Languedoc Flashcards
What was the first area of France to be replanted post phylloxera?
Languedoc
What is the local, gentler version of the Mistral that blows through Languedoc called?
the Tramontane. It blows from north-west in the bas Languedoc and Roussillon, bringing cool air from the mountains.
In the Languedoc, what are the top five most planted grape varieties in order of largest to smallest?
Syrah, Grenache Noir, Carignan, Merlot, Cab Sauv
What appellation of the Languedoc is only for still, dry white?
Picpoul de Pinet AOP
What Languedoc AOPs can make sweet white?
Clairette du Languedoc Muscat de Frontignan Muscat de Lunel Muscat de Mireval Muscat de Saint-Jean-de-Minervois
What Languedoc AOPs are for still dry red only?
Corbieres-Boutenac
Fitou
Minervois-La Liviniere
Terrasses du Larzac
What Languedoc AOPs are for still dry red and rose?
Cabardes
Malepere
Pic Saint-Loup
What are the two subzones of Fitou, and what is the soil of each?
Fitou Maritime: Coastal clay and limestone
Fitou Mantagneux: 24 km inland, montainous schist
What AOP contains both sectors of Fitou AOP?
Corbieres AOP
What styles and grapes does Corbieres AOP produce?
White, Rose, Red
White: min 2 varieties, including at least one of the following: Grenache Blanc, Marsanne, Macabeu, Roussanne, Vermentino. Min 40% principal varieties.
Red/Rose: min 2 varieties, including at least one principal variety, w no single variety exceeding 80% of the blend. Principal varieties: Cgrenache, Lladoner Pelut, Mourvedre, Syrah, Carignan. Min 40% principal varieties
What is the soil of Corbieres AOP?
Limestone alternating w schist, clays, marls and sandstone
What is Cartagene?
traditional strong, sweet aperitif of the Languedoc, similar to a VdL
What Languedoc AOP was subdivided in 11 “terroirs” in the 1990s?
Corbieres AOP
When was Corbieres-Boutenac elevated to AOP?
2005
What is the cepage of Corbieres-Boutenac AOP?
Red only.
Min 70% comb. Grenache, Mourvedre, Carignan (30-50%). No one variety can exceed 80% of blend
What is the size difference in ha and hl between Corbieres AOP and Corbieres-Boutenac AOP?
Corbieres AOP: 13,000 ha (this is the largest AOP of the Languedoc) 461,000 hl
Corbieres-Boutenac AOP: 245 ha, 8,926 hl
Where is Minervois AOP in relation to Corbieres AOP?
Minervois is north of Corbieres
What are the 5 climactic zones of Minervois AOP?
La Cotes Noires- far NW, coolest, most Atlantic
La Clamoux-flatter, alluvial terraces in SW
La Zone Central-400 m elevation
La Causse-high land, poor soils in NE, low yield
Les Serres-SE, warmest, most mediterranean
Name the subzones of Corbieres AOP
Boutenac Durban Fontfroide Lagrasse Lezignan Montagne d'Alaric Queribus Saint-Victor Servies Sigean Termenes
What is the assemblage of Minervois AOP?
White: min 80 comb. Bourboulenc, Grenache Blanc, Macabeu, Marsanne, Roussanne, Vermentino. Max 10% Muscat
Rose: min 50% comb. GSM, Cinsault and Carignan; no single variety over 80%. Max 10% white grapes.
Red: min 2 varieties (at least one principal variety). Min 50% comb. GSM, Cinsault, carignan. No one variety can be over 80%.
When was Minervois-La Liviniere AOP elevated?
1999
What is the assemblage of Minervois-La Liviniere AOP?
Red only.
Min 2 varieties.
Min 40% principal varieties: Grenache, Lladoner Pelut, Mourvedre, and Syrah.
At least 80% of blend is comb. GSM, Cinsault and Carignan
What is the cepage of Cabardes AOP?
Red and Rose.
min 40% comb. CF, CS and Merlot
min 40% comb. Greanche ans Syrah
Accessories: Cot, Cinsault, Fer
In what part of the Languedoc is Cabardes AOP located?
West of Minervois. Southwest in the region, close to border of Sud-Ouest. Malepere is just to the south. Limoux is to the south of that.
What is the assemblage fo Malepere AOP?
Red and Rose only.
Rose: min 40% CF, min 20% comb. CS, cinsault, Cot, greanche and Merlot
Red: Min 40% Merlot, min 20% comb. CF and Cot; plus cinsault, CS, grenche, lladoner Pelut
Compare and contrast Malepere and Cabardes AOPs
Both are in Languedoc but close to Sud-Ouest, where Midi meets Aquitaine. Malepere is wetter, more Atlantic that Cabardes, thus it focuses on merlot and CF, whereas Cabardes is more evenly divided between regional varieties. Malepere is mostly co-op, while Cabardes is more individual producer focused
What region claims to have started secondaty fermentation in bottle before Champagne?
Limoux, in 1531 at the abbey in Saint-Hillaire
What is a synonym for Mauzac?
Blanquette
What are some topographical features of Limoux?
Higher elevation- located in the foothills of the Pyrenees. 100-450 m above sea level
Strong winds- dry Atlantic wind “vent Cers” and warm mediterranean wind “vent marin”
Rocky soil w clay, sandstone and limestone
When were red wines added to Limoux AOP?
2005
Name the styles of Limoux AOP
Blanc Rouge Vin Mousseaux Blanc "Methode Ancestrale" Vin Mousseaux Blanc "Blanquette de Limoux" (Cremant de Limoux is a separate AOP)
What are the grapes and aging of Limoux Blanc ?
Mauzac, Chard, CB
Must be fermented in oak. Released after 5/1 following harvest
When was the Limoux AOP established?
1938 for Vin Mousseaux
Blanc added in 1959
Rouge in 2005
What is the assemblage of Limoux Rouge?
Must contain min 3 varieties.
Min 45-70% Merlot
Min 20% comb. Grenache, Syrah and Cot
Max 35% CF and CS
Requirements for Limoux Methode Ancestrale
100% Mauzac
Single Fermentation, aged on lees for min 2 months. Min 3 atm. No tirage or Dosage.
10% abv.
Requirements for Limoux Blanquette de Limoux
Min 90% Mauzac.
Traditional method. 9 mo on lees, min 3.5 atm
What are the styles and assemblage of Cremant de Limoux AOP?
Vin Mousseux Blanc
Vin Mousseux Rose
Max 90% comb. Chard (Min 50%) and CB (10-40%); plus max 20% comb. Mauzac and PN (max 15%)
9 months on lees, released after 12 months, min 3.5 atm
What AOP of the Languedoc is classified for both still, dry white and also sweet white?
Clairette du Languedoc AOP
What is the assemblage of Clairette du Languedoc AOP?
100% Clairette
What styles can be produced in Clairette du Languedoc AOP?
Blanc
Rancio
Vin de Liqueur which is actually VdN)
What are the minimum must weights of Clairette du Languedoc AOP?
Blanc: 204 g/l
Rancio: 238 g/l
VdN: 221 g/l
RS for Clairette du Languedoc AOP
Blanc: max 45 g/l (can be dry)
VdN: 9-40 g/l
Aging for Clairette du Languedoc AOP
Rancio may not be released until 11/1 of 3rd year after harvest
Name the Clairette AOPs of France with their regions
Clairette du Languedoc (Languedoc)
Clairette de Die (Northern Rhone)
Clairette de Bellegarde (Southern Rhone)
What were the three most recent AOP of the Languedoc? When was each elevated?
Terrasses du Larzac in 2014
La Clape in 2015
Pic Saint-Loup in 2017
All elevated from Languedoc AOP subzones
What is the assemblage of Terrasses du Larzac AOP?
Must be a blend of at least 3 varieties, including at least 2 princpals (GSM and Carignan) These four grapes must be min 75%, but no single grape can be over 70%.
Max 50% Carignan, max 25% Cinsault. Max 10% comb. Cunoise, Lladoner Pelut, Morrastel and Terret Noir
Describe the location of La Clape AOP
on the coast of the Mediterranean, just northwest of Corbieres
What is the assemblage of La Clape AOP
Blanc: min 30% Bourboulenc, max 10% Viognier. No single vrietal can account for more than 80% of the blend
Rouge: GSM must make up the majority of the blend. no single variety can be more than 70% of blend
What is the assemblage of Picpoul de Pinet AOP?
100% Piquepoul Blanc
What is the min alcohol of Picpoul de Pinet AOP?
12%
What styles are made in Pic Saint-Loup AOP?
Red and Rose
What is the assemblage of Pic Saint-Loup AOP?
Must contain at least two principal varieties (SGM). Syrah min 50% (30% for rose).
Accessory varieties: Counoise, Cinsault, Carignan, Morrastel. Max 10% comb.
What circumstances would change the cepage of Pic Saint-Loup AOP?
For growers with less than 1.5 ha, main varieties must account for min 50% of vineyard acreage
Which red AOP of the Languedoc is the least reliant on Carignan?
Pic Saint-Loup AOP
What is the assemblage of Saint-Chinian AOP?
Blanc: min 2 varieties, principals must be majority. Grenache Bl must be present
Rose/Rouge: min 2 varieties, principals must be majority
Roquebrun: same as Rouge
Berlou: min 2 varieties, principals must be at least 40% of blend. Min 10% Carignan
How do Berlou and Roquebrun differ from regular St Chinian AOP?
Regular: 12% abv, 198 g/l must weight. All colors of still.
Crus: 12.5% abv, 2007 g/l must weight (214 for Berlou Carignan). Rouge only. Must be hand harvested. May not be released until 12/1 year following
What are additonal requirements of St Chinian Berlou AOP?
Requires 10% Carignan
Higher must weight for that carignan
Mandatory egrappage (destemming) for Berlou only
What AOP of the Languedoc requuires egrappage?
St Chinian Berlou
Egrappage is destemming
Assemblage for Faugeres AOP
Blanc: min 2 varieties. Roussanne must be present. Principals must be majority.
Rose/Red: min 1 principal. No grape can exceed 80%. Min 50% comb. GSM, Cinsault and Carignan
What mountain range affects the northwestern appellations of the Languedoc?
The Cevennes
How many Geographical designations are there in Langeuedoc AOP? Name them.
11 Cabrieres Gres de Montpellier La Mejanelle Montpeyroux Pezenas Quatourze Saint-Christol Saint-Drezery Saint-Georges-d'Orques Saint-Saturnin Sommieres
Which subzone of Languedoc AOP allows for more than just rouge?
Cabrieres also allows Rose!
Which subzones of Languedoc AOP require 3 varieties, rather than 2?
Montpeyroux
Saint-Saturnin
What are the principal varieties of Languedoc Blanc AOP?
Bouboulenc, Clairette, Grenache Blanc, Marsanne, Roussanne, Tourbat, Vermentino
What are the principal varieties of Languedoc Rouge AOP?
Syrah, Mourvedre, Grenache, Lledoner Pelut
Name the Muscat appellations of the Languedoc
Muscat de Lunel AOP
Muscat de Mireval AOP
Muscat de Saint-Jean-de-Minervois AOP
Muscat de Frontignan AOP
Which Languedoc Muscat appellation can make VdL?
Muscat de Frontignan AOP
VdN vs VdL: which has a higher must weight in Frontignan AOP? RS? What are they?
VdN has a higher must weight but lower min RS. Must Weight VdN: 252 g/l VdL: 234 g/l RS VdN: 110 g/l VdL: 185 g/l
What is the difference in mutage amount for Frontignan VdN vs VdL?
Vdn: 96º neutral spirit 5 -10% proportion to wine
VdL: 96º neutral spirit 15% proportion to muct
Which Languedoc AOPs can make Muscat de Noel? What are the rules for this style?
Muscat de Lunel AOPs and Muscat de Saint-Jean-de-Minervois AOP
Muscat de Noel must be bottled by 12/1 of the harvest year
Which Muscat AOP of Languedoc has a higher min rs? WHat do the rest of them require?
Muscat de Saint-Jean-de-Minervois AOP has min 125 g/l
Everyone else needs 110 g/l
What departments have land in the Languedoc?
Aude
Gard
Herault
Pyrenee-Orientales
Name the rivers of the Languedoc, north to south
Herault (near Picpoul de Pinet)
Orb (near Saint Chinian)
Aude (separates Minervois from Corbieres
Which Languedoc AOPs require 3 grapes in the blend for rouge?
Limoux AOP
Terrasses du Larzac AOP
Languedoc-Montpeyroux
Languedoc-Saint-Saturnin
What appellation is home to Grange des Peres? What is it labelled as?
Terrasses du Larzac
IGP Pays d’Herault