France Regions Flashcards
Bordeaux General Style and climate
Bordeaux vs Bordeaux Superieur
Main varietals: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon, Muscadelle
Moderate Maritime climate
Classifications by estate or Chateaux
Mostly red wines with fuller bodies and higher tannins. Lots of Merlot (right bank), Cabernet Sauvignon (left bank), Cabernet Franc (Saint Emillion), Petit Verdot (less planting). Mostly blends of red grapes.
Whites are Semillion and Suavignon Blanc with a little Moscadelle. Some dry white wines, but the best are sweet (Sauternes).
Bordeaux is the overall generic appellation. Bordeaux Superieur is the same area, but has stricter rules and higher alcohol requirements. Both are usually early drinking, medium bodied, with ripe red and black fruit.
Medoc General Style, climate, and vineyard characteristics
Haut Medoc General Style, etc.
What country and larger region are they part of?
Sub-regions of Haut Medoc?
Medoc - North of the city of Bordeaux. Moderate maritime climate. Mostly clay soil but with some areas of gravel. Higher proportion of Merlot than Haut Medoc. More early-drinking wines also.
Haut-Medoc - more traditional high-end left bank wines. More Cabernet Sauvignon. Blackcurrant and cedar notes. Grippy tannins with a long aging potential.
France, Bordeaux, left bank, western most area. Northern most area of the left-bank
Haut-Medoc also contains Saint-Estephe, Pauillac, Saint-Julien, and Margaux
Graves General Style, climate, and vineyard characteristics
What country and larger region is it part of?
Sub-regions of Graves?
Moderate maritime climate. Fuller bodied red wines, but lighter than Haut Medoc. The main Graves area is to the south and makes less concentrated and less complex wines with more Merlot.
France, Bordeaux, Left Bank, south end of left bank.
Sub regions: Pessac Leognan, most highly rated in Graves. Gravelly soil. More fruity wines than Haut-Medoc to the north.
Saint Emilion General Style, climate, and vineyard characteristics
What country and larger region is it part of?
Sub-regions of Saint Emilion?
Moderate maritime climate. Merlot and Cabernet Franc. 3 areas with different soils, warm well drained gravel to the north, clay limestone soils to the south and east, sandy soils on the foot of the escarpment. Best wines from the north clay soil and south-east sandy soil. Best have medium to high tannins, but less structured than the best left bank wines. Soft and rich texture with red berry and plum, developing tobacco and cedar notes when aging.
France, Bordeaux, Right bank, west of the city of Bordeaux and more inland than left bank.
Pomerol - Richer, spicier blackberry fruit vs Saint Emilion
Sauternes General Style, climate, and vineyard characteristics
What country and larger region is it part of?
Sub-regions of Sauternes?
Moderate maritime climate. Very sweet white wines showing Noble Rot on good years. Passerillage (drying on vine) helps concentrate flavors when Noble Rot doesn’t happen. Mostly Semillion due to thin skin and Botrytis susceptibility. Sauvignon Blanc added for acidity and fruit aromas. Muscadelle sometimes added for “exotic perfume”. Notes of apricot, citrus peel, noble rot. Toast and vanilla from oak.
France, Bordeaux, Left Bank, southern part of left bank.
Barsac - can use Barsac or Sauternes on labels.
Cotes de Bordeaux General Style, climate, and vineyard characteristics
What country and larger region is it part of?
Sub-regions of Cotes de Bordeaux?
Lesser known appelations grouped several villages together under this label. Blaye, Cadillac, Castillion, and Frances can use the name. Merlot based meant for early drinking. The best wines are a good value.
France, Bordeaux
Entre-Deux-Mers is between the rivers and makes premium white wines. Usually Sauvignon Blanc based and unoaked.
The Dordogne and South West of France, describe the general style of wine from here and general climate
What are the key sub-regions
The Dordogne: Similar climate to Bordeaux, but less maritime influence to moderate it. East of Entre-Deus-Mers.
Sub-regions:
* Bergerac which is the general name for most of the red and whites using the same varietals as in Bordeaux.
* Monbazillac for botrytised sweet wines from Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc
Southwest France:
* Cahors, even further east from Bordeaux. Tannic and long lived wines made with Malbec, Merlot, and Tannat.
* Cotes de Gascogne, IGP wines. Generally white from Ugni Blanc
* Madiran, further south towards the Pyrenees. Red wines made deeply colored with Tannat. Harsh tannins needing long bottle aging
* Jurancon, Pyrenees foothills. Sweet and dry white wines. Best are sweet whites from Petit Manseng. Has high acid and usually made sweet by Passerillage. Apricot and grapefruit aromas with some new oak contributing spicy notes.
Burgandy General Style and climate
What is Bourgogne?
What are the classification sub-regions in Burgandy?
Key grapes: Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, rarely blended
Pinot Noir has red fruit flavors in youth that evolve into earth, game, and mushroom when developing. Usually high acidity and low to medium tannins, but that varies by producer and vineyard.
Chardonnay varies a lot by producer, and can include barrel fermentation, barrel aging, malolactic conversion, and lees maturation.
Climate: cool continental in the north (Chablis) to moderate continental in the south. Rain can disrupt flowering and harvest. Grey rot issues with Pinot Noir. Weather hazards of Spring Frost and occasional localized hail.
Classification includes Bourgogne Rouge and Bourgogne Blanc for generic wines from anywhere in Burgandy. Regional appellations with more restricted areas include Bourgogne Hautes Cotes de Nuits, Bourgogne Hautes Cotes de Beaune, Bourgogne Cote d’Or, and Bourgogne Cote Chalonnaise. Sub-region of Maconnais includes Macon for red and white wines and Macon Villages for whites only.
Grand crus and premier crus represent the best vineyards.
Chablis General Style, climate, and vineyard characteristics
What country and larger region is it part of?
Sub-classifications of Chablis?
Village appellation that allows only Chardonnay. Best vineyards have steep slopes with south facing aspects. Some lesser vineyards are classified Petit Chablis. Frost is a big problem. Basic versions are grown on north facing slopes and flat land. Premier and Grand cru vineyards are south facing giving greater ripeness and concentration. Usually green fruit and high acidity. South facing gives more ripe flavors and citrus notes. Oak aging and fermentation vessels vary by producer depending on desired style.
Cote d’Or General Style and climate
What are the large sub-regions in Cote d’Or?
Similar to overall Burgandy. Moderate continental. Mastif Central mountain range provides slopes.
Cote de Nuits is in the north and is mostly Pinot Noir. North to south villages are Gevrey-Chambertin, Vougeot, Vosne-Romanee, and Nuits-Saint-Georges
Cote de Beaune produces some fruitier Pinot Noir, but is mostly known for top-tier Chardonnay. North to south villages: Aloxe-Corton, Beaune, Pommard, Volnay, Meursault, Puligny-Montrachet, Chassagne-Montrachet
All but one red grand cru is in the north and all but one white grand cru is in the south.
Côtes de Nuits General Style, climate, and vineyard characteristics
What country and larger region is it part of?
Sub-regions of Côtes de Nuits?
Cool to moderate continental climate
Mostly pinot noir, with a little chardonnay. All grand crus for Burgundy for red wines except one. Also has only one white grand cru.
France, Burgundy, Cote d’Or, northern part of Cote d’Or.
Cote de Nuits-Villages can be red or white wines. They lie on the Cote de Nuits, but do not qualify for one of the more famous appellations (sub regions below).
Sub regions: Côte de Nuits-Villages,
Gevrey-Chambertin, Vougeot,
Vosne-Romanée, Nuits-Saint-Georges
Côtes de Beaune General Style, climate, and vineyard characteristics
What country and larger region is it part of?
Sub-regions of Côtes de Beaune?
France, Burgundy, Cote d’Or, southern part of Cote d’Or.
Fruiter style Pinot Noir. Only one grand cru for red wines. More known for Chardonnay. Contains all except one of the white grand crus in Burgundy.
Moderate continental climate.
Pommard and Volnay produce only white wines. Aloxe-Corton, Beaune, Meursault, Puligny-Montrachet, and Chassagne-Montrachet produce red and whites.
Côte Chalonnaise General Style, climate, and vineyard characteristics
What country and larger region is it part of?
Sub-regions of Côte Chalonnaise?
Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. South of Cote d’Or. High altitude so has later harvest and issues with ripening. Lighter and earlier maturing wines than Cote d’Or.
Key sub-regions: Rully (more white and sparkling wines), Mercurey (best red wines in the region), Givry (smallest, makes good red wines), Montagny (only white wines). Some have premier cru vineyards, but no grand crus.
Wines from here are labeled Bourgogne Cote Chalonnaise for both red and whites and is considered a regional appellation.
Maconnais General Style, climate, and vineyard characteristics
What country and larger region is it part of?
Sub-regions of Maconnais?
Moderate Continental climate.
Whites are Chardonnay. Reds are Gamay with some Pinot Noir.
France, Burgundy, South of Cote d’Or
Sub-region of Macon has both reds and whites. Better whites show fresh apple or citrus fruit, medium acidity, and medium to full body. May have creaminess from Malolactic conversion. Reds are usually light and fruity for early drinking.
Macon Villages (or Macon followed by the village name) are whites considered to be a good value. Generally more ripeness, body, and character than the general Macon appellation.
Pouilly-Fuisse has several grand cru vineyards. It along with Saint-Veran display ripe notes of tropical and stone fruits and are generally aged in oak barrels. Vines are planted on limestone slopes of the Roche de Solutre with east and south-east exposures. Considered the richest and ripest of the white Burgundys.
Beaujolais General Style, climate, and vineyard characteristics
What country and larger region is it part of?
Sub-regions of Beaujolais?
Both red and whites are allowed, but mostly red Gamay. Moderate continental climate.
Gamay has fragrant aromas of raspberry and cherry fruit. Usually medium or lower tannins and body. Lightest styles can be served chilled. Carbonic Maceration is common. Carbonic maceragion gives notes of kirsch, bananna, and cinnamon like spices.
Beaujolais Nouveau is specifically made for early drinking.
France, Beaugolais, it’s south of Burgundy.
Beaugolais Villages are from specific villages, though the names rarely appear on labels.
Ten crus with the key ones being Brouilly, Morgon, Fleurie, and Moulin-a-Vent. Moulin-a-Vent and Morgon make the most structured wines.
