Key Appellations (9)

Question 1

1. Bergerac AC (5)
2. Location
3. climate M + C
4. soil
5. style Bdx + Cotes
6. sweet

& Montbazillac AC (4)

1. location + river
2. blend
3. yield / harvest / alc
4. Top estates

Answer 1

Bergerac AC (R/W/Sweet/R) - 8,000 ha

1. Eastern continuation of right bank and E-D-Mers with vineyards on both sides of the Dordogne
2. Climate between Maritime and Continental
3. Soils from alluvial silt to clay and limestone on higher terraces
4. makes mainly reds from Bordeaux varieties w/increasing proportion of barrel-aged Côtes de Bergerac (lower yields & higher abv 12.15%) and whites (Bergerac sec)
5. Sweet botrytised whites made in Monbazillac, Saussignac and Haut-Montravel - all ACs

Monbazillac AC - 2,000 ha

1. Sub-region located on the left bank of the Dordogne close to confluence w Gardonnette river ->mist in autumn + dev of noble rot
2. Botrytised whites made from Sémillon, Sauv Blanc and Muscadelle
3. Max yields 40hl/ha; mechancial harvesting banned since 93; min 14.5% pot alcohol
4. Top estates include Chateau Tirecul La Graviere w/intense, rich nectar or Ch. Belingard and La Brie

Question 2

2. Buzet AC
3. Location
4. Viti
5. AC created + aging
6. Soils / plantings
7. Top domains

Answer 2

Buzet AC (R/W) - 1,400 ha

1. Located in the Bordure Aquitane up the left bank of the Garonne river, S/East of Graves district
2. Viticulture since Roman times
3. AC created in 1973 under strong influence of co-op Les Vignerons de Buzet who spearheaded the use of sophisticated barrel aging (all buzet must have min 1 yr in barrel)
4. Mainly gravels and clay hills planted with the 3 main Bdx varieties, esp Merlot
5. Top domains include Ch. de Gueyze, Baron d’Ardueil

Question 3

3. Cahors AC (5)
4. location
5. climate
6. history
7. Aux
8. Style

Answer 3

Cahors AC (R) - 4,000 ha

1. 100km north of Toulouse along the Lot river and mainly west of the town of Cahors
2. Climate influenced by both Med and Atlantic; great sun exposure, cold winters
3. Golden age in 18C with 40,000ha and wine use for blend in Bdx; phylloxera decimated the vineyards and arrival of railways in early 20C made the cheaper Languedoc more popular; revival since 1956
4. Auxerrois (Malbec) is the key grape (min 70% of ACs blend) w/ Merlot & Tannat for the remaining 30%
5. Wines are v tannic when young and benefit from aging; berries, liqourice and herbs flavour

Question 4

4. Gaillac AC (5)
5. Dynamic / Location
6. History
7. Limited
8. Climate
9. Style R / W /
   Sweet

Answer 4

Gaillac AC (R/W/Sweet/Spark) 2,500ha No 1

1. Dynamic region N/East of Toulouse on both sides of the Tarn river and around the town of Gaillac
2. Believed to be first viticultural centres of ancient Gaul (since 1C AD) long before Bdx
3. Gaillac exports were limited by Bdx tarrifs and conditions to ship in middle ages
4. Warmer climate
5. Most commonly spicy structured reds from Duras and Braucol; crisp, dry whites from Sauv Blanc, Sémillon and local Appley Mauzac and powerful Len de l’El; sweet wines from Ondenc as well as Mauzac & Len de ‘El

Question 5

5. Madiran AC
6. Location/ soil
7. climate / grapes
8. Micro-O, tannins
9. Leading producers +
10. Style

Answer 5

Madiran AC (R) 1,400 ha No 4

1. In Gascogne; south of Armagnac; N/E of Pau; mainly clay and limestone soils
2. Climate influenced by the Pacific that soften and moistens the vineyard - supplemented by Bouchy (Cab Franc), Cab Sauv and Fer
3. Micro-Oxy (ie, precise oxygenation of wine early in fermentation and/or maturation) developed here to soften the strong tannins of Tannat and make the wines more approachable earlier
4. Leading producers include Ch. Bouscassé and Ch. Montus. Most of the top wines 100% Tannat
5. Wines are full-bodied, tannic w/brambly flavours

Question 6

6. Jurançon (Sweet) / Jurançon Sec (W)
7. Early AC / location
8. vine training / soil
9. Grapes
10. Passerillage
11. Wine develops

Answer 6

Jurançon (Sweet) / Jurançon Sec (W) 820ha

1. One of Frances earliest AC; hilly relatively cool corner (300m hi) at the foot of the Pyrénées near Pau
2. Vines are espalier trained to avoid recurrent spring frosts on the steep limestone and clay slopes
3. Grape Varieties: Gros Mensang (mostly for dry wines), Petit Mensang (mostly for sweet wines) and Courbu
4. Sweet Jurançon produced using Passerillage (grapes dried on vine), harvested - at least 2 passages (up to December) and aged in Oak
5. The sweet wines develop aromas of tropical fuit (pineapple, mango)

Question 7

7. Fronton AC
8. Dynamic / location
9. Key grape +
10. Red
11. Rosé
12. White
13. Co-Op = Ch. P

Answer 7

Fronton AC (R/W/R) 1,800ha No 2

1. Dynamic appellation; 35km N of Toulouse
2. Négrette is the key grape -Min 50-70% of AC wine with Fer, Syrah, Cab Franc and Cab Sauv complementing
3. Red Wines (85% of prod) are dark and tannic w/aromas of violet and liquourice
4. Rosés (15%) from Negrette have low acidity and to be drunk young
5. Little white wine made from Mauzac
6. Co-Op important producer; fine wines made by Ch. Plaisance and Le Roc

Question 8

8. Vin de Pays du Comté Tolosan (2)
9. Vdp
10. Style / Grapes

Answer 8

Vin de Pays du Comté Tolosan

1. Regional VdP that covers the whole of the S/W Region; 2nd largest S/W IGP w/225,000 hl/yr
2. Crisp fresh, easy drinking wines from Colombard, Gros Mensang, Ugni Blanc, Sauv Blanc and Chardonnay

Question 9

9. Vin de Pays du Gers & Vin de Pays des Côtes de Gascogne
10. Departmental VdP
11. Style

Answer 9

Vin de Pays du Gers & Vin de Pays des Côtes de Gascogne

1. Departmental VdPs; Côtes de Gascogne 700,000 hl/yr is the largest (Gers far behind) and most exported
2. Crisp fresh, easy-drinking whites from Colombard, Gros Manseng, Ugni Blanc, Sauv Blanc and Chardonnay