CHATEAU
Most vineyards are known in Bordeaux as...
3 biggest Bordeaux Areas
Left Bank, Right Bank, Between Dordogne and Garonne
Bordeaux
... [Show More] Left Bank
Medoc: Saint Estephe, Pauillac, Saint-Julien
Haut Medoc: Margaux
Graves: Pessac Leognan, Cerons, Barsac, Sauternes
Bordeaux Right Bank
Saint-Emilion, Saint-Emilion Satellites, Pomerol, Fronsac, Cotes de Bourg, Premieres Cotes de Blaye
Bordeaux Between Dordogne and Garonne
Entre-Deux-Mers, Premieres Cotes de Bordeaux
Climate
Moderate, maritime
-Gulfstream warming effect extends growing season, protecting against spring frost, allowing grape ripening into Oct.
-High humidity & rainfall (950mm) from Atlantic proximity
-Sand dunes/ Landes forest protect vineyards from Atlantic storms.
Weather
1) Variable, annual vintage variation due to insufficient warmth during ripening period or too much rain at harvest.
2) High humidity: mildew/rot
3) Mists/autumn rain required for noble rot
Soils
Warm, well drained.
-Gravel, clay: Medoc, Haut Medoc, Graves
-Gravel, clay with limestone subsoil: St-Emilion, Pomerol
Bordeaux black grape varieties
Cab Sauv
Merlot
Cab Franc
Petit Verdot
Cabernet Sauvignon
At northern limit where it can successfully ripen.
Only dominates in H-Medoc & P-Leognan (tho important in Bas Medoc & Graves): high stone & gravel soil content here helps reflect heat, only areas where it will reliably ripen
Accts for 3/4 of blend in region's finest wines: Structured, high tannins & acid, oak affinity (toasty), blackcurrant fruit core.
-Always blends w/Merlot. Best Cab-dom wines can age for decades (developing cigar box/cedar aromas).
-Unripe: too-high tannins, overly herbaceous.
Merlot
Most widely planted variety in Bordeaux
Key regions: St-Em, Pomerol
-Full body, moderate tannins.
-Matures earlier than Cab Sauv
-Adds softness, richness, body when blended with Cab Sauv
-Cab Sauv/Franc give Merlot aromatic fruit, tannin, color.
-On its own, lacks character unless very low yields imposed. Softness means it is suited as an appealing inexpensive wine (Bourg/Blaye).
Cabernet Franc
-Main region: St-Emilion
-Other regions: Medoc, Graves
-Soil: warm, well drained
Not the dominant variety among subregions: usually yields wines with less tannin, body, finesse than Cab Sauv.
Ripe: Marked fragrance - key contribution
Unripe: Stalky, herbaceous flavors
Petit Verdot
Ripens fully only in very hot years
-deep colored, tannic, ages slowly.
-Minor role in blends: adds tannin, color, exotic/spicy notes to great wines.
-Impact disproportionate to volume.
Medoc/Graves: key black varieties (blended)
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc
- Medoc, Haut Medoc, St-Estephe, Pauillac, St-Julien, Margaux, Graves, Pessac Leognan [Show Less]