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WSET Level 3 Award in Wines > 18. The Loire Valley > Flashcards

18. The Loire Valley Flashcards

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1
Q

Describe the climate of the Loire.

A
  • overall cool
  • continental (inland, Central Vineyards)
  • maritime (Nantais)
  • Anjou: warmer and drier
  • Touraine: cooler, wetter, clay soil
  • high rainfall
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2
Q

Where are the most desirable vineyards located in the Loire?

A
  • southerly aspect
  • mid-slope
  • facing the river (extra heat and reflected light)
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3
Q

What are the three main white grapes of the Loire?

A

Sauvignon Blanc
Chenin Blanc
Melon Blanc

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4
Q

What are the main areas of Sauvignon Blanc production in the Loire?

A
  • Central Vineyards (Sancerre, Pouilly Fume)

- Touraine

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5
Q

What are the two most prestigious appellations of the Central Vineyards? Describe the wine from these appellations.

A

Sancerre
Pouilly Fume

  • Sauvignon Blanc
  • chalky, well-drained soil
  • dry
  • high acidity
  • green apple
  • wet stones
  • generally not for aging

Pouilly Fume: subtle smoky notes

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6
Q

What are two famous villages and vineyards within Sancerre?

A

village: Chavignol
vineyard: Les Monts Damnes

highly expressive wines, good reputation

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7
Q

Describe the winemaking techniques for Loire Sauvignon Blanc.

A
  • gentle pneumatic pressing
  • temperature controlled stainless steel
  • some ferment/mature in old oak
  • some use lees contact
  • few use new oak
  • MLF varies (more common in cooler vintages to lower acidity of the wine)
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8
Q

Describe wines from Menetou-Salon. Where is this appellation located?

A
  • west and south of Sancerre
  • Sauvignon Blanc
  • moderately priced wines
  • similar style to Sancerre, Pouilly Fume
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9
Q

Where does the majority of Loire Sauvignon Blanc come from? Describe the wine.

A

Touraine

  • less concentration
  • simple, fruity style
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10
Q

Describe Chenin Blanc. What is strange about it?

A
  • high acidity
  • non-aromatic
  • ranges from dry, sweet, still or sparkling (relates to degree of ripeness at harvest)
  • fresh apple
  • trpical fruit
  • steely, smoky character
  • can age for decades: become rounder, richer, honey, toast, hay
  • common for grapes in same bunch to reach differing levels of ripeness (results in green, herbaceous aromas if care is not taken - requires several passes through the vineyard)
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11
Q

What types of Chenin grapes would be used for sparkling wines?

A

Sparkling: barely ripe

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12
Q

Describe Vouvray (located, climate, soil, wines).

A
  • located to the east of the city of Tours
  • cool climate, clay soil
  • makes dry to sweet and sparkling Chenin
  • light-to-medium body
  • fresh fruity and floral notes
  • rarely sees oak
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13
Q

Describe white Saumur (location, climate, soil, wines).

A

-to the west of Vouvray

  • sparklin Chenin
  • cool climate, clay soil
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14
Q

Describe white Anjou (location, climate, soil, wines).

A

-to the west of Vouvray

  • dry wines
  • often (not always) matured in new oak
  • cool climate, clay soil
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15
Q

Describe white wine from Savennières (location, climate, soil, wines).

A
  • west of Anjou-Saumur
  • relatively warm, dry
  • full-bodied Chenin (dry)
  • less floral
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16
Q

Describe white wine from Coteaux du Layon (location, climate, soil, wines). Name two favored sites.

A
  • west of Anjou-Saumur
  • relatively warm, dry
  • sweet wines (noble rot)
  • River Layon
  • south of the loire
  • Quarts de Chaume
  • Bonnezeaux
17
Q

Describe Melon Blanc. What are other terms for this variety? What are the main appellations?

A

-Muscadet, Melon de Bourgogne

  • ripens early
  • frost resistant
  • dry
  • medium alcohol
  • concrete, stainless steel
  • high acidity
  • light body
  • subtle green fruit flavors
  • drink young
  • Muscadet
  • Muscadet Sèvre et Maine
18
Q

What is Muscadet Sèvre et Maine?

A
  • bottled in the spring following the vintage
  • spends winter on lees
  • richer texture
  • handled little to retain delicacy and freshness
19
Q

What are the main black grape varieties of the Loire?

A
  1. Cabernet Franc
  2. Gamay
  3. Pinot Noir
20
Q

Why is Cabernet Franc well suited for the Loire?

A

-flowers and ripens early (cool climate)

21
Q

Describe wines from Touraine. What are the subregions? How does the soil determine the style?

A
  • Red wines: Cabernet Franc
  • Chinon (south of the Loire)
  • Bourgueil, Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgeuil (north)
  • Sandy soils: light, fruity, early-drinking
  • Limestone/Clay soils (south facing slopes): fuller bodied, more tannic
  • some mature in oak
  • some van evolve in bottle for years
22
Q

Describe the wines from Saumur and Saumur-Champigny.

A
  • Red wines: Cabernet Franc
  • lighter in body, tannin
  • juicy berry fruit
  • some floral
  • best drunk young, chilled
  • some fuller bodied
23
Q

What is the second most widely planted black grape? Where is it grown? Describe the wines.

A

Gamay

  • Touraine, Anjou
  • fruity, early drinking wines
24
Q

Where is Pinot Noir planted?

A
  • small amount
  • Central Vineyards
  • quite rare, light style
  • most land reserved for Sauvignon Blanc
25
Q

Where are the main regions for rose production in the Loire?

A
  • Anjou-Saumur
  • Touraine
  • Sancerre
26
Q

What is Rose de Loire?

A
  • Anjou-Saumur
  • Touraine
  • always dry
  • min 30% Cabernet Franc and/or Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend
27
Q

What is Cabernet d’Anjou?

A
  • medium-sweet in style

- blend of Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon

28
Q

What is Rose d’Anjou?

A
  • less sweet

- made from Grolleau (local high yielding black grape) and Cabernet Franc

29
Q

What are the rose wines of Touraine like?

A
  • dry
  • fresh
  • fruity
30
Q

What must Sancerre rose be made of? Describe the wine

A

Pinot Noir

  • pale
  • light
  • dry
  • delicate fruit
31
Q

What are the two ways to make rose in the Loire?

A
  1. direct pressing
  2. short maceration on skins

fermented in insert, temp-controlled vessels to retain fruit flavors

WSET Level 3 Award in Wines (41 decks)

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