Certified Sommelier > Bordeaux > Flashcards

Bordeaux Flashcards

(38 cards)

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1
Q

Bordeaux map

A
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2
Q

Bordeaux history - Eleanor of Aquitaine

A
  • Eleanor of Aquitane “grandmother of Europe”
  • Married 2x to King Luis VII then to King Henry.
  • Was imprisoned by her ex-husband for 16 yrs
  • Very powerful and spirited, lived til 82
  • Inherited a lot of land and export ports in Bordeaux
  • Taught the English to drink wine
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3
Q

Bordeaux history - Dutch draining of Gironde Estuary

A
  • Medoc was drained in 17th century by the Duth to clear the land for agricultural use.
  • Discovered soil was gravel and good for growing wine, vines were planted and roads were constructed for trade.
  • Gradually surpassed Graves as most presitigious region for growing wine.
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4
Q

Changing perception of Bordeaux

A
  • Largest region of AOP wine production in France
  • Highly regarded ratings
  • Global image evolition of market and style
  • “Have always done it this way mentality”
  • Need to adapt for climate change (planting new varietals) and consumer preferences/affordability.
  • Introducing new styles of wine and marketing strategies
  • Showcasing diversity and quality in mid range price wine
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5
Q

Bodies of water that impact Bordeaux

A

Atlantic Ocean
Gironde Estuary
Dordogne River
Garonne River (flows to Atlantic)

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6
Q

Impact of waterways in Bordeaux

A

Early years allowed English and Dutch merchants to commercialize wines

Make the climate fairly humid - this can also cause mold and rot (Gulf Stream helps with this becoming a problem)

Temper the potential volatility of the climate providing a more stable growing environment

Allows for better drainage of the land - which is important for growing grapes, especially if vineyards are on hills (increased drainage)

“Bordeaux’s best vineyards can see the river”

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7
Q

Atlantic Ocean

A

Hour drive west of Bordeaux

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8
Q

Gironde Estuary

A

Directly west (north to south):
* Medoc
* St. Estephe
* Pauiliac
* St. Julien

Directly east:
* Blaye & Bourg

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9
Q

Garonne River

A

Directly west (north to south):
* Margaux
* Haute Medoc
* City of Bordeaux
* Pessac
* Leogan
* Graves

Directly east:
* Entre Deux Mers

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10
Q

Dordogne River

A

Directly west:
* Entre Deux Mers

Directly east:
* Bourg
* Fronsac
* Canon Fronsac
* Pomerol
* Saint Emillion

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11
Q

1855 Classification History

A
  • Established by Napoleon to display best Bordeaux wines to the world
  • Map highlighting the most prestigious estates
  • Used wine sales records to establish top chateaus based on price in marketplace
  • Ranked wines into 5 growths: First Growth down to Fifth Growth
  • 61 chateaux classified
  • Chateau Mouton Rothschild added as First Growth in 1973 due to persistence of family asking to be added.
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12
Q

1855 Classification First Growths

A

Chateau Lafite Rothschild (Pauilliac)
Chateau Latour (Pauilliac)
Chateau Mouton Rothschild (Pauilliac)
Chateau Margaux (Margaux)
Chateau Haut Brion (Graves)

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13
Q

1855 Classification Second Growths

A
  • Chateau Rauzan, Margaux
  • Chateau Leoville, St-Julien
  • Chateau Durfort-Vivens, Margaux
  • Chateau Gruaud-Larose, St-Julien
  • Chateau Lascombes, Margaux
  • Chateau Brane-Cantenac, Margaux
  • Chateau Pichon Longueville, Pauillac
  • Chateau Ducru-Beaucaillou, St-Julien
  • Chateau Cos d’Estournel, St-Estèphe
  • Chateau Montrose, St-Estèphe
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14
Q

Cru Bourgeois Classification

A
  • Established in 1930, ranked every 5 yrs
  • Medoc chateaux that did not make the cut for 1855
  • Levels in decreasing quality:
  • Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel
  • Cru Bourgeois Superieur
  • Cru Bourgeois
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15
Q

What areas make up the Left Bank?

A

Medoc
Graves

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16
Q

Medoc

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A

Red wine only!
* Left bank
* Gravel
* Cab Sauv

17
Q

Medoc Classifications/Top producers

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A
  • All First Growths in 1855 Classification
  • Chateau Lafite Rothschild (Pauilliac)
  • Chateau Latour (Pauilliac)
  • Chateau Mouton Rothschild (Pauilliac)
  • Chateau Margaux (Margaux)
18
Q

What are the AOCs in the Medoc?

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A

Medoc
St.Estephe
Paulliac
St. Julien
Haut Medoc
Margaux

19
Q

Top vintages of Medoc

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A

2005, 2009, 2010, 2015

20
Q

Graves AOC

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A

Dry red/white + sweet

  • Left bank
  • South of Medoc
  • West of Garonne River
  • Gravel
  • White & Red wines
  • Sauv Blanc/Semillon
  • Cab Sauv, Merlot, Cab Franc
21
Q

Graves Classification/Top producer

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A

1855 Classification
Chateau Haut Brion

22
Q

Pessac-Leognan

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A
  • Left bank
  • Subregion of Graves
  • Northern most region
  • Dry white wines
  • Dry red wines
23
Q

Sauternes

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A
  • Left bank
  • Southern most region of Graves
  • Between Garonne and Ciron Rivers
  • Botrytis affected sweet wines (benefits from humidity!)
  • Semillon primary grape
  • Oak aged in barriques
  • Sauternes food: cocolate covered raisins
24
Q

Sauternes Classification/Top producer

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A
  • Classification: Superior First Growth (Premier Cru Superieur)
  • Chateau d’Yquem
  • 1855
25
Barsac
* Small AOP within Sauternes * Northeast of Sauternes * Sweet wines from Botrytis & Semillon * Cheateau Climens
26
Entre Deux Mers
* In between banks * Located between Garonne & Dordogne Rivers * Very fertile silt * White wines only (lighter body) * Sauv blanc, Semillon, Muscalle * Little to no oak
27
Saint-Emillon
**Tiny & red wines!** * Right bank * Just southwest of Pomerol * Tiny! * Silt, Clay, Gravel * Dry red wines only * Merlot, Cab Franc * Additional .5% alcohol, additional aging * Has classification system, revised every 10yrs
28
Saint-Emillon Classification System
* Started in 1959, revised every 10yrs * Most recent 2022 * Levels in order of decreasing quality: * Grand Cru Class A * Grand Cru Classe B * Grand Cru * Grand Cru Classe A: Chateau Pavie & Chateau Figeac
29
Saint-Emillon Top Producers
* Chateau Angelus * Chateau Ausone * Chateau Cheval-Blanc * Chateau Pavie * Chateau Figeac
30
Montagne-St-Emillon
* Right bank * North of Saint-Emillon * Clay, limestone * Red wines
31
Pomerol
* Right bank * North of Dordogne River * Northwest of Saint-Emillon * Big! * Sand, Clay, Gravel, with subsoil of iron pan and rich clay * Red wines only * Merlot, Cab Franc
32
Pomerol Classification/Top producer
NO classification! Top producers: * Chateau Petrus * Chateau Lafleur * Le Pin * Clos L'Eglise
33
Lalande-de-Pomerol
* Right bank * Directly north of Pomerol * Clay, gravel, sand * Red wines * Cab Franc, Merlot
34
Bordeaux service of beverage
* Decant young Bordeaux for aeration * Decant aged Bordeaux for sediment * Serve at 61-64 for red * Serve at 43-47 for white * Serve at 50 for Sauternes
35
Bordeaux food pairings
Left bank - Braised lamb with fennel & potatoes fried in duck fat (heavy tannins cut through fat, lamb is a richer meat, fennel helps accentuate the minerality, orange brings out some sweetness) Right bank - Pulled pork sandwhiches or asian style pork chops with chili sauce (Merlot dominant wines blue and purple fruit flavors go well with anything BBQ) Sauternes - Foie gras or creme brulee/panna cotta (sauternes stands up well to rich/creamy textures) or roast quail with an apple & quince puree (sweetness of sauternes helps enhance and elongate food and wine flavors)
36
Cost effective options ("second wines")
Le Petit Cheval (Chateau Cheval-Blanc) Pavillon Rouge Du Chateau Margaux (Cheateau Margeaux) Le Clarence de Haut Brion (Cheateau Haut Brion)
37
Best vintages
* 2016 – Widely considered an outstanding vintage across the region. Balanced, complex wines with medium alcohol. * 2015 – A juicy, velvety, fruity vintage with a dominance of red fruit notes. Successful year for Right Bank wines with Merlot reaching good levels of ripeness. * 2010 – An ideal vintage.
38
Bordeaux wine labels (1st Growths)
Certified Sommelier
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