D3 France: South West France Flashcards
Describe the general climate of Southwest France.
Broadly similar to Bordeaux
The whole region is influenced by the Atlantic
Describe the Atlantic influence based on geography in Southwest France.
In the areas south of Bordeaux the Atlantic influence extends in land for more than 100 km because of the largely flat, gently undulating territory (Madiran, Jurançon)
Everywhere else the Atlantic influence diminishes with greater distance from the ocean, resulting in slightly less rainfall and warmer summers. (Bergerac, Monbazillac, Cahors)
Rainfall in Cahors? Comparison to Bordeaux? Why?
200 mm less than bored though, which has 950 mm
This is because the Atlantic influence is less here as it is further away from the ocean
Where is the Dordogne area located?
Immediately east of Entre-Deux-Mers
Name the two largest appellations within the Dordogne area
Bergerac AOC
Monbazillac AOC
What styles of wines are produced in Bergerac AOC?
Dry and sweet whites, rose and red wines
50% red
Just over 10% rose
Just under 40% white
What is the climate in soils in Bergerac AOC?
Climate is slightly warmer and drier than Bordeaux
Clay and lime stone soil‘s with some gravel
Main grape varieties in Bergerac AOC? Maximum Yields? Style of final ones?
Red wines
Must be made from at least two of the following grape varieties:
Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Franc
Malbec
Merlot
The blend must be at least 50% of the final wine
Some less internationally recognized local varieties are allowed as a small part of the blends
Maximum Yields similar to Bordeaux AOC 67 hL/ha for whites and 60 hL/ha for reds
This results in some wines of low flavor intensity
Wines typically aged in large stainless steel or older oak to produce wines in an easy drinking style that can be released earlier on the market and that reduces cost
Main grape varieties and maximum Yields and aging and style for the wines of Côtes de Bergerac AOC?
Restricted to the main Bordeaux varieties, no local varieties permitted
Maximum Yields is lower than Bergerac AOC at 50 hL/Ha
Aging an oak is used by some producers
Most wines are predominantly Merlot
Percentage of Bergerac AOC sold in France versus export?
Nearly 90% sold in France
Supermarkets are the largest outlet at more than 50%
Followed by direct sales
And 10% each going to hospitality and specialist one shops
Main export markets for Bergerac AOC?
China at 40%
Belgium
UK
Styles of wines made in Monbazillac AOC?
Sweet wines only
Grapes may be affected by botrytis or simply late harvested
Where does the region of Monbazillac lie? Why is this important?
In the Dordogne
Between the river Dordogne and one of its tributaries
This location plus the funneling of moist air along the rivers create high levels of humidity, burnt of by the sun in the afternoons
Perfect conditions for noble rot
What are the grape varieties in Monbazillac AOC? Maximum Yields?
Sauvignon Blanc Sauvignon Gris Sémillon Muscadelle These must make at least 80% of the blend
Maximums 30 hL/Ha
One of the reasons why Monbazillac is much cheaper than Sauternes?
New oak is much less common which reduces the cost
Use our slightly higher at 30 hL/her versus 25
Can be late harvest not necessarily noble rot
Why did the Cahors region thrive from the middle ages to the 19th century?
Transport via the river Lot that runs into the river Garonne into Bordeaux
Wine was then exported from Bordeaux
What lead to the area under vine in Cahors being reduced to only a 10th of the size that it had been?
Competition with the wines of Bordeaux for export
Phylloxera
Devastating frost of 1956
What is the greatest point of difference for Cahors?
It’s the only appellation in France with Malbec as its main grape variety
Malbec makes up 85% of hectares planted
Why does Cahors receive some influence from the ocean despite being 250 km in land?
Because of the mostly flat and gently undulating landscape between Cahors and the Atlantic
Which other black grape variety is also permitted in small quantities (less than 10%) in Cahors?
Tannat
What does the warmer and dryer environment in Cahors in comparison to Bordeaux mean for grape growing?
Malbec suffers less from coulure and mildew and it ripens more regularly
Lower rainfall means less need for spraying against fungal diseases
Higher proportion of organic grape growing at 17% which is well above the average for France as a whole
Describe the three types of soil/slopes where Malbec is grown in Cahors and the resulting style of wine.
Vineyards next to the river lot on rich alluvial soil’s result in higher yields and lower fruit concentration
On the mid slope, poor soil’s and hence lower yield and higher concentration
Highest plateau at just below 350 m, low nutrient lime stone soil’s, resulting typically in lower yields and higher concentration
Vine training in Cahors?
Single Guyot system is the most common but others are also used like bush vine and cordon trained
Machine or hand harvesting in Cahors?
Machine harvesting widely practiced for the Vineyards that are easier to access
And harvesting does take place depending on the market prices of the ones as well as machine accessibility and weather conditions and availability of labor
Return on investment is often the decisive factor
Why does Malbec need to care for canopy management?
It is a vigorous variety
What is Malbec susceptible to?
Coulure
Grape varieties rules in Cahors AOC?
Minimum 70% Malbec
Rest of the blend can be Merlot and or tenant
Top quality ones are increasingly 90 to 100% Malbec
Whole bunch or stems in Cahors?
AOC rules say grapes must be de-stemmed. This is to eliminate underripe stems that could add aggressive tannins.
Reasons for under mature grapes in Cahors now versus in the past?
In the past, a lack of maturity was most likely due to cool Seasons.
Today it is as likely to be due to a lack of water preventing full ripeness.
Describe the two different styles of wines in Cahors and the differences in winemaking.
For early drinking
Using Marleau in the blend
Typically 7 to 10 days on the skins for limited extraction of tannins
Ones intended to bottle age
Typically 15 to 25 days on the skins for greater extraction of flavour and colour
Often matured in Oak
What percentage of Cahors wine is produced by private companies versus cooperative?
80% produced by private companies
20% by a single cooperative
How has Cahors been marketing itself since 2000?
Cahors, the French Malbec
Cahors, the capital of Malbec
What are the three levels of quality and price in Cahors
Tradition
Inexpensive
70 to 85% Melbeck
Often grown on the rich alluvial soil’s in at higher yield
Prestige
Mid priced
Often growing on the mid slope
Spéciale
Often 100% Malbec
Premium priced
Often growing on the highest plateau
Percentage of volume sold in France versus exported for Cahors? Two most important channels for domestic? Most important export markets?
70% sold in France Supermarkets and direct sales to most important channels 30% export United Kingdom Canada USA
Main grape variety in Madiran?
Tannat
What is the name of the sweet white wine made within the same geographical area as Madiran?
Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh AOC
What enables tannat to ripen fully in Madiran?
Warm, sunny summers and dry autumns with warm days and cool nights and a hot, dry southern wind
What is the name of the wind in Madiran and Jurançon?
Föhn
describe the topography of Madiran.
Comprises for large, roughly parallel ridges oriented north south, with steep west facing slopes.
What are the soil’s in Madiran?
The soils on slopes are mainly clay with limestone with good drainage.
Produces ones with high tannins suitable for a long bottle aging.
On the flatter land, clay and Clay loam soil’s predominate and the resulting wines are less tannic and can be drunk earlier
Name the four top grape varieties in Madiran.
Tannat
Cabernet Franc
Cabernet Sauvignon
Fer savadou
Why is Tannat Best supported on a trellis?
Because it is a vigorous variety
What is Tannat prone to?
Botrytis bunch rot
Tannat is a mid-ripening grape variety. Why is this an advantage?
It can usually be picked before the onset of autumn rains
What are the Madiran AOC rules around grape varieties?
Must be made with 60 to 80% tannat blended with Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and/or the local black variety Fer
What are the Madiran AOC rules around wine making and yields?
Grapes must be D stemmed to reduce the extraction of further tannins
Max yield is 55 hL/Ha
How are winemakers in Madiran reducing the tannins in their wines?
Shorter maceration times
Aging in Oak
Bottle aging
Micro oxygenation
Who invented micro oxygenation? When? Why?
Patrick Ducournau
1991
Seeking to soften the tannins in tannat wines
How are more accessible and early drinking styles of Madiran achieved?
By picking only the ripest grapes
Gentle pressing
Use of micro oxygenation
By law, When can Madiran wines begin to be sold?
From the beginning of November in the year following harvest, allowing time for maturation before release.
Percentage of sales of Madiran AOC in France versus export? Where are most of the domestic sales done? Important export markets?
80% sold in France
50% of this is through supermarkets
25% through hospitality
25% directly or through specialist one shops
UK
Belgium
Germany
Where is the Jurançon AOC located?
In the foothills of the Pyrenees, at an attitude of around 300 m
What styles of wines are produced in Jurançon? What are their names? Maximum Yields and residual sugar?
70% medium sweet or sweet
30% dry
Jurançon Vendanges Tardives (sweet)
Minimum 55 g/L of residual sugar but typically much higher
No enrichment allowed
Maximum 40 hL/ha
Petit and Gros Manseng exclusively
Grapes cannot be picked before second of November
Jurançon (medium-sweet)
Minimum of 40 g/l residual sugar
Maximum 40 hL/Ha
Jurançon Sec (dry)
Maximum 60 hL/Ha
What grape varieties are permitted in Jurançon?
Petit Manseng
Gros Manseng
Other local varieties
What is the climate in Jurançon?
Mild, humid climate with relatively high annual rainfall at about 1200 mm which is distributed throughout the year
How does the topography in Jurançon vineyards mitigate the issues that can arise from high rainfall?
Vineyards are planted on slopes for good drainage
What can increase the initial investment and maintenance costs in the vineyards of Jurançon?
Some vineyards are on steep enough slopes that they require terracing which increases the initial investment and maintenance cost
What issues can arise from the high rainfall in Jurançon?
Can affect flowering and fruit set and the period of harvest
What is an important influence on the climate of Jurançon?
The Pyrenees
This gives rise to a Föhn wind
Describe the impacts on grape growing of the Föhn wind in Jurançon.
It is a hot and dry wind which blows in spring and autumn
It blows about one day in three
It dries the air and ventilate the canopy and the bunches in autumn
It boosts the temperature
The heat and the wind help produce over ripe berries for the sweet wines
What is the main climatic hazard in Jurançon ? How is this mitigated?
Because of the altitude, spring frosts
The budding zone is trained well above the ground to mitigate this risk
How and when are the grapes picked in Jurançon?
By hand
For the sweet wines, in a series of selective pickings, raising cost
The first selection is in October mainly for dry wines but also some sweet wines for early consumption
Second and third selections are in November to December and are used for progressively sweeter wines wines, after grapes have dried on the vines
What is passerillage?
Leaving the grapes to dry on the vines
This is done in Jurançon for some of the sweet wines
What enables passerillage in Jurançon?
prolonged time hanging on the vine
the autumn sunshine
the wind
What makes Petit Manseng suitable for lard harvest sweet wines?
- It has think skins and is resistant to botrytis bunch rot
- It is moderately aromatic
- It retains its high acidity (balance with sweetness)
Why do growers have to be precise with picking dates of Petit Manseng?
It can reach hi alcohols so they must be careful to ensure balance between full flavor ripeness, acidity and potential alcohol
What is the main difference between petit manseng and Gros Manseng?
They share the same characteristics but Gros Manseng has higher Yields and usually less aromatic concentration and flavor intensity
It is mostly used for dry wines
Typical wine making for the higher quality sweet wines of Jurançon?
Made with petit M
Typically fermented in barriques and aged in them for 12 to 18 months
Top quality wines typically use old oak though some new oak is occasionally used
Malolactic conversion typically does not happen
Why does malolactic conversion typically not happen in the sweet wines of Jurançon?
Because the PH is too low and the acidity too high
Producers in Jurançon are increasingly making high-quality dry wines. What will producers usually do to make them of better quality?
They will include a small proportion of Pizzi M
Typically age on the lees, often in stainless steel
Where are most of the sales for Jurançon?
Mostly on the domestic market with only a small percentage being exported
Sales divided almost equally between direct sales, supermarkets and the hospitality sector
I who accounts for roughly half of the production of Jurançon?
The co-operative Cave de Gan
Why are producers in Jurançon giving more attention to dry wines?
There is competition with other French regions for the sale of sweet wines
Sweet wines are generally more difficult to sell
What is the largest of the 14 IGP in Southwest France?
IGP Côtes de Gascogne
What style of wine is made in IGP Côtes de Gascogne?
White wine made from mainly colombard, SB, Chardonnay
The style of wine is fruity and easy to drink, labeled with the name or names of the variety or a varieties
Has IGP Côtes de Gascogne been successful in recent decades?
Yes
With exports to the UK and Northern Europe
lead to a threefold rise in production between 1990 and 20
80% is exported
Continue to have commercial success in export markets around the world but now have more competition from the ones from non-European countries
Tariquet
