Loire Valley Flashcards
France’s Longest River?
The Loire - also the last wild river in Europe
White varietals of Loire
Main: Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Melon de Bourgogne
Secondary: Chardonnay, Orbois, Romorantin, Gros Plant, Chasselas
Red Varietals of the Loire
cabernet Franc (Breton) pinot noir, gamay, gab sauv, malbec (cot), Pineau d'Aunis, and Groslot (grolleau)
Describe Pays Nantais terroir and style
sweep from the south toward the NE city of Nantes near the atlantic coast. Muscadet country - cool, wet, maritime, planted primarily w/ Melon de bourgogne. neutral, bone dry -dry, high acidity, and meant to drank young
Local term for Chenin Blanc in Anjou
Pineau de la Loire
Rose production in Anjou is made with what grapes?
Grolleau and Cab Franc
Describe Chenin in the Anjou - Saumur
slow to ripen, high acidity, can have astringency. - best in Savennieres.
Describe Savennieres style and terroir
steep southern exposure and a unique soil of blue schist and volcanic debris. - meant to age, high acidity, and asutere in youth.
Describe Saumur-Champigny
a light, bright, elegantly floral expression of Cab Franc made in Saumur
Where is the best and most ageworthy red wines in the Loire Valley produced? - classic characeristics?
Chinon and Bourgueil
raspberry and green tobacco on the nose, silky tannins - terroir specific on palate.
Describe Vouvray terroir and style.
tuffeau limestone, may be produced in a range of sweetness levels. - full bodied chenin blanc, also sparkling made in methode tradtitionelle
Grapes of Touraine
chenin blanc dominates, sauvignon blanc and max 20% sauv gris.
red and rose include: gamay, groslot, pineau d’Anis, Cab franc.
Describe the terroir of the Central Vineyards
climate is continental, cold winters and brisk days during harvest and budbreak bring the danger of frost, short summers don’t aid in ripeness. Loire’s Best Sauv Blanc is here and warm vintage Pinot Noir can be exceptional
Describe Sancerre style and terroir
Sauv Blanc - 3 main soils
silex- higher concentration of flint - fume
terres blanches- kimmeridgian clay like chablis
caillottes - stony and fossily soil
Varietals of Cotes du Forez and Cote Roannaise
exclusively made w/ Gamay and similar to lighter styles of Beaujolais.
What does Moulleux indicate?
Sweet wine
What is the permitted style of Muscadet AOP
dry white
What is the most common soil in Vouvray
Tuffeaux
What grape is grown in Montlouis-sur Loire?
Chenin Blanc
Breton is a synonym for what grape?
Cab Franc
max RS in g/L of Vouvray sec?
8
Who produces Clos du Papillon and where?
Baumard
Savienneres
what direction is Touraine Noble Joue AOP of the Loire River?
South
Vouvray sweetness levels?
Dry (sec)
Semi sweet (demi sec)
sweet (moelleux)
Sweetest (Quarts de chaume)
What is pourriture Noble?
French term for botrytis
minimum amount of cab franc in chinon?
85%
