Lees

The remnants of yeast cells and bits of grape skin that settle to the bottom of the container after FERMENTATION is complete. Leaving the fermented wine in contact with its lees (SUR LIE), rather than removing the lees right away, often adds complexity and nuance. See AUTOLYSIS.

Sparkling wine from Bordeaux, made by the traditional method (méthode Champenoise), is called what?

A. Bordeaux Mousseux

B. Crémant de Bordeaux

C. Bordeaux Champenoise

D. Bordeaux Cristal

Crémant is French sparkling wine made outside of the Champagne region using the traditional Champagne method. There are 7 designated regions (AOCs) in France that can produce Crémant: Alsace, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Die, Jura, Limoux and Loire. Produced from the main grapes in the region, Crémant de Bordeaux can be a sparkling white or rosé.

Wine … changing even as we taste it, delivers a message with meaning only in our response. If we are in the right key when we receive it, our eyes will shine and we shall radiate pleasure.

—Gerald Asher
American writer, The Pleasures of Wine

Get WineSpeed