France: The Loire Valley & Central France Flashcards
What are the four official sub-regions of The Loire Valley?
- Pays Nantais
- Anjou-Saumur
- Touraine
- Central Vineyards
What is the latitude of the majority of vineyards in the Loire Valley?
Most vineyards lie on the 47th parallel.
Describe the climate of Pays Nantais.
Cool maritime climate with cool springs, warm and humid summers and the threat of rain at any time through the growing season but especially in March/April (affecting flowering) and in September (affecting harvest).
What are the main climactic hazards experienced in the Pays Nantais?
- Untimely rainfall (affecting flowering and harvest)
- Spring frosts
How to the growers of the Pay Nantais combat against Spring frosts?
Wind machines and burning straw bales
What is the most important grape variety of the Pays Nantais?
Melon
Also known as Melon B, Melon de Bourgogne, Muscadet, Gamay Blanc
What are the viticultural characteristics of the Melon variety?
- Early budding (susceptible to frosts) early-mid ripening (avoids rain).
- Hardy - suitable for cool climates
- Good resistance to powdery mildew
- Susceptible to downey and botrytis
Describe the wines made from Melon.
Melon makes a wine with high acidity, a light body and low to the low end of medium alcohol. The wines typically have low aromatic intensity (green apple) and are often made sur lie.
The wines are acceptable to good in quality, with some very good examples, and inexpensive to mid-priced.
Is chaptilisation permitted in Pays Nantais?
Yes, up to 12% abv potential alcohol and is practised in cooler years.
How are wines from Muscadet typically made?
Muscadet is typically fermented and aged in large, shallow underground glass-lined concrete vats, though stainless steel is also used. The idea is to keep the wine as neutral as possible and then to age the wine on the lees. Malolactic conversion is typically avoided, preserving the high acidity typical of the style.
How is sur lie practiced in Muscadet?
After the alcoholic fermentation is completed,
one racking is allowed to remove the gross lees. After this, the wine remains in contact with
the fine lees through the following winter and until bottling.
What is the affect of sur lie on the wines of Muscadet?
Sur lie is a way of filling out the body of what
would otherwise be very light-bodied wines.
Ageing on the lees also retains the freshness of the wine and may retain a small amount of carbon dioxide, which is part of the
style of these wines.
What are the four Muscadet appellations?
- Muscadet
- Muscadet Sevre et Maine
- Muscadet Côtes de Grandlieu
- Muscadet Coteaux de la Loire
What are the max. yields per hectare for the Muscadet appellations?
70hL/ha for Muscadet AOP
55hL/ha for Muscadet Sevre et Maine, Côtes de Grandlieu and Coteaux de la Loire
What are the sur lie requirements for Muscadet?
- The wine must be kept on its lees (in either tank or barrel) after fermentation until at least March 1 of the year following the harvest
- The wine is bottled directly off its fine lees between March 1 and December 31 of the year following the harvest, and not marketed until at least March 8
What are the eight official Muscadet Sevre-et-Main subzones, plus those awaiting ratification?
Clisson, Gorges, Le Pallet, Goulaine, Mouzillon-Tillières, Monnières-Saint-Fiacre, Château-Thébaud
Champtoceaux, La Haye Fouassière, Vallet awaiting ratification.
What are the elevage requirements for the Muscadet Sevre-et-Main subzones?
- Goulaine and Le Pallet: Wines must be aged on their fine lees until at least April 1 of the second year following the harvest
- Gorges, Clisson, Mouzillon-Tillières, Monnières-Saint-Fiacre, and Château-Thébaud: Wines must be aged on their fine lees until at least October 1 of the second year following the harvest
What are the soils in Pays Nantais?
Granite, gneiss, multicolored schist, slate, and pudding stones all originating from the Armorican Massif.
Which white grape variety is permitted to be blended with Melon in Muscadet AOP?
Chardonnay (max. 10%).
Where is Muscadet Côtes de Grandlieu?
Within the Muscadet AOP boundary.
Where is Muscadet Sevré et Maine?
Directly west of Muscadet, south-west of the city of Nantes
Where is Muscadet Coteaux de la Loire?
Directly north of Muscadet Sevré et-Maine, north west of the city of Muscadet.
Which AOP is within the boundary of Muscadet Coteaux de la Loire?
Coteaux d’Ancenis
Where is the Gros Plant du Pays Nantais located?
Gros Plant du Pays Nantais shares the same boundary at Muscadet AOP.