L3 - Sparkling Wines of the World - Chap 42 Flashcards
What is the cru system within Champagne?
How many are grand cru?
How many premier?
What standards must be met?
How is quality?
Champagne is a single appellation with
44 premier cru sites and 17 grand cru sites.
The designation of premier versus grand cru is given to the entire village and not specific vineyard sites.
As a result there is inconsistency in quality and some non-designated sites are very good, likewise not every village rated grand cru has the same potential
What are the 3 most famous sub-regions of the appellation of Champagne?
Close to the production centers of Reims and Epernay, the 3 most famous Champagne sub-regions are:
1) Montagne de Reims
2) Vallee de la Marne
3) Cote des Blancs
What is the climate of Champagne?
Why is the region ideal for sparkling wine production?
Champagne has a cool continental climate.
Even in warm years sugar in grapes remains low, with high acid which is ideal for sparkling wine production.
What are the biggest climate challenges in Champagne?
How do growers reduce the risk of frost?
Winter freeze, spring frosts and rainy, cloudy, weather are the biggest challenges.
Frost is the most threatening, and growers reduce the risk of frost by planting vineyards on slopes.
What type of soil is Champagne and what is the advantage?
Chalky soil dominates Champagne.
The soil provides good drainage after rain storms.
What is the key varietal of Cote des Blancs, Champagne?
Chardonnay is the key grape in Cote des Blancs -producing much lighter bodied wines than in Burgundy- high acidity, floral and citrus fruit character
What is the key varietal of Montagne de Reims, Champagne?
Pinot Noir is the key grape in Montagne de Reims - producing wines of greater body and providing the structural backbone to most blends
What is the key varietal of Vallee de la Marne, Champagne?
Meunier is the key grape in Vallee de la Marne- it is late budding so not susceptible to spring frosts and provides fruity flavors to the blend, good for wines meant to be enjoyed young
What winemaking process if used for Champagne?
How must grapes be picked?
How is pressing controlled?
What choices occur primary fermentation?
The traditional method
-grapes must be handpicked to allow selection of whole bunches
-Pressing is highly controlled. First press is the cuvee -the purest juice. The remainder of the juice pressed is the taille. Some of the best Champagnes are only made from Cuvee.
Primary ferm- can be in stainless steel, oak or a mixture fo the two. Malo-lac can be encouraged or avoided. Base wines can be aged in oak or stored in inert vessels nly depending on the house style.
What is blending Champagne so important?
Blending is important because the weather in Champagne varies from year to year
As a result, wine is often in small parcels to allow a greater number of bending options
Large champagne producers will use dozens of wines in their blends to achieve house styles year after year.
What length of time must Champagne age on the lees?
The length of time on the lees depends on the style of wine being made.
Non-Vintage (NV) Champagne must age for a minimum of 15 months, including 12 MONTHS on the lees
Vintage Champagne must age for a minimum of 36 months and a 12 MONTHS on the lees -however, in practice most winemakers age longer.
What flavors do the different styles of Champagne display?
- Generally all display high acidity & some autolytic flavors
NV- lighter in body w/fresher fruit, some complexity added from reserve wines
Vintage- made in best years, more concentrated than NV, toasty, biscuity notes do to extended lees aging
Rose Champagnes- -best wines delicately balance aromas from autolysis with subtle fruity red berry notes
Blanc de Blancs- typically light to med body, citrus primary fruit, can be austere in youth & age for a long time
Blanc de Noirs- fuller in body, age more quickly
What is a prestige cuvee?
Usually a vintage style made from the best parcels of grapes. They can be closed and austere in youth, and benefit from cellar aging.
What is cremant?
Several French sparkling ACs
Most notably: Cremant d’Alsace, Cremant de Bourgogne, and Cremant de Loire.
Made by traditional method and must spend a minimum of 9 months on the lees
What style of sparkling is made in Saumur and Vouvray?
How is Chenin Blanc suited to sparkling wine? What is different from Champagne?
Saumur- wines made from Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, and Cab Franc
Vouvray- made in greater volume than still Vouvray. Majority made from Chenin Blanc
Chenin Blanc suited to sparkling wine production due to its natural high acidity
Lees aging is different- Chenin does not take on as much autolytic character (bready, biscuity) as Chardonnay/PN. Flavors on sparkling Chenin Blanc are more toasty/smoky.
