France - Loire Appellations

Question 1

What is the regional appellation structure in the middle Loire?

Answer 1

There is no generic appellation for the Loire, like there is for Bordeaux AOC.
There are 3 regional appellations, Anjou AOC, Saumur AOC and Touraine AOC

Question 2

What are the max yields in Anjou AOC, and the minimum of each variety in reds and whites?

Answer 2

60hL/ha.
Minimum 80% Chenin in Anjou Blanc and 70% Cab Franc and/or Cab Sauv.

Question 3

What wines can be made under Anjou Villages AOC?

Answer 3

Still, higher quality reds from specifically designated areas.
Entirely Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon, singularly or blended, although in practice are mostly Franc.

Question 4

What are the max permitted yields in Anjou Villages AOC? When can wines be released?

Answer 4

55hL/ha.
September, the year after harvest.

Question 5

Which appellation do many good producers in the Anjou opt for?

Answer 5

They forsake the appellation system and opt for Vin de France

Question 6

Where does Coteaux du Layon AOC lie, and what wines does it specialise in?

Answer 6

A large appellation located on the slopes on the right bank of the River Layon, which runs into the Loire.
Specialises in botrytis affected grapes. If botrytis fails to develop the grapes may be dried on the vine. The natural high acidity of Chenin can balance the luscious sweetness.

Question 7

What is the max yield and minimum potential alcohol of Coteaux du Layon AOC?

Answer 7

35hL/ha, 14% abv

Question 8

What is the max yield and minimum potential alcohol of Coteaux du Layon AOC + named village?

Answer 8

30hL/ha, 15% abv

Question 9

What is the max yield and minimum potential alcohol of Bonnezeaux AOC?

Answer 9

25hL/ha, 15% abv

Question 10

What is the max yield and minimum potential alcohol of Coteaux du Layon AOC Premier Cru Chaume?

Answer 10

25hL/ha, 16.5% abv

Question 11

What is the max yield and minimum potential alcohol of Quarts de Chaume Grand Cru AOC?

Answer 11

20hL/ha, 18% abv

Question 12

How are the rules for Coteaux du Layon AOC + named village stricter?

Answer 12

The grapes need to be picked in several passes through the vineyard (tries) to pick only botrytis affected grapes.

Question 13

What is the typical profile of wines from Coteaux du Layon AOC + named village?

Answer 13

Pronounced aromas of cooked citrus and apple with honey notes.
Sweet, medium + bodied, medium alcohol and high acidity.
Quality is good - very good and price is mid-premium

Question 14

What are the two appellations within the geographical area of Coteaux du Layon, and what is their reputation?

Answer 14

Bonnezeaux AOC and Quarts de Chaume AOC, both with a reputation for high quality.

Question 15

Between Bonnezeaux and Quarts de Chaume AOC, which has stricter regulations?

Answer 15

Quarts de Chaume AOC, although both are higher than Coteaux du Layon.

Question 16

What is the typical profile of wines from Bonnezeaux and Quarts de Chaume?

Answer 16

Very high flavour intensity and a rich texture, largely due to the higher potential alcohol and lower maximum yield.
Quality ranges from very good to outstanding, most wines are premium with some super-premium examples.

Question 17

What change was made to the middle Loire appellations in 2019?

Answer 17

Quarts de Chaume became the Loire’s first grand cru, and Coteaux du Layon AOC Chaume became a premier cru.

Question 18

What is the current state of demand for the sweet wine appellations, and what is this resulting in?

Answer 18

The wines have been hard to sell recently due to low demand for sweet wines in general.
Producers are switching to lower volumes of sweet wine and larger volumes of dry wine.

Question 19

What styles of wine can be made in Savennières AOC?

Answer 19

A small but prestigious appellation for mainly fully dry wine made from Chenin

Question 20

Why are high-quality wines often made in Savennières?

Answer 20

Many south-facing slopes, low fertility, rocky schist soils and the low yields (maximum is 50hL/ha) all give concentration and ripeness.

Question 21

What is the typical historical wine style of Savennières AOC?

Answer 21

High acidity and often high alcohol.
They can be very austere in youth and historically have required many years in bottle before they become approachable.

Question 22

How and why has the style of Savennières changed in recent years?

Answer 22

As vineyard management has improved in recent decades, and with generally warmer weather, some producers now make wines in a concentrated but slightly more fruity, approachable style.
Some producers create premium examples with a proportion of new oak.

Question 23

What are the two smaller AOCs within Savennières? How do they differ?

Answer 23

Savennières la Roche aux Moines AOC and Coulée de Serrant AOC.
Both are based on warm sites facing the Loire, resulting in riper fruit. They have lower max yields (30hL/ha for dry wines)

Question 24

What is unique about Coulée de Serrant AOC?

Answer 24

It’s a monopole, owned exclusively and farmed biodynamically by Nicolas Joly.

Question 25

Which varieties can go into the production of Rosé de Loire AOC?

Answer 25

Cabernet Franc, Cab Sauv, Gamay and Grolleau Noir

Question 26

What is the typical sweetness, max yields and other production area of Rosé de Loire AOC

Answer 26

Dry
60hL/ha
It can be produced outside Anjou-Saumur but it rarely is.

Question 27

Which varieties are permitted in Rosé d’Anjou AOC, and which is the predominant?

Answer 27

Mainly Grolleau, but also the Cab’s, Cot and Gamay.

Question 28

What is the typical style of wine from Rosé d’Anjou AOC, and maximum permitted yields?

Answer 28

65hL/ha = low concentration possible.
Medium pink orange (some lighter examples are now being made). Medium intensity red Berry fruit, medium (+) acidity, medium alcohol and medium dry.
Inexpensive to mid and acceptable to good.
A popular wine and best selling of the 3 rosé appellations.

Question 29

What are the permitted varieties, max yield and typical style of Cabernet d’Anjou AOC?

Answer 29

The two Cab’s.
60hL/ha
Typically a deeper colour than most rose (medium pink) and medium-dry.

Question 30

What wines can be produced from in Saumur AOC? Which varieties are these from?

Answer 30

White from Chenin.
Reds principally from Cab Franc.
Rosés from the two Cab’s.
Sparkling.

Question 31

What are the maximum yields within Saumur AOC?

Answer 31

60 for white
57 for Reds and Rose’s, leading to possible low flavour concentration.

Question 32

What styles of wine can be made from Coteaux de Saumur AOC?

Answer 32

Sweet Chenin’s with overripe grapes, with or without botrytis, picked in a number of passes through the vineyard.
The wines are lusciously sweet, balanced by high acidity.

Question 33

What style of wine can be made from Saumur-Champigny AOC?

Answer 33

Red wines, principally from Cab Franc (min 85%).
Wines are pale Ruby in colour with medium to + intensity recurrant fruit (sometimes leafy), medium alcohol, high acidity and medium tannin.

Question 34

Saumur-Champigny AOC:
-Soil types
-Max yield
-Earliest release date
-General drinking window
-When did it become popular?
-General price and quality

Answer 34

-A combination of chalk, flint and clay which offer a combination of good drainage and water-holding potential, valuable in dry periods.
-57hL/ha, can lead to low flavour concentration
-December the year of harvest
-Most wines are intended to be drunk young for their primary fruit
-Wines of this appellation became very popular in the bars and bistros of Paris from the 1970’s onwards with the Saint-Cyr-en-Bourg co-operative (now named after its founders, Cave Robert et Marcel) championing Cab Franc in a light, accessible style.
-Good to very good, and inexpensive to mid (some premium, Clos Rougeard)

Question 35

What wines can be produced from Touraine AOC, and the varieties for each style?

Answer 35

White = Sauvignon Blanc
Red = Cabernet Franc and Cot
Rosé = wide range, including the two Cab’s, Cot, Gamay and Grolleau
Sparkling, too.
Gamay is also grown.
The name of the variety can be attached, eg, Touraine AOC Gamay.

Question 36

What can be added to the label of basic Touraine AOC, and what does this change for regulation?

Answer 36

There’s the possibility of adding one of the six sub zones, eg Touraine AOC Amboise.
This allows differences between the varieties used, reflecting what is grown locally, eg, Touraine AOC Amboise Blanc is made from Chenin not Sauvignon.
It can also affect the set max yields, eg Touraine AOC Blanc is 65hL/ha but Amboise is 55.

Question 37

Vouvray AOC:
-Wine styles produced
-Max yield
-Best vineyard sites
-Soil type
-How sweetness is labelled

Answer 37

-Most important white appellation in the Loire, minimum 95% Chenin but usually 100%. Dry wine is made every vintage, some demi-sec in most years, sweet is rarer (contrasts Anjou where sweet can be made almost every vintage)
-52hL/ha
-Slopes that overlook the Loire, promoting ripening due to good sunlight interception with the river acting as a moderating influence on temperatures.
-Flinty, clay and limestone over tuff, enabling good drainage. The farther away from the Loire the percentage of clay increases making the soils colder, inhibiting ripening
-Unless clearly marked on the label it can be difficult to know whether a Vouvray is dry or sweet.

Question 38

Montlouis-sur-Loire:
-Location
-Style of wine
-Max yields
-Change in recent time

Answer 38

-Faces the Vouvray appellation from the south bank of the river, with vineyards running from the Loire Valley across to the Cher.
- Whites in a similar style to Vouvray, 100% Chenin
-52hL/ha
-Due to an influx of newcomers in the last 30 years, partly due to vineyards being cheaper than Vouvray, Montlois, which used to be less well known, has become a dynamic appellation with a significant proportion of estates run organically or biodynamically.

Question 39

Bourgueil AOC:
-Wine styles and permitted varieties
-Max yield and actual yield

Answer 39

Specialises in red, though rosé also made. Predominant variety is Cab Franc, only up to 10% Cab Sauv is permitted
-Max yield 55hL/ha though many wines are of high quality and lower yields.

Question 40

Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil AOC:
-General wine style and price

Answer 40

Cabernet Franc in a lighter style than Bourgueil AOC.
Similar style and price to Saumur-Champigny AOC (good to very good and inexpensive to mid)

Question 41

Chinon AOC:
-Reputation
-Wine style and permitted varieties
-Max yield
-Different red wine styles
-Best soil types

Answer 41

-Best known and highly regarded for its reds. Whites from Chenin and Rosés are also made. Principle variety is Cab Franc, only 10% Cab Sauv is allowed.
-55hL/ha, although often lower yields are common.
-Wines range from light, fruity and ready to drink young examples from short maceration on the skins (6-8 days) to much more structured and powerful wines with longer maceration (2-3 weeks), which are not released onto market for 2 years after harvest, adding to cost.
These wines (especially from good vintages) can age for 20 years or more due to good flavour intensity, high acidity and medium - (+) tannins. Wines are good to very good and inexpensive to mid, with some premium.
-Clay and limestone soils (often produce age-worthy examples, whereas lighter wines come from grapes grown on sandy or gravelly soils).

Question 42

Which soil types can be found in the three Touraine red appellations, and what wine styles do they lend themselves to?

Answer 42

All three have three types of soil, sand, gravel, and clay-limestone.
Sandy soils = lightest wines, the earliest to be ready to drink.
Clay-limestone = the most structured and long lived.

Question 43

Which wine styles are the largest production from each Anjou-Saumur and Touraine?

Answer 43

Anjou-Saumur = Rose by a significant amount, then just about red with sparkling not far behind.
Touraine = Red by the most, then white about half of reds production, followed by sparkling with a small amount of rosé.

Question 44

What styles of wine are produced in Sancerre? From which varieties?

Answer 44

Whites from Sauv B.
Reds and Roses from Pinot Noir only.

Question 45

What is notable about Sancerre? When and why did it change its plantings, and when did it rise to popularity?

Answer 45

It is the largest of the Central Vineyard appellations and the most commercially successful.
Historically it was planted with Pinot Noir, but post-phylloxera, the area was planted with Sauv B.
From the 1950s and 60s the wines were successfully promoted, first in Paris then all around France before going global.

Question 46

What natural factors mitigate frost risk in Sancerre?

Answer 46

Steep hillside slopes (200-400m), the river and the nearby forests.

Question 47

What are maximum yields for white, rose and red in Sancerre? What does this mean for intensity of the wines?

Answer 47

65, 63 and 59, respectively.
While high, Sauvignon Blanc can produce sufficient flavour intensity at this level, but reduced yields are needed to produce wines with intensity from Pinot Noir.

Question 48

What is the typical profile of whites from Sancerre?

Answer 48

Medium intensity grapefruit and gooseberry, medium alcohol and high acidity. They rarely have new oak.
Good to outstanding and mid-premium (with some super premium, Dagueneau and Cotat)

Question 49

What are the three different soil types in Sancerre, and how do they influence the style of wine produced?

Answer 49

• Caillottes: very shallow soils (25-40mm) over limestone. Fruit grown on these soils is said to be the most aromatic that result in wines that are the first to be drunk young and have less ageing potential.
• Terre Blanches: the same limestone and marl that is said to be found in Chablis. Offer slow ripening and includes some of the most famous vineyards: Côte des Monts Dammés and Cul de Beaujeu. Fruit grown here is said to produce the most structured wines that need long maturation before they’re ready to drink and age well.
• Silex: flinty soil that accumulates heat and leads to early ripening, eg Les Romains next to the Loire. Fruit grown here is said to produce wines with stony or smoky aromas.

Question 50

What style of wine can be produced in Pouilly-Fumé? How does this contrast to Sancerre?

Answer 50

White only.
Flatter land than Sancerre (as are all other appellations) and as a result much more prone to frosts.
Has the same soil range as Sancerre.
Wines are a similar price and quality.
Wines tend to be a little rounder and less aromatic than Sancerre, and often needs more time (6m-1yr) in bottle to start to show.

Question 51

What styles of wine can be made in Reuilly AOC?

Answer 51

Whites from Sauvignon Blanc only, reds from Pinot Noir only, roses from Pinot Noir and Gris.
Max yields are the same as Sancerre.
Good to very good and inexpensive to mid.

Question 52

What styles of wine can be made in Quincy AOC?

Answer 52

Whites from Sauvignon Blanc (min 90%) and Sauvignon Gris.
Same max yield as Sancerre.
4
Good to very good and inexpensive to mid.

Question 53

What style of wine can be made in Menetou-Salon AOC? What is the general topography?

Answer 53

Same wines and max yields as Sancerre.
Vines are planted on gentle south facing slopes (more prone to frost).
Good to very good and inexpensive to mid.

Question 54

What is the current cru system in the Central Vineyards? How are producers reacting to this?

Answer 54

There is no cru system. As a result, individual vineyard sites are growing in importance with more and more producers releasing wine from single vineyards. Famous sites include Les Monts Dammés (Chavignol) and Les Belles Dames (both Sancerre)