France - Loire Valley: Central Vineyards Flashcards
1
Q
Location
Number of AOCs (main AOCs)
Principal varieties
A
- Location: furthermost eastern grape growing area in the Loire region; called CV because they are half-way through between the river’s source and mouth.
- 8 AOCs; the best known are Sancerre and Pouilly-Fume, also with the most ha under vine.
- Principal varieties: Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir.
2
Q
Climate (inc day length, rainfall)
Main climatic hazards (3)
A
- Continental climate: cold winters / warm summers.
- long growing-season day lengths: compared to Bordeaux and even more so to Marlborough, NZ.
- rainfall: surprisingly high for a continental climate: 750mm / year, reducing the chances of drought
- Climatic hazards: a) spring frost; b) summer hailstorms; c) high rainfall - fungal diseases.
3
Q
Budding & ripening
Advantages (2)
Disadvantages (2) inc diseases (3)
Flavour characteristics
Plantings (in %)
A
- late budding / early ripening
- advantages: a) less vulnerable to spring frost; b) less vulnerable to autumnal rain.
- disadvantages: a) very vigorous - excessively grown canopy can cause shading - underripe / overly green flavours; b) prone to powdery mildew, Esca and eutypa dieback.
- represents 70% of the plantings in the Central Vineyards.
- flavour charecteristics: pronounced intensity, aromas of grass, bell pepper, asparagus, gooseberry, grapefruit and wet stone (cooler areas); exotic fruit, passion fruit (warmer areas); typically med body, med alc, high acid.
4
Q
Budding & ripening
Advantages
Disadvantages
Flavour characteristics
Plantings (in %)
A
- early budding / early ripening.
- advantages: a) less vulnerable to autumnal rain; b) can produce high quality wines, expressive of time and place; c) suitable for cooler climates (ripens early).
- disadvantages: a) vulnerable to spring frost; b) loss of flavour intensity with higher yields; c) susceptible to echaudage; d) very delicate, prone to millerandage, downy and powdery mildew, botrytis, fan leaf and leaf roll viruses; e) it tends to ripen too fast (in warmer climates) loosing flavour intensity.
- flavour characteristics: medium ruby, light to medium intensity, raspberry and strawberry, high acid, med alc.
- represents 20% of the plantings in the Central Vineyards.
5
Q
Fermantation temp
Malolactic conversion
Fermentation vessels
Ageing vessels (2)
A
- fermentation temp: slightly higher than in the NW (upper part of cool to lower part of mid range) for restrained fruit expression.
- Malo conversation: will often be blocked; some producers will allow it (vintage and style dependant).
- fermentation vessels: neutral, typically stainless steel.
- ageing vessels: a) old oak (sometimes with lees work) for higher quallity / long ageing wines; b) some producers will use a proportion of new oak.
6
Q
Location
Permitted varieties & styles
Topographic influences (3)
Yields (white, rose and red)
Wine style
Quality & price levels
Pre-phyloxera
Post 1950’s & 60’s
A
- location: left bank of the Loire River (east to west).
- Permitted varieties: a) Sauvignon Blanc; b) Pinot Noir.
- Permitted styles: white, red and rose.
- topographic factors offer moderating influence against spring frost: a) steep hillside slopes (200 - 400m ASL); b) Loire River (moderating influence); c) nearby forests (moderating influence).
- yields: a) white = 65 hL/ha; b) rose = 63 hL/ha; c) red = 59 hL/ha.
- wine style: med intensity, grapefruit, gooseberry, med alc, high acid.
- quality level: good to outstanding.
- price level: mid- priced to premium, with a few super-premium.
- Pre-phyloxera: area was planted with Pinot Noir.
- 1950’s & 60’s onwards: wines were successfully promoted in Paris, then France, then the rest of the world.
7
Q
3 types of soils:
Characteristics, famous vineyards and style produced
A
- Caillottes: a) very shallow, over limestone; b) style: produces the most aromtic wine and are first to be ready to drink; less potential for ageing.
- Terre Blanches: a) same limestone / marl found in Chablis; b) some of the most famous vineyards (Cote des Monts Damnes, Cul de Beaujeu); b) style: slow ripening produces to most structured wines that need maturation before drinking - good ageing potential.
- Silex: a) flinty soils that accumulate heat; b) famous vineyard - Les Romains; c) style: produces wines with stony or smoky aromas.
8
Q
Location
Permitted variety
Topographic influences (2) and soil types (3)
Yield
Wine style
Quality & price levels
A
- location: right bank of the Loire (east to west).
- permitted variety: Sauvignon Blanc.
- topographic influences: a) flatter land then Sancerre; b) more prone to frost damage; c) same soil range as Sancerre.
- yield: 65 hL/ha (same as Sancerre).
- style: similar style as Sancerre, but a little rounder, less aromatic and usually need more time in (6-12 months) in bottle to start to show.
- quality: good to oustanding (similar to Sancerre).
- price: mid-priced to premium, with a few super premium.
9
Q
Location
Permitted varieties (3)
Permitted styles (3)
Yields (white, rose, red)
A
- location: west of Menetou-Salon, on the left bank of the river Cher (from west to east).
- permitted varieties a) Sauvignon Blanc; b) Pinot Noir; c) Pinot Gris.
- permitted styles: a) white (100% Sauvingon Blanc); b) rose (Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris); c) red (100% Pinot Noir)
- yields: a) white = 65 hL/ha; b) rose = 63 hL/ha; c) 59 hL/ha.
10
Q
Location
Permitted varieties (2)
Permitted styles (1)
Yield
A
- location: west of Menetou-Salon, left bank of river Cher.
- permitted varieties: a) Sauvignon Blanc; b) Sauvignon Gris.
- permitted styles: white (min 90% Sauvignon Blanc).
- yield: 65 hL/ha.
11
Q
Location
Permitted varieties (2)
Permitted styles (2)
Yields (white, rose and red)
Tophographic factors (2)
Quality level
Price level
A
- location: west of Sancerre, on the left bank of Loire.
- permitted varieties: a) Sauvignon Blanc; b) Pinot Noir.
- permitted styles: a) white (100% Sauvignon Blanc); b) rose (100% Pinot Noir); c) red (100% Pinot Noir).
- yields: a) white = 65 hL/ha; b) rose = 63 hL/ha; c) red = 59 hL/ha.
- topographic factors: a) locatted on flatter land than Sancerre; b) vineyards planted on south facing gentle slopes.
- quality level: good to v. good
- price level: inexpensive to mid-priced.
12
Q
Cru system in Central Vineyards
Importance of individual vineyards
Examples of famous sites
A
- no cru system in the appellations of the Central Vineyards.
- individual vineyards are growing in importance: producers are releasing wines from single vineyards.
- important vineyards: a) Chene Marchand, Les Monts Damnes, Le Belles Dames.
