France - Languedoc Roussillon Flashcards
What is the climate of L-R?
Warm Mediterranean
What is the latitude of L-R?
Approximately 43.5 degrees North
What is the biggest issue growers face in this region?
Drought can be an issue here
What is the IGP name for this region? Is it prominent? Why or why not?
Pays d’Oc. It is prominent.
Low rainfall and high winds greatly reduce disease pressure. So you get pretty high yields and can make a lot of bulk wine.
What are the key cities for L-R from North to South?
Nîmes, Montpelier, Bézier, Narbonne, Carcasonne.
What are the important geographical features to note?
The Montagne Noir, at the southern end of the Massif Central.
Then after a gap, the foothills of the Pyranées forming the natural border between France & Spain.
The Mediterranean Sea
Where are the more complex, higher quality wines made? Why?
The foothills of the mountains in regions like Minervois (especially cru Minervois La le vignere), Saint-Chinian, Faugères. Lower yields, well draining but nutrient-poor soils, south-east aspect.
Where are the simpler wines found in LR? Why?
the rolling hills surrounding the cities, like Corbières, Piquepoul, etc.
What are the 2 important wind patterns affecting this region? What are the pros/cons?
The Mistral wind coming from the northern Rhone
The Tramontagne from the gap between montagne noir & pyranees, coming through carcasonne before fanning out to minervois & corbieres.
Winds dry grapes for style and eliminate disease pressure.
They can also disrupt flowering by shedding the blossom or even damage the vine.
What do growers do to mitigate the cons of the intense winds of the region?
Integrate natural windbreaks like hedgerows & forests & woodlands
Train their vines lower to the ground and stake them for additional support
What grapes are planted in LR?
Lots of reds due to the warm climate.
GSM, especially grenache
Carignan, & Cinsault
Why is grenache uniquely suited for LR? How does it express here?
It’s late ripening and drought resistant!
It gets very concentrated and replete with red fruit (raspberry, cherry, strawberry) & spice (white pepper, clove, cinnamon).
Where can Syrah grow in LR?
It’s more sensitive to very hot and dry conditions, so it’s planted more in the foothills.
Why is Carignan so common in LR?
Carignan grafts beautifully onto american root stock so it replaced a lot more delicate & sensitive grapes like Mourvedre during the phyloxerra epidemic. It’s juicy, concentrated, very high yield
What’s notable about Cinsaut here?
It’s big in blends and rosé
