C21 - Southern France (reviewed) Flashcards
Describe Southern France climate
- Warm mediterranean climate
- Summer temperatures often in excess of 30C
- Mild winters
- Low rainfall
- Climatic problem - Strong winds blow from the north
- The mistral blows down the Rhone
- The tramontane blows through the gap between the Pyrenees and the Massif Central
- Drought may be an issue rather than fungal diseases, occasaional summer floods
Describe the terrain
- The foothills of the surrounding mountains
- Noticeably cooler, less fertile, better drained
- The coastal plains
What the back grape varieties in Southern France?
- Grenache and Syrah - two most important local
- Carignan
- Cinsault
- Mourvedre
- Merlot
- Cabernet Sauvignon
Describe Syrah and Grenache in Southern France?
Grenache and Syrah - two most important local
- Syrah: The cooler sites
- Grenache: The warmer, drier sites
Discuss Carignan in South of France
- High tannins, acidity and colour
- Can lack fruit or finesse
- Can produce enormous yields
- Old vine on por soil can produce quality wines
- Decreasing in popularity
- Permitted by all AC regulations in Southern France
Discuss Cinsault in Southern France
Used in Rose production or to add red fruit flavours to red blends
Discuss Mourvèdre in South of France
Adds richness, colour and complexity to blends in Southern France
Discuss Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon in Southern France
Play a big role in the production of IGP wines
Discuss winemaking in Southern France
Most wineries now benefit from
- Modern equipment
- Improved cellar hygiene
- Temperature control
- Oxygen management
- Judicious use of new and old oak
Additionallly semi-carbonic maceration is used by some produced and epseically it can play an important role to soften the tannins in Carignan
What are the white varieties in Southern France?
- Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc - most planted
- Viognier
- Local varietes
- Muscat
- Grenache Blanc
- Picpoul de Pinet
- Mauzac
- Maccabeu
- Rolle
- Clairette
What is the third most significant white grape in Southern France?
Viognier
What are the most widely planted local varieties in Southern France?
Muscat and Grenache Blanc
What is Muscat used for in Southern France?
- Production of sweet fortified wines
- Dry wines with aromatic, grapey aromas
Describe the profile of Grenache Blanc in Southern France
Dry wines
Soft, peachy fruitiness
Full body
Low acidity
Tend to oxidise easily
Name five additional local varieties in Southern France and the locales in which they are most prized
Picpoul; Pinet
Mauzac; Limoux
Maccabeu; Rousillon
Rolle; Provence
Clairette; Languedoc and Provence
What is the best known of the local varieties in Southern France? Describe the wine
- Picpoul
- Refreshing, high acidity
- Green and citrus fruit flavours
Discuss Languedoc
- Made of Aude, Herault and Gard departments
- Largest producer of wine in Southern France
- Covers all vineyards from the Spanish border to Nimes
- Terrain:
- There is a large coastal plain area between Beziers and Montpellier
- Vineyards more hilly and rugged further inland and towards the Spanish border
- Wines
- Dry wine: Red, white and rosé in most appellations
- Mostly red (Carignan, Grenache, Syrah and some Mourvedre)
- Generic appelation - Vins du Pays d’Oc IGP
- Appelation: The best subregions may add their names to the labels e.g., Pic-St-Loup
- Some regions do not apply Languedoc on the label: Minervois Cotes-du-Rousillon
- Some of the more geographically specific appellations have their own individual regulations
- The Appellation system continues to evolve in Languedoc, as the sub-regions continue to apply for full AC status
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What are the major appelations of Languedoc?
From East to West
- Picpoul de Pinet
- Minervois
- Corbieres
- Limoux
- Fitou
- Cotes du Roussillon Village
- Cotes du Roussillon
Which department constitue Rousillon?
Department: Pyrenees-Orientales
Describe the wines of Languedoc
Very difficult to describe due to the variations in blend possibilities and because of the large areas covered by appellations
Cooler areas
- produce wines with more finesse and lighter tannins
- Syrah is at its best here
Warmer areas
- Produce more gamey, meaty flavours and greater body
- Mourvedre is at its best here In larger appellations, wines can be blends of these styles
Best wines are full-bodied Spicy, concentrated red fruit, often with oak flavours
Describe rosés of Southern France
Soft and fruity
Discuss Cotes du Rousillon
- Located nex to the Spanish border
- Most rugged and mountainous appellation of the Languedoc
- Bright sunlight, low rainfall and strong winds
- Concentrated wines
- Best vineyards can qualify for Cotes du Rousillon Villages (north of Cotes du Rousillon)
Discuss Fitou
It’s split into two separate areas;
- a warm coastal strip producing fuller bodied wines
- a cooler inland area at altitude, which produces lighter wines
Discuss Corbieres
- Warm sites near the coast
- Cooler vineyards at altitude, cooled by the tramontane
- Divided in 11 subregion, of which Boutenac has its own AC
Discus Minervois
- Located North of Corbieres
- On the slopes of the Massif Central
- Varies in quality due to altitude, soil quality and exposure to cooling influences of the Atlantic
- Sub-divided in sub-region, best of which is La Liviniere (which has its own AC)
Discuss Picpoul de Pinet
- Locaed near the coast
- Cooling sea breezes help to retain the grape’s natural high acidity
Discuss Limoux
- It’s a source of premium, oaked Chardonnays
- Benefit from the cooling effect of altitude
Describe IGP wines in Southern France
- More IGP wines are made in Languedoc than any other region of France
- Vital for the survival of grape growing in Southern France
- Pays d’Oc is the main IGP
- The IGP regulations permit a wider range of grape varieties and varietal labelling
- The warm sunny climate means that large volumes of ripe, fruity wines can be produced easily here compared with other regions of France, resulting in excellent value for money
Discuss Provence
- Lanscape is very varied and broken up by many prominent ranges of hills
- The hills protect vineyards from the mistral and provide a variety of soils and climates
- Rosés:
- Represents the vast majority of wines production
- Pale Light-bodied Dry Delicate flavours of grapefruit and red fruits
- Red - Range from fresh and fruity, to more full-bodied, barrel matured styles
- White: Rolle and Clairette are main varieties, their aromatic qualities used in best whites
- Largest appleation is Cotes de Provence, mostly Rosé
Describe how Cotes de Provence is organised
There are three isolated pockets of vineyards along the coast, each with its own AC
Bandol - The most important AC, located just to the east of Marseille
- Premium reds based on Mourvedre (ripens reliably on the southern facing terraced slopes)
- Dark Full-bodied
- Powerful tannins
- Bramble, meat and liquorice-spice flavours
- Require bottle age
