France - Loire - Anjou-Saumur & Touraine Flashcards
How much of Loire’s vineyard area is in Touraine and in Anjou-Saumur? (%)
- Touraine (31%)
- Anjou-Saumur (37%)
Anjou-Saumur
What are the principal (incl. %) and other top grape varieties?
- Cabernet Franc (40%)
- Chenin Blanc (25%)
- Grolleau Noir
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Chardonnay
Touraine
What are the principal and other top grape varieties (incl. %)?
- Cabernet Franc (30%)
- Chenin Blanc (20%)
- Sauvignon Blanc (20%)
- Gamay
- Malbec
- Chardonnay
What is the climate?
- Influence of the Atlantic decreases progressively
- Anjou-Saumur: more maritime effect
- Touraine: continental climate
What is the rainfall and what does it mean?
- 700mm
- Risk at flowering and fruit set, disease pressure, and harvest
What type of wines are the best exposed sites used for?
- Still wines -> need a greater level of ripeness
What do the River Layon and its tributaries help with?
Misty conditions for botrytis
What is the soil and what are its properties?
- Wide range, incl. clay-limestone, flint-clay, sand, gravel and tuff
- Anjou: more schist and limestone
- Touraine: more chalk
- Good drainage and water retention
What rootstocks are used because of the high lime content?
- Fercal and Riparia Gloire de Montpellier
- To protect wines from chlorosis
Chenin Blanc
What is the budding/ripening time?
- Early budding -> spring frost
- Late ripening -> autumn rain
Chenin Blanc
What is the variety’s vigor?
- Vigorous
- Capable of high yields
Chenin Blanc
How is it harvested and why?
- For high quality in multiple passes
- Ripens unevenly
Chenin Blanc
What are the different styles of wines produced?
- Sparkling wine
- Dry
- Off-dry
- Sweet
Chenin Blanc
Describe the typical style of dry/off-dry wines (intensity, aromas, acidity, alcohol, quality, price)
- Medium intensity
- Green apple and lemon (sometimes with a steely, smoky character)
- High acidity
- Medium alcohol
- Good to very good quality (some outstanding)
- Inexpensive to mid-price (some premium priced)
Chenin Blanc
Name a significant producer of outstanding quality wines
Domaine Huet
Cabernet Franc
What is the budding/ripening time?
- Early budding -> spring frost
- Mid-ripening -> often picked before autumn rain
Cabernet Franc
What is the problem if the variety is not fully ripe and how is this problem countered?
- Wines can taste excessive leafy
- Better canopy management
Cabernet Franc
What styles of wines are produced?
- Single varietal
- Part of rosé blends
Cabernet Franc
Describe the typical style of wine (intensity, aromas, acidity, body, tannin)
- Medium to pronounced intensity
- Red fruit (redcurrant, raspberry), floral (violet) aromas, sometimes leafy notes
- High acidity
- Light to medium body
- Medium tannins
Grolleau Noir
What is the budding/ripening time?
- Early-budding
- Mid-ripening
Grolleau Noir
For what types of wines is it used?
Mainly as blending variety in rosé wines
Gamay
Where is the variety mainly grown?
- Touraine
- Central vineyards
- Some in Anjou
Cabernet Sauvignon
What is its budding/ripening time and where is it grown?
- Late budding
- Late ripening
- Performs best in the temperate Anjou (warmest sites)
Cabernet Sauvignon
For what types of wines is it used?
- Red: often blended with Cabernet Franc
- Rosé: often used as blending variety
Winemaking
How is Chenin Blanc made? (fermentation temps and vessels, malo, ageing, aim)
- Fermented at cool to mid-range temps
- Large old oak or stainless steel containers
- Malo avoided
- Ageing in neutral containers
- Aim: retain primary fruit
Winemaking
How is Cabernet Franc made? (fermentation vessels, yeast, ageing, aim)
- Fermented in concrete or old wood vats
- Often ambient yeasts
- Ageing in used oak barrels (diff sizes), some proportion of new French oak barriques for more expensive wines
- Aim: retain primary fruit
Winemaking
How are rosé wines produced?
- Mostly direct pressing (some short maceration)
- Short ageing in neutral containers
What are the three larger regional appellations?
- Anjou AOC
- Saumur AOC
- Touraine AOC
Anjou
What are the seven AOCs in Anjou? (increasing in quality)
- Anjou AOC
- Anjou Villages AOC
- Coteaux du Layon AOC
- Coteaux du Layon AOC + named village
- Bonnezeaux AOC
- Coteaux du Layon AOC Premier Cru Chaume
- Quarts de Chaume Grand Cru AOC
Anjou AOC
What are the max yields for red and white wines?
- 60 hL/ha
- -> lower intensity wines
Anjou AOC
Describe the varieties (incl. min %) of Anjou white and rouge.
- White: Min 80% Chenin Blanc
- Rouge: Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon
Anjou Villages AOC
What wines are produced here? (type and varieties)
- Still red wine ONLY
- Only Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon (singly or blended)
- In practice, mostly Cabernet Franc
Anjou Villages AOC
What are the max yields and when can wines be released?
- 55 hL/ha
- Sept, year after harvest
Coteaux du Layon AOC
What type of wines does it produce?
- Wines from botrytized Chenin Blanc
- If botrytis fails to develop, grapes are dried on the vine
- High acidity of Chenin Blanc balances sweetness
Coteaux du Layon AOC + named village
Describe the style of wines (harvest, intensity, aromas, sweetness, acidity, body, alcohol, quality, price)
- Botrytis-affected grapes are picked in several passes
- Pronounced intensity
- Cooked citrus, apple with honey notes
- Sweet
- High acidity
- Medium(+) bodied
- Medium alcohol
- Good to very good quality
- Mid-priced to premium
Coteaux du Layon AOC
What are the three appellations with the highest-quality reputation for sweet wines? What is the typical quality an price level?
- Bonnezeaux AOC
- Coteaux du Layon AOC Premier Cru Chaume
- Quarts de Chaume Grand Cru AOC
- Very good to outstanding quality
- Premium (some super-premium) price
Coteaux du Layon AOC
What are the max yields and min potential alcohol for the 5 appellations?
- Coteaux du Layon AOC: 35 / 14
- Coteaux du Layon AOC + named village: 30 / 15
- Bonnezeaux AOC: 25 / 15
- Coteaux du Layon AOC Premier Cru Chaume: 25 / 16.5
- Quarts de Chaume Grand Cru AOC: 20 / 18
Savennières AOC
What type of wines are produced? (variety, sweetness, acidity, alcohol)
- Chenin Blanc
- Dry
- Very high acidity
- High alcohol
Savennières AOC
How do the white wines from Chenin Blanc get their ripeness and concentration?
- South-facing slopes
- Low-fertility, rocky schist soils
- Low yields
Savennières AOC
What is the max yield?
50 hL/ha
Savennières AOC
What are two smaller appellations within it, what do they profit from, and what are the max yields?
- Savennières La Roche aux Moines AOC
- Coulée de Serrant AOC
- Warm sites on slopes facing the Loire
- Max yield: 30 hL/ha
Anjou
Name the three appellations for rosé wines
- Rosé de Loire AOC
- Rosé d’Anjou AOC
- Cabernet d’Anjou AOC
Rosé de Loire AOC
What varieties are used?
- Range of varieties, incl.:
- Cabernet Franc
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Gamay
- Grolleau Noir
Rosé de Loire AOC
What is the max yield and sweetness of wines?
- 60 hL/ha
- Dry
Rosé d’Anjou AOC
What varieties are used?
- Mainly Grolleau
- Other options: Cabernets, Cot (Malbec) and Gamay
Rosé d’Anjou AOC
What is the max yield?
65 hL/ha
Rosé d’Anjou AOC
Describe the typical style of wine (color, intensity, aromas, sweetness, acidity, alcohol, quality, price)
- Medium pink-orange
- Medium intensity
- Red berry fruit
- Medium dry
- Medium(+) acidity
- Medium alcohol
- Acceptable to good quality (some very good)
- Inexpensive to mid-price
Cabernet d’Anjou AOC
What are the varieties, max yield, color, and sweetness?
- ONLY Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon
- 60 hL/ha
- Deeper color than most rosé
- Medium-dry
What are the three most important Saumur appellations?
- Saumur AOC
- Coteaux de Saumur AOC
- Saumur-Champigny AOC
Saumur AOC
What types of wines are produced?
- White
- Red
- Rosé
- Sparkling wines
Saumur AOC
What are the typical varieties for white, red and rosé wines?
- White: Chenin Blanc
- Red: Cabernet Franc
- Rosé: Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon
Saumur AOC
What are max yields for white, red and rosé wines?
- 60 hL/ha (white)
- 57 hL/ha (red, rosé)
- -> low flavor intensity
Coteaux de Saumur AOC
Describe the typical style of wine (variety, sweetness, acidity, max yields)
- Chenin Blanc from over-ripe grapes (with or without botrytis), picked in a number of passes
- Sweet
- High Acidity
- Max yield: 35 hL/ha
Saumur-Champigny AOC
Describe the typical style of wine (variety, color, intensity, aromas, alcohol, acidity, tannin, quality, price)
- Min 85% Cabernet Franc
- Pale ruby
- Medium to medium(+) intensity
- Redcurrant fruit, sometimes leafy aromas
- Medium alcohol
- High acidity
- Medium tannin
- Good to very good quality
- Inexpensive to mid-priced (some premium)
Saumur-Champigny AOC
What are max yields and what does it lead to?
- 57 hL/ha
- low flavor intensity
Saumur-Champigny AOC
What are the soils?
- Soils with chalk, flint and clay
- Combination of good drainage and water-holding capacity
Saumur-Champigny AOC
Name a significant producer of high quality wines
Clos Rougeard
Touraine
Name the 6 key appellations
- Touraine AOC
- Vouvray AOC
- Montlouis-sur-Loire AOC
- Bourgueil AOC
- Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil AOC
- Chinon AOC
Touraine AOC
What are the types of wines produced (incl. varieties)
- White: Sauvignon Blanc
- Red: Cabernet Franc, Cot, and Gamay
- Rosé: Wide range, incl. Cabernets, Cot, Gamay and Grolleau
Vouvray AOC
What is it known for?
- White wine from Chenin Blanc
- Most important white wine appellation in Touraine
Vouvray AOC
What are the regulations regarding white wines? (min Chenin Blanc, max yield)
- Min 95% Chenin Blanc (mostly 100%)
- Max yield: 52 hL/ha
Vouvray AOC
Where are the best vineyards located?
- Slopes overlooking the Loire
- Good sunlight interception
- River as a moderating influence
Vouvray AOC
What are the soils?
Soils are flinty, clay and limestone over a tuff -> good drainage
Montlouis-sur-Loire AOC
What wines is it known for? (incl. max yield)
- 100% Chenin Blanc
- Max yield: 52 hL/ha
Touraine
What appellations are known for their red wines?
- Bourgueil AOC
- Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil AOC
- Chinon AOC
Bourgueil AOC & Chinon AOC
What are the varieties used?
- Cabernet Franc
- Max 10% Cabernet Sauvignon
Bourgueil AOC & Chinon AOC
What are the yields?
- Max yield: 55 hL/ha
- In reality often lower
Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil AOC
What wines does it produce and what are they similar to?
- Lighter style Cabernet Franc
- Similar to Saumur-Champigny AOC
Chinon AOC
What is it known for?
Best known and highly regarded for their red wines
Chinon AOC
What is the range of wines produced?
- Light, fruity, early drinking (short maceration)
- More structured and concentrated (longer maceration and ageing)
Chinon AOC
Describe the typical style of wine (intensity, acidity, tannins, ageing, quality, price)
- Pronounced intensity
- High acidity
- Medium to medium(+) tannins
- Can age for 20 years and more
- Good to very good quality
- Inexpensive to mid-priced (few premium)
Describe the general soil in Bourgueil, Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil, and Chinon, incl. its influence on wine
- Sand, gravel and clay-limestone
- Sand: lightest wines, earliest to be ready to drink
- Clay-limestone: most structured and long lived
How much of wine is exported?
Roughly 20%
Describe the ratio of production between Anjou-Saumur and Touraine of rosé, sparkling, white and red wines
- Rosé: Anjou-Saumur 10x more
- Sparkling wine: Anjou-Saumur MUCH more
- Red and white wine: Touraine MUCH more
