Ch. 6 – Loire Flashcards
Grape varieties in Loire Valley
Melon Chenin Blanc Cabernet Franc Sauvignon Blanc Pinot Noir
General separation of main parts of Loire
West to east
Pays Nantais
Anjou-Saumur
Touraine
Sancerre
Grape variety planted in Pays Nantais
Melon (Melon de Bourgogne or Muscadet)
also: Folle Blanche (locally as Gros Plant)
Climate and soil in Pays Nantais
Cool maritime climate
(cool springs, warm humid summers, threat of rain through growing season from flowering to harvest)
Predominantly well-drained soils
Spring frosts are issue (despite Atlantic proximity)
Melon
Only allowed variety in Muscadet appellations
Hardy, well suited to cool region
Buds early (prone to frost damage) Ripens early (reducing threat of rain)
High yields
Good resistance to powdery mildew
Susceptible to downy mildew and botrytis bunch rot
(repeated spraying required)
High acidity, light body, low to med alcohol
Typically low aromatic intensity (green apple and grass)
Often made sur lie
From 2018 basic Muscadet AOC can include up to 10% of Chardonnay
Vineyard management in Pays Nantais
Recent progress on canopy management
(sun exposure, reduction of fungus)
Care has to be taken to avoid sunburn
Threat of ‘high’ alcohol in hot years (waiting for ripeness of pipes and skins)
Winemaking in Pays Nantais
Chaptalization allowed up to 12% abv potential alcohol
Muscadet typically ferment and aged in large shallow underground glass-lined concrete vats
(stainless used as well)
Keeping wine as natural as possible and then aged on lees
Malo typically avoided (preserving high acidity)
Sur Lie explanation
Filling out the body of otherwise very ligh bodied wines.
One racking is allowed to remove gross lees
Wine remains in contact with fine lees through following winter till bottling
Retains freshness and may retain small amount of carbon dioxide as part of the style
Allowed level of chaptalization in Muscadet
up to 12% abv potential alcohol
Appellations in Pays Nantais
Muscadet Sèvre et Maine AOC
Muscadet AOC
Muscadet Coteaux de la Loire AOC
Muscadet Côtes de Grandlieu AOC
Maximum yield Muscadet (2 appelations)
+ max yield for Cru Communaux
Muscadet Sèvre et Maine AOC - 55 hl/ha
Muscadet AOC - 65 hl/ha
Clisson, Gorges, Le Pallet - 45 hl/ha
Regulations of ‘sur lie’ labelling term
May be added to any of the four appellations
Must be bottled before 1 March and 30 November of the year following harvest and in winery in which they were made
This means that negociants can only buy grapes, must or bottled wine and not wine to be aged sur lie
Three Muscadet cru communaux
Clisson
Gorges
Le Pallet
If grapes are grown exclusively in one of these areas, name can be added (Muscadet Sèvre et Maine AOC Clisson)
lower max yield - 45 hl/ha
has to be kept on lees for 18 months (le Pallet) or 24 months (Clisson, Gorges)
Cannot be labelled ‘Sur Lie’ (bottles after required date)
Rounder and more complex
Minimum time on lees for Muscadet (and for cru communaux)
Muscadet sur lie - through winter following harvest
18 months (le Pallet)
24 months (Clisson, Gorges)
Wine business Pays Nantais
very successful in UK in 1980s
then drop in popularity (emergence of New World wines)
Export 17%
Negociants play important role (over half of sales)
- Castel, Grand Chais de France, Ackerman
Promotional body InterLoire (together with Touraine and Anjoy-Saumur)
Climate in Anjou-Saumur and Touraine
Moderating influence of Atlantic Ocean decreases from Anjou to Touraine
Continental climate with warm summers and cold winters
Around 700mm of rainfall (split through the year)
- increased disease pressure
- risk in flowering and harvest
River Layon creates misty conditions in Anjou for spread of Botrytis
Grape varieties in Anjou-Saumur and Touraine
Chenin Blanc Sauvignon Blanc Cabernet Franc Grolleau Noir Gamay Noir Cabernet Sauvignon Cot (Malbec)
Chenin Blanc
buds early (prone to frost) Late ripening (vulnerable to autumn rain)
vigorous (high yielding)
Prone to powdery mildew and botrytis and trunk disease
Ripens unevenly (has to be picked on several passes) - limits mechanical harvesting
Suitable for wide variety of styles
Dry and off dry - med intensity (green apple, lemon), med alcohol, high acidity
Producer: Domaine Huet
Cabernet Franc
Early budding (prone to frost) Prone to coulure (reduction of yields) Mid-ripening (if not picked fully ripe - leafy) - canopy management required Winter hardy
Med (pronounced) intensity, red fruit (red currant, raspberry), floral (violet), leafy, light to med body, med tannin, high acidity
Single varietal or rose bled
In Touraine blended with Cot (Malbec)
Grolleau Noir
early budding
mid-ripening
proìne to botrytis
blending variety for rose
Chenin Blanc winemaking
Ferment in cool to medium temperatures (can last several months)
Large old oak or steel
Malo usually avoided
Aged in neutral vessel to retain primary aromas
Cabernet Franc winemaking
Typically pressed, ferment in concrete or old wood (allowing punch down or pump over)
Some use ambient yeast and age in used oak or range of sizes
Aim is to retain primary aromas
Some producers can include proportion of new French oak
Rose winemaking
Many made by direct press (some with short maceration)
Processed as white wine and aged about 3-4 months in neutral vessel
3 regional appellations for central Loire
Anjou AOC
Saumur AOC
Touraine AOC
No generic appellation for Loire as whole
Key Anjou appellations
Anjou AOC - Anjou Village AOC Coteaux du Layon AOC (Premier cru) - Coteaux du Layon AOC + named village - Bonnezeaux AOC - Quarts de Chaume AOC (Grand cru) Savennieres AOC - Savennieres La Roche aux Moines AOC - Coulee de Serrant AOC Rose de Loire AOC Rose d'Anjou AOC Cabernet d'Anjou
Anjou AOC
legal requirements
max yield 60 hl/ha for white (67 hl/ha for rose)
Anjou Blanc - min 80% Chenin Blanc
Anjou Rouge - min 70% Cabernet Franc and/or Cabernet Sauvignon
Anjou Village AOC
- still red only
- entirely Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon (single or blend)
- max yield 55 hl/ha
- can only be released in September following harvest
Anjou Village AOC
legal requirements
Still red only
Entirely Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon (single or blend)
Max yield 55 hl/ha
Can only be released in September following harvest
Red wines in Anjou can only be labelled:
Anjou AOC
Anjou Village AOC
Important appellations for dessert wine in Anjou
Coteaux du Layon AOC
- Coteaux du Layon AOC + named village
- Bonnezeaux AOC
- Quarts de Chaume AOC (Grand cru)
- Coteaux du Layon AOC Chaume (Premier cru)
Coteaux du Layon AOC
steep slopes on the right bank of Layon River
Specializes in botrytised wines from Chenin Blanc
If botrytis fails to develop, grapes can also be dried on vine
Natural high acidity on Chenin Blanc keeps balance
Max yield 35 hl/ha (min 14% potential alcohol)
Coteaux du Layon AOC + named village
(several passes to collect affected grapes - tries)
Max 30 hl/ha (min 15% potential alcohol)
The only grand cru and premier cru in Loire
Quarts de Chaume AOC (Grand cru)
Coteaux du Layon AOC Chaume (Premier cru)