Bordeaux and Rhone Flashcards

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts from lecture notes on Bordeaux and Rhone wines.

Bordeaux

The largest AOC in France, known for quality wines.

Bordeaux Location

Western France, shaped by the Gironde Estuary and divided into left bank, right bank, and center.

Bordeaux Climate

Influenced by the ocean, estuary, and rivers, moderating extremes but still prone to frost.

1855 Classification

Classification created in 1855 to promote the best estates in anticipation of the World's Fair.

Commissioners of the 1855 Classification

Local wine merchants commissioned by the Bordeaux Chamber of Commerce to rank estates based on their prices.

Classification of 1855

Classified 61 estates into five tiers (crus) based on their commanded prices.

Three estates sharing the village of Poyac (Premiere Crus/First Growths)

Chateau Lafitte, Chateau Latour, and Chateau Mouton.

Chateau Haut-Brion

The only estate outside Medoc included in the 1855 classification, located in Pesach-Leognan.

Left Bank Dominant Grape

Cabernet Sauvignon

Right Bank Soil

Clay and limestone

Criticism of the 1855 Classification System

A static system that doesn't change, which can disincentivize improvement.

Entre-Deux-Mers

The center area of Bordeaux, between the Garonne and Dordogne rivers, where a large part of sub lubricant Merlot is grown.

New French Oak

Prized on the Left Bank, especially in the higher-ranked estates.

Bordeaux Blend (Left Bank)

Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and smaller amounts of Malbec and Petite Verdot

Sauternes

A sweet wine region in the left bank, known for noble rot wines.

Noble Rot

The Latin term is botrytis cinerea, a fungus that attacks the skins and dehydrates them, intensifying the grape juice.

Barsac

A village that is allowed to use its own name instead of Sauternes.

Chateau d'Yquem

The only number one ranked estate from the sweet wine classification called Superior First.

Two important AOCs on the right bank

Saint-Émilion

Saint-Émilion Classification

Classification started in 1959 and is revised every 10 years (in theory).

Two estates currently classified as Grand Cru Classé A in Saint-Émilion

Chateau Ausone and Chateau Pavie

Chateau Petrus

The premier estate in Pomerol, dominated by Merlot.

Entre-Deux-Mers

Larger estates doing mass-produced wines, often varietally labeled Merlot and Sauv Blanc.

Rhone

A very north-south oriented region that is different in the northern and southern parts.

Northern Rhone Dominant Grape

Syrah

Southern Rhone Dominant Grape

Grenache

Northern Rhone Climate

Continental

Southern Rhone Climate

Mediterranean

Northern Rhone Soil

Granite

Southern Rhone Soil

Stony and rocky soils (Galettes)

Three white varietals seen in Rhone

Viognier, Marsanne, and Roussanne

Cotes du Rhone

Regional appellation classification in Rhone.

Northern AOC Appalachian - best in the North

Kot Rotie

Minimum percentage of Syrah

80%

Only thing you're allowed to blend with

Viognier

Northern appellation that focuses on this

Viognier

Condrieu

Exclusive to only a white wine appellation.

Hermitage

Considered the best and most prestigious appellations in all of France.

Chataeu Neuf de Pape

A name that is translated to new home of the pope or pope's new castle.

Chateau Neuf de Pape

Always a blend, with the possibility of 13 grape varietals, dominated by Grenache.

Gigondas

Less finesse and more rustic, seeing a second fiddle.

New oak

Very low if used at all, with lots of neutral oak or cement tanks.