8.1 Languedoc Flashcards
Languedoc on one card - size, market, climate and key varieties?
Languedoc
- 220,000 Ha. 70% IGP. bigger plantings than ind SA, AUs, or Chile
- Common with abov countries Languedoc>> low yield due to warm clim + low rainfall
- Majority Carignan, Syrah and GrenN. (also CS, Mer, Cinsault)
- Co-op 70%, bal small prod hiQ
Mainly alluvial plain, some slopes for hiQ
Mediterranean climate > large range var
- cool, dry Tramontane wind, warm summer, high s-light hrs,
- >600mm rain - low moisture = low disease > yields red if no irig.
- bush train trad, or vsp. Maj machine harv.
Carignan
- A key red varietial of Languedoc:
- buds late, ripens late - needs long ripening season (warm clim)
- Hi yields - needs tb controlled for conc fruit/quality
- Susc to PMD and grape moth
- Not suited to mech - bunches cling to the vine
Wine:
- hi acid, hi tannin - softened by carb maceration or blending
- wine from young vines
- typically unoaked,(prob carb maceration); med ruby, simple blackberry fruit, hi acid, hi tannin
- A/G Q ; inexp price
- Good examples (old vines)
- int black fruit, spice, earth
- Vg/OS; prem & sprem prices
Winemaking in Languedoc - describe
-
Inexpensive wines
- Crushing, ferm on skin up to 7 days, light extract SS/Concrete
- Mod temps, comm yeast, fast & dry - few months integ in SS/concrete tanks - early drinking
- Carbonic maceration for fruity, low tann, m/d colour esp Carignan)
-
HiQ/Small Vol Prod
- Sorting, warm ferm, ambient yeast, maturae barriques/tonneaux, ageworthy.
- Some experimentation with concrete / eggs/ large oak vats
Describe the IGP business, types of wines and labelling rules
- Represent 70% of Languedoc production
- Yield 90hl/ha R&W; 100 (P); 58 varieties, cb varietally labelled (very pop)
- Economies of scale > inexp price point
- “France’s every day wine”
Three forms of IGP
-
Regional = Pays d’Oc (whole of Languedoc & Roussillon)
- 50% R, 25%W; 25%P, fresh, fruity little/no oak
- Top for varietal wines: Mer, CS, CH, Syrah, GrenN
- 50% Export DE, BE, NL
- Departmental > (IGP Gard)
- Smaller unit named after an historical or geog feature
Languedoc AOC - rules / styles
Languedoc Appellation
- AOC yield R 50hl/ha; W 60hl/ha, many sub-zones less.
- AOC req min 2 var (incl 1 or more of the principle var > ALL are blends
- AOC may set min/max per var or combination of
- GrenN (most), Syr, Mourvedre common in many
- others > cinsaut, carignan and loads more.
- Sub-zone of AOC can be diff to parent
- diff yield, %, and var in blend
- In terms of style / qual / price reds of Lang. can be grouped:
- Regional > Languedoc AOC
- simple fruit char> med med med, A/G qual
- Named Appellation > Corbieres AOC
- m/m+ fruit, m/h alc, m tann, m+/f body; minority oak; g/vg some os
- Sub-Appellation - Corbieres-Boutenac AOC - m+/pron frit, m+ tann, VG/OS>prem
Corbieres AOC Key Facts
Corbieres AOC – 10,000 Ha (4th largest AOC in France)
- Hilly, 450m (Tauch & DAlaric mountains)
- Altitude + cold north winds > cool infl > helps acid retention
- 90% red (also W&P) ; yield 50hl/ha >> Carignan + GSM min 40% of blend (non-princ var max 20%)
- 70% sold domestically
Corbriers-Boutenac (R,W,P)
- Carignan + GSM min 70% of blend
List the notable other sub AOC’s of Languedoc and their special characteristics.
Minervois AOC (R,W,P)
- Close Med, mod by altitude, range of climates.
- GSM+Carignan+Cinsault 50% of the blend
- Minervois La Liviniere AOC (R only) 400m on limestone (acid)
- GSM (40%) Carignan+Cinsault must >= 80% of the blend
Saint Chinian AOC (R&P) GSM 50% of blend
Fitou AOC > the inland part , higher, less fertile, fast draining schist, flav conc.
- Carignan to 40% and Gren N min 20%
Faugeres AOC; Pic Saint Loup AOC; Terrasses du Larzac AOC; La Clape AOC
Picpoul de Pinet AOC (W only) Piquepoul Blanc var 100%
Atlantic-Influenced AOCs in the West
- Malepere AOC, at least 2 inbelnd min 40% Mer
- Cabardes AOC - 40% Bordeaux var (CS, CF, Merlot) + GrenN +/ Syrah
