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French Wine Scholar > Loire: Appellations Part 3 > Flashcards

Loire: Appellations Part 3 Flashcards

1
Q

What is the climate in Centre-Loire?

A

Distinctly continental
* there is a large seasonal temperature swing

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2
Q

What climatic threats does Centre-Loire face?

A
  • Hail in summer
  • Spring frost: especially in Quincy, some parts of Reuilly & Pouilly-Fume.
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3
Q

Why does Centre-Loire grow a less diverse palette of grapevines than the Middle Loire?

A

The weather can be challenging.

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4
Q

What factors contribute to the large harvest differentials in Centre-Loire?

A
  • Annual rainfall is generally ample but can vary significantly from year to year.
  • Vineyard elevation varies: from 400-1150ft/120-350m
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5
Q

What are the 4 main soil types found in Centre-Loire and what sub-soil do they sit upon?

A

These soil types rest atop a base of limestone & Kimmeridgean marls:
* Limestone or caillotes: pebbles of limestone-rich Portlandian marl
* Clay & limestone (terres blanches): Kimmeridgean marl rich in oyster fossils
* Flint (silex) & clay with flint (argiles a silex)
* Sands & gravel

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6
Q

Which grape was Centre-Loire historically planted with?

A

Chassela; a grape now exclusively associated with Switzerland, Savoie & Alsace. After phylloxera struck, Chasselas proved difficult to graft. Some pockets still exist.

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7
Q

Name the white grape variety of Centre-Loire.

A

Sauvignon Blanc

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8
Q

Name the rose/gris grape varieties of Centre-Loire.

A
  • Pinot Gris: significant in Reuilly
  • Sauvignon Gris: significant in Quincy
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9
Q

Name the red grape variety of Centre-Loire.

A

Pinot Noir is primary.

Supported by Gamay in some AOCs.

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10
Q

Name the appellations of Centre-Loire.

A
  1. Sancerre AOC (1936, Rose, Red 1959): 54% of production
  2. Pouilly-Fume AOC (1937): 25%
  3. Pouilly-sur Loire AOC (1937)
  4. Mentou-Salon AOC (1959): 9%
  5. Quincy AOC (1936): 5%
  6. Reuilly AOC (1937): 3%
  7. Coteaux du Giennois AOC (1998): 3%
  8. Chateaumeillant AOC (1965)

Other: production 1%

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11
Q

What styles of wine are produced in Sancerre AOC?

A
  • Dry White
  • Rose
  • Red

82% of production is white.

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12
Q

Which grape varieties are permitted in Sancere AOC?

A

White:
* [P] Sauvignon Blanc: has been the principal grape here since phylloxera.

Red:
* [P] Pinot Noir

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13
Q

What soil types are found in Sancerre AOC?

A

These 3 soil types are said to give different expressions to Sauvignon Blanc:
1. Argiles a silex (gunflint)
2. Caillottes (perfumed wines with a propensity to mature quickly)
3. Terres blanches (powerful wines with ageability)

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14
Q

Where are vineyards planted in Sancerre AOC?

A

These vineyards are located on the west side of the Loire River, planted higher in elevation and on hillier land than Pouilly Fume. Gradients are steep, reaching up to 50%.

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15
Q

How is rainfall in Sancerre AOC?

A

Rainfall is high, but most falls outside the growing season. The steep slopes help to drain excess water.

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16
Q

Name a lieux-dit of Sancerre AOC.

A

Chavignol

Various lieux-dits & subzones have been identified as delivering consistent, superior bottlings year after year.

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17
Q

What style of wine is produced in Pouilly-Fume AOC?

A

Dry White

From Sauvignon Blanc.

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18
Q

Where is Pouilly-Fume AOC located?

A

This appellation lies on the right bank of the Loire River, facing Sancerre in Centre-Loire.

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19
Q

What soil types are found in Pouilly-Fume AOC?

A
  • Argiles a silex
  • Caillottes
  • Terres blances
  • Some sands
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20
Q

What is the Sauvignon Blanc variety called in Pouilly-Fume AOC

A

Blanc-Fume; Fume, meaning “smoked,” refers to the gunflint aromas found in the wines produced on flinty-clay soils.

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21
Q

What is the purpose of the Pouilly-sur-Loire AOC?

A

This appellation allows Pouilly producers to produce white wine from Chasselas.

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22
Q

Which wine is considered to be the “sister” of Sancerre?

A

Menetou-Salon AOC

They share a similar terroir and the same grapes.

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23
Q

What styles of wine are produced in Menetou-Salon AOC?

A
  • Dry White
  • Rose
  • Red
24
Q

Which grape varieties are permitted in Menetou-Salon AOC?

A

White:
* [P] Sauvignon Blanc

Red:
* [P] Pinot Noir

25
Q

How many villages are there in Menetou-Salon AOC?

A

10 villages

Any of them may append their name on the label so long as 100% of the grapes come from the named village.

26
Q

Where is Menetou-Salon AOC located?

A

This appellation is situated to the south-west of Sancerre.
The land is flatter than Sancerre, exposing it to southwest winds and additional risk of frost.

27
Q

Where is Quincy AOC located?

A

This appellation lies largely along the left bank of the Cher River (with a very small section on the opposite bank) in the Centre-Loire.
Vineyards are planted on plateaus near the Cher River, largelly on sands & gravels.

28
Q

What style of wine is produced in Quincy AOC?

A

Dry White

From Sauvignon Blanc, with Sauvignon Gris as a minor blending partner.

29
Q

Where is Reuilly AOC located?

A

This non-contiguous appellation has two locations.
The largest portion lies on both sides of the Arnon River.
The other portion borders the Cher River.

30
Q

What is the climate in Reuilly AOC?

A

This appellation boasts a dry mesoclimate and is always the first to harvest in Centre-Loire.

31
Q

What styles of wine are produced in Reuilly AOC?

A
  • Dry White: Sauvignon Blanc
  • Rose: Pinot Noir & Pinot Gris, by direct press or saignee (wines are generally quite pale)
  • Red: Pinot Noir
32
Q

Where is Coteaux du Giennois AOC located?

A

This appellation lies along the right bank of the Loire River, north of Pouilly-Fume.
It is situated at the same latitude as Chablis. The two appellations are separated by 62mi/100km and the Morvan Forest.

33
Q

What styles of wine are produced in Coteaux du Giennois AOC?

A
  • Dry White: quite mineral with bracing acidity
  • Rose: Pinot Noir (usually dominates blend) & Gamay
  • Red: Pinot Noir (usually dominates blend) & Gamay
34
Q

Where is Chateaumeillant AOC located?

A

This appellation is directly south of Quincy & Reuilly. It is the smallest and most southerly of the Centre-Loire appellationss and the most central AOC in France.

35
Q

What soil types are found in Chateaumeillant AOC?

A

Here, the sedimentary soils of the Paris Basin meet the Massif Central.
* Topsoils:
* Sandy-clay
* Subsoils:
* Gneiss
* Sandstone
* Mica schist

36
Q

What styles of wine are produced in Chateaumeillant AOC?

A
  • Rose: Gamay dominates, made by direct press
  • Red: Gamay dominates

Secondary grapes include:
* Pinot Gris
* Pinot Noir

37
Q

Where are the vines planted in Upper Loire?

A

Principally on the rolling terrain flanking the Loire & Allier rivers.
Most of the vineyards are near the cities of:
* Saint-Etienne
* Clermont-Ferrand
* Roanne

38
Q

What is the climate in Upper Loire?

A

Continental
* Winter tends to be cold (compounded by elevation)
* Summers are warm during the day
* Large diurnal & seasonal temperature differentials

39
Q

What is the range of elevation of the vineyards in Upper Loire?

A

From 820-2,000ft/250-600m

40
Q

What is the Chaine des Puys?

A

A chain of extinct volcanoes. Puys are weathered hils composed of solidified magma.
They run along the western flanks of Saint-Pourcain and the Cotes d’Auvergne, putting these vineyards in a rain shadow, which holds back precipitation. (The Monts de la Madeleine do the same for the Cote Roannaise; and the Monts du Forez for the vineyards of Cotes du Forez.)

41
Q

What are the soil types found in Upper Loire?

A

There is a mix of sedimentary & volcanic elements.
* Saint-Pourcain: chalky-clays, sands & gravels
* Cotes d’Auvergne: clay, chalky-marls, basalt, granite & gneiss
* Cote Roannaise: iron-rich granite, schist & gneiss
* Cotes du Forez: basalt, granitic sands, schist & gneiss

42
Q

Name the white grapes of Upper Loire.

A
  • Chardonnay: primary
  • Sacy: support
  • Sauvignon Blanc: support
43
Q

Name the red grape varieties of Upper Loire.

A
  • Gamay: primary
  • Pinot Noir: support
44
Q

Name the appellations of Upper Loire.

A
  1. Saint-Pourcain AOC (1951)
  2. Cotes d’Auvergne AOC (1951)
  3. Cote Roannaise AOC (1994)
  4. Cotes du Forez AOC (2000)
45
Q

What styles of wine are produced in Saint-Pourcain AOC?

A
  • Dry White: [P] Chardonnay, [S] Sacy, Sauvignon Blanc
  • Rose: [P] Gamay, [S] Pinot Noir
  • Red: [P] Gamay, [S] Pinot Noir
46
Q

What styles of wine are produced in Cotes d’Auvernge AOC?

A
  • Dry White: [P] Chardonnay
  • Rose: [P] Gamay, [S] Pinot Noir
  • Red: [P] Gamay, [S] Pinot Noir
47
Q

How many DGCs are there for Cotes d’Auvernge AOC? Name them.

A

5

  1. Boudes: reds
  2. Chanturgue: reds
  3. Chateaugay: reds
  4. Madargue: reds
  5. Corent: roses
48
Q

Where are the vineyards planted in Cote Roannaise AOC?

A

They lie between the Monts de la Madeleine and the Loire River on southeast-facing slopes of significant elevation (1148-1804ft/350-550m). A number of small rivers cross through the area as they make their way from nearby mountains to merge with the Loire.

49
Q

What styles of wine are produced in Cote Roannaise AOC?

A
  • Rose: Gamay, made by saignee only; have distinctive salmon colour & exotic fruit flavours
  • Red: Gamay: made both via semi-carbonic maceration & traditional yeast-driven fermentation
50
Q

Where are the vineyards of Cotes du Forez AOC located?

A

These vineyards are planted on south- and southwest-facing slopes on volcanic soils and are the closest vineyards to the source of the Loire River.

51
Q

What styles of wine are produced in Cotes du Forez AOC located?

A
  • Rose: Gamay
  • Red: Gamay

Although some wines are made via semi-carbonic maceration, most is vinified using a traditional yeast-driven fermentation.

52
Q

How many IGPs are there in the Loire Valley?

A

6 IGPs
* 1 regional: Val de Loire IGP (2007)
* 1 departmental
* 4 zonal

53
Q

Which is the largest IGP in France?

A

Val de Loire IGP: it covers 14 departements, 12 of which can appear on labels.
90% of wines are varietal bottlings; ~60% is white.

54
Q

What styles of wine are produced under Val de Loire IGP?

A
  • White
  • Rose
  • Red
55
Q

Which grape varieties are permitted in the Val de Loire IGP?

A

White:
* [P] Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Folle Blanche, Melon de Bourgogne, Orbois, Pinot Blanc, Sacy, Sauvignon Blanc

Rose/Gris:
* [P] Grolleau Gris, Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Gris

Red:
* [P] Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cot, Gamay, Grolleau, Negrette, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Pineau d’Aunis, Abouriou, Egiodola

French Wine Scholar (34 decks)

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