why? |
It buds early and ripens late = prone to spring frosts and hard to get ripe most years and rain at harvest |
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What does Petit Verdot bring to a Bordeaux Blend? |
Lots of colour, spice notes, tannins. |
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When does Semillon ripen? |
Mid |
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How does Semillon yield? |
High |
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Typical Semillon primary character? |
Lemon, apple, grassy (if underipe) |
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Typical structure of Semillon in Bordeaux? |
Medium-Medium + acid, medium body, medium alcohol |
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What is semillon's role in Bordeaux blends? |
Softening Sauvingnon Blanc |
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What does Semillon have an affinity for? |
Vanilla and sweet spice from new French oak |
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Why is sweet Bordeaux usually predominanlty semillon? |
Gets affected by boitrytis more easily than Sauvingon Blanc |
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Typical character of boitrytised Semillon? When old. |
Honey, dried fruit, waxy texture. Toast when old |
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Muscadelle is especially susceptible too? What does this mean need to happen to it? |
Botrytis bunch rot. Must be planted on a well-exposed site. |
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What character does muscadelle contribute to sweet Bordeaux wines? |
Grapey and flowery character |
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