D3 - Loire: Anjou-Saumur + Touraine

Question 1

The key white and red grapes in Anjou-Saumur are __ and __.

Answer 1

Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc

Question 2

The key white grape in Touraine is ___.

Answer 2

Sauvignon Blanc

There is also Chenin Blanc in Touraine, but Sauvignon Blanc is the key white grape.

Question 3

In Anjou-Saumur, the maritime influence from the Atlantic is more marked but Touraine has a ___ climate.

Answer 3

Continental

Question 4

Both Anjou-Saumur and Touraine receive ~__mm rainfall per year.

When does it fall?

Answer 4

700mm, falls throughout the year.

Question 5

Because rain falls throughout the year in Anjou-Saumur and Touraine, what can it affect?

Answer 5

Flowering, fruit set, harvest – and it increases disease pressure.

Question 6

In Anjou, which river and its multiple tributaries help create the misty conditions that help with botrytis?

Answer 6

River Layon

Question 7

In Anjou-Saumur and Touraine there is a wide range of soils, including clay-limestone, flint-clay, sand, gravel and tuff.

There is more __ and __ in Anjou and more __ in Touraine.

Answer 7

• Schist and limestone in Anjou;
• Chalk in Touraine.

Question 8

Chenin Blanc is vigorous and has thin skins.

It buds __, ripens __, and it also ripens __ so it takes several passes in the vineyard to harvest optimal fruit.

Answer 8

Buds early, ripens late, ripens unevenly

Question 9

Cabernet Franc buds ___, making it prone to spring frosts, but it’s a __ ripener so it can avoid autumn rains.

Answer 9

Buds early, is a mid-ripener

Cab Franc is also winter hardy.

Question 10

Four other red grapes found in Anjou-Saumur and Touraine are:

Answer 10

1. Malbec (Côt);
2. Cabernet Sauvignon;
3. Grolleau Noir;
4. Gamay Noir.

Question 11

The aim for Chenin Blanc in the Loire Valley is to retain primary fruit aromas and flavors, so it’s:

1. Fermented at these temps
2. In these containers
3. Malo is ___
4. Aged in ___ containers.

Answer 11

1. Low to mid-range;
2. Large old oak or stainless steel;
3. Malo avoided;
4. Aged in neutral containers.

Question 12

What is the difference between Anjou AOC and Anjou Villages AOC?

Answer 12

1. Anjou AOC = red and white wines with maximum yield of 60 hL/hs; whites must be min 80% Chenin Blanc and reds must be min 70% CF +/or CS;
2. Anjou Villages AOC = red wines only from CF +/or CS, max 55 hl/ha.

Question 13

Coteaux du Layon AOC specializes in sweet wines made from Chenin Blanc.

How can the wines achieve their sweetness?

Answer 13

1. Botrytis;
2. If botrytis fails to develop, grapes are allowed to shrivel on the vine.

Question 14

Coteaux du Layon AOC + named village can only be made from ___-affected grapes.

Answer 14

Botrytis-affected

Question 15

What are the 3 nested geographical areas of Coteaux de Layon that produce sweet white wines?

Which one is a 1er Cru and which one is a Grand Cru?

Answer 15

1. Bonnezeaux AOC;
2. Coteaux du Layon AOC Chaume - 1er Cru
3. Quarts de Chaume AOC - Grand Cru.

Question 16

What are the max yields and minimum percentage potential ABVs for Coteaux du Layon AOC?

Answer 16

35 hl/ha, 14%

Question 17

Savennières AOC

1. What are its soils and slopes?
2. What is the maximum yield?

Answer 17

1. South-facing slopes, low-fertility, rocky schist soils;
2. 50 hl/ha.

Question 18

1. What are the two smaller AOCs within Savennières AOC?
2. Are they cooler or warmer than Savennières generally, and what is their maximum yield?

Answer 18

1. Savennières La Roche aux Moines AOC and Coulée de Serrant AOC.
2. Warmer, 30 hl/ha

Question 19

What are the 3 rosé AOCs of Anjou-Saumur?

Which one is going to be the driest (with the least RS)?

Answer 19

1. Rosé de Loire AOC;
2. Rosé d’Anjou AOC;
3. Cabernet d’Anjou AOC.

Question 20

• Rosé de Loire AOC can be made from which grapes?
• What is its max yield?

Answer 20

• Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Gamay and Grolleau Noir;
• 60 hL/ha.

Question 21

Rosé d’Anjou AOC is mainly made from ___ and its maximum yield is __ hl/ha. They are medium-dry.

Answer 21

• Grolleau;
• 65 hl/ha.

Question 22

Cabernet d’Anjou AOC must be made from ___ and ___ and its maximum yield is __ hL/ha

The wines are medium-dry.

Answer 22

• Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon;
• 60 hl/ha.

Question 23

What are the differences between Saumur AOC and Coteaux du Saumur AOC, and what is the maximum yield for each AOC?

Answer 23

1. Saumur AOC = dry white, red, rosé, sparkling; max yields are 60 hl/ha (low intensity wines);
2. Coteaux du Saumur AOC = sweet wines made with over-ripe Chenin Blanc grapes, with or without botrytis; max yields are 35 hl/ha.

Question 24

Saumur-Champigny AOC makes only __ wines made principally from this grape.

What is the maximum yield here?

Answer 24

• Red wines;
• Cabernet Franc (85%);
• 57 hl/ha, kind of high, leading to some wines with low flavor intensity.

Question 25

The big Touraine AOC makes white, rosé, red, and sparkling wines from these 4 grapes.

Answer 25

• Sauvignon Blanc;
• Cab Franc;
• Côt;
• Gamay.

Question 26

There are 6 subzones in Touraine AOC and one of them can be made from Chenin Blanc.

What is this AOC and its max yield?

Answer 26

• Touraine AOC Amboise;
• 55 hl/ha.

Question 27

• What are the 2 most important Chenin Blanc AOCs in Touraine?
• They both have the same maximum yield, __ hl/ha.

Answer 27

• Vouvray AOC and Montlouis-sur-Loire AOC;
• 52 hl/ha.

Question 28

Why are the best vineyards in Vouvray on the slopes that overlook the Loire River?

What happens in vineyards further away from the Loire River?

Answer 28

• Proximity to the river promotes ripening due to good sunlight interception with the river acting as a moderating influence on temperatures;
• Away from the river clay increases, making the soils colder, inhibiting ripening.

Question 29

In Touraine, what are the three most important red wine AOCs?

Answer 29

1. Bourgueil AOC;
2. Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil AOC (lighter in style than Bourgueil);
3. Chinon AOC.

Question 30

Bourgueil, Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil and Chinon all have the same three soils: sand, gravel and clay-limestone.

Which soil produces the lightest/early-to-drink style and which soil produces the most structured and long lived?

Answer 30

• Sand = lightest/early-to-drink
• Clay-limestone = most structured and long lived

Question 31

The maximum yield in Bourgueil AOC and Chinon AOC is __ hl/ha.

Answer 31

55 hl/ha

Question 32

• The light, fruity, early-to-drink Chinons see __ days of skin maceration.
• The more structured and powerful Chinons see __ weeks of skin maceration.

Answer 32

• Light, fruity: 6-8 days
• Structured, powerful: 2-3 weeks

Question 33

What is the maximum yield and minimum percentage potential ABV for Coteaux du Layon AOC + named village?

Answer 33

30 hl/ha, 15%

Question 33

What is the maximum yield and minimum percentage potential ABV for Bonnezeaux AOC?

Answer 33

25 hl/ha, 15%

Question 33

What is the maximum yield and minimum percentage potential ABV for Coteaux du Layon AOC Premier Cru Chaume?

Answer 33

25 hl/ha, 16.5%

Question 34

What is the maximum yield and minimum percentage potential ABV for Quarts de Chaume Grand Cru AOC?

Answer 34

20 hl/ha, 18%

Question 35

Where are the vineyards of Coteaux du Layon located within the appellation?

Answer 35

Located on the slopes on both sides of the Layon River