France Flashcards

Question

Cotes de Bordeaux

Answer 1

Comunes: Blaye, Bourg, Castillon, Francs - Merlot leads - Everyday drinking

Answer 2

- Average temp is 52 F/11 C or less - 90 miles NE of Paris - About 16,000 small growers - About 360 wine firms ("houses") - 85,000 acres - Just one appellation (Champagne)

Answer 3

- Distinct aroma/texture - Cold temps and limestone soil - All champagnes are blends

Answer 4

System known as "Echelle des crus" #1 Grand Cru #2 Premier Cru #3 Cru Villages are ranked, not vineyards

Answer 5

Whites: - Chardonnay - Arbane - Petit Meslier - Pinot blanc - Fromenteau Reds: - Pinot Meunier - Pinot Noir

Answer 6

1. Montagne de Reims (pinot noir and meunier) 2. Cote des Blancs (chardonnay) 3. Vallee de la Marne (mostly pinot meunier) 4. Cote de Sezanne (mostly chardonnay) 5. The Aube (mostly pinot noir)

Answer 7

1. Brut Nature/Pas Dose/Dosage Zero - 0-3 g per liter 2. Extra Brut - 0-6 g per liter 3. Brut - less than 12 g per liter 4. Extra-dry - 12-17 g per liter 5. Sec - 17-32 g 6. Demi-Sec - 32-50 g 7. Doux - More than 50 g sugar

Answer 8

Yeast cell walls begin to disintegrate, spilling contents (amino acids, enzymes, polysaccarides) into the wine. This gives wine champagne its creaminess, complexity, secondary aromas like biscuits. Occurs when wine is sur lie

Answer 9

- Grapes come from almost only Grand Cru vineyards - Pinot Meunier is rarely included - Blend of only the best wines from the best vineyards to which the producer has access - No requirement of time sur lie, but usually 4-10 years

Answer 10

- Grapes come from good vineyards but often unranked - Pinot meunier almost always included - 12-100s of still wines of many vintages are used - 15 months minimum sur lie

Answer 11

- Grapes come from good/great vineyards (often Premier or Grand Cru) - Pinot Meunier sometimes included - Dozens of single-vintage still wines are used (year must be a good year) - 3 years min. sur lie

Answer 12

1. Blanc de blancs - entirely from chardonnay - can be vintage or NV - Often Cote des Blancs 2. Blanc de Noirs - Entirely from red grapes - Extremely rare 3. Rose Champagne - Creme de la creme, more $$ - Saignee method (contact w/ Pinot Noir skins) - D'assemblage method (adding a small amt of still Pinot Noir wine into base wines before bottling & second fermentation) - Can be made with more chardonnay than PN **Pinot-dominant is richer and fuller in body **Chardonnay-dominant are lighter and sometimes more elegant