Ch. 9 – South West France Flashcards
Regions of Dordogne
Bergerac
- Cotes de Bergerac AOC
Monbazillac
Bergerac AOC
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
Cotes de Bergerac AOC
- Bordeaux varieties only
- lower max yields
- more common ageing in oak
- predominantly Merlot
Monbazillac AOC
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
Cahors climate and terroir (+training systems)
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
Malbec (France)
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)
Cahors winemaking
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)
Cahors wine law and regulations
Min 70% Malbec (rest Merlot or Tannat)
Destemming required by the appellation
Cooperative in Cahors
Cooperative des Vignerons d’Olt (20% of the region’s production)
Wine business in Cahors
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
3 levels of quality and price in Cahors
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
Madiran growing environment and viticulture
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
Tannat
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)
Madiran wine law and regulations
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
Madiran winemaking
Micro-oxigenation used to soften tannins
(pioneered here)
Trend towards softer wines
- picking ripest grapes, gentle pressing, micro-oxigenation
Madiran producers
and split with cooperatives
Alain Brumont
50% co-ops
- Plaimont
Almost all sold in France, mostly through supermarkets
Jurançon growing environment and viti
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)
Styles and varieties in Jurançon
dry wines and range of sweet white wines
- 70% medium sweet or sweet and 30% dry
Petit Manseng, Gros Manseng and other local grapes
Petit Manseng
early budding, mid to late ripening
Thick skins (resistant to botrytis bunch rot)
- suitable for late harvesting
Moderately aromatic
Retains acidity well
Gros Manseng
Higher yield and less concentration than Petit Manseng
Principally used for dry wines
Categories of Jurançon wines and their regulations
+ winemaking
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
Wine business in Jurançon
+ producers
Direct sales, supermarkets, and hospitality
Very little is exported
Domaine Cauhape
Co-op Cave de Gan (50% of production)
IGP Cotes de Gascogne
A large % is exported (UK)
Mainly Colombard, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay
Fruity and easy to drink
