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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
How many villages are there in **Menetou-Salon AOC**?
**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
Where is **Menetou-Salon AOC** located?
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
Where is **Quincy AOC** located?
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
What style of wine is produced in **Quincy AOC**?
Dry White From **Sauvignon Blanc**, with **Sauvignon Gris** as a minor blending partner.
29
Where is **Reuilly AOC** located?
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
What is the climate in **Reuilly AOC**?
This appellation boasts a dry mesoclimate and is always the first to harvest in **Centre-Loire**.
31
What styles of wine are produced in **Reuilly AOC**?
* *Dry White*: **Sauvignon Blanc** * *Rose*: **Pinot Noir** & **Pinot Gris**, by direct press or *saignee* (wines are generally quite pale) * *Red*: **Pinot Noir**
32
Where is **Coteaux du Giennois AOC** located?
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
What styles of wine are produced in **Coteaux du Giennois AOC**?
* *Dry White*: quite mineral with bracing acidity * *Rose*: **Pinot Noir** (usually dominates blend) & **Gamay** * *Red*: **Pinot Noir** (usually dominates blend) & **Gamay**
34
Where is **Chateaumeillant AOC** located?
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
What soil types are found in **Chateaumeillant AOC**?
Here, the sedimentary soils of the *Paris Basin* meet the *Massif Central*. * Topsoils: * *Sandy-clay* * Subsoils: * *Gneiss* * *Sandstone* * *Mica schist*
36
What styles of wine are produced in **Chateaumeillant AOC**?
* *Rose*: **Gamay** dominates, made by direct press * *Red*: **Gamay** dominates Secondary grapes include: * Pinot Gris * Pinot Noir
37
Where are the vines planted in **Upper Loire**?
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
What is the climate in **Upper Loire**?
**Continental** * Winter tends to be cold (compounded by elevation) * Summers are warm during the day * Large diurnal & seasonal temperature differentials
39
What is the range of elevation of the vineyards in **Upper Loire**?
From 820-2,000ft/250-600m
40
What is the Chaine des Puys?
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
What are the soil types found in **Upper Loire**?
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
Name the white grapes of **Upper Loire**.
* **Chardonnay**: primary * **Sacy**: support * **Sauvignon Blanc**: support
43
Name the red grape varieties of **Upper Loire**.
* **Gamay**: primary * **Pinot Noir**: support
44
Name the appellations of **Upper Loire**.
1. Saint-Pourcain AOC (1951) 2. Cotes d'Auvergne AOC (1951) 3. Cote Roannaise AOC (1994) 4. Cotes du Forez AOC (2000)
45
What styles of wine are produced in Saint-Pourcain AOC?
* *Dry White*: [P] **Chardonnay**, [S] **Sacy**, **Sauvignon Blanc** * *Rose*: [P] **Gamay**, [S] **Pinot Noir** * *Red*: [P] **Gamay**, [S] **Pinot Noir**
46
What styles of wine are produced in Cotes d'Auvernge AOC?
* *Dry White*: [P] **Chardonnay** * *Rose*: [P] **Gamay**, [S] **Pinot Noir** * *Red*: [P] **Gamay**, [S] **Pinot Noir**
47
How many DGCs are there for Cotes d'Auvernge AOC? Name them.
**5** 1. *Boudes*: reds 2. *Chanturgue*: reds 3. *Chateaugay*: reds 4. *Madargue*: reds 5. *Corent*: roses
48
Where are the vineyards planted in Cote Roannaise AOC?
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
What styles of wine are produced in Cote Roannaise AOC?
* *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
Where are the vineyards of Cotes du Forez AOC located?
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
What styles of wine are produced in Cotes du Forez AOC located?
* *Rose*: **Gamay** * *Red*: **Gamay** Although some wines are made via semi-carbonic maceration, most is vinified using a traditional yeast-driven fermentation.
52
How many **IGP**s are there in the **Loire Valley**?
**6 IGP**s * **1** regional: Val de Loire IGP (2007) * **1** departmental * **4** zonal
53
Which is the largest IGP in France?
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
What styles of wine are produced under Val de Loire IGP?
* White * Rose * Red
55
Which grape varieties are permitted in the Val de Loire IGP?
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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