14 - The Dordogne and South West France Flashcards
The Dordogne
(where, climate, appellations, wines)
- to the east of the vineyards of Entre-Deux-Mers
- climate similar to Bx, but less moderating maritime influence
- major appellation: Bergerac
–> red & white wines of same grape var. as Bx - Monbazillac: good value botrytised sweet wines (Sémillon & SB)
Where is Dordogne situated and what appellations does it have?
- to the east of the vineyards of Entre-Deux-Mers
- major appellation: Bergerac
–> red & white wines of same grape var. as Bx - Monbazillac: good value botrytised sweet wines (Sémillon & SB)
What is the climate of the Dordogne
- similar to Bx (Moderate Maritime), but less moderating maritime influence
- appellations in South West France
- where
- grapes
- wines
Cahors
- east of Bx, either side of the River Lot
- broad range of styles
- vy: fertile valley bottom, poorer soil of the slopes, plateau above
- Malbec (Merlot, Tannat)
- best: aged in oak, deeply coloured, high in tannin, intense & dark berry fruits, mature slowly, cedar & earth
Côtes de Gascogne IGP
- south-east of Bx
- Ugni Blanc
- dry, light-bodied, green apples
Madiran
- further south towards the Pyrenees
- Tannat
- blends
- deeply coloured, high tannin
- trad. needed a long period of bottle ageing to soften tannins
- today: riper grapes & modern wm techniques –> conc. black fruit & hith levels of softer riper tannins
Jurancon
- right in the foothills of the Pyrenees
- dry & sweet white wines
- Petit Manseng
- complex sweet wines, free of botrytis, passerillage. Pronounced apricot & grapefruit aromas, sometimes spicy notes from new oak
appellations in South West France (4) & grapes
- Cahors - Malbec (Merlot, Tannat)
- Côtes de Gascogne - Ugni Blanc
- Madiran - Tannat
- Jurancon - Petit Manseng
Cahors
(where, grapes, wines)
Cahors
- east of Bx, either side of the River Lot
- broad range of styles
- vy: fertile valley bottom, poorer soil of the slopes, plateau above
- Malbec (Merlot, Tannat)
- best: aged in oak, deeply coloured, high in tannin, intense & dark berry fruits, mature slowly, cedar & earth
Côtes de Gascogne IGP
(where, grapes, wines)
Côtes de Gascogne IGP
- south-east of Bx
- Ugni Blanc
- dry, light-bodied, green apples
Madiran
(where, grapes, wines)
Madiran
- further south towards the Pyrenees
- Tannat
- blends
- deeply coloured, high tannin
- trad. needed a long period of bottle ageing to soften tannins
- today: riper grapes & modern wm techniques –> conc. black fruit & hith levels of softer riper tannins
Jurancon
(where, grapes, wines)
Jurancon
- right in the foothills of the Pyrenees
- dry & sweet white wines
- Petit Manseng
- complex sweet wines, free of botrytis, passerillage. Pronounced apricot & grapefruit aromas, sometimes spicy notes from new oak
appellation - River Lot
Cahors
- east of Bx, either side of the River Lot
3 type of vineyard location in Cahors
- fertile valley bottom
- poorer soil of the slopes
- plateau above
wines of Cahors
(grapes, characteristics)
- Malbec (Merlot, Tannat)
best:
- aged in oak
- deeply coloured
- high in tannin
- intense & dark berry fruits
- mature slowly –> cedar & earth
wines of Cahors
(where, grapes, wines)
Cahors
- east of Bx, either side of the River Lot
- broad range of styles
- vy: fertile valley bottom, poorer soil of the slopes, plateau above
- Malbec (Merlot, Tannat)
- best: aged in oak, deeply coloured, high in tannin, intense & dark berry fruits, mature slowly, cedar & earth
Côtes de Gascogne IGP
- south-east of Bx
- Ugni Blanc
- dry, light-bodied, green apples
Madiran
- further south towards the Pyrenees
- Tannat
- blends
- deeply coloured, high tannin
- trad. needed a long period of bottle ageing to soften tannins
- today: riper grapes & modern wm techniques –> conc. black fruit & hith levels of softer riper tannins
Jurancon
- right in the foothills of the Pyrenees
- dry & sweet white wines
- Petit Manseng
- complex sweet wines, free of botrytis, passerillage. Pronounced apricot & grapefruit aromas, sometimes spicy notes from new oak
historic name of wines of Cahors
’ black’ wines
style produced in Cahors depend on..
whether the vineyards are in the fertile valley bottom, on the poorer soils of the slopes or on the plateau above
the most important grape in Cahors
Malbec
other grape varieties planted in Cahors
Merlot & Tannat
(main: Malbec)
are wines in Cahors aged in oak?
yes
The most important IGP south-east of Bx
Côtes de Gascogne
where can we find dry, light-bodied white wines made from Ugni Blanc, with aromas & flavours of green apples?
Côtes de Gascogne
grape of Madiran
Tannat
sv or blend in Madiran?
blend
traditionally Madiran needed …
… a long period of bottle ageing to soften their tannins
Madiran wines today
riper grapes & modern wm techn.
–> conc. black fruit & high levels of softer riper tannins
appellation in the foothills of the Pyrenees
Jurancon
dry or sweet wines in Jurancon?
both dry and sweet white wines
botrytis and/or passerillage in Jurancon?
only passerillage
