Wine Class April 13th, 2015 French Connection VIII –

Red Grapes of Bordeaux

Clifton Wine & Tasting Room

7145 Main St, Clifton,

VA703-266-

1607

Major Wine

Regions of France:1. Bordeaux2. Champagne3. Burgundy 4. Beaujolais5. Loire Valley6. Alsace7. Rhone8. Languedoc-

Roussillon9. Provence10.Southwest (~)11.Jura12.Savoy13.Corsica

Bordeaux Characteristics: Maritime climate; Atlantic influence but protected by large forest along coast; Garonne, Dordogne rivers and Gironde estuary influence, located at 45th parallel (Portland) stretching 60 miles North to South; 80 miles East to West. Warm summers; Coll winters. 1.5% of world’s vineyards; 7000 Estates within 62 Appellations (AOCs). More Cab Sav & Merlot in this corner of the world than any other location. Soil type drives grape planting location. Main Wine Areas: 88% Red Wines; 12% White Wines. Areas: Left Bank: Cab Sav based blends (Gravel soils); Right Bank: Mainly Merlot and some Cab Franc (Clay & Limestone based soils) based blends; Entre Deux Mers: (Land between the seas); Merlot and Cab Sav based blends (All soil types)Primary Red grapes: Merlot (60%); Cabernet Sauvignon(26%); Cabernet Franc (12%); Malbec; Petit Verdot and Carmenère (2% of last three grapes)Primary White grapes: Sémillon (55%); Sauvignon Blanc (34%); Mucadelle (7%) Others: Ugni Blanc; Colombard; Folle Blanc Wine Producing in Bordeaux (AOC Wines):Overall Bordeaux: Bordeaux AOC (All); Bordeaux Supérier AOC (Red, Sweet); Bordeaux Clairet (rosé); Crémant de Bordeaux (White-Rosé).

Left Bank: Médoc: Médoc AOC (red). Haut-Médoc: Haut Médoc AOC (red); Saint-Estèphe AOC (Red); Pauillac AOC (red); Saint Julien AOC (Red); Margaux AOC (red); Moulis en Mèdoc AOC (red); Listrac-Médoc AOC (Red). Graves: Graves AOC (Red, White); Graves Supérieres (Sweet); Pessac-Léognan (Red, White). Sauterns: Sauterns AOC (Sweet); Barsac (Sweet); Cérons AOC (Sweet)

Right Bank: Fronsac: Fronsac AOC (red); Canon-Fronsac (Red); Pomerol: Pomerol AOC (Red); Lalande de Pomerol (Red). Saint Emilion: Saint Emilion AOC (Red); Saint Emilion Grand Cru AOC (Red); Saint-Georges-Saint-Emilion AOC (red); Lussac-Saint Emilion AOC(Red); Montagne-Saint-Emilion AOC (Red); Puisseguin-St. Emilion AOC (Red) Cotes de Bourg AOC (Red, White). Blaye: Blaye AOC (Red, White); Cotes de Blaye AOC (White); Premiéres Cotes de Blaye AOC(Red, White); Cotes de Castillion AOC (Red); Bordeaux Cotes du Francs (Red, White, Sweet)

Entre-Deux Mers: Entre-Duex-Mers AOC (White) and 9 others AOCs producing Red, White and Sweet wines.

Cabernet Sauvignon: Synonyms: Cabernet. Progeny of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc. Smaller, think skinned berries. Late budding, high in tannins due to pulp/skin ration. High Acidity making long-lived wines. Aromas: Black currant (Cassis); Blackberry blueberry Green peppers, Key growing areas: Bordeaux, Italy (Northern Italy, Super Tuscans); Spain; Portugal; along Black Sea (Russia and Ukraine); Israel; California (Napa, Sonoma); Washington State; Chile; China (#1 grape)

Merlot: Synonyms: Merlot (with hard T). Progeny of Cabernet Franc and ? Large berry, fleshy widely planted early ripening grape; medium tannins and rich velvety texture. Bordeaux origins. Aromas: Blackberries, plums, grape jam, Key growing areas: Where isn’t it grown? France, Northern Italy; California (North coast for quality; central valley for production); Washington State, Australia and Chile.

Wines of Bordeaux (Part 1)

Bordeaux Wine Map

Left Bank(Cab Sav Based Blends)

Right Bank(Merlot & Cab Franc Blends)

Entre-Deux-MersCab and Merlot based blends

French Wines “Background Information”

Bordeaux Wine Classifications5 Classifications:-Classification of 1855 (Mainly Medoc) (5- 1st; 15- 2nd; 14- 3rd; 10- 4th; 18- 5th Growths Estates)-Graves Classification (1953) (16 Chateux)-St. Emilion (1955) (Only Right Bank Classification) (~92 estates)-Cru Bourgeois du Médoc (1932) (270 Estates)-Cru Artisans (44 producers) AOC/

AOPsIGP

(formerly Vin de Pays. Geographic based, Winemaking Rules)

Most restrictive

quality designation

Vins sans IG (wines without geographic indication

Formerly Table Wines)

AOC: Appellation d’Orgine ContrôléeAOP: Appellation d’Origine Protégée

Overall Bordeaux AOCsLeft Bank AOCs: Médoc,Haut Médoc,Graves, SauternsRight Bank:AOCs: Fronsac, Pomerol,St.Emilion, BlayeEntre-Duex-Mers AOCs

Bordeaux Label Example