France - Languedoc/Roussillon Flashcards
What region is home to 90% of France’s fortified wine production?
Roussillon - for vin doux naturel
What are the four styles of Rivesaltes?
ambré, grenat, tuilé, and rosé
What Rivesaltes styles age in an oxidative environment?
ambré and tuilé
How long do ambré and tuilé Rivesaltes age?
Until March 1 of the third year following the harvest
Aging for “grenat” Rivesaltes
Grenat wines are aged reductively for one year, and must be bottled before June 30 of the second year.
Glass vessel used in Rivesaltes?
bonbonnes - placed outside to age in the sun
Is solera aging used in Rivesaltes?
YES
Minimum aging for “hors d’age” Rivesaltes?
5 years (in practice, may be as long as 20)
What two Muscat varieties are authorized for Muscat de Rivesaltes AOP?
Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains and Muscat d’Alexandrie
Rivesaltes Vin Doux Naturel Grenat is produced solely from what grape?
100% Grenache Noir
Authorized grapes for Rivesaltes ambré, tuilé, and rosé
Grenache (Blanc, Gris, and Noir), Tourbat (Malvoisie de Roussillon), Macabeu, plus no more than 20% Muscat (Blanc or Alexandria)
Hors d’Age and Rancio styles may apply to what Rivesaltes wines?
ambré, tuilé
Rivesaltes AOP min. residual sugar
45 g/l
Muscat de Rivesaltes AOP min. residual sugar
100 g/l
Is Muscat de Rivesaltes or Rivesaltes AOP required to be sweeter?
Muscat de Rivesaltes
Name 3 Rivesaltes producers
Domaine de Rancy, MUSE (Martines wines), Domaine des Schistes (Solera aged), Domaine de la Coume du Roy (Muscat de Rivesaltes)
Who was Arnaud de Villeneuve?
13 c. physician who invented mutage
What was the birthplace of vin doux natural?
Roussillon
What is Vin Doux Naturel Blanc “Muscat de Nöel”
Under Muscat de Rivesaltes AOP, they are Christmas wines that must be bottled no later than December 1 of the year of harvest
Which vdn appellation borders Spain?
Banyuls, and Rivesaltes
What is Vin Doux Naturel “Rimage” in Banyuls?
Vintage-dated rouge VDN from min. 90% Grenache
What is Vin Doux Naturel “Traditionnel” in Banyuls?
Rouge VDN from Min. 50% Grenache, plus Grenache Gris and max. 10% accessories
Encépagement for Banyuls Grand Cru AOP
Principal Varieties: Min. 75% Grenache, plus Grenache Blanc, Grenache Gris, Macabeu, Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains, Muscat d’Alexandrie (Muscat Romain), and Tourbat (Malvoisie du Roussillon)
Accessory Varieties: Max. 10% combined Carignan, Counoise, Cinsault, Mourvèdre and Syrah
Banyuls Grand Cru aging? “Hors d’age” designation?”
Banyuls Grand Cru: Min. 30 months in barrel, not to be released until June 1 of the third year following the harvest
Banyuls Grand Cru “Hors d’Age”: Wines may not be released until September 1 of the fifth year following the harvest
Banyuls Grand Cru and Banyuls AOP minimum rs
45 g/l
Banyuls producer
Domaine du Mas Blanc, Chapoutier
What appellation for red, white, and rosé non-fortified wines shares a border with Banyuls?
Collioure AOP
Collioure AOP authorized styles and grapes
Blanc:
Principal Varieties: Grenache Blanc, Grenache Gris, Macabeu, Marsanne, Roussanne, Tourbat (Malvoisie du Roussillon), and Vermentino
Accessory Varieties: Carignan Blanc, plus a max. 5% combined Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains and Muscat of Alexandria
For rosé and rouge, 2 varieties min. must be present
Rosé:
Principal Varieties: Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah, Carignan and Grenache Gris
Accessory Varieties: Cinsault and Counoise
Rouge:
Principal Varieties: Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah, and Carignan
Accessory Varieties: Counoise and Cinsault
Maury AOP wine styles:
Rouge (not fortified!)
Vin Doux Naturel Blanc, Ambré, Grenat and Tuilé
Vin Doux Naturel “Hors d’Age”
Vin Doux Naturel “Rancio”
Which Maury VDN must be vintage dated?
Grenat, Blanc
3 Maury producers
Domaine de la Coume du Roy
Stephane Gallet
Domaine des Soulanes
3 AOPs for dry wines in Roussillon
Cotes de Roussillon, Cotes de Roussillon-Villages, Collioure AOP
What geographic designation is allowed under Cotes de Roussillon AOP? (careful, not Cotes de Roussillon villages) And what is made there?
“Les Aspres” - stony, clay and silt soils - “Les Aspres” Rouge: Min. 3 varieties (no two combined varieties may exceed 90%)
Mourvèdre, Syrah, Grenache, max. 25% Carignan
Discuss the terroir of Maury
Black schist soils, in the valley of the Agly river
Which Roussillon VDN AOP crosses into Languedoc (Aude) territory?
Rivesaltes and Muscat de Rivesaltes, shares border with Fitou
What was the first AOP of Languedoc?
Fitou AOP - 1945
What are the two divisions, and corresponding terroirs, of Fitou AOP?
Fitou Maritime: coastal clay and limestone around the saltwater lagoons
Fitou Montagneux: 24km inland, mountainous schist
Name a producer of Minervois
Chateau Maris, Domaine Jean Baptiste Senat
La Clape AOP
Coastal AOP near Corbieres. Home to Bourboulenc grape (Malvoisie)
Blanc: Minimum 30% Bourboulenc, maximum 10% Viognier. No single variety may account for more than 80% of the blend.
Rouge: Grenache, Mourvèdre, and Syrah must make up the majority of the blend. No single variety may account for more than 70% of the blend.
Climate factors of the Languedoc
Warm Mediterranean, Pyrenees and cooling Atlantic influence as you move further inland.
What are some AOPs of the Languedoc that are moderated by cooling Atlantic influence
Limoux, Malpere, Cabardès
Cabardès AOP
Western Languedoc AOP, north of Malpere and Limoux, where Atlantic (Bordeaux) and Mediterranean influences combine - in both climate and grapes. For rosé and rouge:
osé:
Principal Varieties: Min. 40% combined Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot; min. 40% combined Grenache and Syrah
Accessory Varieties: Cot, Cinsault, and Fer
Rouge: As for rosé
Which of the Languedoc Muscat VDN AOPs requires the highest RS?
Muscat de Saint-Jean-de-Minervois AOP - 125 g/l. All others are 110 g/l
One Fitou producer:
Domaine Maria Fita
What is the only AOP that mandates oak aging for a white wine?
Limoux AOP for still white wines
Malepère AOP location, grapes, and wines
Just to the north of Limoux, for rosé and rouge only. Rose is based on Cabernet Franc - min. 50%; rouge is based on Cabernet Sauvignon - min. 50%
Crémant de Limoux AOP encepagement, aging, min. pressure
Encépagement for rosé or rouge: Max. 90% combined Chardonnay (min. 50%) and Chenin Blanc (10-40%); plus max. 20% combined Mauzac and Pinot Noir (max. 15%)
9 mo. on lees, 12 mo. from date of tirage
3.5 atmospheres min. pressure
Wine styles permitted under Limoux AOP?
blanc
rouge
Vin Mousseux Blanc “Méthode Ancestrale”
Vin Mousseux Blanc “Blanquette de Limoux”
What is France’s oldest (purposefully made) sparkling wine?
Blanquette de Limoux
Limoux blanc and rouge grapes and elevage
Blanc: Mauzac, Chenin Blanc and Chardonnay (still whites must be fermented in oak)
Rouge: must be at least three grapes in the blend including 45-70% Merlot, a min. 20% combined (Grenache, Syrah, and Cot) complementary varieties, and a max. 35% combined accessory varieties (Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon).
Neither can be released until May 1 of the year after the harvest.
Limoux AOP sparkling wine styles, grapes, and methods
Vin Mousseux Blanc “Méthode Ancestrale”: 100% Mauzac
Vin Mousseux Blanc “Blanquette de Limoux”: Min. 90% Mauzac, plus Chardonnay and Chenin Blanc
Where is Mauzac found?
in Limoux
What is the large, regional appellation that stretches from the Spanish border to Nimes?
Languedoc AOP
May varietal blanc, rosé or rouge be produced under Languedoc AOP?
No, typically must be blends of at least 2 varieties. In some geographical designations, 3 are required.
What are the VDN appellations of the Langedoc?
Muscat de Mireval AOP, Muscat de Lunel AOP, Muscat de Saint-Jean-de-Minervois AOP, and Muscat de Frontignan AOP (most common)
What two styles of wine are permitted in Muscat de Frontignan AOP?
vin doux naturel and vin de liqueur - from Muscat blanc a petits grains
What are the two newest AOPs of the Languedoc?
Terrasses du Larzac AOP (2014), La Clape AOP (2015)
What are two AOPs for varietal white wines in the Languedoc?
Picpoul de Pinet - 100% Piquepoul Blanc
Clairette du Languedoc AOP - blanc: 100% Clairette Blanc
