Bordeaux Terroirs

What are the top 4 rated châteaux within St-Émilion and are their soil types similiar?

Cheval Blanc, Ausone, Pavie, and Angelus; no

Which part of Bordeaux tends to produce wines with bigger tannins?

Northern (St. Estephe and Pauillac)

What are the soil types of the four St-Émilion satellites?

Starfish limestone buttes

What are the soil types of Bourg and Blaye?

Starfish limestone plateau covered in sands from Les Landes plus loam, gravel, and sidérolithique

What is cailloux?

"Pebbles" from the Médoc; the gravels are so distinctive that geologists can look at the cailloux and identify the region from which they originated.

What are some reasons why people are skeptical that Bordeaux links terroir with quality (and not just about big business and the label)?

1) 1855 Classification system based on pricing with no link to soil/terroir - wines getting most money are planted on the best soils 2) St. Emilion classification considers soil type (specific land that is classified) but other factors as well (e.g., reception areas) 3) 2nd and 3rd wines are from same vineyards as grand vin - actually plot-specific and often with younger vines 4) Most wines are blends (hard to argue that reflecting a piece of land with different grape varieties) 5) Estates are very large (how can such a large estate be governed by terroir?) - they do isolate the best parts of the estate for the grand vin; identify where grapes should be planted according to soil type to maximize terroir expression

What are the 4 main soil types in Bordeaux?

1) Hard limestone - St. Emilion along the plateau (Ch Canon/Auson) 2) Softer limestone - Fronsac, Castillon, parts of St. Emilion 3) Deep clays - Petrus, pockets all over both banks 4) Deep gravels (peyrosols) - vast majority of 1855 châteaux

What are the basic terroirs of Bordeaux as described by Jane in the webinar?

1) Left bank vs. right bank 2) Two rivers which influence the terroir; Garonne flows down from the Pyrenees Mountains from the south; Dordogne flows from the Massif Central mountains from the east; both towards the Atlantic 3) Left bank governed by the Garonne River has gravelly deposits that have come from the Pyrenees Mountains 4) Right bank ruled by the Dordogne and has deposits from the Massif Central - clay and limestone

Name some unusual terroir spots

1) Limestone is famous in St. Emilion but there is a spot in Graves - Barsac as well as pockets in some of the dry white areas of Graves (Clos Floridène) 2) Clay spots in the Médoc - 100% Merlot (Meyney); St Estephe has a lot more clay than Margaux which is more gravel; in hot years, St Estephe could keep water better than gravelly soils in Margaux which suffer greatly 3) Gravel spots in St. Emilion and Pomerol - (Figeac, Chaval Blanc, La Fluer) (Pomerol has gravel and clay)

What are the two factors affecting water availability?

1) Weather/rainfall 2) Drainage capability/water retentive character of the soil

What are the best terroirs for whites?

1. Don't need things to be as dry 2. In Sauternes, it's sandy-gravel and clay 3. For dry whites in Graves and sweet wines in Barsac, it's tertiary-era limestones, particularly Asteries limestone 4. In Pessac, it's sands or sand from marine sediment

What are the major differences between Bordeaux and Burgundy?

1. Inheritance approaches (Napoleonic laws in Burgundy) 2. Single grape vs. blends (there are blends in Burgundy; same varietal but different soil types) 3. Commercial structure (Bordeaux estates are bigger and tend to be made into companies; Burgundy estates stay in families and be much smaller) 4. Climate (Bordeaux is oceanic; Burgundy is continental) 5. Plots are so tiny in Burgundy, every grape is needed - cannot declassify like you can in Bordeaux, select only best grapes, etc. 6) Burgundy is largely limestone; Bordeaux has variety of soil types in different areas 7) Bordeaux has one appellation per cellar whereas Burgundy has multiple appellations in a cellar due to estate size

In what two ways are all the great vineyard sites in the Médoc similar?

1. The vineyard sites are not very fertile, which enables the vines to maintain a naturally balanced canopy for proper leaf to fruit ratio; and 2. The soils regulate the water supply so there are no extremes regardless of rainfall In addition, fruit is not shaded and the canopy is open enough to allow air movement to dry the leaves and fruit after rain or alleviate humidity which mitigates disease pressure.

What are the best terroirs for reds?

1. Want things to be a little drier 2. Most renowned crus across the region are on a bedrock of gravel-sand sedimentary rocks 3. In Saint Emilion, it's Asteries limestone, fronsadais molasses or a mix of the two 4. In Pomerol, it's acid-rich sticky clay and sandy gravels

How many AOCs are there in Bordeaux?

65

What is marl?

A limestone rich clay

What is sidérolithique?

An ironstone found in Bourg and Blaye that crafts tannic, well-structured red wines.

What is ribot?

An iron-rich deposit in the Entres-Deux-Mers

How did the terroir of the left bank develop?

At the start of the Quaternary, small gravels from the Pyrenees washed down and blanked the western Médoc. Then, during periods of interglacial melt, larger stones were carried by the Garonne from the Massif Central and the Périgord-Limousin and deposited in a series of terraces along the Gironde.

What characteristics does hard limestone produce in wine?

Austere when young, incredible freshness and elegance, aromatic, floral, pronounced acidity, smooth polished tannins, age very well, important for global warming because it retains water but doesn't overload vines with water

What is the very, very fine-grained sands and clays on the plateaus of Entre-Duex-Mers called?

Battantes

How can a blended wine reflect terroir?

By carefully isolating and treating each type of terroir differently

What is the subsoil below the gravel terraces of the best crus or classified growth of the Médoc and Graves? It is also found on the Bourg-Blaye plateau, in St. Emilion, and in Entre-Deux-Mers.

Calcaire à astéries (starfish limestone)

Which château was one of the first to split off different plots and pricing for different quality wines (first and second wines)?

Ch Haute Brion

What characteristics do deep clays produce in wine?

Concentration, velvety tannins, powerful, take time to mature, often dominated by dense, suede-like tannins in their youth and only open up after 5 years in the bottle (Pomerol has deep clays, as well as gravel- one of only places Merlot is planted on gravel which causes early ripening but clay that gives power)

What are the soil types of Francs-Côtes de Bordeaux and Castillion-Côtes de Bordeaux?

Côtex de Francs lies on Périgord sands; Côtes de Castillon list on a plateaux of lacustrine or freshwater limestone (wines from these AOCs are not age-able.

Why are deep roots useful?

Deep roots avoid absorbing enormous quantities of water after a rain and can also tap into water reserves during dry spells.

What is the single biggest push right now in quality Bordeaux winemaking?

Delineating vineyards

Why are most Bordeaux wines blended?

Different varieties, large holdings, and different soil types

What characteristics does gravel produce in wine?

Elegance, finesse, gorgeous aromatic complexity, age-ability, firm tannins and noticeable minerality (majority of 1855 wines are on gravel); as they age, they reveal stunning flavors and aromatics

What are the 3 most important tributaries of the Garonne and Dordogne Rivers?

Garonne: Dordogne, Lot, and Tarn (north to south) Dordogne: Dronne, Isle, Vézère (west to east)

Which départment encompasses all of Bordeaux

Gironde

Describe the soils of Bordeaux overall

Gravel terraces interspersed with sand, silt and clay; freshwater and saltwater limestones

What are the soil types of the Graves de Vayres zone in the Entre-Duex-Mers?

Heavy gravel deposits from both rivers, mixed with loess, silts, clays, and loams (represents a pocket of warm soils within the colder soils of Entre-Deux-Mers.

What purpose does the escarpment along the Garonne River-side of Entre-Deux-Mers serve?

It partially blocks the mists rising off of the confluence ofthe ciron and Garonne waterways and shunt them back towards the lower-lying Left Bank appellations. Mists that rise above it create the sweet wines of the Right Bank appellations of Cadillac, Loupiac, and Ste.-Croix du Mont

What affect does clay have on wine?

It produces wines that take time to mature and evolve, often dominated by dense, suede-like tannins in their youth and only opening up after 5 years in bottle

What affect does limestone have on wine?

It produces wines with pronounced acidity and lean, polished tannins

What makes the soils of Pomerol unique on the right bank?

It's comprised of gravel terraces; most of the principal vineyards are located on the upper terraces and are comprised of Günz gravels. A "button" of clay pushed through the gravel topsoil during the last Ice Age, giving rise to a special Pomerol terroir where Château Pétrus is located.

What is the official dividing line between the Médoc and Graves?

Jalle de Blanquefort (stream)

How does gravel size affect wine?

Large Günz or Garonne gravels produce extraordinarily structured wines that can be dumb or closed in youth; minerality shines through the cassis or black cherry fruit. Smaller (Pyrenean) gravels produce wines that are less structured and more fruit-forward and are more approachable in their youth.

What soil type does Malbec and Cabernet Franc prefer?

Limestone

What are the soil types of the Right Bank sweet wine appellations?

Marls and freshwater limestones, starfish limestone, Fronsadais molasse (very little gravel)

How do winemakers hide or maximize terroir?

Match rootstock to the terroir - precision viticulture mitigates problems of potential soil types * Choice of rootstock can help regulate production of grapes (too abundant or not abundant enough) * Choice of clones (old vines or new vines from nursery) * Cropping or green harvesting * In the cellar: use of new oak, yeast, filtration (hands off as much as possible) * Becoming more high-tech (drones, GPS

Why do the châteaux along the river have an advantage?

More gentle climate (warmer) that is protected from frost

Does the 1855 classification system factor in soils?

No, but the highest value wines are a result of terroir.

What is the difference in water needs between red and white grapes?

Red grapes need to be drier; white grapes don't mind more water and lose delicate aromatics if too dry

What are the soil types of Sainte-Foy-Côtes de Bordeaux?

Series of weather freshwater limestone buttes formed from Calcaire de l'Agenais; dramatic topographical relief here and boasts the highest elevation in all of Bordeaux

What are the elevation differences between the left and right banks?

Right bank is generally 140M higher than the Left Bank with 100mm less rain (but Left Bank drains better because of gravel)

Are the soils on the right or left bank older?

Right bank is older

What characteristics does softer limestone molasses de fronsadais produce in wine?

Slightly less austere than hard limestone when young, but with the same incredible freshness and elegance, aromatic, floral, pronounced acidity, smooth polished tannins, age very well, important for global warming because it retains water but doesn't overload vines with water

What is terroir?

Soil makeup, topography, climate, landscape characteristics, and biodiversity features; not just what's happening in the vineyard, but what you're doing to maximize it in the cellar

What characteristics do iron elements in the soil produce?

Tell-tale notes of prune and black walnut

What is molasse?

Terrestrial or marine deposits formed at the base of rising mountains; usually alluvial sediments

How does the topography of the Left and Right Banks differ?

The Left Bank is low and flat (100-140ft above sea level) with a level expanse of gravel mounds. The Right Bank is slightly higher (peaks at 377 ft above sea level) with a string of small hills that stretch from Castillon to Blaye interspersed by low lying plateaus and deep valleys.

What was the result of the collision of the Iberian Peninsula with France?

The Pyrenees Mountains were created and the earth's crust to the north warped downwards, forming the Aquitaine Basin, in which the Bordeaux wine region lies.

What role does water play in quality wine?

The soil and what it does with the water it gets is key to wine quality. The effect of climate and soil on vine development and grape composition are largely influenced by the availability of water during the growing season. All good terroirs regulate water, providing the right amount at the right time and managing the negative impacts of draught or (more likely in Bordeaux) extended periods of rain or flooding.

What are the soil types of graves and what cultivars do best there?

The gravel mounds of northern Graves also have clay and silt, which favor red cultivars. In the southern appellations of Barsac and Sauternes, there is more limestone in the soil and are planted to white grapes. In between (Cérons) there is a mixed geology where both white and red are produced.

What is vitivinicultural terroir?

The interactions between identifiable physical and biological environment and applied vitivinicultural practices that result in distinctive characteristics for the wines originating from this area. (Natural aspects and what people do with that, e.g., drainage, new oak, etc.)

Which bodies of water have most influenced the right and left banks?

The left bank is ruled by the Garonne; the right bank has deposits from the Massif Central along the Dordogne

Why are the wines of Marguax different than the wines of further north in the Médoc?

The northern Médoc (Pauillac and St. Estephe) have bigger gravels which hold more head and result in bigger tannins. Marguax sits at the confluence of the two rivers and therefore has a variety of soils that tend to be finer, which gives its wine stunning aromatics.

What are the soil types of St-Émilion and its satellites?

The soils are located on a plateau of weathered limestone. Extreme erosion and limestone particulates carried on the river have caused more than 17 different variations of sand-silt-clay-limestone soil compositions.

What are the soil types of Fronsac and Canon-Fronsac?

These are plateau appellations comprised of starfish limestone atop Fronsadais molasse

What affect does silt and sand have on wine?

They produce wines that are more opulent, soft, and fruit forward with easy drinkability and much less structured. They are usually simple, without layers of flavor or aromatic complexity.

Why did the Dutch drain the Médoc in the 1600s and how long did it take?

They were commissioned by King Henri IV who saw that the Dutch were successful in reclaiming low-lying areas of the Netherlands and converting it into farmlands (which delivered larger harvests for longer periods without fertilizer or crop rotation). The project continued for two hundred years. (It is still unfinished.)

How do many châteaux manage water in the Médoc?

They've installed drainage systems below ground to channel water away from the vines. Ch Latour implemented its own drainage system in the early 1800s to mitigate the water-retentive properties of the clay in its terroir. Ch d'Yquem installed a network of eathenware drainage pipes in the 1800s.

How many terraces are there?

Three - upper, middle, and lower. The middle and lower parallel the estuary. The upper lies on the western portion of the peninsula. The upper terrace is covered in fine sands, which are not ideal for making long-lived, structured wines. (Jane refers to 6.)

What impact do warm and cool soils have on wine?

Warm soils- Gravel: firmly structured wines Sand: fruit-forward wines Cool soils- Clay: notes of prune/English walnut Limestone: pronounced acidity, polished tannins

What are the soil types of Entre-Duex-Mers?

Weathered starfish limestone plateau buried beneath 100 feet of sands, silts, and clays, plus small gravels and loess

What does Aquitaine mean?

Well-watered place

What are boulbènes?

When fine-grained sands and clays (Battantes) are compacted into hard-pan, which are very difficult to break up

Why are properties doing soil studies?

Winemakers use soil studies so they can make more informed decisions (pruning, pick dates, canopy management, adding drainage, etc.)