Loire Valley Flashcards
How many regions are in the Loire valley and what are they?
4 main regions.
Pays Nantais
Anjou-Saumur
Touraine
Central Vineyards
What are the key varieties in each region?
Pays Nantais = Melon
Anjou-Saumur = chenin Blanc, Cabernet Franc
Touraine = chenin Blanc, Cabernet Franc, Sauvignon Blanc
Central Vineyards = Sauvignon Blanc, pinot noir
What are the climate characteristics of Pays Nantais?
Cool maritime climate With cool springs and warm humid summers
Threat of rain at any time during the growing season.
Spring frosts are a problem despite the proximity to the ocean.
What are the growing characteristics of Melon?
Quite a hardy variety.
Buds early
Ripens relatively early
Can produce high yields
Good resistance to powdery mildew.
Tight bunches make it susceptible to downy mildew and bortrytis.
Timely and repeated spraying is required.
What are the wines like that Melon makes?
High acidity. Light body Low to low end of medium alcohol Typically low aromatic intensity (green apple) Often made sur lie
What is typical winemaking for Melon (muscadet)?
Typically fermented and aged in shallow underground glass lined concrete vats.
(Although stainless steel is used)
Then aged on the lees.
Malo is typically avoided. Preserving its high acidity.
What are the growing characteristics of chenin Blanc?
Buds early
Vigorous
Prone to powdery mildew and bortrytis and trunk disease.
Ripens late, making it vulnerable to autumn rains.
Ripens unevenly requiring multiple passes through the vineyard.
What are the styles of chenin Blanc made in the middle Loire?
Dry. Off-dry, sweet wines and sparkling
What are the characteristics of dry or off-dry chenin Blanc?
Medium intensity aromas of green apple and lemon (sometimes with steely, smoky character)
Medium alcohol
High acidity often balanced by some residual sugar for off-dry.
What are the growing characteristics of Cabernet franc in the middle Loire?
Early budding
Prone to coulure.
Mid ripening variety.
Winter hardy
What are the characteristics of the wines made from Cabernet franc in the middle Loire?
Medium to pronounced intensity red fruit (redcurrant, raspberry) floral (violet)
Can have leafy aromas if picked too early.
Light to medium body.
Medium tannin.
High acidity.
What are the growing characteristics of Grolleau Noir?
Early budding and mid-ripening
Prone to bortrytis
What is grolleau noir mainly used for?
Blending variety in rosé
Especially Rosé d’Anjou & Rosé de Loire
Where is Gamay principally grown in the Loire?
Touraine as wel as the Central Vineyards.
Where is Cabernet Sauvignon grown in the Loire Valley?
Best in temperate Anjou and only in the warmest sites.
What are the typical wine making practices for Chenin Blanc in the Loire?
Fermentation at cool-mid range temperatures In large old oak or stainless steel.
Malo is avoided.
Aged in neutral containers.
What are the typical wine making practices for Cabernet Franc made in the Loire?
Typical crushed, fermented in concrete or old wood bats that allow punch downs or pump overs.
Aged in old oak barrels in a range of sizes.
How are typical Loire Rosés made?
Direct pressing.
Short maceration for some.
What is the regional generic appellation for the Loire?
There is none.
There are three regional appellations in the middle.
Anjou AOC
Saumur AOC
Touraine AOC
What are the key appellations in Anjou?
Anjou AOC - which includes Anjou Blanc, Anjou Rouge and Anjou Villages AOC.
Coteaux du Latin AOC
Savennieres AOC
Rose de Loire AOC
Rose d’Anjou AOC
Cabernet d’Anjou AOC
What style of wines are produced in Coteaux du Layon AOC?
Specialises in wines made from bortrytis-affected Chenin Blanc.
(If bortrytis fails to develop, the grapes may also be dried on the vine)
What are the characteristics of sweet wines in Coteaux du Layon AOC?
Pronounced aromas of cooked citrus and apple with honey notes.
Sweet
Medium (+) bodied Medium alcohol Medium alcohol High acidity Good to very-good
What was the Loire’s first grand cru and what year was it established?
Quarts de Chaume AOC
2019
What does Savennieres AOC specialise in?
Fully dry wine made from Chenin Blanc.
What are coteaux de saumur AOC wines and what are characteristics do they show?
Sweet Chenin Blanc with or without bortrytis.
Lusciously sweet, balanced by high acidity.
What are the wines from Saumur-Champigny AOC?
This is an appellation for red wines principally from Cabernet Franc. (85%)
Typically pale in colour, medium to medium(+) intensity of redcurrant fruit, sometimes with leafy aromas.
Medium alcohol
High acidity
Medium tannin
When can the wines of Saumur-Champigny AOC be released?
As early as the December after harvest.
What sort of wines does Touraine AOC cover?
Same wide variety as Saumur AOC:
white, red, rosé and sparkling
What are the principal varieties for white wine in Touraine AOC?
Sauvignon Blanc
What are the principal varieties for red wines in Touraine AOC?
Cabernet Franc and Cot
What is the most important appellation in Touraine?
Vouvray AOC
Where are the best vineyards located in Vouvray?
On slopes that overlook the Loire, promoting ripeness due to good sunlight interception with the river acting as a moderating influence on temperatures.
What are the 3 key red wine appellations in Touraine?
Bourgueil AOC
St-Nicolas-Bourgueil AOC
Chinon AOC
How much Cabernet Sauvignon is permitted in the 3 key red wine appellations of Touraine?
10%
What are the 3 soils types in Bourgueil, St-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil AOC and Chinon AOC?
And what is the difference between the types and the wines produced?
Sand, gravel and clay-limestone
Sandy soils are said to produce the lightest wines while those from clay-limestone are said to be the most structured and long lived.
Where is Montlouis-sur-Loire AOC located? And what appellation does it emulate?
On the south bank of the Loire river facing Vouvray. Makes very similar wines to Vouvray.
What style of wines does Bourgueil specialise in?
Red wines, although some rosé is made.
Cabernet Franc being the principal variety.
What sort of wines does St-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil AOC produce and how are they different to Bourgueil AOC?
Generally Cabernet Franc in a lighter style than Bourgueil AOC.
Similar style and price to Saumur-Champigny AOC
What sort of wines are made in Chinon AOC?
Best known for its red wines made from Cabernet Franc.
Also chenin Blanc and rosé are also made.
What are the range of red wine styles made in Chinon AOC?
And how do they differ?
Light and fruity early to drink examples from short maceration in the skins (6-8 days)
To
More structured and powerful wines with a longer maceration period (2-3 weeks) which are not released until 2 years after the harvest.
Some with the power to age for 20 years or more.
What are the central vineyards?
The 8 appellations that are furthest east to the main growing areas of the Loire Valley.
What are the two most well known regions in the Central Vineyards?
Pouilly-fumé & Sancerre
What is the growing environment in the Central Vineyards?
Continental climate with cold winters and warm summers.
Spring frosts are a threat as are summer hailstorms.
Long growing day lengths combined with low low intensity and low heat makes for restrained flavours in the final wines.
