Loire Flashcards
How far is Sancerre from Atlantic?
250 mi
How much earlier does spring arrive in Pays Nantais vs. Sancerre?
2 weeks
What percentage of total Loire production is Pays Nantais?
14%
What percentage of total Loire production is Anjou-Saumur?
48%
What percentage of total Loire production is Touraine
24%
What percentage of total Loire production is Central Vineyards?
14%
What are the 2 grapes of Pays Nantais?
Muscadet and Folle Blanche (Gros Plant)
What’s the climate of Pays Nantais? Describe it (spring, summer, climate hazards)
Cool Maritimecool springs, warm and humid summers and the threat of rain at any time through the growing season but especially in March/April (affecting flowering) and in September (affecting harvest).
What soil characteristic of Pays Nantais helps with high levels of rainfall?
well-drained soils help to offset the regular rainfall
Other than rain at difficult times, what’s the MAJOR climatic risk in Pays Nantais? In what year was this last disastrous?
Despite the proximity of the Atlantic, spring frosts are a serious problem, setting back the whole region in 1991
When spring frosts were a major problem in 1991, was impact did it have on the wine trade in Pays Nantais? What have producers done in response to this problem?
This event led to the loss of what was a booming export market to the UK. Frost has been a serious problem in recent years. Producers are putting in more frost prevention measures, particularly wind machines as well as heaters and burning straw bales.
What’s the only grape allowed in the Muscadet appellations?
Muscadet
Describe the viticultural characteristics of Muscadet (climate adaptability, ripening, yields, susceptibility to disease)
It is quite a hardy variety, making it well suited to a cool region but buds early making it prone to spring frosts. It ripens relatively early, reducing the threat of rain at harvest and can produce high yields. It has good resistance to powdery mildew but is susceptible to downy mildew and botrytis bunch rot, both of which thrive in the humid climate. Timely and, as necessary, repeated spraying is required, adding some cost.
Describe the general profile of Muscadet wines.
Melon makes wines with high acidity, a light body and low to medium alcohol. The wines typically have low aromatic intensity (green apple), which is often made sur lie (see below). The wines are good to very good in quality and inexpensive to mid-priced.
Is basic Muscadet AOC required to be 100% Muscadet?
From 2018, basic Muscadet AOC may include up to 10 per cent of Chardonnay.
Why has canopy management become increasingly important in Pays Nantais?
With a marginal climate for ripeness, progress has been made in recent decades to improve canopy management.
What canopy management techniques are used in Pays Nantais?
In order to facilitate ripeness, canopies are more open than they were and leaf removal is carried out to ensure maximum exposure of grapes to the sun and to reduce the risk of fungal disease. However, care has to be taken that fruit is not sunburnt on the side of the rows facing the sun in the afternoon
What issue exists regarding ripeness of skins and pips in Pays Nantais?
Similarly, attention is now paid to the ripeness of skins and pips in determining the harvest date. However, in hot years, the danger is that sugar levels may reach unacceptably high levels before the skins and pips are fully ripe.
Is chaptalization permitted in Pays Nantais (and what percent abv)? When is it usually used?
Chaptalization is permitted up to 12% abv potential alcohol and is practiced in cooler years
What type of fermentation vessels are generally used for Muscadet in Pays Nantais? Why?
Muscadet is typically fermented and aged in large, shallow underground glass-lined concrete vats, though stainless steel is also used. The idea is to keep the wine as neutral as possible and then to age the wine on the lees.
Is MLF common with Muscadet in Pays Nantais? Why?
Malolactic conversion is typically avoided, preserving the high acidity typical of the style.
Is Muscadet style static or evolving?
With efforts to raise the profile of Muscadet (see the cru communaux below), winemakers are also experimenting. Examples include skin contact and fermentation in barrel, amphora or concrete eggs, these vessels adding cost.
What’s the purpose of sur lie in Muscadet?
This technique is highly typical in the Pays Nantais and is a way of filling out the body of what would otherwise be very light- bodied wines
Describe the process of sur lie in Muscadet
After the alcoholic fermentation is completed, one racking is allowed to remove the gross lees. After this, the wine remains in contact with the fine lees through the following winter and until bottling.
What does sur lie aging add to the profile of Muscadet?
Ageing on the lees also retains the freshness of the wine and may retain a small amount of carbon dioxide, which is part of the style of these wines.
What are the 2 larger Pays Nantais Muscadet appellations?
There are two larger appellations, Muscadet de Sèvre et Maine AOC (at 8,800 ha the Loire’s largest appellation and Muscadet AOC
What are the 2 smaller Pays Nantais Muscadet appellations?
Muscadet Coteaux de la Loire AOC and Muscadet Côtes de Grandlieu AOC.
What’s the Max yield of Muscadet AOC?
65 hL/ha
What’s the Max yield of Muscadet Sevre et Maisnes AOC,Muscadet Coteaux de la Loire AOC and Muscadet Côtes de Grandlieu AOC?
55 hL/ha
What’s the wine profile of Muscadet wines?
The wines are typically dry, with low intensity aroma of green apple and grassy notes, high acidity and a light body. The wines are typically acceptable to good quality (with some very good wines) and inexpensive in price.
When Max yields are large, what weakness is often seen in resulting wines?
results in some wines of low flavour intensity
What are the 3 Muscadet Cru Communauxs?
Clisson, Gorges and Le Pallet.
when can the name of a Muscadet Cru communeaux be added to the label?
If the grapes are grown exclusively in one of these three areas, the name can be added, for example, Muscadet de Sèvre et Maine AOC Clisson.
What are the Max yields of the 3 Muscadet Cru Commueaux?
45 hl/ha
What are the sur lie aging requirements of each of the the 3 Muscadet Cru Commueaux?
The wines have to be kept on the lees for 18 months (Le Pallet) or 24 months (Clisson, Gorges), adding cost
Can the wines of the 3 Muscadet Cru Communeaux be labelled sur lie?
hey cannot be labelled as sur lie as the requirement for long lees ageing means that they are bottled after the date required for sur lie
What is the flavor profile of the wines from the the 3 Muscadet Cru Commueaux (as compared with the 4 regular appellations)?
The wines are typically rounder and more complex with longer finishes.
After the Pay Nantais export business to the OK suffered as a result in inadequate supply in the wake of the 1991 freeze, what steps has the area taken to improve opportunity?
Muscadet was a huge success in the UK market in the 1980s, and as a result, 13,000 ha were planted. However, the frost of 1991 saw production drop by two-thirds. This pushed prices up at a time when new world wines, especially Australian wines, were becoming popular. More recently, Muscadet has sought to reposition itself as a source of terroir-specific wines of high quality with good value for money.