France Flashcards
Alsace Gentil is an unofficial (no AOP) term and is a superior designation for blends that require?
A minimum 50% noble grapes and the remainder of lesser varieties - they must be vinified separately.
Some producers advocate field blends as the best approach for serious wines. In this case, the grapes are typically vinified together and produced under a vineyard name. Marcel Deiss is one
If no grape variety is listed on the label, an Alsatian wine may be a blend.
The term ‘Edelzwicker/Noble Blend’ allows for?
One or more of the Alsace approved grapes (Pinot Noir permitted if vinified as a white grape).
They may be vinified separately, or together and vintage labelling is optional. Traditionally a carafe wine for the table.
As of the 2008 vintage Alsace AOP mandates that Riesling must be dry in style.
Max RS?
Maximum Yield (Rendement de Base)?
This does not apply to SGN or VT Riesling, or Riesling labelled with a lieu-dit.
Residual Sugar Levels:
- 9 g/l if tartaric acid is less than 6 g / l
- 12 g/l if tartaric acid is greater than 6 g / l
Blanc: 80 hl/ha (72 hl/ha with a geographical designation, 68 hl/ha with a lieu-dit).
Alsace AOP & GC AOP Vendanges Tardives
Minimum Must Weight?
Maximum Yield (Rendement de Base)?
Vendanges Tardives (term legally specific to Alsace)
- Min. 244 grams per litre for Muscat and Riesling
- Min. 270 grams per litre for Pinot Gris and
Gewurztraminer
Yields/ ha: 55 hl/ha (same for Alsace AOP)
Alsace AOP & GC AOP Sélection de Grains Nobles
Minimum Must Weight?
Maximum Yield (Rendement de Base)?
Sélection de Grains Nobles requires
- 276 grams per litre for Muscat and Riesling
- 306 grams per litre for Pinot Gris and Gewurztraminer
Yields/ ha: 40 hl/ha (same for Alsace AOP)
Riesling remains the scarcest of the SGN wines as the variety succumbs to botrytis less easily than Pinot Gris or Gewurztraminer.
“Quintessence” is an unofficial bottling term used by which 2 Alsatian producers?
What does it indicate?
Domaine Weinbach & Leon Beyer
distinguishes a higher designation of SGN wines.
Alsace
4 ‘newest’ Grand Crus?
Kirchberg de Barr (40ha), Barr
Marl-limestone. (Kirchberg in Ribeauvillé also) – Gewürztraminer. Pinot Noir Grand Cru 2022.
Kaefferkopf (71ha), Ammerschwihr
Granite and Limestone - Permits a Gewurztraminer dominant blend (60-80%). Gewürztraminer accounts for 55% of acreage as the principal variety. 2007.
Hengst (75ha), Witzenheim
Marl, limestone, sandstone – Gewürztraminer & Pint Gris plantings outnumber Riesling. 2022 Grand Cru Pinot Noir.
Vorbourg (73ha), Rouffach
Limestone, sandstone. Pinot Noir elevated to Grand Cru 2024.
Alsace
First and Largest Grand Cru?
Soils and communes it is shared between?
Schlossberg - 1975 @ 80ha on Granite soils.
Shared over both communes the of Kaysersberg & Kientzheim.
Quarts de Chaume AOP - elevated to GC in 2011?
size & soil?
3 lieu-dits?
min. must weight?
min. RS?
Minimum Planting Density?
Maximum Yield (Rendement de Base)?
44.5 ha on sandstone and schist
Les Quarts, Les Roueres, Le Veau
298 g/l
85 g/l (34 g/l prior to 2011)
5,000 vines per hectare
20 hl/ha (25 hl/ha prior to 2011)
Bordeaux AOC & Bordeaux Superieur AOC represent 55% of the total planted area.
When were the new varieties approved?
name all 7?
2019
Alvarinho, Lilorila (Chardonnay x Baroque), Petit Manseng
Arinarnoa (Tannat x CS), Castets, Marselan (Grenache x CS), Touriga Nacional
All these varietals exhibit good natural resistance to diseases (grey rot & mildew) and proven capability to cope with warmer conditions.
10% of the final blend but only 5% of vineyard plantings.
Size of 1er Clos Saint-Jacques, Gevrey-Chambertin?
5 producers who own holdings?
6.7ha
Armand Rosseau (2.22)
Sylvie Esmonin (1.6)
Bruno Clair & Jadot (1 each)
Fourrier (0.89)
occasional negociant bottling.
As it did not touch the borders of Chambertin, it could not merit Grand Cru status. Was a monopole of Comte de Moucheron until 1954.
Domaine Huet
3 Crus?
Le Haut-Lieu (9 ha): Huet’s original vineyard, on Vouvray’s Première Côte.
Le Mont (8 ha): Purchased in 1957.
Clos du Bourg (6 ha): Farmed since 1953 and purchased in 1963.
all 3 are produced in sec (6-7 g/L), demi-sec (20-25), moelleux (40-60), and moelleux première trie (+).
Biodynamic since 1990. Sold to Hwang in 2003. Winemaker left in ‘11; ‘12 & ‘13 50% hail damage.
Clos Rougeard
5 wines?
Saumur Blanc Brézé: 2.5-acre plot of 100-plus-year-old Chenin Blanc vines in select vintages.
Coteaux de Saumur : Sweet Chenin Blanc (’89, ’96, ’97, ’98).
Saumur Champigny ‘Les Clos?’: grapes from 10 plots across 3 villages/communes – drinks earliest. Neutral oak.
Les Poyeux: 3ha plot on sandier soils. 40-70-year-old vines – more elegant. 1 year old oak.
Le Bourg: 1ha plot just behind the Domaine’s cellars, 75-95 year old vines. Thin clay with limestone – most age worthy. New Oak.
Which Chateau is credited with creating the shape of the signiture 750ml Bordeaux bottle?
Chateau du Tertre, Margaux 5eme sometime in the early 1700’s
Loire Valley, Central France (not central vineyards)
4 AOC
Saint-Pourçain AOP CH+Sacy / GN / GN + PN
Côte Roannaise AOP Rose: GN, Red: GN
Côtes d’Auvergne AOP CH / GN + PN / GN + PN
Côtes du Forez AOP Rose: GN, Red: GN
