Anjou- Saumur & Touraine Flashcards
Working east from the coast what are the 4 key regions of the Loire Valley?
Pays Nantais
Anjou-Saumur
Touraine
Central Vineyards
What is the climate of Anjou Saumur?
Continental with some maritime influence
What is the climate of Touraine?
Cool Continental - much less maritime influence
What is the average rainfall across Anjou Saumur and Touraine?
When does it fall and what affect does this have on the vines?
700mm
Falls throughout the year
Rain in spring can affect flowering and fruit set
Regular summer rain can increase disease pressure
Rain in late summer and early autumn can affect harvest
What is the name of the River in Anjou?
What affect does this have on the growing environment?
The River Layon
The River Layon and its tributaries create misty conditions that are ideal for the spread of botrytis at the end of the growing season, enabling the production of botrytised wines.
What are the 6 negative characteristics of Chenin Blanc?
- Early budding (spring frost)
- Late ripening (autumn rain)
- Uneven ripening (several passes needed, machin harvest becomes difficult)
- Prone to powdery mildew
- Prone to botrytis bunch rot
- Prone to trunk diseases
Name the appellations in Anjou in which Chenin Blanc is the main grape.
What style of Chenin Blanc is produced in these appellations?
ANJOU AOC Blanc:
Dry
COTEAUX DE LAYON AOC:
Botrytised/ sweet
COTEAUX DE LAYON AOC + NAMED VILLAGE: Botrytised/ sweet
BONNEZEAUX AOC:
Botrytised/ sweet
QUARTS DE CHAUME AOC:
Botrytised/ sweet
SAVENNIÈRES AOC:
Dry
ROCHE AUX MOINES AOC:
Dry
COULÉE DE SERRANT:
Dry
Give a typical tasting note for a dry Chenin Blanc from Anjou Saumur
Medium intensity Green apple, lemon, steely, smoky High acidity Medium alcohol Good to v.good, some outstanding Inexpensive to mid price, some premium
Which two wines does Grolleau Noir feature as a blending component in in the Loire?
Rosé de Loire
Rosé d’Anjou
What are the 3 negative characteristics of Cabernet Franc?
- Early budding (spring frost)
- Prone to coulure (reduces yields)
- If not fully ripe, can be leafy tasting
What are the 2 positive characteristics of Cabernet Franc?
- Winter hardy (suited to cool climates)
- Mid ripening (avoid rain at harvest)
Give a typical tasting note for a Cabernet Franc from Anjou Saumur.
Medium to pronounced intensity Redcurrant, raspberry, violet, graphite High acidity Light to medium body Medium tannins Medium alcohol
Where might you find Gamay growing in the Loire?
Some in Anjou, but mostly around Touraine and the Central Vineyards
Describe typical winemaking techniques for dry Chenin Blanc in the Loire.
- Cool to mid range temps
- Fermentations can last several months
- Large old oak or stainless steel used as fermentation vessels
- Avoid MLF
- Most wines are aged in neutral containers, not new barriques
- Aim is to retain primary fruit aromas and flavours
Describe typical winemaking techniques for Cabernet Franc in the Loire.
- Crushed fruit fermentation
- Fermentation in concrete or old wooden vats that allow punch downs and/ or pumpovers
- Aim is retention of primary fruit flavours
- More expensive wines may see a portion of new French oak barriques
Describe typical winemaking techniques for Loire Rosé wines.
- Many Loire Rosé’s are made by direct press
- Short maceration is used on some
- Winemaking then proceeds as it would for a white, with short ageing (3 to 4 months) in neutral containers
Which rootstocks are commonly used in Anjou-Saumur and Touraine? Why?
Fercal and Riparia Gloire de Montpellier
Soils have high limestone content and these rootstocks are used to protect vines from chlorosis
What soils are found in Anjou-Saumur and Touraine?
Wide range of soils
Clay limestone Flint-clay Sand Gravel Tuff.
Overall key properties include the good water retention and drainage of limestone elements.
What wines can be made in Anjou AOC?
How does this differ to Anjou Villages AOC?
Blanc: min. 80% Chenin Blanc
Rouge: min. 70% Cab Franc and/ or Cab Sauvignon
Rosé is also made
Anjou Villages AOC is for red wines only, from 100% Cabernet Franc and / or Cabernet Sauvignon. Yields are lower for these wines and they are more concentrated
What type of soils are found across Anjou?
Schist and limestone
Describe the topography of Coteaux du Layon AOC. Which two other appellations are contained within it?
Large appellation on the steep slopes of the right bank of the Layon River which runs into the Loire
Bonnezeaux AOC
Quarts de Chaume AOC
What is the only Grand Cru in the Loire?
What is the only Premier Cru?
What wines do they produce?
GRAND CRU: Quarts de Chaume AOC
PREMIER CRU: Coteaux du Layon AOC Chaume
They both produce sweet, botrytised wines from Chenin Blanc
Give a typical tasting note for a wine from Coteaux du Layon AOC, specifying the grape variety used.
Chenin Blanc Pronounced aromas of cooked citrus, apple and honey Sweet High acidity Medium (+) body Mid priced to premium
List the following appellations from lowest to highest minimum potential alcohol and from highest to lowest maximum yield.
Quarts de Chaume Grand Cru Coteaux du Layon AOC Chaume 1er Cru Coteaux du Layon AOC Coteaux du Layon AOC + named village Bonnezeaux AOC
Coteaux du Layon AOC:
35hl/ha 14% potential alcohol
Coteaux du Layon AOC + named village:
30hl/ha 15% potential alcohol
Bonnezeaux AOC
25hl/ha 15% potential alcohol
Coteaux du Layon AOC Chaume 1er Cru
25hl/ha 16.5% potential alcohol
Quarts de Chaume Grand Cru
20hl/ha 18% potential alcohol
Why do producers make more dry white wine than sweet in Vouvray?
Demand
Describe the topography and soils of Savennières AOC.
Describe the style of Chenin Blanc produced in reference to the growing environment.
Small but prestigious appellation, steep south facing slopes, with low fertility rocky-schist soils.
Dry Chenin Blanc wines.
Wines are dry, austere and rigid in youth
Develops complexity and richness with age.
Good air circulation around the vines enables late harvest without any noble rot
Steep south-facing slope; excellent exposure, increasing ripeness and potential alcohol.
Low fertility soils: increased concentration
Name the two appellations contained within Savennières AOC.
How do these differ to the main AOC?
Coulée de Serrant AOC + Roches aux Moines AOC
- Lower maximum yields (30hl/ha vs. 50hl/ha)
- Warmer south-facing sites on slopes facing the Loire: riper fruit
What are the three rosé wines made in Anjou-Saumur?
Describe how they differ.
ROSÉ DE LOIRE AOC:
Dry.
Can be made from a range of varieties inc. Cab Franc, Cab Sauv, Grolleau and Gamay.
Wines are usually produced within Anjou Saumur but can be from elsewhere
ROSÉ D’ANJOU AOC:
Medium dry.
Mainly Grolleau but can include the two cabs, Cot and Gamay.
CABERNET D’ANJOU AOC:
Medium dry.
Rosé made from Cab Sauv or Franc only. Wines are typically deeper in colour than most rosés (medium pink)
Savennieres and Coteaux du Layon are both made in Anjou-Saumur from Chenin Blanc. How do the wines differ and why?
Savennieres Dry and austere in youth Complexity and richness with age Good air circulation around the vines enables late harvest without NR Steep south-facing slope
Coteaux de Layon
Sweet wine
Lies in a sheltered valley of R. Layon that encourages Noble Rot
Why can Chenin Blanc be a pain to harvest and what is the countermeasure?
Takes a long time to ripen.
Even within one bunch common for grapes to reach different levels of ripeness.
Several passes through the vineyard might be necessary to pick grapes at desired ripeness.
What styles of wine can be produced under the Saumur AOC appellation and from which grapes.
Blanc: Chenin Blanc (60hl/ha)
Rouge: Cabernet Franc (57hl/ha)
Rosé: Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon (57hl/ha)
Wines of all colours can be low intensity
What style of wines can be produced in Saumur-Champigny AOC?
Only red wines - min. 85% Cabernet Franc
Mostly easy drinking, fruit forward wines, but there are some premium examples (e.g. Clos Rougeard)
Describe the soils in Saumur-Champigny AOC
Chalk, flint and clay
Good drainage and good water holding potential
What style of wines are produced in Coteaux de Saumur AOC?
What is the maximum yield?
Sweet Chenin Blanc wines made from over-ripe grapes, with or without botrytis. Picked with many passes through the vineyard. Lusciously sweet balanced with high acidity.
35hl/ha
What styles of wine, and from what grapes, are produced in Touraine AOC?
Blanc: Sauvignon Blanc
Red: Cabernet Franc + Cot
Rosé: Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cot, Gamay and Grolleau
In addition to basic Touraine AOC a subzone name can be appended e.g. Touraine AOC Amboise, permitting differences to reflect what is grown locally. So Touraine AOC Amboise Blanc is Chenin Blanc and has lower yields
Gamay is also grown locally; wines are labelled Touraine AOC Gamay
What are the maximum yields for the white wine appellations Vouvray and Montlouis-Sur-Loire?
52hl/ha
Describe the topography and soils in Vouvray.
Best slopes are near the Loire: soils are flinty, clay, and limestone over tuff, enabling good drainage.
Away from the river Loire, there is more cool, clay soils which can inhibit ripening.
Describe the styles of wine produced in Vouvray AOC.
95% Chenin Blanc (most are 100%).
Dry Vouvray is made every vintage, some demi sec most years and sweet wines are rarer (contrast with Anjou where sweet wines are made every vintage).
Unless clearly marked on the label it can be difficult to tell the sweetness level of the wine
Where is Montlouis-sur-Loire AOC in relation to Vouvray AOC?
It faces the Vouvray appellation from across the river. Most of Montlouis faces the Cher river
Describe the styles of wine produced in Montlouis-sur-Loire AOC
Dry wines from 100% Chenin Blanc
Describe why Montlouis-sur-Loire AOC has become popular with winemakers over the past 30 years.
Due to an influx in newcomers over the past 30 years, in part due to vineyard land being cheaper than in Vouvray, this has become a very dynamic appellation with many estates run organically or biodynamically.
What styles of wine are produced in Bourgueil AOC, Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil AOC and Chinon AOC?
BOURGUEIL AOC: Mostly red wines, some rosé. Mostly Cab Franc with up to 10% Cab Sauvignon. Many wines are of high quality and lower than permitted yields
ST-NICOLAS-DE-BOURGUEIL: Lighter style of Cabernet Franc than Bourgueil, similar in style and price to Saumur-Champigny AOC.
CHINON AOC: Best known and highly regarded for red wines. Whites from Chenin Blanc and rosés are also made. Mostly Cab Franc with up to 10% Cab Sauvignon. Many wines are of high quality and lower than permitted yields. Range from light, fruity, early drinking.
Describe what additional winemaking decisions might be made for high quality Cabernet Franc wines from Chinon.
How does this affect the style?
Longer maceration period (2-3 weeks) and longer ageing ( up to two years).
Wines made with longer maceration periods (especially from good vintages) can age for up to 20 years or more, due to v.good flavour intensity of fruit, high acidity, and medium to medium (+) tannins.
How long might a light and fruity example of Cabernet Franc be expected to macerate on skins after fermentation and why?
6 to 8 days
Minimise extracting too much tannin, keeping the focus on the primary fruit
What types of soils are found in Bourgueil AOC, Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil AOC and Chinon AOC?
How do wines from the different soils vary?
Sand, gravel, clay and limestone
In general the most structured and concentrated Cab Franc wines are made with grapes grown on clay and limestone soils.
Lighter styles are from sandy, gravelly soils.
Name the two most important white wine appellations in Touraine.
Vouvray AOC
Montlouis-sur-Loire AOC
Name the three most important red wine appellations in Touraine.
Bourgueil AOC
Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil AOC
Chinon AOC
What is the maximum yield for wines from Bourgueil AOC, Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil AOC and Chinon AOC?
55hl/ha - most quality wines will have lower yields
Which wines in the Loire Valley are made from Cabernet Franc?
Which appellation is not in Touraine?
Saumur-Champagny AOC (Saumur)
Bourgueil AOC
Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil AOC
Chinon AOC
Which Loire Valley Rosé style is always dry?
Which are sweet?
Dry: Rosé de Loire
Sweet: Cabernet d’Anjou, Rosé d’Anjou
Bonnezeaux is a botrytis-affected sweet wine from which sub-region?
Coteaux du Layon, within Anjou-Saumur
Where is Savennières located?
What kind of exposure does it have?
Soils?
- North bank of the river Loire in Anjou
- Steep south-facing aspect.
- Low fertility rocky schist soils
What are the 2 sub-appellations of Savennieres, long regarded as unofficial grands crus?
What is unique about 1 of them?
Roche Aux Moines
Coulée de Serrant.
Coulée de Serrant is a monople of the biodynamic winemaker Nicolas Joly.
Vouvray and Montlouis-sur-Loire are separated by the _____ river.
Loire
What style constitutes the majority of Anjou wine production?
Grolleau-based Rosé
St. Nicolas-de-Bourgeil may only produce what kinds of wine?
Based mainly on which grape?
Red and Rosé
Cabernet Franc, up to 10% Cabernet Sauvignon
What is the only permitted grape of Montlouis-sur-Loire AOC?
Chenin Blanc
Producers of dessert wine in the Loire Valley typically make multiple passes through the vineyard during harvest, otherwise known as “_____ successives.”
Tries
What are the 4 different Sweetness levels of Vouvray AOP?
Sec: 0-8 g/L residual sugar.
Demi-Sec: A “half-dry” style with 4-12 g/L
Moelleux: A sweet, often botrytized style with 12-45 g/L. The term Moelleux is French for “mellow”.
Doux: The sweetest style with > 45 g/L.
Which region produces more white wine, Anjou-Saumur or Touraine?
Touraine
Which region produces more red wine, Anjou-Saumur or Touraine?
Anjou-Saumur, but only just
Which region produces more rose wine, Anjou-Saumur or Touraine?
Anjou-Saumur - rose production in Anjou Saumur is larger than Touraine’s entire production
What percentage of wine from Anjou-Saumur and Touraine is exported?
20%
