(FWS) Southwest France/Languedoc Flashcards
What style of wine is Bergerac AOC authorized for? Name all grapes allowed
Red and Rosé must contain at least two types of the following grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon & Franc, Merlot, Côt (Malbec), Fer Servadou, Mérille (aka Périgold)
True or False: Bergerac AOC wine must be greater than 10% abv and max crop is 3.3 tons/acre
True
This dry white AOC must contain at least two of the following varieties: Sémillon, Sauvignon, Muscadelle, Ondenc, Chenin Blanc, plus up to 25% Ugni Blanc
Bergerac Sec AOC (if Ugni Blanc is present, Sauvignon must also be present in at least the same amount)
What is Bergerac Sec AOC’s max yields and min. abv?
Max yields= 3.6 tons/acre (60 hl/ha)
at least 10% minimum alcohol/volume (abv)
Describe and talk about Saussignac AOC (grapes used, style, R.S, max yields)
(liquorex), Grapes used: Semillon, Sauvignon, Muscadelle,
R.S must be > 4.5% (45 g/L); wine must be 12% alc.
Max yields: 1.5 tons/acre; Style: Late Harvest or Bortrytis
Describe and talk about Rosette AOC (grapes used, R.S,max yields)
Sémillon, Sauvignon, and Muscadelle.
R.S must be between 0.8-5.4% (8-54 g.L)
Wines must achieve at least 11% alcohol and max yields is 2.4 tons/acre (40hl/ha)
Describe Monbazillac AOC
Style can be “Mouelleux” (grapes must be late harvest and/or botrytized but must be harvested by hand); R.S= 4.5% (45g/L)
“Liquorex” (hand harvested, botrytized grapes and needs to achieve R.S 8.5% (85 g/L)
Grapes: Semiilon, Sauvignon Blanc & Gris, Muscadelle
Min. for both wines set at 12% abv; max yield is 1.8 tons/acre (30hl/ha)
What is the AOC that is NE of Toulouse and east of Fronton and authorizes red, rosé, and dry, sweet sparkling whites?
Gaillac AOC
What is the name of the river in Gaillac where its vineyards flank both sides of it?
Tarn river
Name a few non-mainstream varieties that Gaillac grows
(white) Len de l’El (also called Loin de l’Oeil
(red) Duras, Prunelard, Fer
What is the main grape and which two are also allowed to make up the blend in Cahors AOC?
Min. 70% Malbec with up to 30% Merlot and/or Tannat added to blend.
True or False: The inky black wines of Cahors were favored by notable elite such as King Henry 2nd of England, Emperor Peter of Russia, and Pope John 22nd.
True
Name a few tasting notes one might get from tasting a Cahors
Tobacco, plum, prune, (hint of) green apple
Name two synonyms of Malbec
Côte
Auxerrois
Name some factors that influences the climate in Cahors
Influenced by both the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea with warm southerly breezes impacting and prolonging a sunny, dry Autumn.
The Lot River also tempers the climate by providing frost protection to those vineyards close to it.
In what year did the winter freeze wreak havoc upon vineyards of Bordeaux & SW France in general?
1956
True or False: Bordeaux did not re-plant Malbec after the freeze year- but Cahors did and as a result, most Malbec vines in AOC are 60 years of age
True
What is the two grapes MUST comprise more than 50% of the blend in Jurançon Sec?
Petit Manseng
Gros Manseng
What style is Jurançon sec? (what is sugar % at harvest?)
Dry whites (harvested at 18.7% sugar)
Name the other grapes allowed in Jurançon sec other than Petit Manseng and Gros Manseng?
Courbu
Petit Courbu
Camaralet & Lauzet (obscure grapes)
What style is Jurançon moelleux/liquoreux white? (What is sugar % at harvest?)
A sweet wine white made according to same blending formula as Jurançon Sec; but these grapes are hand-harvested very late in the season at 21.2% sugar.
True of False: Max yield per ton for Jurançon Sec is 2.4 tons/ acre (40hl/ ha) while Jurançon moelleux/liquoreux is 3.6 tons/ acre (60hl/ ha)
False: (other way around)
Wine law mandates for Jurançon moelleux/liquoreux for at least ____ passes and finished wines must contain at least ______ g/ l
two passes; 35 g/ l (3.5%) residual sugar
Jurançon sec finished wines cannot contain more than ______ g/ l
4 g/ l (0.4%) residual sugar
What are the only two grapes that are allowed for Vendage Tardive or Late Harvest Jurançon (moelleux/liquoreux)?
100% Petit Manseng and/or Gros Manseng
Harvest for VT or Late Harvest Jurançon cannot begin until at least _____ weeks after the first day of the AOC Jurançon harvest and the grapes must be _____ % sugar when picked.
five weeks; 27.2% sugar
In additon, wine must be held for 18 months before being submitted to a tasting panel that will confer AOC status
What is the southern-most AOC of southwest France and also the only AOC from the Basque country? (What styles are authorized?)
Iroulégy AOC (red, white, rosé)
True or False: Autumns in Iroulégy are mild and extended thanks to warm southern breezes
True: vineyards here are found on terraced slopes sheltered from the north winds allowing grapes to both ripen and mature
In Iroulégy, reds and rosés must contain at least 50% _____ and _____ (together); Tannat can complete the blend.
Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc
Is de-stemming reds required in Iroulégy AOC? (What is min. % abv)
Yes- de-stemming is mandatory; min. 10% abv
Name the three white grapes used in Iroulégy AOC? What is min. % abv and max yields?
Petit Manseng, Gros Manseng, Courbu
Min. 10.5% abv and max yield 3.3 tons/acre (55hl/ ha)
Name the three distinct soil types of Iroulégy?
sandstone
limestone
clay
Pacherenc du Vic - Bilh and what AOC both cover the exact same geographical area, but PdV-B is for whites and the latter is solely for red.
Madiran AOC (not only a wine growing area, but also a village…. just like Vic Bilh)
Madrian AOC’s growing area is equidistant between the Atlantic and the Pyrenees mountains. Which two AOC’s are adjacent?
Tursan AOC (NW of Madiran)
Saint-Mont AOC (N & NE of Madiran)
Describe the “Foehn effect”:
Autumns are mild and extended thanks to warm southern breezes. The Landscape is divided between forest and vineyard. Climate is influenced by both Atlantic and Pyrenees to provide a temperate growing season with amply sunshine
True of False: Pacherenc du Vic Bilh Sec (dry white) must contain at least 60% Courbu, Petit Courbu, Petit Manseng and/or Gros Manseng
True (but separately, neither can represent more than 80% of the blend)
Name the rest of the balance of grapes that Pacherenc du Vic Bilh Sec can have besides the main four
Arrufiac, Sémillon, and/or up to 10% Sauvignon
True of False: Pacherenc du Vic Bilh (moelleux and liquoreux) follows the same blending formula as the sec version and the max yield is 2.4 tons/ acre (40 hl/ ha)
True - max yield for PdVB sec in comparison is 3.6 tons/ acres (60 hl/ ha)
What is difference between PdVB (sec) vs. PdVB (M/L) in regards to min. abv and Residual sugar?
PdVB sec= 11% min. abv; < 3 g/ L (0.3%)
PdVB m/l= 12% min. abv; min. 35 g/L (3.5%)
Madiran wines must contain > 70% of what grape? ( What three grapes may complete the blend?)
Tannat (Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Fer Servadou) - but many producers usually bottle 100% Tannat
What is a local synonym for Cabernet Franc? (Fer Servadou?)
CF = “Bouchy”
FS = “Pinenc”
Explain “Micro-oxygenation”
Minute amounts of oxygen are slowly bubbled through the vat of wine. This causes tannin molecules to bond with other tannin molecules and lose aggressive edge on the palate.
Who invented “Micro-oxygenation” and why?
Patrick Ducournau (1991) - technique became popular as it mimics the time-consuming barrel-aging step preciously required to soften the wines of this region.
When was AOC/AOP Languedoc created?
2007 (Coteaux du Languedoc red, rosé was first created in 1982 and white (2005) which led to Languedoc AOP)
What red & rosé AOC was created in 1982 and is sandwiched between Minervois and Faugères? (When was white authorized?)
Saint Chinian AOC (whites authorized in 2005)
For AOP Languedoc what is the %’s for red, rosé, white respectively?
Reds- 79%
Rosé- 21%
White- 8%
Name some red grapes authorized for AOP Languedoc
Grenache Noir, Lladoner Pelut, Syrah, Mourvèdre (min. 50%), Cinsault, Carignan (max. 40%)
Name some white grapes authorized for AOP Languedoc
Bourboulenc, Grenache Blanc, Rousanne, Marsanne, Rolle, Clairette, Picpoul