Loire Valley

Question 1

Topography (Cities, water bodies, mountains)
Factor effecting climate, hazards, Terroir

Answer 1

City: Nantes, Anger, Saumur, Tours

River: Loire 1012Km (from Massif central to the Atlantic Ocean), Cher, Vienne.

Ocean: Atlantic

Mountain: Mauges Hills (protects Anjou Samur from the rain making it warmer and drier)

Cool maritime (below 16.5C) (west) to cool continental (inland) climate.
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The continental climate inland is moderated by the cool maritime influence from the west.
The Mauges Hills protects Anjou Samur from the rain, making it warmer and drier, it is more cooler and wetter in Touraine.
The presence of the rivers create various mesoclimates.

Soils:
Nantes - Gravel + sand over schist + granite
Anjou - Stony
Touraine - Clay limestone like TUFFEAU or kimmeridgian. Central - Silex/flint limestone, kimmeridgian, well drained

Question 2

White grape varieties

Answer 2

Nantes: Melon Blanc or Muscadet, Folle blanche

Anjou-Saumur: Chenin blanc, (dry manly)

Touraine: Chenin Blanc (Crémant), sauvignon blanc

Central Vineyards: Sauvignon Blanc (mainly)

Others: Chasselas, Chardonnay, Pinot blanc, pinot gris.

Question 3

Red grape varieties

Answer 3

Nantes: Cabernet franc, Gamay

Anjou-Saumur: cabernet-franc, Gamay, cabernet-sauvignon, pineau d’aunis, grolleau

Touraine: Cabernet Franc, Gamay (cuz it early ripens)

Central Vineyards: Pinot Noir, gamay

Question 4

Winemaking

Answer 4

It vary from producer to producer.

Stainless steel vats, gentle pressing, little skin contact, cool ferment is more likely to be use for a fresh and fruity style.

Ferment and mature wine in oak vessel can give wine more texture, oxidative notes and secondary notes.

MLF can take place on cooler vintage to balance acidity.

Sur lie (on the lees) - ageing on the dead yeast cells after fermentation - is often done in Nantes to balance acidity, create texture and for flavour and aroma (bread, toast)
Must be aged on its fine lees until the spring the year following harvest

Rose are made by
1. Direct pressing - black grapes are crushed and pressed, extraction of little colour.
2. Short skin maceration - The crushed grapes are left to macerate on the skin to pick up colour, aroma and tannins.
It could last few hours to 2 days.
3. Fermented at white grape temperature.

Question 5

Nantes Appellations

Answer 5

Muscadet/Melon blanc wines are dry, high acidity, low medium alcohol (12%abv). Citrus and green fruit

White
- Muscadet AOC (widest not best)
- Muscadet Sevre et Maine AOC (nicest production)

Red
- Coteaux d’Ancenis (also rose from Gamay and Cab Franc)

Question 6

Anjou-Saumur Appellations

Answer 6

White from Chenin blanc at their best
- Savennières AOC (full body Chenin, potential ageing)

Sweet - Chenin blanc from Botrytis
- Quarts de Chaume AOC (gran cru not recognised)
- Bonnezeaux AOC
- Coteaux du Layon AOC

Red from cab franc
- Saumur Champigny AOC - light body and tannin. Early drinking.

Other
Anjou village AOC (cab franc mainly) - dry wines, often matured in new oak
Samur AOC (cremant from Chenin and red mainly)

Sparkling:
Cremant de Loire AOC

Rose - (Grolleau, gamay grape + min 30% of cab sauv or cab franc)
Cabernet d’Anjou AOC - medium sweet.
Rose de la Loire AOC
Rose d’Anjou AOCr

Question 7

Touraine appellation

Answer 7

White - Chenin blanc sparkling
- Vouvray AOC (also sparkling and sweet) - lighter and medium body wines. rare oak ageing.

Red - Mainly cab franc
- Chinon AOC (also white and rose)
- Bourgueil AOC (also white and rose)

Vin Gris
Touraine Noble Joue is a blend of three Pinot varietals: Pinot Meunier to give body and strength, Pinot Gris for fruitiness and finesse, and Pinot Noir to add roundness and length.

Question 8

Central Vineyards appellation

Answer 8

Wines are fresh, fruity, very chalky from Sauvignon blanc

Prime:
- Pouilly-fume AOP
- Sancerre AOP - famous Village: Chavignol, Vineyard Les Monts Damnes, La Cote

Inexpensive
- Menetou-Salon AOP