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WSET Diploma D3 > Loire Valley > Flashcards

Loire Valley Flashcards

1
Q

central vineyards climate

A

continental cold winters, warm summers

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2
Q

growing season in the central vineyards

A

long growing season low light intensity and low heat brings restrained flavours

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3
Q

main threats in central vineyards

A

spring frost
summer hailstorms
high rainfall (reduce drought but brings fungal disease)

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4
Q

varieties planted in central vineyards

A

sauvignon blanc
pinot noir
gamay
small sauvignon gris

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5
Q

pinot noir planting amounts and style

A

20% of plantings

medium ruby, light to medium intensity, high acidity, medium alcohol, mid priced to premium

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6
Q

sauvignon blanc amount of plantings in central vineyard

A

70%

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7
Q

diseases that sauvignon blanc is prone to

A

powdery mildew
botrytis bunch rot

trunk diseases
eutypa dieback (if cordong trained)

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8
Q

sauvignon blanc budding/ripening

A

late budding
early ripening

perfect for cool climate, no early september rains problems

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9
Q

what influences sauvignon blanc style

A
  1. vigorous variety (avoid shading with canopy manag for no green under-ripe flavours) [better to use it on poor soils
  2. sunlight (if more riper fruit is needed b using row orientation)
  3. picking date (adicity drops quickly/over-ripe flavours build)
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10
Q

ageing sauvignon in central vineyards

A

mostly stainless steel some old oak (e.g Henri Bourgeois with heavy use, Francois Cotat longer ageing also on lees)

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11
Q

temperature of fermentation in central vineyards

A

are slightly higher than new world counterpart cause it helps restraining flavours

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12
Q

MLF in central vineyards

A

blocked to retain acidity allows it depending on style and vintage

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13
Q

is there a cru system? in central vineyards

A

there is none but more interest in single vineyard bottlings e.g. Les Monts Damnes (Chavignol) and Les Belles Dames

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14
Q

main influences of sancerre

A

forest (protection from frost)
river
altitude (200-440mt is the only place with substantial altitude)

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15
Q

varietals used in sancerre and yields

A

white sauvignon blanc 65 hL/ha (can reach high intensity with high yields)
red/rose pinot noir 59 hL/ha (need lower yield for intensity)

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16
Q

historical original variety of sancerre

A

pinot noir, changed to sauvignon blanc because of phylloxera, branded around the 50s/60s

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17
Q

style of sancerre and quality

A

medium intensity, grapefuit, gooseberry, medium alcohol, high acidity, rarely oak flavours good to oustanding to mid to premium prices, few super premium (e.g. Didier Dagueneau, Francois Cotat)

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18
Q

3 types of soils of sancerre and specs

A
  1. caillotes (shallow soils over limestone (25-40mm), most aromatic style, ready to drink. not ageing potential)
  2. terres blanches (limestone/marl of Chablis, slow ripening, most structured style, ageing)
  3. silex (flinty soils, accumulates heat, early ripening, stony and smoky aromas)
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19
Q

most famous vineyards on terres blanches soils

A

Monts Damnes Cul de Beaujeu

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20
Q

pouilly fume varietals

A

sauvignon blanc only

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21
Q

pouilly fume main problem

A

frost damage
because of flatter land
wind machines used

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22
Q

pouilly fume soils

A

same as Sancerre

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23
Q

pouilly fume style

A

rounder, less aromatic, needs more time to evolve the aromatics

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24
Q

reuilly grapes and yields

A

white sauv blanc
red pinot noir
rose pinot noir, sauvignon gris

same yields as sancerre

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25
Q

quincy grapes and yields

A

white sauvignon blanc (min 90%) and sauvignon gris same yields as sancerre

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26
Q

menetou salon best vineyard location

A

gentle slopes, south facing more frost vulnerable than sancerre

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27
Q

menetou salon style and yields

A

same as sancerre

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28
Q

reuilly, quincy, menetou salon quality and price

A

good to very good, inexpensive to mid price

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29
Q

negociants level of sales in central vineyards

A

50% of total sales
top 10 owns 82% of that 50%

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30
Q

negociants change of style in central vineyards

A

more negociants are now vinifying their own wines rather than buying finished wines, they also own many wineries around Loire some bought big estates (e.g. Grand Chais bough Chateau des Fesles, Ackerman bought Chateau de Sancerre and Variere)

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31
Q

co-op volume of sales in central vineyards

A

under 10%

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32
Q

estates sales in central vineyards

A

41% of the total sales

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33
Q

estate status in loire in central vineyards

A

many generations keep working on family business many people moved from the big cities (e.g. Paris) to work and establish new estates

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34
Q

change in estate structure in central vineyards

A

many started a side negociant business especially after recent frost and hail damage for economical reasons

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35
Q

what is the primary market? in central vineyards

A

france in hospitality/retail (44%) and supermarket (36%)

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36
Q

export market in central vineyards

A

20% main US, UK, Germany

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37
Q

farming in central vineyards

A

loads of organic, biodynamic, natural wine producers e.g. Nicolas Joly father of biodynamics and founder of renaissances/return to terroir

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38
Q

is organic farming numbers high? in central vineyards

A

under the regional standard because of damp and cool climate

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39
Q

main soils of touraine

A

chalk

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40
Q

main soils of anjou

A

schist/limestone

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41
Q

anjou and touraine shares a variety of types of soils like…

A

sand, flint and clay

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42
Q

limestone pros and cons in anjou

A

pro - drainage and water retention cons - high lime content brings chlorosis

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43
Q

best way to fight chlorosis

A

using specific rootstocks like Fercan, Riparia Gloire de Montpellier

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44
Q

amount of rainfall and timings (anjou-touraine)

A

700mm rainfall throughout the year - affect flowering/fruit set, more diseases in summer, problems in early autumn harvest

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45
Q

climate of anjou-touraine

A

anjou saumur maritime
touraine continental

in both we have the influence of the atlantic ocean

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46
Q

big influence in anjou

A

river Layon (morning misty conditions for botrytis)

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47
Q

chenin blanc budding/ripening

A

buds early, ripens late

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48
Q

ripening problem of chenin blanc

A

ripens unevenly you need tries passage (cost more)

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49
Q

chenin blanc is prone to…

A

powdery mildew botrytis bunch rot trunk diseases

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50
Q

chenin blanc style and quality

A

med intensity, green apple, lemon, steely, smoky, med alcohol, high acidity good to very good, inexpensive to mid price, some oustanding and premium (e.g. Domaine Huet)

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51
Q

carbernet franc budding ripening

A

buds early, mid ripening

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52
Q

ripening facts on cabernet franc

A

as mid ripening can be picked before autumn rains too green if not fully ripened (loads of leaf removal and canopy are used, extra costs)

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53
Q

cabernet franc is prone to

A

coulure

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54
Q

cab franc style (touraine-anjou)

A

med to pronounce, red fruit, floral, leafy, light to medium body and tannins, high acidity

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55
Q

cabernet franc styles (touraine-anjou)

A

single varietal
rose blends
blended with malbec in touraine

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56
Q

malbec in touraine is called

A

cot

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57
Q

main feature of cabernet franc as a vine

A

is winter hardy so it is suitable for cool places

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58
Q

grolleau noir budding/ripening

A

early budding, mid ripening

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59
Q

grolleau noir style

A

mainly rose blends in rose d’anjou and rose de Loire

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60
Q

grolleu noir is prone to

A

botrytis bunch rot

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61
Q

gamay noir, where is produced and style (touraine-anjou)

A

touraine and central vineyards carbonic maceration style

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62
Q

cabernet sauvignon style and where is it planted (touraine-anjou)

A

in anjou (as buds late needs warmer climates) red blend with cab franc and roses

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63
Q

volume production in middle loire

A

anjou saumur produces twice as much wine than touraine
anjou saumur produce more sparkling than touraine
anjou rose is 10 times more than touraine
touraine does more white and red than anjou saumur

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64
Q

saumur AOC

A

white Chenin red Can Franc mainly rose Cab Franc/Sauv some sparkling are also produced

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65
Q

saumur aoc yields

A

white 60hL/ha red/rose 57hL/ha (low intensity)

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66
Q

coteaux de saumur aoc

A

sweet chenin (with/without botrytis)

67
Q

do you need tries passage in the loire even if you don’t have botrytis

68
Q

coteaux de saumur aoc yields

69
Q

saumur champigny aoc story

A

famous in the 70s in paris bistrot because of the co-op Saint-Cyr-en-Bourg (now called Cave Robert et Marcel)

70
Q

saumur champigny aoc

A

cab franc min 85% mostly red wines

71
Q

saumur champigny aoc release date

A

most wines are intended for early drinking December after harvest

72
Q

saumur champigny aoc yields

73
Q

saumur champigny aoc soil types

A

chalk, flint, clay combination for drainage and water holding (good in dry years)

74
Q

saumur appellations

A

saumur aoc
coteaux de saumur aoc
saumur champigny aoc

75
Q

touraine appellations

A

touraine
montlouis sur loire
vouvray
bourgueil
saint nicolas de bourgueil
chinon

76
Q

touraine aoc

A

white sauvignon blanc red cab franc/cot rose 2 cabs, cot, gamay also sparkling

77
Q

touraine aoc yields

78
Q

touraine aoc with subzones indication yields

79
Q

touraine aoc subzones

A

can be added (e.g. Touraine AOC Amboise) but they have different laws different yields 55hl/ha and grapes e.g. Amboise is Chenin

80
Q

what happens if a bottle in touraine aoc is 100% gamay?

A

is labeled as Touraine AOC Gamay

81
Q

vouvray aoc grape and style

A

95% chenin (typically 100%) dry (every year), demi-sec (sometimes), sweet (rare)

82
Q

how can you tell the sweetness level in vouvray?

A

can be added on the label if not is really hard to understand it

83
Q

where is chenin planted in vouvray?

A

on slopes towards the river loire moderating influence, sunlight reflection

84
Q

soils in vouvray aoc

A

flint, clay, limestone over tuff (good drainage) more clay away from the river (harder to ripen)

85
Q

vouvray aoc yields

86
Q

montlouis sur loire aoc

A

100% chenin

87
Q

where is montlouis sur loire aoc planted?

A

across the south bank of the river (from liver loire till river cher)

88
Q

montlouis sur loire yields

89
Q

why is montlouis interesting now?

A

cheaper vineyard prices, new producers (organic/biodynamic)

90
Q

bourgueil aoc

A

red/rose cab franc + max 10% cab sauv

91
Q

bourgueil yields

A

55hl/ha many are farming with even lower yields

92
Q

saint nicolas de bourgueil aoc styles

A

lighter style cab franc similar style and proce of saumur champigny

93
Q

chinon aoc

A

white chenin reds (main) and rose cab branc + 10% cab sauv

94
Q

chinon yields

A

55hl/ha low flavour intensity, many work with lower yields

95
Q

styles of chinon according to soils

A
  1. short maceration - 6-8 days, light fruity, sand/gravel soils
  2. long maceration 2-3 weeks released after 2yr can age for 20yr also, clay limestone soils
96
Q

anjou rose appellation

A

rose de loire
rose d’anjou
cabernet d’anjou

97
Q

rose de loire aoc

A

cab franc,sauv, gamay, grolleu noir dry style

98
Q

rose de loire yields

99
Q

can rose de loire be produced outside anjou saumur?

A

yes but is rare

100
Q

best selling rose appellation in anjou

A

rose d’anjou

101
Q

rose d’anjou style

A

medium pink orange, med intensity, red fruit, med + acidity, med alcohol, inexpensive to mid priced, acceptable to good, few vg examples

102
Q

rose d’anjou aoc grapes

A

mostly grolleu also cab franc/sauv, gamay cot is allowed

103
Q

rose d’anjou yields

A

65hl/ha low flavour intensity

104
Q

cabernet d’anjou styles

A

deep colour, medium pink cab franc/sauv medium dry

105
Q

cabernet d’anjou yields

106
Q

main dry appellation of anjou

A

anjou aoc
savvenieres aoc

107
Q

is anjou aoc popular?

A

many producer opt for vin de france because they dont want to be part of the appellation

108
Q

anjou yields

109
Q

anjou grapes

A

blanc min 80% chenin rouge min 70% blend cab sauv/franc

110
Q

how is it called a designated area in anjou and what changes?

A

anjou villages AOC red wine only, cab franc only 55hl/ha release september after harvest

111
Q

savvenieres aoc grapes and style

A

dry chenin high acidity, high alcohol, mostly new oak, concentrated but some examples are fruity and approachable

112
Q

where is savvenieres planted

A

mostly south facing slopes

113
Q

yields of savvenieres

114
Q

soils of savvenieres

A

schist low fertility

115
Q

two famous vineyards in savvenieres and what changes

A

both AOPs La Roche Aux Moines Coulee de Serrant (Nicolas Joly monopole) 30hl/ha warmer sites on the slopes

116
Q

sweet appellation in anjou

A

coteaux du layon
bonnezeaux
quarts de chaume

117
Q

how is the business of sweet wines aoc in anjou

A

low demand, drop in production higher volumes of dry wine are produced

118
Q

coteaux du layon aoc yields and min potential alcohol

A

35hl/ha 14%

119
Q

coteaux du layon aoc influences

A

river layon (morning mist for botrytis) slopes by the river

120
Q

coteaux du layon is botrytis only?

A

no grapes can be dried on the vine

121
Q

coteaux du layon + village aoc, what changes

A

30hl/ha, 15% min potential alcohol botrytis is mandatory

122
Q

within coteaux du layon there are 2 aocs

A

bonnezeaux
quarts de chaume

123
Q

bonnezeau aoc yields and min potential %

A

25hl/ha (high intensity, rich texture) 15% stricter rules than quarts de chaume

124
Q

quarts de chaume new sub aoc and minimum yields and min pot %

A

quarts de chaume aoc 1er cru chaume (25hl/ha, 16.5%)
quarts de chaume grand cru aoc 20hl/ha 18% (first loire grand cru in 2019)

125
Q

pays nantes climate

A

cool maritime atlantic ocean proximity cool springs, warm humid summers

126
Q

main threats in pays nantes

A

rain during flowering (march/april) and harvest (september) and spring frost

127
Q

spring frost main remedies used in pays nantes

A

wind machine
heaters

128
Q

most planted varietal in pays nantes

A

melon blanc

129
Q

other varietis planted in pays nantes

A

chardonnay
folle blanche
gamay
cabernet franc

130
Q

folle blanche alternative name

A

gros plant

131
Q

folle blanche style

A

high acidity, crisp

132
Q

melon blanc is suited to what climate

A

cool regions

133
Q

budding and ripening of melon blanc

A

buds early (spring frost risk) ripens early (no rain problems)

134
Q

melon blanc is prone to

A

downy mildew botrytis bunch rot

135
Q

melon blanc is resistant to and why?

A

powdery mildew hardy varietal

136
Q

style of melon blanc

A

high acidity light body low alcohol low intensity of green apple

137
Q

melon blanc quality

A

acceptable to good (few very good examples) inexpensive to mid priced

138
Q

is spraying used and why? pays nantes

A

yes humid climate pushes fungal diseases

139
Q

canopy management techniques and why in pays nantes

A

open canopy leaf removal maximum sun exposure (extra care for sunburnt grapes) reduce fungal

140
Q

how perfect ripeness is achieved in pays nantes

A

control seed and skin ripeness

helps determine harvest date
problems in hot vintages as sugar might be too high before they get fully ripe

141
Q

is chaptalisation permitted? pays nantes

A

up to 12% especially in cool years

142
Q

main vessels used in pays nantes

A
  1. shallow underground glass lined concrete vats
  2. stainless steel
143
Q

main vinification goal in pays nantes

A

keep the wine neutral as it need to age on lees

144
Q

is mlf used in pays nantes?

A

it is avoided to retains high acidity

145
Q

recent winemaking experiments used in pays nantes and why

A

skin contact
barrel fermentation
alternative vessels (amphora, concrete eggs)

all done to raise the appellation profile

146
Q

sur lie technique pays nantes

A

main goal is to raise the body wine is racked off gross lees and left on fine lees until bottling

147
Q

sur lie style pays nantes

A

more body retain acidity CO2 retained

148
Q

two main larger appellations pays nantes

A

Muscadet Sevre et Maine AOC
Muscadet AOC

149
Q

largest appellation in the Loire

A

Muscadet Sevre et Maine AOC

150
Q

Muscadet Sevre et Maine maximum yields

A

55 hL/ha 45 hL/ha (if a commune name is added)

151
Q

Muscadet AOC maximum yields

152
Q

smaller appellations of pays nantes

A

Muscadet Coteaux de la Loire
Muscadet Cotes de Grandlieu

153
Q

yields of smaller pays nantes appellations

154
Q

grapes allowed in pays nantes

A

Melon Blanc only since 2018 Muscadet AOC can have up to 10% of Chardonnay

155
Q

sur lie ageing muscated sevre

A

bottled between 1 March and 20 November of the year following the harvest

156
Q

ageing if commune is added muscadet sevre

A

depends on the commune 18 months Le Pallet 24 months Clisson, Gorges

157
Q

problems of ageing communes on sur lie

A

as they go over the requirement they cannot be labeled sur lie

158
Q

bottling on sur lie in muscadet

A

bottle estate is mandatory

159
Q

problems with estate bottling in muscadet

A

as it is mandatory negociants cannot buy wine to age on lees only grapes, must or wine already bottled

160
Q

who promotes the wines of pays nantes?

A

InterLoire together with Anjou-Saumur and Touraine

161
Q

history of export market of pays nantes

A

huge in the UK (13000 ha planted because of that in the 80s) 1991 frost dropped production to 2/3 raising prices

162
Q

what is the perception of pays nantes now

A

quality for money terroir driven wines

163
Q

are negociants important in pays nantes?

A

half of the sells comes through them

164
Q

are negociants surviving well in pays nantes?

A

they are mostly bought by bigger companies eg Castel, Grand Chais de France, Ackerman

WSET Diploma D3 (28 decks)

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