Champagne & Sparkling Flashcards
In 1985, what change was made to the Échelle de Crus?
A revision set the minimum percentage at 80
Belemnite chalk
Derived from fossilized remains of millions of extinct Cephalopods and has a high limestone content
Tete de cuvée of Devaux
Cuvée distinction
What percentage of vineyards do merchant houses own in Champagne?
Just over 10%
When is the additional acreage added to Champagne forecasted to affect sales?
2021
What does Pinot Noir lend to a Champagne blend?
Supports the wine’s structure, richness and body
Tete de cuvée of Drappier
(Monoparcel wine of Drappier)
Charles de Gaulle; Grande Sendree
What was Dom Pérignon’s lasting contribution to Champagne? Where was he the cellar master?
Blending
- Abbey of Hautvillers (1668-1715)
In 2006, what were the yields in Champagne?
They surpassed 82hl/ha
What did the winemaking treatise of 1718 highlight?
Division of quality between vin de cuvée and vin de taille, when pressing red grapes for white juice
Tete de cuvée of Delamotte
Nicolas Louis Delamotte
What does Pinot Meunier mean?
“Miller’s” Pinot - in reference to the dusty leaves
Name 4 Champagne producers that disgorge late.
Bollinger “RD” (Récemment Dégorge)
Jacquesson “DT” (Dégorgement Tardif)
Dom Pérignon “Oenotheque”
Bruno Paillard
Tete de cuvée of Henri Abele (2)
Soirees Parisiennes, La souriere de Reims
Tete de cuvée of Jacquart (2)
Cuvee Alpha, Brut de Nominee (discontinued)
What is the mean annual temperature of Champagne?
50ºF (10ºC)
Tete de cuvée of Canad Duchene
Charles VII brut
What was the first single vineyard Champagne?
1935 Philiponnt “Clos de Goisses”
Tete de cuvée of De Castellane
Cuvee Commador (No longer produced)
What does RC mean?
Recoltant Coopérateur
- A grower whose grapes are vinifed at a cooperative, but sell under his own label
What is the dominant grape of Côte de Sezanne?
Chardonnay
Monoparcel wines of Larmandier Bernier (2)
VV de Cramant, Terre de Vertus
Tete de cuvée of pannier
Egerie
What is the second layer soil that characterizes Champagne’s valley vineyards?
Micraster Chalk - name for the extinct sea urchin
Tete de cuvée of Rene Geoffrey
Premier cru a Cumieres
How is the majority of German Sekt produced?
Tank or Continuous Method
What moderates the amount of land a firm may farm, owned or rented, in Champagne? What is the max hectares?
Contrôle Structures
- 15 hectares
Name 6 appellations in France that may be mousseux or pétillant and are produced by the traditional method.
- Vouvray (Chenin Blanc, Orbois)
- Montlouis-sur-Loire (Chenin Blanc)
- Saumur (Chenin Blanc)
- Vin de Savoie
- Seyssel (Savoie) (10% Altesse, Molette, and Chasselas)
- Blanquette de Limoux (90% Mauzac, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc)
Tete de cuvée of Herriot
Cuvée des enchanteleurs
Tete de cuvée of Duval-Leroy
Femme de Champagne
Tete de cuvée of Devaux
Cuvée distinction
What is another name for the Continuous Method?
Russian Continuous Method
Monoparcel wine of Egly Ouriet
Les Crayeres
Tete de cuvée of Laurent Perrier (2)
Grand siecle, grand siecle Alexandra rose
What does CM mean?
Coopérative Manipulant
- A growers’ co-operative that produces wine under a single brand
What important houses were founded in the 18th century?
Ruinart
Taittinger
Moët et Chandon
Delamotte
Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin
Monoparcel wines of Krug (2)
Clos du Mesnil, Clos d’ambonnay
Tete de cuvée of Pierre Gimonnet
Gastronome
Special club
Originated in 1971 with a dozen grower-producers. They are now 24 RM which offer estate bottled, vintage dated wines that represent the pinnacle of each individual growers style. All special club bottles and labels share an identical designs.
What does RC mean?
Recoltant Coopérateur
- A grower whose grapes are vinifed at a cooperative, but sell under his own label
What are the responsibilities for the CIVC?
Mediating relationships between growers & producers
Oversee production methods and promotion
Regulates the size of the harvest
Authorizes the blocage (reserve) and deblocage (release) of wine/harvest
Safeguards the protected designation of Champagne
Until 1990, they regulated the pricing of the grapes
What percent of grapes must originate from a grower’s own vineyards for RM?
95%
When did the INAO decide to meet the burden of demand and broaden the appellation’s area? From what to what?
2009
- 319 to 357
What are the steps of Méthode Champenoise?
Pressing
Débourbage
Chaptalization
Prim. Fermentation
Clarification
Assemblage
Cold Stabilization
Racking
Bottling (liqueur de tirage)
Prise de Mousse (2nd Ferment)
Autolysis
Pointage
Remuage
Dégorgement
F
Corked w/muselet
What did the Champenoise use to color their wines to compete w/the deeper hues of red Burgundy?
Elderberry
In 1992, what did the CIVC set the limit for grape pressing to?
102L for 160kg (2,550L for 4,000kg)
Name 7 AOPs for traditional method Crémant in France.
Crémant de Bordeaux
Crémant de Bourgogne
Crémant de Loire
Crémant de Limoux
Crémant de Die
Crémant du Jura
Crémant d’Alsace
Tete de cuvée of Salon
Le mesnil
Tete de cuvée of Mercier
Cuvée Eugene
Tete de cuvée of union champagne
(Aka de saint gall) cuvée orpale BdB
Chardonnay adds:
Acid, elegance, toasty nutty/ vanilla flavors with age
Pinot noir adds:
Body, structure, texture, aroma, length
Types of presses allowed
Pneumatic, pressoir de champagne
Micraster chalk
Named for a extinct sea urchin
In 2012, what did Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Pinot Meunier plantings account for in Champagne?
Pinot Noir - 38%
Chardonnay - 30%
Pinot Meunier - 32%
Elevage
Nv wines must age a min of 15 months from date of tirage. Vintage wines require a minimum of 36 months
6 1er crus of Cote de Blancs (94%+)
Bergeres-les-vertus (95%), chouilly (r95%, w100%), cuis (w95%), grauves (w95%), vertus (95%), villeneunve- renneville- chevigny (95%)
Aoc established in…
1936
Pointage
In the past during lees aging, bottles would be shaken to keep sediment from sticking to the glass
Which Grand Cru is red only? White only?
Red - Tours-sur-Marne (Vallée de la Marne)
- White - Chouilly (Côte de Blancs)
When was the CIVC formally established?
1941
When did “mousseux” first appear in connotation w/the wines of Champagne?
1724
Although Champenoise may have enjoyed intentionally sparkling wines as early as 1700
What does MA mean?
Marque d’Acheteur
A “buyer’s own brand”, often a large supermarket chain or restaurant, that purchases Champagne and sells it under its own label
Describe the continuous method steps.
Base wine is pumped through a series of interconnected (continuous) tanks
While undergoing 2nd ferment
Lees accumulate in the first several tanks
Offering a high degree of autolyzed flavors than the standard (tank) method
How long does remuage take?
Traditional ~ 8 weeks
- Modern ~ 1 week
What are the Grand Crus of Vallée de la Marne?
Aÿ
- Tours-sur-Marne (Red grapes only)
What does Pinot Meunier lend to a Champagne blend?
Youthful fruitiness and approachability
What does the Charmat Method emphasize in a sparkling wine?
Fruit and varietal aromatics
What is the dominant soil of the Aube?
Clay
What are the requirements for Special Club members?
Viticulture must occur on the estate (only RM producers may join)
Vinification and bottling must occur on the estate
The “Special Club” is the top-of-the-range, prestige cuvée for all members
Must have identical labels and bottle shape
How many bottles did the Champenoise ship worldwide?
338.7 million
Why was the CIVC founded?
Built on the framework of the Commissions de Châlons
A broader consortium of growers, producers and shippers
To represent the Champagne industry and protect its interests in the face of Nazi occupation
What are the standard bottle sizes larger than a magnum for Champagne?
Jeroboam (3L)
Rehoboam (4.5L)
Methusaleh (6L)
Salmanazar (9L)
Balthazar (12L)
Nebuchadnezzar (15L)
Solomon (18L)
When was Champagne delimited? What region was left out? When was it added?
1908
Aube
1927
What is aspersion?
A viti technique. A system automatically sprays water on the vines when vineyard temperatures drop below freezing. The frost expands its energy in freezing the water, leaving the delicate shoots and buds safely cocooned in ice.
11 1er crus of Montagne de riems (94%+)
Billy-le-grand (95%), chigny-les-roses (94%), ludes (94%). Montbre (94%), Rilly-la-Montagne (94%), taissy (94%), tauxieres-mutry (99%), trepail (95%), trois-puits (94%), vaudemange (95%), villers-marmery (95%)
What size bottles is transvasage permitted for?
Smaller than the half bottle and larger than the Jeroboam
What is a reserve wine?
Wine kept in reserve from previous years. Used as dosage to make younger wines richer, fuller, and more complex
What does ND mean?
Négociant Distributeur
- A middle man company that distributes Champagne it did not make
Who makes Nec-Plus-Ultra?
Bruno Paillard (‘90) (NM)
Name 5 RM producers
Henri Billiot
Guy Larmandier
Jacques Selosse
Vilmart
Agrapart
Who makes Cuvee Julie?
Henri Billot (‘99) (RM)
Name 5 special club members
Paul Bara
Gaston Chiquet
Pierre Gimonnet
Henri Goutorbe
Marc Hebrart
Juillet-Lallement
Larmandier
J. Lassalle
A. Margaine
Mousse Fils
How many g/L RS are permitted for Doux?
Pre-2010 - 50+g/L
- Current - 50+g/L
Name a producer of Cap Classique.
Graham Beck
Who makes Venus Brut Nature?
Agrapart (100% Chard) (RM)
What subsoil is pushed to the surface on Champagne’s slopes?
Belemnite Chalk
What percentage of the year’s harvest for a single house may be sold as vintage Champagne?
max 80%
When was compost fertilizer outlawed in Champagne?
1998
What is Ca’ del Bosco’s prestige cuvee?
Annamaria Clementi
What are the aging requirements for Franciacorta NV?
18 months on lees and cannot be released until 25 months from harvest
Who makes Cuvee Paradis?
Alfred Gratien (NM) (NV)
What is the oldest Champagne house still in operation today?
Gosset
- Est. in 1584 as a still wine producer
What are the requirements for Franciacorta released as Vintage?
(Millesimato) 37 month minimum aging before release and 85% of the grapes must come from the stated year
What are the requirements for Franciacorta Reserva?
Must be vintage dated with 5 years on lees and not released until 67 months from harvest
When did Franciacorta receive DOCG status?
1995
How many atmospheres of pressure are in a Champagne bottle?
5-6
What is the primary grape of the Aube?
Pinot Noir
Who makes Cuvee Laetitia?
Henri Billiot (RM)
Who makes Coeur de Cuvee?
Vilmart (‘89) (RM)
What are the still wines from Franciacorta DOCG zone released as?
Either Curtefranca DOC or Sebino IGT
Who makes Cuvee Speciale les Chentillons?
Pierre Peters (100% Chard) (‘83) (RM)
What are the requirements for Franciacorta Rose?
Minimum 35% Pinot Nero and must be made by blending
What are the sweetness levels for Champagne?
Extra Brut
Brut
Extra Dry
Sec
Demi-Sec
Doux
What are the best villages of the Cote de Sezanne?
Bethon
Villenauxe-la-Grande
What is Pinot Blanc Vrai?
“True” Pinot Blanc, a white form of Pinot Noir
Who released the first Tête de Cuvée?
Moët et Chandon’s 1921 “Dom Pérignon” was released in 1936
What is done in Méthode Ancestrale prior to sale?
The wine is disgorged, filtered and rebottled in clean glass
What is “sur latte” and “sur point”?
“sur latte” - during the 2nd ferment, the bottles are typically horizontal (sur latte)
“sur point” - the bottles are vertical (sur point) at the end of remuage and rested
What is the average vine age in Champagne?
20 years - as lowered productivity is undesirable to most houses in Champagne
Who developed the Charmat Method in the late 20th century?
Eugene Charmat
What is vin clairs?
High-acid base wines with an approximate ABV of 11%
What is bouvreux?
A second crop
- When rain interrupts flowering, a bouvreux results, that rarely ripens and is left on the vine
How much does the ABV rise during the second fermentation?
~1.2-1.3%
Name 6 countries major Champagne houses have established outposts in.
USA
Australia
Argentina
Brazil
New Zealand
Ukraine
What is liqueur de tirage?
A mixture of still wine, yeasts, sugar and a fining agent that will serve to ignite the 2nd fermentation
What is the prominent grape of Vallée de la Marne?
Pinot Meunier (Frost prone region)
What is the first 2,550 L pressed from 4,000kg divided into?
vin de cuvée (2,050L)
- vin de taille (500L)
Name 2 other names for the Charmat Method.
Cuve Close
- Tank Method
What are the 4 vineyards concerns of Champagne?
Frost
Rain
Fungal Disease
Hail
What is a bidule?
A plastic capsule that will serve to capture the sediment during remuage
Is a cork used during the second fermentation bottling?
Usually a crown cap, a cork sometimes (i.e. for prestige cuvées)
What is a muselet?
A wire cage used to secure the cork on a Champagne bottle
How many liters is a Methusaleh?
6 L (8 bottles)
How many liters is a Methusaleh?
6 L (8 bottles)
What is “les bleus de ville”?
Remnants of the blue rags used to ship Parisian compost trash, formerly used for fertilizer
What is a muselet?
A wire cage used to secure the cork on a Champagne bottle
What are the two types of dégorgment?
Dégorgement à la glace - modern
Dégorgement à la volée - older method
Same, just no freezing, wine is lost
What is the liqueur d’expedition?
Dosage - mixture of wine and sugar syrup
What is a Solomon bottle size called in Bordeaux?
Melchior
What is a Tête de Cuvée?
A prestige cuvée, usually the pinnacle of quality for a producer
Describe Belemnite Chalk.
Porous
Derived from the fossilized remains of millions of cephalopods
Absorbing heat to protect the vines at night
Providing excellent drainage
What is the pressing limit for Crémant?
100L from 150kg = 2,666L from 4,000kg
What is a pupitre?
Two large wooden planks fastened together in an upright “A” shape
Each plank has 60 angled holes cut into it
What is Rosé de Riceys?
100% Pinot Noir Rosé
- Produced in Les Riceys (Aube)