18 - The Loire Valley Flashcards
What are the 4 sub-regions of the Loire Valley? What is the climate of each?
What are the particular climatic challenges?
east to west: Central Vineyards, Touraine, Anjou-Saumur, Nantais
overall climate of Loire is cool.
Central Vineyards: located inland. Continental climate.
Nantais: located coastal, has maritime climate
Anjou: warm and relatively dry despite being close to ocean, because protection from Mauges hills and certain vineyards with stony soils
Touraine: cool, wet climate with clay soils
challenges: fungal disease linked to high levels rainfall
Unlike most other French regions there is no regional appellation that covers the whole of Loire. However, the Loire has an IGP that covers the region. What is the name? What are key characteristics of these wines?
Val de Loire
fresh, light body, simple fruit
What is characteristic of the best vineyards in the Loire Valley?
those that experience most sunshine and warmth (like other cool climates). desirable vineyards southerly aspect, mid-slope, facing river for extra heat and reflected sunlight
Which sub-regions of the Loire is Sauvignon Blanc grown in?
mainly in Touraine and Central Vineyards (the two most prestigious appellations for Sauv Blanc, Sancerre and Pouilly-Fume are located here)
What are key characteristics of wines from Sancerre and Pouilly-Fume (from Central Vineyards) and where are they located?
Located chalky, well-drained stony soil. Wines are dry, high acid, green apple and wet stones. sometimes Pouilly-Fume can have smoky notes.
usually not meant to age though some wines can evolve in bottle.
MLF and new oak sometimes used, or the wines are fermented and matured in old oak, or the wines are made using temp controled stainless steel. This varies based on style of wine producer wants to create
Where is Menetou-Salon located? What is the style of wine made here?
appellation lying on tributary of the Loire (to west and south of Sancerre). Makes wines similar to Sancerre and Pouilly-Fume but more moderately priced.
T/F: the majority of Sauvignon Blanc comes from Central Vineyards.
False. the majority of Sauvignon Blanc made in the Loire comes from Touraine. Central Vineyards has a small but prestigious production from Sancerre and Pouilly-Fume
What describes a typical wine labelled Sauvignon de Touraine?
These wines are white Touraine - Touraine is a generic appellation that covers the Touraine region. These wines often appear under varietal label (i.e. Sauvignon would be labelled Sauvignon de Touraine).
less concentration than a more prestigious appellation (Sancerre, Pouilly-Fume), simple fruity
Which high-acid, non aromatic grape variety is responsible for the greatest white wines of Touraine and Anjou-Saumur?
Chenin Blanc
Why are several passes through the vineyard often required for Chenin Blanc?
Even within one bunch, it is common for grapes to achieve different levels of ripeness. Several passes are helpful for excluding unripe grapes.
What determines the style of wine Chenin grapes will be made into?
the level of ripeness it has achieved by time of picking.
barely ripe fruit made into sparkling wines (low abv) and increasingly ripegrapes made into dry, medium and sweet styles of wine
What are the flavor/aroma characteristics of Chenin Blanc?
vary from fresh apple to tropical fruit for still wines. often also steely smoky character
sweet wines: also have apricot and citrus peel from noble rot.
with age, dry and sweet wines develop honey toast hay
What is the climate of Vouvray (in Touraine)? How does this impact the style of Chenin made here?
climate: cool, with clay soils
Vouvray: light to medium bodied, fresh fruity floral. rarely fermented or matured new oak. Still and sparkling, dry or sweet
True/False: Saumur is renowned as a source of sparkling Chenin Blanc made by traditional method
True
True/False: Anjou and Saumur’s climates and soil are similar to Vouvray? (cool with clay soils)
True
