Bordeaux – Wine and Notable Regions

When I was 19, I was a student at Western Culinary Institute in Portland, OR, before Career Education Corporation and Le Cordon Bleu took it over. I graduated in 1993, and at that time WCI was a great place to learn. Many of the pans I cooked on interestingly still had HMCI (Horst Mager Culinary Institute) inscribed on the handles. Below were notes that I found in a file folder from a wine class that I took when I was a student. Enjoy!

Bordeaux Notes

• Most important wine growing region in France.
• Cabernet Sauvignon was found wild then culitivated.
• Atlantic coast of France was considered “un-governable coast” because of vandals, looters, etc.
• 600-700 – When Charlemagne was in rule with Holy Roman Empire, was governable and was peaceful.
• 1100 – Bordeaux – Monks and private vineyards – 100 Years War was fought.
• 1200 – More private properties were established.
• 1600-1700 – Most Châteaus as we know them today were established during this time. Some currently in production today. Dutch drained the soggy Bordeaux lands, was found to be perfect cultivation soil.
• Bordeaux wines known as Claret – mix of Cabernet and Merlot.
• Bordeaux wines of English Aristocracy.
• When English were kicked out of France, Claret was considered unpatriotic.
• Dutch found that sulfurs when added to wines became antioxidants.
• Port – Sweet / tannic red wines, transported in pig/cow skins.
• Cognac – Distillation-reduced by boiling.
• Brandy – Developed by actually burning the wine.

Bordeaux Wines

1. Everyday Bordeaux wines – Bourgeois (AOC Crus Bourgeois du Médoc) 4-5 years aging.
   • Grand Cru Bourgeois
   • Cru Bourgeois
   • Bourgeois
2. Fine Reds – Limited amounts produced, 10-15 years, for vintage.
3. White Wines
   • Sauvignon Blanc – Tart, citric, tartaric, herbaceous. Blending it with Semillon (grassy) brings out a more softer wine. Semillon – grassy, higher in body and glycerin, lower in acid.
   • White Bordeaux Style resulting in: 80% Sauvignon and 20% Semillon = softer style.

Important Regions of Bordeaux

Médoc, Graves, Sauternes, Pomerol, Saint-Émilion.

Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée (AOC) – Formed in the 1930s to prevent fraud in wine industry. Controls what grapes are used, how it ripens, how many litres of juice you can generate per hectare, etc. Appellation Médoc Contrôlée – meaning that wine comes specifically from Médoc territory. The more specific, the better usually the wine.

Médoc

Home of the Cabernets and Merlots. From the 1855 Exposition Universelle (World’s Fair of Paris) Classification:

• Premier Grand Cru Classé – The Médoc Classification of 1855 – All in Médoc region except for one.
  • Château Lafite (Lafite-Rothschild)
  • Château Margaux
  • Château Latour
  • Château Haut-Brion (in Graves)
  • Château Mouton (Mouton-Rothschild)

Graves

“Gravel” in Latin – referring to the heavy soil. White Bordeauxs here: a mixture / blend of Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc.

Notables:

• Château Carbonnieux
• Château Haut-Brion
• Château Olivier

Sauternes – Southern Part of Graves

Sweeter grapes – Sauternes are found here. Although sweet grapes produced everywhere, they are all called Sauternes, except for Barsac (AOC), they are lighter.

1855 classification of sweet wines – still in effect. One Grand Cru wine -Chateau d’Yquem.

Status wine – Average is brix 25° to 30°. Each grape is picked individually. Put in new French oak, 20 years, 5-7% each year evaporation. Serve with pâté de foie gras, stone fruits, bleu cheese.

Notables:

• Château d’Yquem
• Château Suduiraut

Pomerol

Youngest, and smallest, of Appellations, started with Cabernets, Cabernet Francs, and Merlots. But Merlots really took off, area now specializes in Merlot.

Merlot – very similar to Cabernet, mature in bottles faster, very supple, velvety.

Tend to be less expensive than Médoc and Saint-Émilion.

Notables:

• Château Pétrus

Saint-Émilion

Medieval town today with notable architecture. Last battle of 100 Years War fought here.

Premier Grand Cru Classé is separated into Classé ‘A’ and Classé ‘B’.

Notables:

• • Château Cheval Blanc
  • Château Ausone