France - The Southwest Flashcards
1
Q
Location
Principal appellations (6)
Overall climate
Different extent of the atlantic influence in the region
A
- location: all the other appellations in south west France, except Bordeaux
- appellations: a) The Dordogne (Bergerac / Cotes de Bergerac & Monbazillac; b) Cotes de Gascogne; c) Madiran: d) Jurancon.
- overall climate: subcontinental, influenced by the Atlantic.
- Atlantic influence: a) south of Bordeaux, greater influence (up to 100km inland) due to the flatter terrain; b) east of Bordeaux (The Dordogne and Cahors) the influence diminishes due to the distance from the ocean (less rain, warmer summers).
2
Q
Location
Main appellations (3)
Main varities (5 black, 2 white)
Overall style
A
- location: east of Entre-Deux-Mers
- main appellations: a) Bergerac; b) Cotes de Bergerac; c) Monbazillac.
- permitted varieties: same as Bordeaux.
- style: similar to Bordeaux.
3
Q
Location
Permitted varieties (same as Bordeaux: 3 white / 4 black)
Permitted styles (4)
Topographic influences (1)
Yields (white & red)
Domestic x international markets
Quality level
Price level
A
- location: right & left banks of the Dordogne.
- permitted varieties: a) white = sauvignon blan, semillon, muscadelle; b) black: Cab Sav, Cab Franc, Malbec and Merlot.
- permitted styles: a) white; b) red (at lest two of the grapes above); c) rose; d) sweet white.
- some local varieties are permitted
- topographic influences: a) soil types: clay and limestone with some gravel.
- yields (similar to Bordeaux); a) white = 67 hL/ha; b) red = 60 hL/ha.
- domestic x international markets: 90% x 10%.
- domestic market = 90% a) supermarket = over 50%; b) direct sales = under 30%; c) hostpitality & specialist shops = 10%.
- international markets: China, Belgium and UK.
- quality level: good to v. good.
- price level: inexpensive to mid-priced.
4
Q
Location
Permitted varieties (same as Bergerac = 3 white / 4 black with one difference)
Predominant black variety
Permitted styles (4)
Yields (white & red)
Quality level
Price level
Oak ageing
A
- location: same as Bergerac = right and left banks of the Dordogne.
- permitted varieties: a) white = Sauvignon Blanc, Semillion and Muscadelle; b) black varieties = Cab Sav, Cab Franc, Merlot and Malbec. NO LOCAL VARIETIES PERMITTED.
- Most wines are predominantly Merlot.
- permitted styles: white, red, rose and sweet white.
- yield: lower than Bergerac = 50 hL/ha.
- quality level: good to v. good.
- price level: inexpensive to mid-priced.
- oak ageing: used by some producers
5
Q
Location
Permitted varieties (4)
Permitted styles (1)
Topographic influences (3)
Yields
Domestic x international markets
Quality level
Price level
A
- location: left bank of the Dordogne, nestled in Bergerac AOC.
- principal varieties: a) Sauvignon Blanc; b) Semillon; c) Sauvignon Gris; d) Muscadelle.
- permitted style: sweet white wine only (min 80% of the principal varities).
- topographic influences: a) situated between Dordogne and a tributary; b) moist air is funelled in along the river; c) warm late summer / early autumn burns off the humidity, creating condiitions for noble rot.
- yield: 30 hL/ha
- quality level: good to v. good
- price level: inexpensive to mid-priced.
- differences between Monbazillac and sweet wines from Bordeaux: a) fermentation in NFO is less common; b) reduced production costs and less famous = wines are less expensive.
6
Q
Location
Permitted varieties
Wine business from middle ages to 19th century
Reasons for decline from 19th century onwards
Current picture
A
- southwest of Bordeaux, right / left bank of the river Lot, a Garone tributary.
- permitted varieties: Malbec, Tannat and Merlot.
- from middle ages to 19th century: a) Cahors produced a great deal of wine; b) it was transported on the Lot / Garone to Bordeaux and exported from there.
- reasons for decline (vineyard area reduced to 1/10 of original size: a) competition from Bordeaux (taxes + export restrictions); b) phylloxera; c) devastating frost in 1956.
- 4,000 ha under vine; further 18,000 ha currently not planted.
- Malbec: 85% of hectares under vine.
- Cahors is the only French appellation in which Malbec is the principal grape variety.
7
Q
Climatic considerations (3)
Topographic considerations (3)
Vineyard management (4 = include reasons for use of machine harvesting)
A
- climatic considerations: a) sub-continental climate, with some atlantic influence; b) warmer & drier than Bordeaux; c) lower rainfall = less pressure from fungal diseases.
- topographic considerations: a) valley floor = rich alluvial soils (higher yields, lower concentration); b) mid slope = poorer soils (lower yields, higher concentration); c) highest plateau = just below 350m ASL, low nutrient, well-drained limestone soils (lower yields, higher concentration).
- vineyard management: a) single Guyot =. more common; b) machine harvesting widely used on flatter land; c) hand harvesting depends on = 1) price of the wine; 2) site accessibility; 3) weather conditions; 4) labour availability; d) 17% of vineyards are organic, above French average
8
Q
Budding & ripening
Advantages (3) & disadvantages (3)
Flavour characteristics
A
- early budding / mid-ripening.
- advantages: a) less vulnerable to autumnal rains; b) afinity with oak; c) can produce wines with great ageability.
- disadvantages: a) vulnerable to spring frost; b) susceptible to coulure, c) vigorous variety.
- flavour characteristics: deep ruby in colour, med to pronounced aromas (depending on quality level) of red & black plum, violet, med to med (+) acidity, med (+) to high tannins.
9
Q
Blend (2 factors)
Destemming requirement (2 reasons)
Causes of underripe grapes (2)
Early drinking wines (2 winemaking characteristics)
Wines with ageability (2 winemaking characteristics)
A
- Blend: a) must be a minimum of 70% Malbec, with rest being Merlot and/or Tannat; b) top quaity wines are increasingly 90-100% Malbec.
- destemming is required by law to eliminate underripe grapes.
- causes for underripe grapes: a) in the past: cool seasons; b) nowadays: lack of water prevents full ripeness.
- early drinking wines: a) uses Merlot in the blend; b) typically 7-10 days on skins for limited tannin extraction.
- wines with ageability: a) 15-25 days on skins for greater extraction; b) some oak could be used in both fermentation and maturation.
10
Q
Production by vol (private x coop)
Marketing initiatives (2)
Quality levels (3 - describe)
Domestic (2 chanels) x International markets
A
- production (by vol): a) 80% by private companies; b) 20% by a single coop (Cooperative des Vignerons d’Olt).
- marketing: a) Cahors, the French Malbec; b) Cahors, The Capital of Malbec.
- 3 levels of quality (voluntary code):
a) Tradition: inexpensive, 70-85% Malbec, often grown on rich alluvial soils (higher yield, lower concentration).
b) Prestige: mid- priced, often grown on the mid-slope.
c) Speciale: often 100% Malbec premium priced, often grown on the highest plateau. - 70% by vol sold in domestic market: a) supermarkets; b) direct sales.
- 30% by vol sold internationally: UK, Canada and USA.
11
Q
Location
Climate (3 considerations)
Topography (4 considerations inc. soil type)
A
- location: south of Cotes de Gascogne, 80km from the Atlantic.
- climate: a) sub-continental (sunny summers, dry autumns); b) warm days, cool nights; c) influenced by the Fohn (hot, dry southern wind).
- topographic factors: a) in sight of the Pyrenees mountain range; b) 4 large parallel ridges, north to south; c) steep west-facing slopes; d) soil types: 1) slopes: clay & limestone (tannic wines, suitable for long ageing); 2) flatter land: clayn and loam (less tannic, early drinking wines).
12
Q
Budding & ripening
Advantages (3) & disadvantages (2)
Flavour characteristics
A
- budding n/a, mid-ripening.
- advantages: a) can be harvested before autumn rains; b) has afinity with oak; c) can produce wines with ageability.
- disadvantages: a) vigorous; b) vulnerable to botrytis; b) highly tannic variety.
- Flavour characteristics: deep ruby in colour, pronounced aromas of blueberry, blackberry plus oak flavours; high tannnins, high acid and medium (top end) to high alc..
- early drinking, more accessible wines are also made.
13
Q
Most planted varieties
Most common styles
Madiran AOC Winemaking (4)
Tehcniques for softening tannins
Techiniques for achieving eary drining wines
A
- most planted varieties: a) Tannat; b) Cab Franc; c) Cab Sauv; d) Fer.
- permitted styles: a) red; b) sweet white (Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh).
- Winemaking (Madiran AOC): a) must be 60-80% Tannat; b) blended with Cab Franc / Sauv and Fer; c) grapes must be destemmed; d) wines can only be sold from November (in the year following the harvest).
- techniques for softening tannins: a) shorter maceration; b) micro-oxygenation; c) oak maturation; d) bottle ageing.
- how to achieve early drinking wines: a) picking ripest grapes; b) short maceration; c) gentle pressing; d) micro-oxygenation.
14
Q
Domestic x export markets
Domestic market channels (3)
Top export markets (3)
Production by vol (Coops x private)
A
- sales (by vol): a) export = 80%; b) domestic market = 20%.
- domestic market channels: a) supermarkets = 50%;
b) hospitality = 25%; c) direct sales / specialist shops = 25%. - top export markets: a) UK; b) Germany; c) Belgium.
- production (by vol): 50% coops x 50% private growers
15
Q
Location
Styles produced (3)
Sweet x dry styles (in %)
Principal varieties (3)
Jurancon Vendange Tardives (style)
Jurancon AOC (style)
A
- location: south of Madiran, on the foothills of the Pyrenees.
- sweet x dry styles: a) 70% sweet & med-sweet; b) 30% dry.
- 3 styles: a) Jurancon Vendanges Tardives (sweet); b) Jurancon (med sweet); c) Jurancon Sec (dry).
- principal varieties: a) Gros Manseng; b) Petit Manseng; c) other local varieties.
- Jurancon Vendange Tardives: sweet, intense aromas of lemon, mango, high acid, full body, med (top end) to high alc; v. good to outstanding and mid-priced to premium.
- Jurancon AOC: medium sweet, similar aromas, good to v. good, inexpensive to mid-priced.
16
Q
Climate - considerations (4)
Geography - considerations (5, soil types inc)
Effects of the Fohn wind
Considerations on harvest (5)
Factors enabling passerillage (3)
A
- climate: a) mild sub-continental, with maritime profile (humid, rain spread throughout the year); b) high rainfall (1,200mm / year); c) rain can disrupt flowering / fruit set & harvest; d) due to altitude, frost is a risk.
- geographic factors: a) vineyards planted at 300m ASL; b) vneyards planted on slopes (drainage); c) some slopes are steet (terracing); d) best sites are south - southwest facing;
e) Fohn wind; f) soil types: 1) limestone, sand, clay and stones. - Fohn wind: a) hot & dry; b) blows in spring and autumn (1 in 3 days); c) dries the air / ventilates the canopy; d) raises the temperature
- harvest; a) manual (for sweet wines); b) several passages (raises costs); c) 1st selection: October (dry and some sweet wines); d) 2nd & 3rd selections: November & December; e) last two passes to pick dried grapes (passerillage).
- factors that enable passerillage: a) prolonged hung-time; b) autumn sunshine; c) drying effect of the Fohn wind.
17
Q
Petit Manseng
Budding & ripening
Advantages (3) and disadvantages (2)
Flavour characteristics
Gros Manseng
A
Petit Manseng
- early budding, mid - late ripening.
- advantages: a) thick skins (less vulnerable to botrytis); b) retains high acid (suitable for sweet winemaking); c) high potential alc.
- disadvantages: a) vulnerable to spring frost; b) high potential alc (could loose balance, depending on picking date).
- flavour characteristics moderate intensity of lemon, mango, full body (sweet wines), high acid, high alc.
Gros Manseng
- shares characteristics with Petit, but with higher yields and less aroma / flavour concentration.
- mainly used for dry wines.
18
Q
Varieties permitted in the blend
Jurancon Sec (style, yield)
Jurancon AOC (style, yield and min RS)
Vendange Tardives (style, yield, min RS, harvesting, must intervention)
Premium sweet winemaking considerations (5)
Dry white winemaking considerations (3)
A
- All 3 styles must be at least 50% of Petit and/or Gros Manseng; in practice, they are solely used for a majority of the wines.
- Jurancon Sec: a) dry; b) yield: 60 hL/ha.
- Jurancon AOC: a) med sweet; b) min 40 g/L of RS;
c) yield: 40 hL/ha. - Jurancon Vendanges Tardives: a) sweet wine; b) min 55 g/L of RS (typically much higher); c) yield: 40 hL/ha; d) enrichment is not permitted; e) grapes may not be picked before 2 November.
- premium sweet wine: a) typicall 100% Pet Manseng; b) typically fermented in old barriques; c) typically aged in them for 12-18 months; d) NFO is occasionally used; e) Malo typically does not happen (high acid / low ph in the wines).
- dry white wines: a) quality is increasing; b) a small proportion of Petit Manseng may be included; c) typically aged on less in stainless steel.
19
Q
Domestic x international markets
Production by vol (coop x individual growers)
Increase in white wine production (2 reasons)
A
- domestic market absorbs the lion share of the production (supermarkets, hospitality and direct sales).
- small % is exported.
- production by volume: a) 1 coop (Cave de Gan) = 50%; b) small producers = 50%.
- more attention to dry white wine: a) competition from other more influencial sweet wine AOCs; b) sales of sweet wine are generally dercreasing.
20
Q
Location
Size of the appellation
Principal Varieties
Export x domestic markets
Style
A
- location: south of Bordeaux, left bank of the Garonne.
- the largest appellation in Southwest France (land under vines).
- principal varieties: a) Colombard; b) Sauvignon Blanc; c) Chardonnay (Petit & Gros Manseng can also be found here).
- majority of wines are exported.
- faces competition from other non-European countries.
- style: relatively neutral wines, med to med(+) in acid, acceptable to good, inexpensive to mid-priced.
