France - Loire - Central Vineyards Flashcards

1
Q

How much of Loire’s vineyard area is in Central vineyards? (%)

A

10%

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2
Q

What is the general climate and rainfall? What does that mean?

A
  • Continental -> spring frost
  • 750mm -> increased disease risk
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3
Q

What are the main grape varieties (incl. %)?

A
  • Sauvignon Blanc (≈70%)
  • Pinot Noir (≈20%)
  • Gamay (≈2%)
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4
Q

How many appellations are there and what are the two most important ones?

A
  • 8
  • Sancerre
  • Pouilly-Fumé
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5
Q

Sauvignon Blanc
What is the budding/ripening time?

A
  • Late budding
  • Early ripening
  • Perfect for cool climate with lot of rain
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6
Q

Sauvignon Blanc
What is the variety’s vigor?

A
  • High vigor
  • Canopy needs to be managed
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7
Q

Sauvignon Blanc
Describe the typical style of the final wine (intensity, aromas, acidity, body, alcohol)

A
  • Pronounced intensity
  • Grass, bell pepper, asparagus, gooseberry, grapefruit and wet stone flavours (cooler areas) to riper, passion fruit (warmer areas)
  • High acidity
  • Medium body
  • Medium alcohol
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8
Q

Sauvignon Blanc
How can growers influence the variety’s aromas?

A
  • Vineyard, row orientation and canopy management (shadier: more green pepper and grassy notes, more sunlight: tropical fruit
  • Picking date for optimum ripeness
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9
Q

Pinot Noir
Describe the typical style of wine (color, intensity, aromas, acidity, alcohol, price)

A
  • Medium ruby
  • Light to medium intensity
  • Raspberry and strawberry fruit
  • High acidity
  • Medium alcohol
  • Mid- to premium priced
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10
Q

Winemaking
How are white wines typically produced? (fermentation temps, malo, ageing)

A
  • Slightly higher fermentation temps than in new world -> more restrained fruit expression
  • Malo mostly blocked
  • Higher quality may be aged in old oak (new oak rarely used)
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11
Q

Sancerre AOC
What type of wines are produced and from what varieties?

A
  • White: Sauvignon Blanc ONLY
  • Red and Rosé: Pinot Noir ONLY
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12
Q

Sancerre AOC
What variety was historically planted? Why not anymore?

A
  • Pinot Noir
  • Phylloxera
  • Then replanted with Sauvignon Blanc
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13
Q

Sancerre AOC
Where are vineyards located and why is it beneficial?

A
  • Steep slopes at 200-400m altitude
  • River nearby -> moderating influence against spring frost
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14
Q

Sancerre AOC
What are the max yields for white, rosé, and red wines?

A
  • White: 65 hL/ha
  • Rosé: 63 hL/ha
  • Red: 59 hL/ha
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15
Q

Sancerre AOC
What impact do the high max yields on grape growing have?

A
  • Sauvignon Blanc: capable of producing sufficient intensity
  • Pinot Noir: yields have to be limited
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16
Q

Sancerre AOC
Describe the typical style of Sancerre white wine (intensity, aromas, acidity, alcohol, oak, quality, price)

A
  • Medium intensity
  • Grapefruit and gooseberry
  • High acidity
  • Medium alcohol
  • Rarely new oak
  • Good to outstanding quality
  • Mid-price to premium (some super-premium)
17
Q

Sancerre AOC
Name two significant producers

A
  • Didier Dagueneau
  • François Cotat
18
Q

Sancerre AOC
Name the three main soil types

A
  • Caillottes
  • Terre Blanches
  • Silex
19
Q

Sancerre AOC
Describe the properties of the soil “Caillottes” and what wines it is able to produce

A
  • Very shallow soils (25–40 mm) over limestone
  • Most aromatic wines
  • Early drinking and low ageing potential
20
Q

Sancerre AOC
Describe the properties of the soil “Terre Blanches” and what wines it is able to produce

A
  • Limestone and marl (as in Chablis)
  • Slow ripening
  • Most structured wines
  • Need long maturation before they are ready to drink and age well
21
Q

Sancerre AOC
Name the two most famous vineyards and the soil type they have

A
  • Côte des Monts Damnés
  • Cul de Beaujeu
  • Terre Blanches
22
Q

Sancerre AOC
Describe the properties of the soil “Silex” and what wines it is able to produce

A
  • Flinty soils
  • Accumulates heat and leads to early ripening
  • Wines with stony or smoky aromas
23
Q

Pouilly-Fumé AOC
What type of wines are produced and what are the max yields?

A
  • Sauvignon Blanc ONLY
  • Max yield: 65 hL/ha
24
Q

Pouilly-Fumé AOC
What is a problem compared to Sancerre?

A

Flatter land -> more prone to frost

25
Q

Pouilly-Fumé AOC
Describe the typical style of wine compared to Sancerre

A
  • Very similar
  • Little bit rounder and less aromatic
  • Often needs more time in bottle
26
Q

Reuilly AOC
What types of wines are produced and from what varieties?

A
  • White: Sauvignon Blanc ONLY
  • Red: Pinot Noir ONLY
  • Rosé: Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir
27
Q

Quincy AOC
What types of wines are produced and from what varieties?

A
  • White ONLY:
  • Min 90% Sauvignon Blanc
  • Sauvignon Gris
28
Q

Reuilly AOC & Quincy AOC & Menetou-Salon AOC
What are the max yields?

A

65 hL/ha

29
Q

Reuilly AOC & Quincy AOC & Menetou-Salon AOC
What is the typical quality and price level of wines?

A
  • Good to very good quality
  • Inexpensive to mid-priced
30
Q

Wine Business - LOIRE
What are the main businesses involved? What is the trend?

A
  • Négociants (50%)
  • Estates (40%)
  • Distinction between the two is blurring as more estates act as négociants as well
31
Q

Wine Business - LOIRE
How much is exported and what are the top export markets?

A
  • 20%
  • US, UK, Germany
32
Q

Wine Business - LOIRE
What appellation outperforms all other regarding export by volume and price?

A

Sancerre