WSET® Level 4 D3 Wines of the World > D3 - Bordeaux: Appellations > Flashcards

D3 - Bordeaux: Appellations Flashcards

Learn the appellations, yields, and classifications of Bordeaux. (44 cards)

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1
Q

What are the two generic appellations in Bordeaux?

A
  1. Bordeaux AOC
  2. Bordeaux Supérieur AOC
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2
Q

Why do some Bordeaux AOC wines (of any color) have low flavor concentration?

A

Maximum yields are on the high side:

  • 67 hL/ha for whites
  • 62 hL/ha for rosés
  • 60 hL/ha for reds
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3
Q

What is the maximum yield for Bordeaux Supérieur AOC red wines?

A

59 hl/ha

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4
Q

Médoc AOC and Haut-Médoc AOC are only allowed to produce this color wine.

What is the maximum yield for both AOCs?

A
  • Red wine
  • 55 hL/ha
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5
Q
  1. What four famous single commune appellations are subregions of Haut-Médoc?
  2. What is their maximum yield?
A
  1. Saint-Estèphe; Pauillac; Saint-Julien; Margaux
  2. 57 hl/ha
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6
Q

In Bordeaux, which of the four single commune appellations is the coolest and why is it the coolest?

A

Saint-Estèphe due to its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean; this gives it the reputation of having rustic wines that need many years in bottle to soften the tannins.

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7
Q

Why is Pauillac AOC known to produce wines of high tannins, high acidity, and great longevity?

A

It has a high proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend which is planted on gravel banks close to the estuary, leading to fully ripened grapes with high concentration and structure.

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8
Q

Select the correct answer.

Saint-Julien AOC is known for its:

a. high-proportion of clay soils
b. limestone soils
c. very homogenous gravel soils

A

c. very homogenous gravel soils

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9
Q

Why does harvest in Margaux AOC start earlier than in other Médoc appellations?

A
  • It has stony, gravelly soils (warm soils enable ripening);
  • It is slightly further south, so grapes ripen up to 10 days earlier than more northern Médoc appellations
  • In terms of varieties planted, while Cabernet Sauvignon continues to be the most planted variety in Margaux AOC, there is proportionately slightly less of Cab and slightly more Merlot than in Pauillac or Saint-Julien*.

*Remember: Merlot is mid-ripening, giving the advantage that the grapes can be picked before early autumn rain whereas Cabernet Sauvignon ripens late (and hence needs to be grown on warmer soils), making it vulnerable to early autumn rains.

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10
Q

Select the correct answer.

Listrac-Médoc AOC and Moulis AOC are further from the Gironde than the four single commune appellations, resulting in:

a. less moderating influence from the estuary, less gravel in their soils
b. more moderating influence from the estuary, more gravel in their soils

A

a. less moderating influence from the estuary, less gravel in their soils

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11
Q

85% of the wine made in Graves AOC is this color, and its maximum yield is ___ hl/ha.

A

Red, 55 hl/ha

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12
Q

Graves Supérieures AOC is restricted to what kind of wines?

What is its maximum yield?

A

Late harvest and/or botrytis-affected sweet wines with maximum yields of 40 hL/ha (higher than Sauternes).

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13
Q

Pessac-Léognan AOC is a subregion within this AOC.

A

Graves AOC

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14
Q

Fill in the blank:

The maximum yield for both red and white wines in Pessac-Léognan AOC is _____.

A

54 hl/ha

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15
Q

Entre-deux-Mers AOC makes only this color wine, and its maximum yields are ____.

A

White, 65 hl/ha (high enough which means some wines will have low flavor intensity).

Red wine is produced within the appellation area but is bottled as Bordeaux or Bordeaux Supérieur.

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16
Q

What is the difference between Saint-Émilion AOC and Saint-Émilion Grand Cru AOC?

A

Saint-Émilion Grand Cru has lower maximum yields (46 hL/ha, as opposed to 53 hL/ha) and longer minimum maturation time (20 months, as opposed to 6 months).

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17
Q

What is the dominant red grape variety in Saint-Émilion AOC and Saint-Émilion Grand Cru AOC?

A

Merlot

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18
Q

Saint-Émilion has four satellite appellations. Which are the two largest?

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A
  1. Montagne Saint-Émilion AOC
  2. Lussac-Saint-Émilion AOC
19
Q

What is the maximum yield for Pomerol AOC?

20
Q

What are the dominant grape varieties in Pomerol AOC?

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A
  • Merlot
  • Cabernet Franc
21
Q
  1. Name four communes allowed to append their name before the Côtes de Bordeaux AOC name.
  2. What is the maximum yield for the communes vs. the maximum yield for Côtes de Bordeaux?
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A
  1. Blaye, Cadillac, Castillon, Francs
  2. Their max yield is 52 hl/ha whereas Côtes de Bordeaux’s is 55 hl/ha.
22
Q

Côtes de Bourg has more of this red grape variety planted than any Bordeaux appellation.

23
Q

These two AOCs in southern Graves are the key appellations known for sweet, botrytis-affected wines made from Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc and small amounts of Muscadelle.

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A
  1. Sauternes AOC
  2. Barsac AOC
24
Q

What are the conditions that allow botrytis in Barsac AOC and Sauternes AOC?

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A

The cold Ciron River meets the warmer Garonne River – promoting morning mists – and afternoon sunshine dries the grapes, avoiding grey rot.

25
What is the maximum yield for Barsac AOC and Sauternes AOC?
25 hl/ha ## Footnote Much lower yields are often required to ensure grapes are fully ripened before noble rot develops.
26
Name three other appellations in southern Bordeaux that may be botrytis-affected or simply late harvest.
1. Sainte-Croix-du-Mont AOC 1. Loupiac AOC 1. Premières Côtes de Bordeaux AOC
27
What is the special growth category that was awarded specifically for Château d'Yquem?
Premier Cru Supérieur
28
After the 1855 Classification, three other sub-regions classified their wines. What are they?
1. Graves 1. Saint-Émilion 1. Crus Bourgeois du Médoc
29
What were the original four First Growths (Premier Cru Classé) of the 1855 Classification, and which house was the fifth that was added as a First Growth in 1973?
1. Château **Lafite Rothschild**, Pauillac 2. Château **Mouton Rothschild**, Pauillac (promoted in 1973) 1. Château **Latour**, Pauillac 1. Château **Margaux**, Margaux 1. Château **Haut-Brion**, Pessac, Graves
30
1. In what year was the Graves classification? 2. How many classified châteaux are in the Graves classification?
1. 1959 2. 16 classified châteaux
31
1. The Saint-Émilion classification was created **in this year**. 2. How often is it revised? 3. When was it last revised?
1. 1955 2. Revised about every 10 years 3. Last revised 2022
32
In the Saint-Émilion classification, châteaux are judged on what criteria?
1. Terroir 1. Methods of production 1. Reputation and commercial considerations 1. A blind tasting of at least 10 vintages
33
What are the tiers of the Saint-Émilion classification?
1. Premier Grand Cru A 1. Premier Grand Cru B 1. Grand Cru Classé
34
Before the 2022 revision of the Saint-Émilion classification was released, **which three** prestigious châteaux left the system?
1. Angélus 1. Ausone 1. Cheval Blanc
35
In what year was the Crus Bourgeois du Médoc classification created?
1932
36
From the 2018 vintage on, châteaux applying to be classified as Cru Bourgeois can be awarded one of three tiers of quality. What are those three tiers? How long does the classification last?
1. Cru Bourgeois 1. Cru Bourgeois Supérieur 1. Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel This classification lasts for five years.
37
Co-operatives in Bordeaux: do they play an important role or are they unimportant?
They play an important role. In 2018, co-ops were responsible for 25% of production from 40% of grape growers.
38
What factors add costs to classed Bordeaux production and help make it so expensive?
* Interest on bank loans or land costs * Increased vine density * Harvest costs * Higher viticultural costs * Lower yield * Rigorous grape selection * Barrel ageing (costs of new barrels every year and extended time in barrel)
39
What is La Place de Bordeaux?
It's a unique commercial system in Bordeaux that is essentially the "marketplace" where wine is bought and sold by the châteaux to négociants. The classed wines, or Growths, are not sold on the Place. They are sold *en primeur* (12-18 months before it is bottled -- unfinished and still in barrel).
40
What are the advantages of the en primeur system for the estates?
* Opportunity to test the market by releasing early lower-priced tranches. * Early payment and return on investment which allows the estates to finance the next vintage.
41
What are the disadvantages of the en primeur system for the estates?
* Potentially selling at a lower price than the estate might get for the bottled wine. * Potential for financial mismanagement or losses by négociants (that could lead them to go out of business) that could adversely affect an estate’s reputation.
42
What are the advantages of the en primeur system for the end consumer?
* Opportunity to secure sought-after wines and theoretically at the lowest price. * Option to keep or trade sought-after wines.
43
What are the disadvantages of the en primeur system for the end consumer?
* Wines are bought based on the opinions of trade buyers and journalists tasting unfinished barrel samples that may not truly reflect the final wine. * Intermediaries (négociants, shippers) may go out of business before the wine arrives. * Prices may fall before the wine arrives due to economic conditions or the quality of following vintages.
44
# Fill in the blanks: Médoc AOC is mainly planted with \_\_\_\_% Merlot and \_\_\_\_% Cabernet Sauvignon.
* 55% Merlot * 40% Cabernet Sauvignon ## Footnote Médoc AOC wines are often predominantly Merlot.
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