France Flashcards
Characteristics of Bordeaux:
- Classic, moderate-climate region for wines made from Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot
- The main form of branding is the château
Define château:
Indicates the wine has been made from a defined piece of land.
Define Grand Vin:
Often used to indicate the main wine made by the château
Medoc Châteaux classifications:
- Grand Cru Classé
- Cru Bourgeois
Graves classification:
- Cru Classé - best wines
Saint-Emilion classification:
- Grand Cru Classé - best wines
Classifications of inexpensive dry Bordeaux wine? And grapes for red and white wines?
- Bordeaux AC- Bordeaux Supérieur AC (requires a higher level of alcohol than Bordeaux AC)
- Red wines are generally Merlot dominant blends
- Whites are blends of SB and Sémillon
Classic Bordeaux Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated Red Wines:
- Médoc AC- Haut-Médoc AC: the better part of the Medoc. Includes Pauillac AC and Margaux AC, where the best châteaux are located.
- Graves AC: includes the Pessac-Léognan AC, where the best châteaux are located.
Classic Bordeaux Merlot-dominated Red Wines:
- Saint-Emilion AC: includes Saint-Emilion Grand Cru AC, for the best wines.-
Pomerol AC
Classic sweet Bordeaux wines
Sauternes AC
About Burgundy:
- Classic, moderate-to-cool climate for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir
- Wines from the wider region are labeled Bourgogne AC- The best wines come from Côte d’Or
- Wines are generally named after the village
- Within a village, the better vineyard sites have Premier Cru status
- The very best vineyards have their own Acs are designated Grand Cru
Define Domaine:
Producer that makes wine from their own vineyard. They do not buy in grapes, juice or finished wines to del under their own name.
Classic Chardonnay-based white wines:
- Bourgogne AC
- Chablis AC
- Puligny-Montrachet AC, Meursault AC
- Montrachet Grand Cru AC
- Mâcon AC
- Pouilly-Fuissé AC
Classic Pinot Noir-based red wines:
- Bourgogne AC
- Gevrey-Chambertin AC, Nuits-Saint-Georges AC
- Beaune AC, Pommard AC
- Chambertin Grand Cru AC
About Beaujolais:
- Lies to the south of Burgundy
- Moderate climate
- Gamay grape
Characteristics of Beaujolais reds:
- light and medium-bodied
- unoaked
- medium-to-high acidity
- low tannin levels
- pronounced red fruit aromas (raspberry, cherry)- sometimes with a hint of spice (cinnamon, pepper)- best consumed while young and fruity
- a few from Morgan AC and Moulin-à-Vent AC can improve with bottle age
Beaujolais AC’s:
Beaujolais AC includes:-
- Beaujolais Nouveau AC: released in the Nov following the harvest– Beaujolais Villages AC:
- Superior quality wines that come from the granite hills to the north of the region
- 10 village known as Beaujolais Crus
- best wines form the region and some of the best in the world
- Label their wine with the name of the village, such as Fleurie AC, Brouilly AC, Morgon AC and Moulin-à-Vent AC
About Alsace:
- Vosges mountains to the west shelter the region from rain-bearing winds blowing across Northern France.
- Vines are planted on Eastern foothills and benefit from morning sun.
- Generally produces whites- Grapes are:
- Riesling– Pinot Gris
- Gewürztraminer
- Pinot Bland and Muscat
- Pinot Noir
About Alsace AC:
- Grape variety usually appears on the label along with the appellation
- Alsace Grand Cru AC: a wine from a superior vineyard site
What are the regions that make up The Loire Valley?
- The Central Vineyards
- Touraine
- The Nantais
About the Central Vineyards (Loire):
- Cool-climate region is the classic home of SB
- Main apellations: Sancerre AC, Pouilly-Fumé AC
About the Touraine and main AC?
- Cool-climate region
- Chenin Blanc grape variety used for white wines in a range of styles
- Most are medium-bodied with medium sweetness, high acidity, unoaked with citrus, green and tropical fruit notes (lemon, apple, pineapple) and some herbaceous aromas (green leaf)
- Dry and sweet wines are also made
- Vouvray AC: main appellation for Chenin Blanc (dry, med, sweet)
About The Nantais:
- Med-bodied, dry, unbaked white wines with light, almost neutral fruit and med or high acidity are made from Melon Blanc, a white grape variety
- Muscadet AC- Muscadet Sèvre et Maine AC
- large sub-region producing superior wines
- Sur lie used
What is sur lie:
Refined on the lees. The wine has been bottled from a vessel containing the dead yeast left over from fermentation providing a little more body and complexity to the wine.
About the Rhone Valley:
- Moderate-to-hot climate region
- Home of Syrah and Grenache
- Northern Rhône and Southern Rhône
Northern Rhone appellations:
- Crozes-Hermitage AC
- Hermitage AC
- Côte-Rôtie AC
Southern Rhone appellations:
- Châteauneuf-du-Pape AC
- Côtes du Rhône AC
- Côtes du Rhône Villages AC: superior sub region of Côtes du Rhône, wines with intensity, complexity and length.
About Languedoc-Roussillon, the grapes and AC’s?
- Majority of France’s IGP (Pays d’Oc IGP) wines are produced here.
- Also important AC’s.
- Most are reds, made from a blend of local grape varieties that usually includes Grenache and increasingly Syrah. Style and quality vary greatly.
- Those with a large Grenache component are full-bodied, with red fruit and spice flavors.
- Majority are inexpensive, straightforward wines.- Languedoc AC
- Minervois AC
About IGP wines and main southern IGP?
- Produce large quantities of inexpensive wines from international grape varieties.
- Variety of blend is usually stated on the label.
- When no variety mentioned, generally made from lesser-known, local grape varieties.
- The main southern IGP is Pays d’Oc IGP.
About Vin de France:
- Large volumes of inexpensive SB, CB and Chardonnay.- This designation allows producers to blend wines form throughout France.
