Loire Flashcards
1
Q
Distance from Atlantic to Sancerre?
A
400km along the Loire river
2
Q
Spring in the Nantais comes how much earlier than in Sancerre?
A
2 weeks
3
Q
Synonyms for Melon
A
Melon de Bourgogne
Muscadet
4
Q
Other than Melon, what else is grown in Pays Nantais?
A
Chardonnay
Gamay
Folle Blanche
Cabernet Franc
5
Q
Pays Nantais climate
A
Cool maritime
6
Q
Features of Pay Nantais climate (cool maritime)
A
Cool spring
Warm and humid summer
Rain at any time during season (especially March/April, flowering and September, harvest)
7
Q
What offsets the regular rainfall in Pays Nantais?
A
Well drained soils
8
Q
Spring frost in Pays Nantais
A
A problem, despite proximity to Atlantic
Serious issue in 1991 - lost UK market
9
Q
Frost prevention in Pays Nantais?
A
Wind machines
Heaters
Burning straw bales
10
Q
Why is Melon well suited to Pays Nantais?
A
Hardy so suited to cool region
BUT
Buds early so susceptible to frost
11
Q
Melon buds early or late
A
Early
spring forst
12
Q
Melon ripens early or late
A
Early - reducing rain at hravest
13
Q
Melon susceptible to what?
A
Downy, BBR
Resistant to powdery
14
Q
Melon wine style
A
High acid Light body Low to medium (-) alcohol Light intensity green apple Sur lie
15
Q
Grape(s) for muscadet AOC
A
Vast majority Melon
Since 2018, basic Muscadet AOC can have 10% Chardonnay
16
Q
Why is spraying needed a lot in Pays Nantais?
A
Humid rainy climate
Need to prevent fungal disease
17
Q
How has canopy mgmt been improved in Pays Nantais? Why?
A
To facilitate ripening (marginal climate):
canopies more open
leaf removal = sun exposure and reduce fungal
careful to avoid sumburn
18
Q
Chaptalisation in Pays Nantais?
A
Allowd up to 12% potential alcohol
Practiced in cooler years
19
Q
Malo in Muscadet?
A
Typiaclly avoided, preserving high acid
20
Q
What does Sur Lie do in Muscadet?
A
Fills out the body, otherwise very light-bodied wine
21
Q
How is Sur Lie done in Muscadet?
A
After alcohol ferment, one racking to remove gross less
Then wine in contact with fine lees through winter until bottling
Retains freshness
Retains a small amount of CO2 sometimes
22
Q
Two largest Msucadet AOCs
A
Muscadet Sevre et Maine AOC
Muscadet AOC
23
Q
Two smaller Muscadet AOCs
A
Muscadet Coteaux de la Loire AOC
Muscadet Cotes de Grandlieu AOC
24
Q
Four Muscadet AOCs
A
Muscadet Sevre et Maine AOC
Muscadet AOC
Muscadet Coteaux de la Loire AOC
Muscadet Cotes de Grandlieu AOC
25
Max yield for Muscadet AOC
65hl/ha
26
Yield for Muscadet sur Lie and Musc Sev-et-Maine, Musc Cot-d-l-L, Musc C-d-Grandlieu
55hl/ha
27
Muscadet style
Dry
Low intensity green apple, grass
High acid
Light body
28
Sur Lie Muscadet must be bottled between which dates
1 March - 30 November the year after harvest
29
What can negociants buy in Pays Nantais?
Grapes must or bottled wine
| They can't buy wine to be aged sure lie because those need to be bottled in the winery they were made in
30
How many cru communaux in Muscadet?
10
31
Examples of some of the 10 cru communaux in Muscadet?
Clisson
Gorges
Le Pallet
32
Muscadet Cru Communaux (eg Musacdet Sevre et Maine AOC Clisson) maximum yield?
45 hl/ha
33
Why can't Muscadet Cru Communaux be labelled as Sur Lie
they actually need to be lees aged longer than Sur Lie requirements
34
Muscadet Cru Communaux style
Rounder, more complex, longer finish than standard
35
Frost of 1991 did what to Muscadet?
Saw production drop by 2/3s
Booming UK market had led to huge planting (13,000ha)
Low production pushed prices up. New world Ozzie etc becoming more popular and stole market
36
Pays Nantais exports are what % by volume
15% export
37
Negociants account for what % of sales in Pays Nantais?
Over 50%
| But this is declining
38
Examples of big negociants in Pays Nantais
Castel
Grands Chais de France
Ackerman
39
Promotional body for Pays Nantais
InterlOire
40
Climate in Anjou-Saumur vs Touraine
A-S more maritime
Touraine more continental
Atlantic influence lessens progressively along Loire
41
Touraine climate
Continental with cold winters and warm summers
| not as extreme as in Central Vineyards
42
Rainfall in Anjou-Saumur and Touraine
Around 700mm
43
Anjou: what creates conditions for botryis?
River Layon and its multiple tributaries create misty conditions
44
Soils in Anjou
More schist and limestone
45
Soils in Touraine
More chalk
46
Common properties for many CentreLoire soils
Good drainage, water rentetion
| High lime content (so rootstocks like Fercal and Raparia Gloire de Montpelleier)
47
Chenin Blanc buds early or late
Buds early
| spring frost
48
Is Chenin vigorous?
Yes
| will carry high yields if allowed
49
Chenin susceptible to:
powdery, BBR and noble rot, trunk disease
50
Chenin ripens early or late
Late
Vulernable to autumn rain
also ripens unevenly (needs several passes, limiting machine work)
51
Dry and off-dry Chenin style in Middle Loire
```
Medium intensity green apple and lemon
Sometimes steel, smoky
Medium alcohol
High acidity
Some RS to balance
```
52
Example of outstanding Chenin producer in Middle Loire
Domaine Huet
53
Cabernet Franc buds early or late
Early
| Spring frost
54
Cab Franc prone to coulure. so what?
reduction in yields
55
Why is Cab Franc good for cool areas?
It's winter hardy
56
If Cab Franc not fully ripe what does it taste like
Overly herbaceous
| Leafy
57
Grolleau Noir: buds; ripens; prone to what; used for what/
Buds early
Mid ripening
BBR
blending in rose: d'Anjou and de Loire
58
Is there a generic Loire AOC (equivalent of Bordeaux AOC or Burgundy AOC)?
No
| But three regional appellations in middle Loire: Anjour AOC, Saumur AOC and Touraine AOC
59
Anjou AOC: max yield
60hl/ha (red and white)
60
Minimum grape requirement for Anjou AOC? (Red and white)
Anjou Blanc: 80% Chenin
| Anjou Rouge: 70% Cab Franc and/or Cab Sauv
61
What is Anjou Villages AOC?
Higher quality reds only
Entierly from Cab Franc or Sauv; blended or singly. Most 100% Cab Franc
55hl/ha
62
Where is Coteaux du Layon AOC located
Right Bank of Layon river (which runs into Loire)
| Part of Anjou
63
Style of wine in Coteaux du Layon AOC
Botrytis and dried on vine
White sweet
Luscious but high acid
64
Two smaller AOCs within Coteaux du Layon
Bonnezeaux AOC
Quarts de Chaume AOC
(there are also Coteaux du Layon + village name AOC, eg Coteaux du Layon Chaume)
65
What is the Loire's first Grand Cru/
Quarts de Chaume Grand Cru AOC
66
Premier Cru in Coteaux du Layon
Coteaux du Layon AOC Chaume Premier Cru
67
Quarts de Chaume: max yield, min potential alcohol
20hl/ha
18% potential alc
(standard Coteaux du Layon AOC is 35hl/ha and 14%)
68
Savennieres style
```
Fully dry white from Chenin Blanc
Austere in youth
Long ageing
Very high acid
High alcohol
```
69
Account for concentration and ripeness in Savennieres
South-facing slopes
Low fertility rocky schist soil
Low yields
70
Max yield in SAvennieres
50hl/ha
71
Two smaller ACOs within Savennieres AOC
Savennieres La Roche aux Moines AOC
| Coulée de Serrant AOC
72
Coulée de Serrant owner
Nicolas Joly
| it's a monopole
73
Coulee de Serrant yields
30hl/ha
74
Rosé de Loire vs Rosé d'Anjou vs Cabernet d'Anjou
R de Loire: range of varieties (Cab F, Cab S, Gamay, Grolleau); 60hl/ha; dry; can be made outside Anj-Saum but rarely is
R d'Anjou: mostly Grolleau; 65hl/ha; popular; best-selling of three
Cab d'Anjou: Cab Franc/Sauv; 60hl/ha; medium-dry; deep colour
75
Rosé de Loire AOC
Range of varieties (Cab F, Cab S, Gamay, Grolleau)
60hl/ha
Dry
Can be made outside Anjou-Saumur but rarely is
76
Rosé d'Anjou AOC
Most popular of three rosé styles here
65hl/ha
Mostly Grolleau
77
Cabernet d'Anjou
Cab Franc and/or Cab Sauv
60hl/ha
Medium-dry
Deep colour
78
What kind of wines made in Saumur AOC?
Red, white, rosé and sparkling
Whites: Chenin
Reds: Cab Franc and Cab Sauv
79
Coteaux de Saumur AOC?
Sweet Chenin Blanc
Over-ripe grapes with or without botrytis
35hl/ha
Lusciously sweet with high acid
80
Saumur-Champigny style
```
Red wines mostly Cab Franc (85% min)
Pale ruby
Medium /(+) redcurrant, leafy
Medium alcohol
High acid
Medium tannin
```
81
Cabernet Franc minimum % in Saumur-Champigny AOC
85%
82
Chalk, flint and clay in Saumur-Champigny. So what?
Good drainiage and water-holding potential, valuable in dry periods
83
Yields in Saumur-Champigny
57hl/ha
84
Example of premium Saumur-Champigny
Clos Rougeard
85
What kind of wines from Touraine AOC?
Red, white, rose and sparkling
Whites: Sauvignon Blanc
Reds: Cab Franc and Cot (Malbec)
86
Example of a Touraine AOC subzone
Touraine AOC Amboise
Allows differences reflecting locally grown fruit
eg in Amboise, Chenin is principal grape, not Sauvignon
87
Most important white wine appellation in Touraine?
Vouvray AOC
88
Vouvray AOC minimum % Chenin Blanc?
95%
89
Vouvray AOC yield
52hl/ha
90
Best vineyard position in Vouvray?
Slopes overlooking Loire river
Promote ripening = good sunlight interception
River moderates temperature
91
Soils in Vouvray, and so what?
Flinty, clay and limestone over tuff
| Good drainage
92
Is sweet Vouvray made every year?
No
93
Sweetness levels of Vouvray?
Dry, demi-sec, sweet
94
AOC across the river from Vouvray?
Montlouis-sur-Loire AOC
95
Mountlouis-sur-Loire AOC grape requirement
100% Chenin Blanc
96
Account for dynamism, popularity of Montlouis-sur-Loire AOC
Vineyards cheaper than nearby Vouvray
Inlux of newcomers
Organic and biodynamic
97
Three important AOCs for red wine in Touraine
Bourgueil AOC
Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil AOC
Chinon AOC
98
Bourgeuil AOC makes what kind of wines
```
Mostly red
Some rosé
Mostly Cabernet Franc
10% Cab Franc allowed
55hl/ha
```
99
What is lighter in style: Bourgeuil or St Nicolas de Bourgueil?
St Nicolas
100
Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgeuil compared stylistically with what AOC in Saumur?
Saumur-Champigny
| Similar in style and price
101
Chinon AOC makes what kind of wiens
Best known for reds (Cab Franc)
Also white (Chenin)
Some rosé
102
Chinon reds: light and easy drinking or structured and serious?
Both! It's a spectrum.
1. Fruity, light, easy to drink with short maceration on skins (6-8 days)
2. structured, powerful, aged for up to two years before release, longer maceration (2-3 weeks)
103
Chinon: grapes for more structured wines come from where?
Clay and limestone soils
| vs sandy or gravelly soils for lighter wines
104
Anjou-Saumur and Touraine export what % of their production?
20%
105
Who produces more wine: Anjou-Saumur or Touraine?
Anjou-Saumur produces around twice as much wine as TOuarine
106
Who makes more rosé: Anjou-Saumur or Touraine?
Anjou-Saumur makes 10x the amount of rose as Touraine
107
Who makes moer sparkling wine: Anjou-Saumur or Touraine?
Anjou-Saumur makes more sparkling thatn Touraine
108
Climate in Loire's Central Vineyards?
Continental
| Cold winters and warm summers
109
Account for restrained flavours in Central Vineyards wines
Long growing season day lengths
Low light inensity
Low heat
110
Rainfall in Central Vineyards? So what?
Surprisingly high for continental climate (750mm)
Reduces drought risk
Increases fungal risk
111
Sauvignon Blanc buds early or late
Buds late
| Less risk of spring frost
112
Sauvignon Blanc ripens early or late
Ripens early
| Suitable to cool climates and threat of autumn rains
113
Is Sauvignon Blanc vigorous?
Yes. best grown on poor soils
| canopy must be managed to avoid shading (underripe over green flavours)
114
What would happen if Sauvignon Blanc canopy had too much shading?
Under-ripe and green fruit flavours in the wine
115
Sauv Blanc prone to what diseases etc
```
Powdery
Downy
BBR
Trunk disease eg esca
Eutypa dieback (if cordon trained)
```
116
Sauvignon Blanc aromas
Pronounced
| Grass, bell pepper, aspargus, gooseberry, grapefruit and wet stone (cool areas); ripe passion fruit (warmer areas)
117
Sauv Blanc style
Pronounced grass, bell pepper, asparagus, gooseberry etc
Medium body
Medium alcohol
High acid
118
How does row orientation affect SAuv Blanc?
With shady conditions; green pepper, grass
| Sunny conditions: tropical fruit flavour
119
What % of Central Vineyards plantings is Sauv Blanc?
70%
120
70% of Central Vineyards is planted to what grape?
Sauv Blanc
121
Pinot Noir planting % in Central Vineyards?
20%
122
Typical ferment temperatures for whites in Central Vineyards?
Slightly higher than new world (upper part of cool to lowest part of mid-range; not "cool")
More restrained fruit expression
123
Malo in Central Vineyards white?
Often blocked
| Some allow it
124
Where is oak used in Sancerre etc
Typically large old oak for high quality whites (fill out body without any new oak flavours)
Francois Cotat: old oak and lees to give long ageing wine
Henri Bourgeois: heavily oaked wine
125
Largest Central Vineyards appellation?
Sancerre AOC
126
Until phylloxera, Sancerre was planted to what?
Pinot Noir
| Replanted to SB afterwards
127
Elevation in Sancerre
Steep hillside slopes 200-400m
| same as Cote d'Or
128
Moderating influences against spring frost in Sancerre?
River and nearby forests
129
Yields in Sancerre
White: 65hl/ha
Rose: 63hl/ha
Red: 59hl/ha
They are high - but SB can take big yields with enough flavour
Pinot needs to yield lower to keep flavour intensity
130
Sancerre aromas
Medium intensity
| Grapefruit, gooseberry
131
Examples of super-premium Sancerre (2)
Didier Dagueneau
| Francois Cotat
132
Three types of soil in Sancerre?
1. Caillottes
2. Terre Blanches
3. Silex
133
Caillotes soil
```
Very shallow (25-40mm) over limestone
Aroamtic wines, drink young
```
134
Terre Blanches soil
```
limestone and marl as in Chablis
Slow ripening
Famous vineyards eg Cote des Monts Damnes, Cul de Beaujeu
Most structured wines
Long ageing
```
135
Silex soil
Flinty
Accumulates heat, early ripening
e.g. Les Romains vineyard
Stony or smoky aromas
136
Difference(s) and simialrities between Sancerre AOC and Pouilly-Fumé AOC?
```
Flatter land in P-F (more frost prone)
Wine a little more round and less aromatic, needs a bit more time in bottle
Same max yield (65hl/ha)
Same range of soils
Similar price and quality
```
137
Frost protection in Pouilly-Fumé
Wind machines
| Flatter land than Sancerre = more frost prone area
138
Reuilly styles of wine
White (Sauv Blanc only)
Red (Pinot Noir only)
Rose (Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir)
139
Quincy AOC: what blend?
Min 90% Sauvignon Blanc
| Sauvignon Gris permitted
140
Yields for Sancerre, Pouilly-Fumé, Reuilly, Quincy, Menetou-Salon whites?
65hl/ha
141
Menetou Salon AOC vines planted on what exposition
Gentle south facing slopes
| More vulnerable to frost than in Sancerre
142
Two famous sites in Sancerre
Les Monts Damnés
| Les Belles Dames
143
Négociants sell about what % of Loire Valley wine?
50% by volume
144
Loire: top 10 negociants account for what % of negociant sales?
82%
145
Breakdown of Loire sales volume: negociants, estates and co-ops
Negociants 50%
Estates 41%
Co-ops 10%
146
Examples of Loire negociants owning prestige estates?
Grand Chais de France: Chateau des Fesles (Bonnezeaux) and Chateau de Cléray (Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine)
Ackerman: Chateau de Valiere (Anjou) and Chateau de Sancerre
147
What % of Loire production is exported?
20%
| top markets US, UK, Germany
148
Top export markets for Loire?
US, UK Germany
| 20% of production is exported
149
Group founded by Nicolas Joly
Renaissances des appellations/Return to terroir
