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Brock - Certified Sommelier > Champagne > Flashcards

Champagne Flashcards

Master certified knowledge of the wines and the region.

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Introductory Sommelier Exam (CMS) flashcards
1
Q

What are the 5 main regions of Champagne?

A
  1. Montagne de Riems
  2. Vallee de la Marne
  3. Cote de Blancs
  4. Cote de Sezanne
  5. Aube
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2
Q

What are some characteristics of Pinot Meunier?

A

A clone of Pinot Noir, it contributes aromatics and fruity flavors to wines. Considered less age-worthy than Chard or Noir based Champagne, with the notable exception of Krug’s liberal use of Meunier in their prestige cuvees.

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3
Q

Describe Vallee de la Marne

Location, soil, grape varieties

A

It is just southwest of Montagne de Riems.

Soils tend toward marl, clay, and sand.

Grows mostly Pinot Meunier.

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4
Q

Describe the Cote de Blancs

Location, soil, grape varieties

A

Just southeast of Valee de la Marne.

Very Chalky soils here produce elegant, higher acidity wines.

Grows mostly Chardonnay.

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5
Q

Describe the Cote de Sezanne

Location, soil, grape varieties

A

Southwest of Cote de Blancs

Soils of chalk and marl produce aromatic wines with less acidity than Cote de Blancs.

Grows mostly Chardonnay.

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6
Q

Describe Aube (aka…?)

Location, soil, grape varieties

A

aka Cote des Bar

Southernmost region of Champagne, southeast of the Cote de Sezanne.

Mostly Marl soils.

Grows mostly Pinot Noir.

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7
Q

What are the 6 different styles of Champagne?

Their aging requirements?

A
  1. Non Vintage - a blend of varieties and vintages, aiming for yearly consistency. Most traditional method of Champagne, minimum 1.5 years aging.
  2. Vintage - minimum 3 years aging.
  3. Prestige Cuvee - the “tete de cuvee” or “grand cuvee” of a Champagne house, the best a house produces. Minimum 7 years aging.
  4. Blanc de Blancs - Champagne made completely from white grapes.
  5. Blanc de Noirs - Champagne made completely from red grapes.
  6. Rose - A blend of red and white grapes.
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8
Q

What is the average temperature in Champagne?

A

50 F (10 C)

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9
Q

What is a Special Club Champagne?

A

An exclusive club open only to Recoltant Manipulants (producers of grower Champagne). These Champagnes are estate produced, bottled, and aged, and are blind-tasted for approval both before and after secondary fermentation.

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10
Q

What is a Negociant Manipulant?

A

A producer who buys all or some of their grapes from other growers. Anything less than 94% estate fruit must be labeled NM

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11
Q

What is a Recoltant Manipulant?

A

A grower-producer who uses a minimum of 95% estate fruit. This is classically considered the grower Champagne producer type

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12
Q

Name some of the best recent vintages of Champagne.

A 
1989
1990***
1995
2002***
2004
2008***
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13
Q

Explain Blanc de Blancs Champagne

A

Champagne made only from white grapes, usually 100% chardonnay. They are generally light, bright, and dry.

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14
Q

Explain Blanc de Noir Champagne

A

Champagne made only from red grapes, usually a blend of Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. They are generally more fuller-bodied and fruity.

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15
Q

Who makes “Ace of Spades”? What is it called in France?

A

Cattier.

Armand de Brignac.

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16
Q

What is the name of the tete de cuvee made by Moet & Chandon?

In what style(s) is it made?

A

Dom Perignon

Brut and Rose

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17
Q

What is the name of the tete de cuvee made by Piper-Heidsieck?

In what style(s) is it made?

A

Rare

Brut

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18
Q

What is the name of the tete de cuvee made by Veuve Cliquot?

In what style(s) is it made?

A

Le Grande Dame

Brut and Rose

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19
Q

What is the name of the tete de cuvee made by Pol Roger?

In what style(s) is it made?

A

Cuvee Sir Winston Churchill

Brut

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20
Q

What is the name of the tete de cuvee made by Taittinger?

In what style(s) is it made?

A

Comtes de Champagne

Blanc de Blanc

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21
Q

What are the 3 tete de cuvees made by Bollinger?

In what style(s) are they made?

A
  1. Vielles Vignes Francaises (100% Pinot Noir)
  2. Grand Annee (Brut and Rose)
  3. R.D. (Mostly Pinot Noir, some Chard)
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22
Q

What is the name of the two tete de cuvees made by Krug?

In what style(s) are they made?

A

Clos du Mesnil (100% Chard)

Clos d’Ambonnay (100% Pinot Noir)

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23
Q

What is the name of the 3 tete de cuvees made by Billecart-Salmon?

In what style(s) are they made?

A
  1. Nicolas Francois Billecart (Brut)
  2. Cuvee Elisabeth Salmon (Rose)
  3. Le Clos Saint-Hilaire (Blanc de Noirs)
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24
Q

What is the name of the tete de cuvee made by Roederer?

A

Cristal

Brut and Rose

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25
Q

Describe the geographical layout of Champagne.

Location, geographical landmarks, and soil

A

Champagne is in Northern France, about 90 miles NE of Paris, along the 48th parallel. The wine here is defined by its difficult northerly climate and signature (up to 75%) limestone-laced soils formed by the recession of a prehistoric sea.

The countryside is littered with stark white outcroppings, pierced by deeply burrowed grapevine roots.

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26
Q

Explain the importance of each of the main Champagne varietals.

A
  1. Chardonnay - contributes purity, finesse, and minerality.
  2. Pinot Noir - provides richness, structure, and complexity.
  3. Pinot Muenier - provides freshness and fruitiness. Helpful in that it is less prone to frost and botrytis.
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27
Q

Describe the Montagne de Reims.

Location, soil, grape varieties

A

The northernmost region of Champagne.

Soil is a deep chalk layer

Planted mostly with Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. Many tete de cuvees come from this region.

28
Q

What 3 contributions did Dom Perignon contribute to Champagne’s advancement?

A
  1. He invented the Pressoir Coquard (Coquard Press)
  2. Extensive blending of grapes from multiple vineyards
  3. Making white wine from red and white grapes
29
Q

What is the name of the tete de cuvee made by Nicolás Feuillatte?

A

Palmes d’Or

Brut

30
Q

What are the 7 different sweetness level classifications in g/L?

A
  1. Brut Nature/NonDosé (0-3g/L)
  2. Extra Brut (0-6g/L)
  3. Brut (0-12g/L)
  4. Extra Dry (12-17g/L)
  5. Sec (17-32g/L)
  6. Demi-Sec (32-50g/L)
  7. Doux (50+g/L)
31
Q

What is the cage around a Champagne cork called?

A

A Muselet

32
Q

Name 3 Grand Crus from Montagne de Reims.

A

Ambonnay
Bouzy
Sillery

33
Q

What is the difference between the liqueur de tirage and the liqueur d’expedition?

A

tirage is yeast, wine, and sugar used to start secondary fermentation

expedition is the dosage (still wine and sugar)

34
Q

What is the name of the tete de cuvee made by Ruinart?

In what style(s) is it made?

A

Dom Ruinart

Blanc de Blancs

35
Q

What is the name of the tete de cuvee made by Mumm?

In what style(s) is it made?

A

Cuvee R Lalou

Brut

36
Q

What is the name of the tete de cuvee made by Perrier-Jouet?

In what style(s) is it made?

A

Belle Epoque / Fleur de Champagne

Brut and Blanc de Blancs

37
Q

What is the name of the tete de cuvee made by Charles Heidsieck?

In what style(s) is it made?

A

Blanc des Millenaires

100% Chardonnay

38
Q

What are the 7 steps of the Methode Champenois?

A
  1. The making of the still base wines (grapes are pressed quickly and gently to avoid oxidation and retention of color)
  2. Assemblage (the blending of separate still wines)
  3. Secondary Fermentation (the cuvee is bottled with the liquor de tirage, a mixture of still wine and yeast)
  4. Sur Lie Aging (
  5. Remuage (aka riddling, the bottles are put topside down in A-frame racks called pupitres and turned periodically so the dead yeasts collect in the neck of the bottle)
  6. Degorgement (the necks of the bottles are frozen and the dead yeast sediment is ejected.
  7. Dosage (the wines are rebottled for the final time with the liquor de expedition, a blend of still wine and sugar that determines the final sweetness of the wine)
39
Q

What is a gyropalette?

A

A large machine that performs remuage on up to 504 bottles at a time

40
Q

What is autolysis?

A

The destruction of dead yeast cells by their own enzymes - as wines are aged on these yeast cells, they impart a creamy texture and bready, doughy aromas.

41
Q

What is the name of the Tete de Cuvee made by Collet?

A

Esprit Couture

Brut

42
Q

What is vineyard orientation like in Vallee de la Marne?

A

North-facing, and therefore very cool.

43
Q

What is vineyard orientation like in the Cote de Blancs?

A

East-facing slopes.

44
Q

What is vineyard orientation like in the Montagne de Reims?

A

The region is one large south-facing slope.

45
Q

Who makes Palmes d’Or?

In what style(s) is it made?

A

Nicolás Feuillatte

Brut

46
Q

Who makes Le Clos Saint-Hilaire?

In what style(s) is it made?

A

Billecart-Salmon

Blanc de Noirs

47
Q

Who makes Clos du Moulin?

In what style(s) is it made?

A

Cattier

Brut

48
Q

Who makes Clos du Moulin?

In what style(s) is it made?

A

Cattier

Brut

49
Q

What is the name of the 2 Tete de Cuvees made by Cattier?

In what style(s) are they made?

A

Ace of Spades (Armand de Brignac)
(Brut, Blanc de Blancs, Blanc de Noirs)

Clos du Moulin
(Brut)

50
Q

Who makes Comtes de Champagne?

In what style(s) is it made?

A

Taittinger

Blanc de Blancs

51
Q

Who makes Esprit Couture?

In what style(s) is it made?

A

Collet

Brut

52
Q

Champagne is along the ___th parallel.

A

48th

53
Q

Name all Grand Crus from Valee de la Marne.

A

There are only two.

Ay-Champagne
Tours-sur-Marne (red grapes only)

54
Q

Name 3 Grand Crus from Cote de Blancs.

A

Le Mesnil-sur-Oger
Avize
Chouilly (white grapes only)

Cramant

55
Q

Name 3 Grand Crus from Cote de Sezanne.

A

There are none.

56
Q

Name 3 Grand Crus from the Aube.

A

There are none.

57
Q

How many Grand Crus are in Champagne?

A

17

58
Q

Name 3 blanc de blancs Champagnes.

A

Cattier - “Ace of Spades”
Krug - “Clos du Mesnil”
Taittinger - “Comtes de Champagne”
Charles Heidsieck - “Blanc des Millenaires”
Ruinart - “Dom Ruinart”
Perrier Jouet - “Belle Epoque”/”Fleur de Champagne”

59
Q

Name 3 blanc de noirs Champagnes.

A 
Cattier - "Ace of Spades"
Krug - "Clos d'Ambonnay"
Billecart-Salmon - "Le Clos Saint-Hilaire"
Bollinger - "Vielles Vignes Francaises"
Egly-Ouriet - "Les Crayeres"
60
Q

Name 3 rose Champagnes.

A

Vueve Cliquot - “La Grande Dame”
Moet & Chandon - “Dom Perignon”
Billecart-Salmon “Elizabeth Salmon”
Bollinger - “Grand Annee”

61
Q

What is the name of the Tete de Cuvee made by Egly-Ouriet?

In what style(s) is it made?

A

Les Crayeres

Blanc de Noirs

62
Q

What kind of wines are made in Coteaux Champenois AOC?

A

Still wines, from the 3 champagne grapes.

63
Q

Name a red wine from Coteaux Champenois AOC.

A

Egly-Ouriet - “Cuvee des Grands Cotes”

Bollinger “La Cote Aux Enfants”

64
Q

Name a white wine from Coteaux Champenois AOC.

A

Moet & Chandon - “Saran”

65
Q

What does “Millesime” mean?

A

Vintage

Brock - Certified Sommelier (19 decks)

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