Grape Varieties - Languedoc and Rousillon Flashcards
What was the most widely planted grape in France from the 1960’s due to replacing Aramon and is known as the ‘bane of the European wine industry’?
Carignan - 140,000ha in French Algeria previous to independence.
2010 - 31,00ha in France.
What are the physical characteristics of Carignan?
A notable characteristic is it has thick stems that grow close to the vine meaning mechanical harvesting is all but impossible. ‘High in everything but charm’, high in acid, tannin and colour and said to be slightly bitter. Makes wines that are simultaneously unapproachable in youth but don’t have the ability to age well.
How does Carignan behave in the vineyard?
- Sensitive to Powdery and Downy Mildew.
- Largely unsuitable to trellising due to holding to close to the vine, often bush trained on low yielding vines.
- High yielder, up to 200hl/ha.
- Late budder and ripener, suited to mediterranean climate.
What are the permitted black varieties of the Languedoc-Roussillon?
- Carignan
- Grenache Noir
- Cinsault
- Syrah
- Mourvèdre
- Tibouren
- Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon - Not permitted for AOP wines.
What is Grenache Noir’s country of origin and what were it’s total plantings in France at the last vine census of 2000?
- Spain
- 97,500ha
What disease pressures does Grenache Noir face?
- Downy Mildew
- Coulure
- Grey Rot
At what yield level does Grenache Noir start to produce ordinary wines lacking character?
60-80hl/ha
Describe Grenache Noir viticulturally.
- Thick dense wood makes it good for freestanding bush vines in hot, windy areas.
- An early budder but very late ripener, later than Cabernet Sauvignon.
- Where a long ripening period is available it can produce grapes of a very high sugar level.
How does Cinsault behave in the vineyard?
- Good drought resistance despite being prone to host of diseases and pests.
- Produces best wines when grown on infertile, rocky slopes at yields of under 50hl/ha.
- Buds late but ripens earlier than Grenache Noir so has a shorter growing cycle.
What does Cinsault generally bring to blends?
- Immediate fruit, perfume and suppleness to blends.
- Balances the high alcohol and bitter tannins of Grenache Noir and Carignan.
Where is Mourvedre’s country of origin and where was it the dominant grape before phylloxera?
Spain where it is known as Monastrell.
Provence, but post phylloxera it proved difficult to graft and fell out of favour.
What are the Mourvedre grape’s physical characteristics?
- Small, thick skinned, sweet berries high in tannin, potential alcohol and colour that require France’s warmest summers to ripen.
What are the viticultural characteristics of Mourvedre?
- Strong, vigorous growth means its has traditionally been grown bush vine style giving low yields of around 30hl/ha.
- An extremely late budder (useful in frost prone areas), and ripens very late also, a week later than Carignan, making it very well suited to mediterranean climates.
What does Mourvedre bring to blends?
Structure, intense fruit and perfume.
Fruit is redolent of blackberries and violets.
Describe Tibouren / Tibourenc.
A soft skinned local variety becoming increasingly important in the production of Rose particularly in Provence.
