Languedoc

Question 1

Explain the Climate of Languedoc

Answer 1

Mediterranean.
High levels of sunshine, rainfall around 600 mm per annum.
warm summers with the Tramonte wind NW which helps decrease disease pressure.
Enabled more organic certification ( 1/3 of France)
Very low yields.

Question 2

What are the top varieties grown in Languedoc ?

Answer 2

1. syrah
2. grenache noir
3. Merlot
   4.Carignan
   5.Cab Sauv
4. chardonnay

Question 3

Carignan -the grape profile

Answer 3

LB -Late budding
Ripens Late
Needs a warm climate with a long ripening season ,similar to Cab Sauv
High yielding making it popular in high production areas.
To produce concentration yields must be reduced. Or when vines become old.
Prone to powderey mildew and grape moths .
High in acid and Tannins.
Medium ruby, simple black fruit, acceptable to good. Very good and Outstanding are spicy and earthy.

Question 4

Vineyard Management in Languedoc

Answer 4

1. Historically bush vines and some remain.
   2.Most pruning done by hand.
   3.Planted with trelisses enabling machine harvesting
   4.IGP and AOc mostly machine harvested

Question 5

Langeudoc: Winemaking

for inexpensive wines

Answer 5

1. Large concrete and ss tanks usuing cultured yeats to ensure a fast ferment.
2. Red wines are crushed and fermented for only 5-7 days
3. Mid range temperatures are used to preserve primary fruit
4. Made for early drinkining but will hold for 2-3 years

Question 6

Languedoc: Winemaking

Carbonic Maceration

Answer 6

Commonly employed to produce fruity wines with medium to deep colour and low tannins ( esp. Carignan)
Made for early drinking.
Exception: Chateau La Voulte Gasparets.

Question 7

Languedoc: Winemaking

For High quality wines

Answer 7

1. Sorting tables, hand picking
2. Ferment at warm temperatures
3. Ambient yeast and barriques or tonneaux adds to cost.
4. Wines are capable of maturing in bottle.

Question 8

Languedoc : IGP Wines

Answer 8

70 % of production
Wide range of varieities - over 58.
* **Max yields are 90hl/hc for white and reds. 100 hl for rose **
* Attractive and inexpesive to produce
* Root of the regions commercial success.

Question 9

Langeudoc : IGP Pays d’OC

Answer 9

• produces 10-15 % of all french wine
• 50% are red, 25% white, 25% rose.
• Fresh fruity expresssions with little or no oak. Good to very good.
• Merlot, Cab Sauv, Chardonnay and Syrah are used in blends.
• 50 % sold in supermarkets in France the other half to Germany , Belgium and Netherlands

Question 10

Langeudoc : AOC Rules for Blending

Answer 10

All Langeudoc AOC’s require two reds in the blend. Most give an upper limit for any one variety eg. 80 %. Meaning all AOCS are genuinely blends.
* With the exeption of Cabardes and Malapere AOC, all appellations require Grenache Noir , also Syrah, Mouvedre. These are main varieteis in most appellations. GSM.
* Corbieres and Fitou use Carignan as their main variety.

Question 11

Langeudoc: AOC Rules

Answer 11

• 50hl/hc for red wines, 60hl/hc for whites. Some regions only allow 40 hl/hc. Due to low rainfall and fertility these rarely reach 35hl/hc.
• principal varieties are Grenache Noir, Syrah and Movedre.
• A min. of two varieties must be used including one of the principal varieites. No one can be more than 80%.
• Principal varities combined must be more than 40%.
• Other varieties eg. Cinsaut and Carignan cannot make up more than 30% of the blend.

Question 12

Languedoc: Style, quality and Price Factors in the Regions

Answer 12

1. Regional appellation ( Languedoc AOC) - wines have medium intensity simple blackberry, red plum fruit and medium tannins, acid, body and alcohol. Acceptable to good.
2. Named appllations: ( Corbieres AOC ) - wines have medium to medium + aroma and flavour of blackberry, red plum, and herb, lavender and rosemary, medium tannins, med-medium + acid, medium to high alcohol, Medium plus to full body. oak aromas. Good to very good.
3. Sub appellations ( Corbieres - Boutenac AOC) - wines are Medium to pronouced aromas and flavours and medium plus tannins. very goood to outstanding. Mid to prem priced.

Question 13

Langeudoc: Corbieres AOC

Answer 13

• SW of Narbonne . Hilly region with 10,000 hc of vines.
• Two main mountain regions: Tauch and D’alaric provide slopes at 450m.
• Cooling north wind and altitude helps retain acid in grapes.
• 90% red wine production
• Min 40% must be Grenache Noir, Syrah or Mouvedre, Carignan. Max 20% Cinsaut.
• **Max yield for white,rose and red is 50hl/hc **
• Sub appleation of Corbieres -Boutneac must have 70% of the Carignan, Mouvedre or Grenahce Noir.
• 70% of producion is sold in France.
• Whites are made of Bourboulenc, Grenache Blanc, Marsanne, Roussanne / Rolle

Question 14

Languedoc: Minervois AOC

Answer 14

• Range of climatic zones, Most reds are made from Grenache Noir, Syrah, Mouvedre and Lledoner Pelut.
• Wines must be a blend of at least two and GR, SY, MOU,CARIG, CINS, must be 50% of the final blend with no one exceeding 80%

Question 15

Languedoc: Minervois La Liviniere AOC

Answer 15

• RED WINE only
• limestone terraces of up to 400m , good drainage, cooling influences and sun exposure.
• Higher acid wines
• GSM must be 40 % of the blend but Carignon, Cinsaut, Grenache ,Mouvedere, and Syrah must make up at least 80% ( with no one over 80%)

Question 16

Langeudoc: Saint-Chinian

Answer 16

• Large appellation between Minerovois and Faugeres, mainly reds and rose from GSM ( must be 5o% of the blend)
• Two areas : The North , arid fast draining soils, low yield and high concentration. Saint Chinian Roquebrun and Saint Chinian Berlou AOC.
• The South, clay and limestone , higher yields and less concentration

Question 17

Languedoc : Fitou

Answer 17

• First AOC was formed in 1948 . Coastal area is flat with low plains, clay and limestone, less concentrated
• inland in less fertil with fast draining soils =higher concentration
• Schist soils
• Tradtional varities Carignan must be 10-40% of the blend, and Grenache Noir 20%
• Mont Tauch Co-op

Question 18

Languedoc: Faugeres AOC

Answer 18

• 250-400 m well drained schist soils , very good concentration
  ** MAX yields are 50hl/hc **
  but usally only reach 35hl
  40 % organic production
  wines must aged for one year before release.
• 90 % stays in France

Question 19

Langeudoc :Pic Saint Loup AOC

Answer 19

• more continental climate cold winters and warm summers
• 1000mm rainfall
• Syrah must be 50% of final blend
• Only RED and ROSE

Question 20

Langeudoc : Terrasses du Larzac AOC

Answer 20

• range of altitudes from 120-400m
• High diaurnal range gives ripe fruit and high acid.
• AOC if RED ONLY must be a blend of GSM
• attracted investment and known for good quality wines and prem price points

Question 21

Languedoc: La Clape AOC

Answer 21

• Near the city of Narbonne , warm, sunny and windy
• Mouvedre ripens well here
• RED wines are 80% of production.
• **Well know for white wines from Grenache blanc and Bourboulenc. **

Question 22

Languedoc: Picpoul de Pinet AOC

Answer 22

• White wine from Piquepol Blanc.
• Grapes can be used for vermouth but now fruity wines are being made with new tech in the winery.
  *** MAX yield is 55hl/hc **
  Wines are dry and medium boddied with Med-Med + acidity and medium intensity lemon and floral fruit notes
  Acceptable to good.
• Wine is mainly exported at 67% and the tourists consume the rest.
• USA and Germay.
• 90% of production is Co-op based.

Question 23

Languedoc: Malpere and Cabardes AOC

Atlantic influenced

Answer 23

• Malpere- must be two blends and a min 40% Merlot.
• Cabardes - 40% Cabernet Sauv and Merlot and Grenach Noir and Syrah.
• **Both are influenced by the Altantic and the Meditteranean **

Question 24

Roussillon: Climate