France - Languedoc Flashcards
Languedoc is divided into 3 parts.
What are they? How do they differ?
Coastal Plains
- Highest yielding areas
.
Hillsides and Mountains
- “Slopes”
- Syrah on the schist soils of Faugeres.
- Grenache on Belesta and Carignan on Fitou
.
Atlantic Corridor
- Here we find more Bordeaux varietals in 3 main AOP:
- Cabardes AOP: Cabardes has more Cab Sauv.
- Limoux AOP: has more Merlot.
- Malpere AOP: is Rd, and Rs from Bdx varieties.
3 Definitions of Garrigue?
1) Nutrient poor sedimentary limestone
2) Scrub vegetation
3) Aromatic profile of the wines
AOP of
Languedoc
{there are 20!!}
.
Languedoc AOP
(has 15 Geographical Designations)
(must be a blend of 2 varieties)
Clairette du Languedoc AOP
Cabardes AOP
(pronouced “Cah Bar Dezs”)
Corbieres AOP
Corbieres-Boutenac AOP
(“Cru” of Corbieres)
Faugeres AOP
(Schisct soil)
Fitou AOP
(Two areas: Maritime and Montagnieu)
Limoux AOP
Cremant de Limoux AOP
Malepere AOP
Minervois AOP
Minervois-La-Liviniere AOP
(“Cru” of Minervois)
Picpoul de Pinet AOP
Saint Chinian AOP
(Berlou & Roquebrun are the other “Crus”)
Muscat de Frontignan AOP
(aka: Frontignan, -or- Vin de Frontignan)
Muscat de Lunel AOP
(lightest style Muscat)
Muscat de Mireval AOP
Muscat de Saint-Jean-de-Minervois AOP
Terrases du Larzac AOP
(upgraded from GD to AOP in 2014)
La Clape AOP
(upgraded from GD to AOP in 2015)
What are the most recent AOP in Languedoc?
La Clape
Terrases du Larzac
(2014)
Piquepoul de Pinet
(2013)
Malepere
(2007)
Corbieres-Boutenac
(2005)
Cabardes
(1999)
Minervois-La Liviniere
(1999)
(2015)
What were the first AOP in Languedoc?
Muscat de Frontignan
Limoux
- for sparkling wines -
(1938)
(1936)
Languedoc AOP
(Rd, W, Rs)
Red - White - Rose
White
Grenache Blanc, Marsanne, Roussanne,
Bourboulenc, Clairette, Tourbat, Vermentino
Piquepoul Blanc (50% Max)
(must be 2 none >80%)
~60 hl/ha~
~11.5% min ABV~
Red - Rose
40% min combined:
Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre,
Lladoner Pelut
30% Max accessory Varietals
~50 hl/ha~
~11.5% min ABV~
(can be Nouveau)
- Has 12 Crus - each with their own rules, “50 shades of Gres”
Geographical Designations of
Languedoc AOP
* Some sources say these are “Districts”
* Some sources say these are “Crus”
–(do not confuse with the “4 Cru of Languedoc _Region_”)
Sommeliers Majorly Pick 50 shades of Grey
(Sommieres, La Mejanelle, Pic-St-Loup, Quatorze, Gres de Montpellier)
====================
Sommieres - (Rd!)
.
La Mejanelle - (Rd!)
-within Gres de Montpellier
.
Quatourze - (Rd!)
- separated from the rest of Languedoc AOP
–this GD is down near Corbieres
.
Pic-St-Loup - (Rd, Rs)
-known for great acidity
- one of only 2 GD that is *_NOT_ Red Wine Only!*
Gres de Montpellier - (Rd!)
- contains 4 other GD:
(“Crystal Majorly Dreads George’s Orca”)
- Saint Christol; La Mejanelle;
Saint Drezery; Saint Georges d’Orques
.
Saint Christol - (Rd!)
- within Gres de Montpellier
.
Saint Drezery - (Rd!)
- within Gres de Montpellier
Saint Georges d’Orques - (Rd!)
- within Gres de Montpellier
.
Cabrieres - (Rd, Rs)
- one of only 2 GD that is *NOT Red Wine Only!
.
Pezenas - (Rd!)
.
Montpeyroux - (Rd!)
- within Terrasses du Larzac AOP
Saint Saturnin - (Rd!)
- within Terrasses du Larzac AOP
.
====================
.
GD’s upgraded to their own AOP since 2014:
* La Clape - (Rd, W)
- upgraded in 2015
.
* Terrasses du Larzac - (Rd!)
- upgraded in 2014
- huge diurnal temperature shift
- contains 2 Languedoc GD:
–(1) Montpeyroux
–(2) Saint Saturnin
Geographical Designations of
Languedoc AOP
that are NOT Red Only!
- *Cabrieires**
- (Rd, Rs)*
- *Pic-St-Loup**
- (Rd, Rs)*
Note:
- La Clape was on this list but was upgraded to its own AOP in 2015
What Geographical Designations of
Languedoc AOP are inside
Gres de Montpelier?
(Crystal Majorly Dreads George’s GREY Orca)
St Christol
La Mejanelle
St. Drezery
St. Georges d’Orques
Do IGPs of the Rhone and Languedoc overlap?
Yes
Where do you find Chardonnay in the Languedoc?
Only in Limoux
It is:
* required in Cremant de Limoux AOP - (50% min).
* allowed in Limoux AOP Blanc
* allowed in Limoua AOP Blanquette de Limoux - (10% Max)
What Geographical Designations of
Languedoc AOP are inside
Terrasses du Larzac?
Montpeyroux
St. Saturnin
What are the Two Parts of St. Chinian?
- *Saint Chinian Berlou**
- (in the West of Saint Chinian)*
- 30% min Carignan
- # 1 of the 4 crus of the Languedoc
- *Saint** Chinian Roquebrun
- (in the East of Saint Chinian)*
- Same cepage as regular Saint Chinian Rouge
- # 2 of the 4 Cru of the Languedoc
- Twice the size of Berlou
- One main producer, a Co-op
Note:
The other two Crus of Languedoc are:
-Corbieres-Boutenac
-Minervois-La Livière
4 Cru of the Languedoc?
Corbieres Boutenac
- *Minervois La Liviniere**
- (at higher altitude than the rest of Minervois)*
Saint Chinian Roquebrun
Saint Chinian Berlou
Note:
All of these “Cru” are Red Only!
Sparkling Wines of the Languedoc?
All are within the borders of Limoux!!
Cremant de Limoux AOP
-Traditional Method (as are all “Cremant de”)
-80-90% combined Chardonnay (50% min) + Chenin Blanc (10-40%)
-20% Max combined Mauzac + PN (15% Max)
*9 months min on lees
Limoux AOP - Blanquette de Limoux
-Traditional Method
-90% min Mauzac
-10% Max Chenin Blanc
*9 months min on lees
Limoux AOP - Blanquette de Limoux Methode Ancestrale
-Single fermentaion in bottle
-Sweet Style - “Asti like”
–Usually harvested later to get sugars higher
-100% Mauzac
*2 months min on lees
==========
NOTE:
Limoux AOP rouge is Merlot based