Dordogne, SW France and Alsace Flashcards
Alsace - Gewurztraminer
Pungent aromatic spicy nose
Lychee, rose, sweet baking spice. Full body, rich/oily texture, low-to-med acid, high alcohol.
Alsatian Gewurz > 14% not uncommon
Skin has light pink tinge, adding golden color to the wine
Alsace - Muscat
Muscat Blanc a Petits Grains (M. Canelli)
Intense aromatics of orange blossom, rose, and grape. Medium body, low-to-med acid. Risk of poor fruit set and rot.
Muscat Ottonel
Less aromatic, but more hardy so widely planted
Alsace - Riesling
Best are med-to-full body, dry, med alcohol, high acid, citrus, stone fruit, stony/steely.
Alsace Rieslings show little floral, which differs from Germany
Alsace Winemaking
Single varietal winemaking (some rare Grand Cru blends)
Blends labelled as Edelzwicker or Gentil, or a brand name…
Aromatic varietals - neutral oak (tartrates) or SS vats
Temperature control, MLF discouraged (a few do it), bottle in spring
Other than VT and SGN, traditionally dry. Some recent sweet wines bucking the system - causes confussion
Dordogne
Similar to Bordeaux, but less moderating maritime influence
Bergerac - Reds and Whites in the same style as BDX
Monbazillac - Good value sweet wines from Semillion and Sauv Blanc
SW France - Cotes de Gascogne
IGP wine in large region south of BDX
Ugni Blanc - white - dry, light-body, green apple
Alsace - Pinot Blanc
Widely planted in Alsace, mostly for sparkling
Grows easily in fertile soils (plains)
Light, simple, refreshing, non-aromatic
Alsace Special Classifications
Only from the 4 noble varietals, require minimum sugar levels (based on variety)
Vendanges Tardives (VT) - Late Harvest - best wines will undergo passerillage, and may be some noble rot
Selection de grains nobles (SGN) - usually Botrytis - not produced every year and only small volumes
Alsace Climate
Cool-to-moderate Continental Climate
Rain shadow of Vosges mtns - wind and rain protection
Sunny summers, dry autumns - drought in dry years
Best vyds on east-facing slopes, bush trained low
Low quality on the plains, high trained > Cremant d’Alsace
Soils highly varied and vineyards complex patches of blocks
Alsace - Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir is the only black grape permitted
Lack weight and concentration, often light and fruity at best
Some now being made more concentrated with new oak
Alsace - 4 noble varietals
Riesling
Muscat
Gewurztraminer
Pinot Gris
Only these can be used for Grand Cru, VT or SGN
SW France - Jurancon
Foothills of the Pyrenees
Dry and sweet white wines from high acid Petite Manseng
Dry and hot region, no botrytis instead passerillage
Wines with apricot and grapefruit, some spice from oak
Alsace Primary Appellations
Alsace - vast majority of production, mostly single varietal and labelled as such. Must be 100% if named. Some blends w/ out varietal names. Some villiages can add their name for certain wines.
Alsace Grand Cru - over 50 vineyards w/ their own Grand Cru app. Must be from single variety (4 noble varietals) - but there are a few exceptions. Label must state vineyard, vintage, and variety. There is controversy w/in the system.
SW France - Cahors
Historic source of ‘Black Wines’, along both sides of R. Lot
Fertile valley bottom and poor soils on slopes and plateau above
Malbec primary with Merlot and Tannat
Deep color, high tannin, dark berry fruit, slow maturing with cedar and earth
Alsace - Pinot Gris
Best are rich, full-bodied, high alcohol, dried fruits, honeyed
Grey skins can impart color
SW France - Madiran
Toward Pyrenees S of Cotes de Gascogne
Tannat - deep color, highly tannic
Recently, riper grapes and modern winemaking help promote black fruits and high levels of soft, ripe tannins
