Ch. 9 – South West France

Question 1

Regions of Dordogne

Answer 1

Bergerac
- Cotes de Bergerac AOC

Monbazillac

Question 2

Bergerac AOC

Answer 2

Red, white, and rose

Slightly warmer and drier than Bordeaux

Clay, limestone and some gravel

Wines must be blends of mostly Bordeaux varieties

Max yields similar to Bordeaux AOC

Typically aged in steel or old oak

Almost all is sold in France, mostly in supermarkets

Question 3

Cotes de Bergerac AOC

Answer 3

• Bordeaux varieties only
• lower max yields
• more common ageing in oak
• predominantly Merlot

Question 4

Monbazillac AOC

Answer 4

Sweet wines only
- botrytised or late harvested

Between the Dordogne and one of its tributaries; air funnels along river - humidity

Must be picked by hand

Same varieties as in Sauternes

Low max yields

Ferment in barrels with new oak is less common than in Sauternes

Question 5

Cahors climate and terroir (+training systems)

Answer 5

Some influence from Atlantic

Warmer and drier than Bordeaux
- Malbec ripens more reliably
- less spraying than Bordeaux

Rich alluvial soils next to river
- higher yields, lower concentration

Mid slope
- poorer soils

Highest plateau 300m
- low nutrient limestone - great concentration

Single Guyot is most common

Question 6

Malbec (France)

Answer 6

also known as Cot

Vigorous (needs careful canopy management)

Susceptible to coulure

Deep ruby, med to pronounced violet, red and black plum, med to med+ acidity, med+ to high tannin

May be aged in French oak barriques (vanilla, sweet spice)

Question 7

Cahors winemaking

Answer 7

Early drinking styles have more Merlot in blend
- 7-10 days on skins for limited tannin

Wines for ageing
- 15-25 days on skins
- often matured in oak (barriques)

Question 8

Cahors wine law and regulations

Answer 8

Min 70% Malbec (rest Merlot or Tannat)

Destemming required by the appellation

Question 9

Cooperative in Cahors

Answer 9

Cooperative des Vignerons d’Olt (20% of the region’s production)

Question 10

Wine business in Cahors

Answer 10

Seeking to exploit success of Argentinian Malbec
- ‘the French Malbec’, ‘The Capital of Malbec’

80% private companies; 20% from a single co-op

Producer: Chateau du Cedre

30% exported, but exports are growing

Question 11

3 levels of quality and price in Cahors

Answer 11

Tradition
- inexpensive
- 70-85% Malbec
- grown on alluvial soils near river

Prestige
- mid-priced
- mid slopes

Speciale
- mainly 100% Malbec
- premium price
- often grown on highest plateau

Question 12

Madiran growing environment and viticulture

Answer 12

Some Atlantic influence
- relatively high rainfall (1,000mm - but dry autumns)
- warm sunny summers enable Tannat to ripen

warm Föhn wind

4 large parallel ridges with steep west-facing slopes
- mainly clay and limestone (good drainage)
- tannic, ageworthy wines
- on the flatter land, clay soils result in earlier-drinking wines

Question 13

Tannat

Answer 13

Vigorous - best supported on trellis

Mid ripening and prone to botrytis bunch rot

Highly tannic

Deep ruby colour, pronounced aromas of blackberry, blackcurrant with oak flavours.

High tannins, high acidity, full body
Alcohol top end of medium to high

(also make wines with lower tannin for early drinking)

Question 14

Madiran wine law and regulations

Answer 14

Must be 60-80% Tannat blended with Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and/or Fer (local grape)

Can be trained with Cordon de Royat or cane-replacement system

Must be destemmed

Question 15

Madiran winemaking

Answer 15

Micro-oxigenation used to soften tannins
(pioneered here)

Trend towards softer wines
- picking ripest grapes, gentle pressing, micro-oxigenation

Question 16

Madiran producers

and split with cooperatives

Answer 16

Alain Brumont

50% co-ops
- Plaimont

Almost all sold in France, mostly through supermarkets

Question 17

Jurançon growing environment and viti

Answer 17

Foothills of Pyrenees
- around 300m
- some vineyards are terraced
- best south and south-west facing (max sunlight)
- risk of frost (trained high above ground)

Föhn wind
- hot and dry wind in spring and autumn
- drying the air and ventilating the canopy
- boosting temperature
- helps to produce over-mature berries for sweet wine

Mild humid climate with relatively high rainfall (throughout the year)

Selective picking
- last pick have been dried on the vine (passerillage)

Question 18

Styles and varieties in Jurançon

Answer 18

dry wines and range of sweet white wines
- 70% medium sweet or sweet and 30% dry

Petit Manseng, Gros Manseng and other local grapes

Question 19

Petit Manseng

Answer 19

early budding, mid to late ripening

Thick skins (resistant to botrytis bunch rot)
- suitable for late harvesting

Moderately aromatic

Retains acidity well

Question 20

Gros Manseng

Answer 20

Higher yield and less concentration than Petit Manseng

Principally used for dry wines

Question 21

Categories of Jurançon wines and their regulations
+ winemaking

Answer 21

All must be min 50% Petit and/or Gros Manseng

Jurançon Sec
- max 60 hl/ha

Jurançon
- medium sweet, min 40 g/l RS
- max 40 hl/ha

Jurançon Vendages Tardives
- sweet, min 55 g/l RS
- no enrichment allowed
- max 40 hl/ha
- only Petit and Gros Manseng
- grapes may not be picked before 2 November

Higher quality is typically fermented and aged in old oak barriques for 12-18 months (some use new oak)

Malo typically doesn’t happen because the acidity is too high

Question 22

Wine business in Jurançon

+ producers

Answer 22

Direct sales, supermarkets, and hospitality

Very little is exported

Domaine Cauhape

Co-op Cave de Gan (50% of production)

Question 23

IGP Cotes de Gascogne

Answer 23

A large % is exported (UK)

Mainly Colombard, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay

Fruity and easy to drink