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Lindsay: French wine Scholar > Champagne > Flashcards

Champagne Flashcards

1
Q

What are the primary grapes of Champagne and their percentage?

A

Pinot Noir: 38%
Meunier: 32%
Chardonnay: 30%

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2
Q

What are the secondary grapes of Champagne?

A

Pinot Blanc
Pinot Gris
Arbane
Petit Meslier

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3
Q

What is the climate of Champagne?

A

Continental with maritime influences

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4
Q

What are the soil types of Champagne?

A

Chalk (belemnite and micraster)
Limestone rich Marls (Kimmeridgean Marl)
Composites of sand and clay

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5
Q

What is a Mosser

A

A whisk used to release trapped gas from wine

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6
Q

In what year did the King of France allow wines to be sold and transported in a bottle?

A

1728

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7
Q

What is the most popular style of Champagne?

A

Brut non-vintage

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8
Q

What city was historically the capital of Champagne?

A

Troyes

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9
Q

What is chalk?

A

A porous limestone - a sedimentary rock composed of calcium carbonate

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10
Q

Which was the first Champagne house and when was it founded?

A

Ruinart - 1729

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11
Q

In Champagne, the vineyards are ranked Grand Cru or 1er Cru. True or False?

A

FALSE
It’s the village that is ranked, not the vineyard.

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12
Q

What are the two types of chalk found in Champagne?

A

Belemnite (squid)
Micraster (sea urchin)

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13
Q

What is the main grape grown in Grande Montagne de Reims?

A

Pinot Noir

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14
Q

What is the main grape grown in Monts De Berru?

A

Chardonnay

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15
Q

What is the main grape grown in Massif de Saint-Thierry?

A

Meunier

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16
Q

What is the main grape grown in Val de Reims?

A

Meunier

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17
Q

What is the main grape grown in Vallee de la Marne?

A

Meunier

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18
Q

What is the main grape grown in Cotes de Blanc?

A

Chardonnay

(Petit Morin also has Meunier)

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19
Q

What is the main grape grown in Cotes de Bar

A

Pinot Noir

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20
Q

What is a “Mono-Parcelle”?

A

A single vineyard

21
Q

What is a “Mono-Cru”?

A

A single village

22
Q

What is a gyropalette?

A

Mechanized riddling machine

23
Q

List the 7 dosage levels from dry to sweet

A

Brut nature
Extra brut
Brut
Extra sec
Sec
Demi-sec
Doux

24
Q

What are the 4 sub-regions of Champagne?

A
  1. The Montagne and Val de Reims
  2. Vallée de la Marne
  3. Côtes de Blanc and Surroundings
  4. Côtes de Bar
25
Q

Name the 4 Terroirs of Montagne and Val de Reims and the grape they are known for

A
  1. Massif de Saint-Thierry (M)
  2. Val de Reims (M)
  3. Grande Montagne de Reims (PN)
  4. Montes de Berru (C)
26
Q

Name the 6 Terroirs of Vallée de la Marne and the grape they are known for

A
  1. Grande Vallée de la Marne (PN)
  2. Vallée de la Marne Rive Gauche (M)
  3. Rive Droite (M)
  4. Ouest (M)
  5. Condé (M)
  6. Côteaux Sud d’Epernay (M, C)
27
Q

Name the 5 Terroirs of Côtes des Blanc and Surroundings and the grape they are known for

A
  1. Côtes des Blancs (C)
  2. Côtes de Sézanne (C)
  3. Vitryat (C)
  4. Montgueux (C)
  5. Val du Petit Morin (C, M)
28
Q

Name the 2 Terroirs of Côtes de Bar and the grape they are known for

A
  1. Bar-sur-Aubois (PN)
  2. Barséquanais (PN)
29
Q

What does the abbreviation “RM” refer to on a Champagne label?

A

Recolant-Manipulant; a producer who vinifies only their own estate-grown grapes

30
Q

What were the two principal grapes of Champagne between the 9th to 16th centuries?

A

Gouais
Fromenteau

31
Q

What is Assemblage?

A

Assembly or blending of the still wines

32
Q

What is Liqueur de Tirage?

A

A sugar-yeast solution added to the base wine to initiate second fermentation

33
Q

What is Rémuage?

34
Q

Which type of soil is preferred, Belemnite or Micraster?

35
Q

What are clones used for in Champagne

A
  • obtaining high acidity
  • resistance to gray rot and botrytis
  • bigger berries (so more juice) in Pinot Noir
  • later bud break (Meunier)
  • higher yields
36
Q

What are the effects of climate change in Champagne?

A
  • riper grapes, less need for chaptalization, lower dosage
  • flowering and harvest shifted earlier (leads to increase risk of frost)
  • more organic farming
37
Q

Why is it rare to see organic Champagne?

A

Champagne is made from purchased grapes which form a blend of many different vineyards. This makes it nearly impossible for large houses to produce organic champagne at scale

38
Q

What is another word for Liqueur de Dosage?

A

Liqueur d’Expédition

39
Q

What does Pinot Noir add to the blend?

A

Moderate alcohol, notes of strawberry, cherry, red fruits

(Has the least amount of acidity)

40
Q

What does Meunier add to the blend?

A

Bright red fruit, earthiness, rye bread.
Moderate acidity
Softens the blend

(Least amount of alcohol)

41
Q

What does Chardonnay add to the blend?

A

Apple, citrus
High alcohol, high acidity

42
Q

What is a synonym of Pinot Gris

A

Fromenteau

43
Q

What is a Prestige Cuvée?

A

A house’s highest quality bottling.
Most are vintage wines

44
Q

What is Grand Cru champagne?

A

Vintage or non-vintage
Grapes must come from one of the 17 Grand Cru villages

45
Q

What is Premier Cru champagne?

A

Made from grapes from one of the 42 Premier Cru villages.
May also include grapes from the 17 grand cru villages

46
Q

What is a Négociant-Manipulant? (NM)

A

A champagne producer that incorporates grapes purchased from others in their wines.
Most big houses are NMs

47
Q

What is a Récoltant-Manipulant?

A

Term describing a champagne producer who only uses their own estate-grown grapes. Aka “Grower champagnes”

48
Q

What is Liqueur d’expédition?

A

The mix of sugar and still reserve wine added to champagne after dégorgement and before the cork is inserted

49
Q

What is the dominant grape variety of the Côtes des Bar?

A

Pinot Noir

Lindsay: French wine Scholar (14 decks)

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