Loire Flashcards

1
Q

What are the four sub-divisions into which the Loire can be divided?

A

From west to east:

  • Nantais
  • Anjou-Saumur
  • Touraine
  • Central Vineyards
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2
Q

Talk about climate in the Loire.

A

Overall cool, but Central Vineyards is continental whereas Nantais region has a maritime climate.

Anjou warmer and drier than might be expected because of protection Mauges hills gives from Atlantic influences. Have warm, stoney soils.

Touraine has a cooler, wetter climate with clay soils.

Best sites face south and get extra light reflected from the river.

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3
Q

Name the important varieties of the Loire.

A

Sauvignon Blanc
Chenin Blanc
Melon Blanc

Cabernet Franc
Gamay
Cabernet Sauvignon
Grolleau

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4
Q

Talk about Sancere and Pouilly-Fumé.

A

Made from Sauvignon Blanc in Central Vineyards area.

  • both on very chalky, well-drained stony soil
  • dry and high in acidity, hints of green apple and wet stones
  • Pouilly-Fumé subtle smokey notes
  • villages such as Chavignol and vineyards such as Le Monts Damnés (both Sancerre) produce particularly expressive wines
  • some of these wines can evolve in bottle but most Pouilly-Fumé and Sancerre does not.

Winemaking techniques vary:

  • gentle pneumatic pressing and temp control in stainless steel used to create fresh fruity wines;
  • some producers ferment and mature in old oak on lees to give broader texture;
  • a few use new oak;
  • sometimes MLF, sometimes not - often used in cooler years when the acidity is high.
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5
Q

What is Menetou-Salon?

A

501 hectare appellation to south west of Sancere

- makes good value Sauvignon Blanc wine in the style of Sancere and Pouilly-Fumé

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6
Q

Talk about Touraine.

A

Region to the east of Vouvray and well to the west of Sancere.

  • from here comes most Loire Sauvignon Blanc
  • white Touraine is a generic appellation that covers the whole region
  • often labelled varietally such as ‘Sauvignon de Touraine’
  • tend to have less concentration than the Sauvignon Blanc wines from the more prestigious appellations.

Chenin Blanc provides the region’s best wines

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7
Q

What is a peculiarity of and problem with Chenin Blanc?

A

Even within one bunch it is common for grapes to reach different levels of ripeness

  • care has to be taken during harvest to exclude unripe grapes so as to avoid green, herbaceous notes
  • several passes through the vineyard at harvest may be needed
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8
Q

What types of wine can be made with Chenin Blanc?

A

Dry
Sweet
Still
Sparkling

Ripeness of grapes at picking directly related to the style.
Can include grapes shrivelled by the sun or with botrytis.

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9
Q

Talk about styles of Loire Chenin Blanc.

A
  • young wines can have flavours varying from fresh apple through to tropical fruit, depending on ripeness of grapes
  • the dry wines can have a steely smokiness
  • sweet wines often have the apricot and citrus peel flavours of noble rot
  • both dry and sweet Chenin can aged for decades
  • in bottle they develop notes of honey, toast and hay
  • high acidity common to all these wines
  • climate and soil affect the style
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10
Q

Talk about Vouvray.

A

To the east of the city of Tours and in the central north of the Touraine Region of which it forms a part

  • still and sparkling Chenin Blanc wines
  • still wines vary from dry to lusciously sweet
  • cool climate and clay soils means wines tend to be light to medium in body, with fresh fruity floral notes
  • rarely fermented or matured in new oak
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11
Q

Talk about Samur and Anjou.

A
  • similar climates and soils
  • Samur sparkling Chenin Blanc made by traditional method
  • Anjou dry wines, often matured in oak
  • Anjou includes the well-known appellations of Savennières and Coteaux du Layon
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12
Q

Talk about Savennières.

A

In Anjou.

  • produces full-bodied, complex and dry Chenin blanc
  • the best can age for decades in bottle
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13
Q

Talk about Coteaux du Layon.

A

In Anjou.

  • produces renowned sweet wines
  • in the sheltered valley of the river Layon where botrytis develops well
  • The two best sites, Quarts de Chaume and Bonnezeaux, have their won appellations and produce some of the world’s greatest sweet wines
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14
Q

What is Quarts de Chaume?

A

Sweet wine producing appellation within Coteaux de Layon, Anjou

  • 35 hectares
  • Chenin Blanc
  • the Loire’s first official Grand Cru
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15
Q

What is Bonnezeaux?

A

Sweet wine appellation within Coteaux de Layon, Anjou

  • about 85 hectares
  • Chenin Blanc
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16
Q

What are the other names for Melon Blanc?

A

Muscadet or Melon de Bourgogne.

17
Q

What is Melon de Bourgogne better known as?

A

Melon Blanc.

18
Q

What is Muscadet better known as?

A

Melon Blanc.

19
Q

Where is the vast majority of Melon Blanc in the Loire grown? What are the wines known as?

A

Nantais. Muscadet.

20
Q

Describe the three levels/types of Muscadet produced in Nantais.

A
  • Appellation Muscadet covers widest area.
  • Greatest production comes from more highly regarded Muscadet Sèvre et Maine.
  • Muscadet (Sèvre et Maine) Sur Lie spends its winter maturing on lees before bottling
21
Q

Describe typical Muscadet wine.

A
Dry
Medium alcohol (maximum 12% allowed)
High acidity
Light body
Subtle green fruit flavours
Drink young
22
Q

What is the maximum alcohol level allowed for any Muscadet wine?

A

12%

23
Q

Talk about Cabernet Franc in the Loire.

A

Well suited to Loire as flowers and ripens early.
- made in range of styles dependent on site, climate, soil and winemaking techniques.
Chinon, to south of Loire, and Bourgueil and Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil, to north of Loire, (all in Touraine) produce Cabernet Franc
- in these three areas light fruity wines for early drinking tend to come from sandy soils whereas fuller-bodied, more tannic versions come from south-facing slopes and limestone and clay soils.

Saumur-Champigny also produces Cabernet Franc
- tend to be lighter than the Touraine versions

24
Q

Talk about Gamay in the Loire.

A

Second most planted black variety in Loire

  • mainly found in Touraine and Anjou
  • here it makes a fruity, early drinking wine
25
Q

Talk about Loire rosé.

A

Mainly produced in Anjou-Saumur
- but also significant amounts in Touraine and Sancerre
‘Rosé de Loire’ can be made in Anjou-Saumur and Touraine, but most comes from Anjou-Saumur
- is always dry
- must have a minimum of 30% Cabernet Franc and/or Cabernet Sauvignon

Two other rosé appellations in Anjou-Saumur:

  1. Cabernet-d’Anjou
    - medium sweet in style
    - a blend of Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon
  2. Rosé de Anjou
    - less sweet than Cabernet-d’Anjou and made predominantly from Grolleau blended with Cabernet Franc and other local varieties

Touraine rosé

  • can be made from a wide range of black grape varieties
  • generally dry, fresh and fruity

Sancerre rosé
- must be made from Pinot Noir

26
Q

What is Sancerre rosé made from?

A

Pinot Noir

27
Q

Which Loire rosé is predominantly Grolleau?

A

Rosé d’Anjou.