France - Loire Flashcards
Why is Melon well suited to the Pays Nantais?
It is a hardy variety, making it well suited to the cool region.
Which varieties are permitted in the Muscadet appellations?
It has been 100% Melon, but as of 2018 up to 10% Chardonnay is permitted in basic Muscadet AOC.
What viticultural practice is common in the Pays Nantais, due to the humid climate?
Spraying to prevent fungal diseases and monitoring the vineyard closely to determine when.
What changes have been made to canopy management in the Pays Nantais in recent times? Why?
Canopies are more open than they have been, and leaf removal is carried out to reduce the risk of fungal diseases and maximise exposure to the sun to facilitate ripeness.
What is a risk of the changes to canopy management made in the Pays Nantais?
Care has to be taken that the fruit is not sunburnt on the side of the rows facing the sun in the afternoon.
What is a key factor in deciding the harvest date in the Pays Nantais?
The ripeness of the skins and seeds, as in hot years, the danger is that sugar levels may reach too high levels before the skins and seeds are fully ripe.
What is the difference in climate between Anjour-Saumur and Touraine? Why?
In Anjou-Saumur, the climate is more maritime, whereas Touraine is continental with warm summers and cool winters, though not as extreme as Central Vineyards.
This is due to the moderating influence of the Atlantic Ocean decreasing progressively the farther west you go.
What is the rainfall in the Middle Loire?
Both regions average 700mm, adequate for viticulture, but it falls throughout the year and can pose a problem at flowering/fruit set, for disease pressure and at harvest.
What are the best exposed sites in the Middle Loire often reserved for?
Still wines, as they need a greater level of ripeness than grapes for sparkling.
What is the best area for sweet wines in the Anjou? Why?
The River Layon and its many tributaries help create misty conditions ideal for the spread of botrytis at the end of the growing season.
What are the soil types found in the Middle Loire? (5)
Which is typical in each region?
General properties?
There’s a wide range, including clay-limestone, flint-clay, sand, gravel and tuff.
There’s more schist and limestone in Anjou and more chalk in Touraine.
Key properties include the good drainage and water retention characteristics of limestone elements.
Which rootstocks are often used in the Middle Loire?
Due to high lime content in the soils, rootstock such as Fercal and Riparia Gloire de Montpelier are used to protect from chlorosis.
What is the typical profile of Chenin from the middle Loire?
Comes in a wide range of styles, from sparkling through to sweet.
The dry and off-dry wines often have medium intensity aromas of green apple and lemon (sometimes steely and smoky), medium alcohol and noticeably high acidity, often balanced with some RS for an off-dry style.
Good-very good and inexpensive to mid, with some outstanding + premium eg Huet.
What is the typical profile of Cabernet Franc from the middle Loire?
Medium to pronounced intensity red fruit, floral (violet) and, depending on ripeness, can have leafy aromas.
Has a light to medium body, medium tannins and high acidity.
What changes to viticulture in the middle Loire have affected Cabernet Franc?
Better canopy management (avoiding dense canopies, leaf removal) alongside warmer summers has reduced the incidence of overly herbaceous wines.
