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French Wine Scholar - Micky > Loire Valley > Flashcards

Loire Valley Flashcards

1
Q

What is the principle grape used for rosé production in the Middle Loire?

A

Grolleau

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2
Q

What style of wine is made in the Cabernet d’Anjou AOC?

A

Off-dry to sweet rosé made from both Cabernets

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3
Q

What two grapes dominate the Middle Loire?

A

Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc

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4
Q

The Gros Plant grape is also known as:

A

Folle Blanche

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5
Q

What is the principal white grape of the Centre Loire?

A

Sauvignon Blanc

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6
Q

What grape variety is used in the Cour-Cheverny AOC?

A

Romorantin

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7
Q

What is the primary red grape of Touraine?

A

Cabernet Franc

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8
Q

What three AOCs in the Centre Loire make white wine only?

A

Pouilly Fumé, Pouilly-Sur-Loire, Quincy

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9
Q

What Loire winegrowing region is known for Kimmeridgean limestone?

A

The Centre Loire

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10
Q

What style of wine is made in the Anjou Coteaux de la Loire AOC?

A

Sweet, botrytized dessert wine

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11
Q

What are the three crus of the Muscadet Sèvre et Maine AOC?

A

Clisson, Gorges and Le Pallet

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12
Q

What are the primary grapes of the Sancerre AOC?

A

Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir

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13
Q

What three white grapes are grown in the Lower Loire?

A

Muscadet (Melon de Bourgogne), Folle Blanche (Gros Plant), Pinot Gris

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14
Q

What style of wine is Anjou Coteaux de Saumur AOC?

A

Sweet, botrytized dessert wines

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15
Q

What style of wine is made in the Chaume and Quarts de Chaume AOCs?

A

Sweet, botrytized dessert wines

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16
Q

What is the primary white grape of the Centre Loire?

A

Sauvignon Blanc

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17
Q

What is “passerillage”?

A

The technique of allowing grapes to wither and dry on the vine

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18
Q

What soil type gives wine a unique gunflint/smoky finish?

A

Silex (flint)

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19
Q

What is a Loire synonym for Cabernet Franc?

A

Breton

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20
Q

What are the three distinct soil types of the Centre Loire?

A

Terres blanches, caillottes, silex

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21
Q

What is “tuffeau”?

A

A porous chalk/limestone soil found in parts of the Middle Loire

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22
Q

What style of wine is made in the Savennières AOC?

A

Dry, age-worthy whites from Chenin Blanc

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23
Q

What is the difference between Cabernet d’Anjou AOC and Cabernet de Saumur AOC?

A

Cabernet d’Anjou is sweeter. It must contain a minimum of 1% sugar, while Cabernet de Saumur can contain no more than 1% sugar.

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24
Q

What style of wine is made in the Vouvray AOC?

A

Dry, off-dry and sweet whites from Chenin Blanc

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25
Q

Which sweet wine-producing sub-region lies within the Anjou zone of production?

A

Layon

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26
Q

What style of wine is made in the Rosé d’Anjou AOC?

A

Off-dry rosé made primarily from Grolleau

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27
Q

What Loire wine is frequently aged sur lie?

A

Muscadet

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28
Q

What grape is used to make sweet wine in the Middle Loire?

A

Chenin Blanc

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29
Q

Where is Vouvray located?

A

Touraine (Middle Loire)

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30
Q

What style of wine is made in the Rosé de Loire AOC?

A

Dry rosé made anywhere in the Middle Loire

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31
Q

How long must Loire crémant spend aging on its lees?

A

12 months (versus 9 months in most other French regions)

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32
Q

What style of wine is made in the Coteaux du Layon AOC?

A

Sweet, botrytized dessert wine

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33
Q

What Loire sub-region has a wholly continental climate?

A

The Centre and Upper Loire

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34
Q

What are the primary grapes of the Chinon AOC?

A

Cabernet Franc and Chenin Blanc

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35
Q

Which Middle Loire AOC is a monopole?

A

Savennières Coulée de Serrant

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36
Q

What defines the term “fines bulles”?

A

It translates as “fine bubbles” and is a general term for sparkling Loire wines

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37
Q

What defines “Mousseux”?

A

The term means frothy or bubbly. These are méthode traditionelle wines with at least 3 atms of pressure

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38
Q

What defines “caillottes”?

A

Little limestone pebbles; one of the three soil types of the Centre Loire

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39
Q

What is Touraine Primeur?

A

A wine made from Gamay using semi-carbonic maceration

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40
Q

What is Touraine Noble Joué?

A

A vin gris made primarily from Pinot Meunier

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41
Q

In which Loire sub-region is the Pays Nantais located?

A

Lower Loire

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42
Q

The Pineau de la Loire grape is more commonly known as:

A

Chenin Blanc

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43
Q

Other than the Loire River, what are the two other primary rivers of the Lower Loire?

A

Le Sèvre Nantaise and La Petite Maine

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44
Q

What style of wine is made in the Bonnezeaux AOC?

A

Sweet, botrytized dessert wines

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45
Q

For what style of wine is Saumur best known?

A

Sparkling

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46
Q

What defines “Pétillant”?

A

The term means “fizzy.” These are méthode traditionelle wines with 1-2.5 atms of pressure

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47
Q

What two Centre Loire AOCs are located on the Cher River?

A

Quincy and Reuilly

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48
Q

What Centre Loire AOC produces wines from Chasselas?

A

Pouilly-Sur-Loire

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49
Q

What defines “terres blanches”?

A

A marl that is rich in oyster fossils, one of the three soil types in the Centre Loire

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50
Q

The term “silex” refers to:

A

Flint soils found in the centre Loire

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51
Q

What are the primary red grapes of the Upper Loire?

A

Pinot Noir and Gamay

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52
Q

What area of the Loire has volcanic soils?

A

The Lower Loire: gneiss dominates the top soils, igneous rocks the sub-soils

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53
Q

The Muscadet grape is also known as:

A

Melon de Bourgogne

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54
Q

What category of Loire sparking wine does not have an aging requirement?

A

Pétillant

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55
Q

What style of wine is produced in Layon?

A

Sweet wines affected by noble rot

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56
Q

What is the principle grape used for rosé production in the Middle Loire?

A

Grolleau

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57
Q

What style of wine is made in the Cabernet d’Anjou AOC?

A

Off-dry to sweet rosé made from both Cabernets

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58
Q

What makes the Loire unique?

A
  • It covers a huge chunk of earth through the heart of france (some 620 from the centre of France to the Bay of Biscay)
  • 4 distinct wine regions with different climates and grape varieties
  • Lower Loire, Muscadette= Melon de Bourgogne
  • Chenin, dry, sparkling, sweet or botrytised wines
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59
Q

The Loire River and the Loire wine region have both……

A

Played huge roles in shaping what became of France

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60
Q

During the Roman occupation of the Loire why did viticulture take off?

A

The river was a crossroad of France and the due to the wide nature of climates different varieties could flourish

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61
Q

During the Middle Ages what did the Loire act as?

A

It was a bridge between the Latin South and the Celtic/ Germanic North. The Loire eventually helped to bring these areas both together in language and culture.

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62
Q

After the English were driven out of France in the 15th Century what started to pop up through the Loire Valley?

A

Luxurious castles were built in the 14th, 15th and 16th Centuries

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63
Q

Due to the influence of Dutch merchants what became popular in Loire valley?

A

Brandewein or French Brandy

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64
Q

The railway expansion of the 1800s helped and disadvantaged the Loire, why?

A

It meant that there wines could be transported all over the country, but so could other areas. This meant that Loire wines had to compete more.

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65
Q

The Loire was one of the last areas to be struck by Phylloxera and was also….

A

One of the last to be revived

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66
Q

AOC History of Loire?

A
  • 1935 was introduced
  • Quincy, Anjou, Muscadet, Sancerre and Vouvray= 1936
  • Today, approx. 70 different AOCs in the Loire encompassing 125,000 acres/ 50,000 ha of vineyard land
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67
Q

Introduction- Loire Valley

A
  • 620 miles/ 1000 km from its headwaters in Central France to its delta in Nantes
- Loire is:
North: Of Cognac 
South: Of Normandy
West: Of Bourgogne and Massif Central
East: Of the Atlantic Ocean
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68
Q

What is a huge factor in helping to warm the vineyards of the Loire?

A

The River Effect

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69
Q

What helps form cooling breezes in the Loire Valley?

A

The Gulf Stream, which funnels coastal breezes from the coast all the way up to Orleans

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70
Q

What are the four regions of the Loire and their climates?

A

Pays Nantais/ Lower Loire: Maritime Climate

Anjou, Saumur and Touraine/ Middle Loire: Maritime with Continental Influences

Centre and Upper Loire: Continental Climate

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71
Q

Lower Loire?

A
  • Westernmost Loire sub region
  • Located near the city of Nantes
  • Is is known as the Pays Nantais
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72
Q

Middle Loire?

A
  • Vineyards surrounding the cities of Angers and Tours

- Anjou and Tourraine are the names of the wine producing areas surrounding these two cities

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73
Q

Centre Loire?

A
  • Produces probably the most famous of the Loire’s wines Sancerre and Pouilly Fume
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74
Q

Upper Loire?

A
  • Produces some of the rarest and most obscure bottlings

- Rarely seen outside their zone of production

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75
Q

Manual Harvesting in the Loire is required……

A

for late harvest wines and for cremant. All other occasions are okay for machine

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76
Q

Many wineries in the Loire practice organic or bio dynamic practices. Why is this unique?

A

Because the Loire is a cooler region with a lot more humidity and rain

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77
Q

Loire- Dry Whites

A
  • All about structural balance and retaining acidity
  • In most wineries it is about a low tech approach
  • Chaptalisation is allowed under AOC laws, but only in certain years and under certain conditions
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78
Q

Sweet Wines: Vin Liquoreux- Loire

A
  • Chenin Blanc for all dessert wines
  • Grapes must be either infected with botrytis cinerea or dried and concentrated by passerillage
  • Must is slowly fermented at low temperatures. Finishes naturally with RS
  • Very little new oak
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79
Q

What are the two ways of making rose in the Loire?

A
  • Direct Press: 1-4 hours of skin contact IN the press while grapes are being pressed
  • Saignee: Grapes are crushed and undergo approx. 12 hours of skin contact (darker in colour)
80
Q

What style of sparkling wine is practiced in the Loire?

A

Methode Traditionalle

81
Q

What are all sparkling wines in the Loire called?

A

Fines Bulles

Doesn’t matter if they are petillant, mousseaux or cremant

82
Q

Reds- Loire

A
  • Defined by natural acidity
  • MLF occurs, but not always 100%
  • Chaptalisation is permitted by AOC law
83
Q

The vineyards of the Pays Nantais are all……

A

Flat or south facing. They are located 6-60 miles/ 10 to 96 kms off the Atlantic Coast

84
Q

Pays Nantais was subject to what sort of activity millions of years ago?

A

Volcanic. The area is now flat with not many typographical markers.

85
Q

What are the two rivers that intersect the Pays Nantais?

A

The Sevre and the Maine. This is where Muscadette Sevre et Maine comes from

86
Q

What is the topsoil made up of in the Pay Nantais?

A

Gneiss. This is a very porous rock and provides drainage.

Most of the subsoils are crystalline (quartz) igneous rocks which are high in mineral content

87
Q

How many hours of sunshine does the lower Loire receive?

A

2,000 hours which is slightly more than the other three regions

88
Q

What is the climate of the Lower Loire?

A

Maritime (less significant seasonal changes and rainfall is spread over the year)

89
Q

Lower Loire- Seasonal Variations

A

Winters: Are very cold, but little snow. Biggest threats are frost and ice storms

Spring: Cool and Damp

Summers: Warm and mild with plenty of sunshine. But high humidity can bring disease

Autumns: Warm and Mild with occasional rainstorms

90
Q

Muscadette- Lower Loire

A
  • Not related to Muscat
  • Melon de Bourgogne hails from Bourgogne
  • Hardy, frost resistant and productive
  • Pinot x Gouais Blanc cross
91
Q

Folle Blanche- Lower Loire

A
  • Believed to be native to Cognac or Armagnac
  • Also called Gris Plant in the Loire, and Picpoul in Armagnac (even though it is not related to the Picpoul of the Languedoc)
  • Gouais Blanc is one of its parents
92
Q

Other White Grapes- Lower Loire

A
  • Chardonnay
  • Chenin Blanc (Pineau de La Loire, Gros Pineau)
  • Pinot Gris (Malvoisie)
  • Sauvignon Blanc
93
Q

Red Grapes of the Lower Loire?

A
  • Cabernet Franc
  • Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Gamay
  • Negrette
  • Pinot Noir
94
Q

How many appellations in the Lower Loire are made up of Muscadet?

95
Q

Muscadet AOCs?

A
  • Muscadet AOC (covers all of the Lower Loire)
  • Muscadet- Coteaux de La Loire AOC
  • Muscadet- Cotes de la Grandieu
  • Muscadet- Sevre et Maine AOC- 75% of production
    Muscadet- Sevre et Maine Clisson AOC
    Muscadet- Sevre et Maine Gorge AOC
    Muscadet- Sevre et Maine La Pallet AOC

All can be aged sur lie

96
Q

How do sur lies work?

A

The dead yeast cells impart manno- proteins, sugar protein bonds that give wine creaminess and a rounded mouth feel

97
Q

Muscadet AOC- Lower Loire

A
  • Encompasses the entire Pays Nantais

- But is only responsible for 20% of the Muscadet produced

98
Q

Muscadet- Coteaux de La Loire AOC- Lower Loire

A
  • The smallest of the regional Muscadet AOCs

- Located north of Nantes on both sides of the Loire River

99
Q

Muscadet- Cotes de Grandlieu AOC- Lower Loire

A

Located sthwst of Nantes along Lake Grand-Lieu

100
Q

Muscadete Sevre et Maines is located both_______ and _________ of the city of Nantes.

A

South and East

101
Q

What are the three crus of Muscadet Sevre et Maine?

A

Gorges, Clisson and La Pallet

102
Q

What are the dominant grape varieties of the Middle Loire?

A

Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc

103
Q

Anjou- Middle Loire

A
  • Scattered around the town of Angers. Most are on the left bank of the Loire River
  • Half the production is rose crafted from Cab Franc and Cab Sauv, Grolleau, Gamay, Pinot d’Aunis, Pinot Noir
104
Q

Layon- Middle Loire

A
  • Situated on the banks of the Layon River, a tributary of the Loire
  • Technically within the Anjou zone of production; famous for its sweet wine production
105
Q

Saumur- Middle Loire

A
  • Largest producer of Sparkling wines in the Loire
  • Limestone soils are planted to grapes used in cremant production
  • Sand is for red varieties
106
Q

Touraine- Middle Loire

A
  • Located around the town of Tours

- Diversity of wine styles; wide variety of soil types (flint, clay, limestone, gravel and sand)

107
Q

What is the climate of the Middle Loire?

A

It is influenced by the maritime climate of the Lower Loire and the continental climate of the centre and upper loire

108
Q

Why does the Middle Loire have such high humidity?

A

Because it is located close to the sea.

109
Q

The middle Loire is lightly colder than the Pays Nantais T or F?

A

True. It experiences a colder winter and a warmer summer. It has more temperate climate than the Centre Loire and Upper Loire

110
Q

Where do the best vineyards face in the Middle Loire?

A

South in order to maximise sun exposure.

111
Q

Chenin Blanc- Middle Loire

A
  • Synonym: Pineau de La Loire
  • Principal grape of the Middle Loire
  • Vigourous, cold hardy, wind- resistant, disease- resistant, late- ripening and susceptible to botrytis cinerea
  • Wines are high in extract and acidity; long lived
112
Q

Sauvignon Blanc- Middle Loire

A
  • Vigourous variety; prefers cool, sunny climates

- Wines are high in aromatics and acidity

113
Q

Secondary Grapes- Middle Loire

A
  • Arbois: Primarily used in Cheverney and IGP wines where it is customary blended with Sauv Blanc or Chenin Blanc; also used in sparkling production
  • Chardonnay: Primarily used in sparkling wine production
  • Romorantin: Grown exclusively in Our- Cheverny
114
Q

Cabernet Franc (Breton)- Middle Loire

A
  • Principal red grape of the Middle Loire; native to Spanish Basque Country
  • Subject to early bud- break and coulure; ripens early
  • Moderate in tannin, pigment and acidity
115
Q

Cabernet Sauvignon- Middle Loire

A
  • Less widely planted than Cabernet Franc

- Late- ripening; requires warm soils and a long growing season

116
Q

Gamay- Middle Loire

A
  • Used in sparkling, red and rose blends
  • Thin- skinned grape
  • Wines are high in acidity; low in tannin and pigment
117
Q

Pinot Noir- Middle Loire

A
  • Used in sparkling, red and rose blends
  • Thrives in cool climates and prefers limestone and marl soils
  • Early budder, early ripener
  • Wines are moderate in tannin and pigment with good acidity, alcohol and aromatics
118
Q

Other Grapes- Middle Loire

A
  • Grolleau:
    Indigenous to the Middle Loire
    Principal grape for rose production
    Also incorporated into red and sparkling blends
  • Grolleau Gris
    Used in Sparkling rose blends
  • Pineau d’Aunis
    Indigenous to the Loire
    Incorporated into red, rose and sparkling wines (to boost fruit)
119
Q

Other Grapes Grown in the Middle Loire?

A
  • Pinot Gris: in white and rose blends in Touraine
  • Pinot Meunier: Used for sparkling, but can be in red and rose blends
  • Malbec (Cot): Used primarily for blending into red wines and roses
  • Merlot: Grown in the Haut- Poitou area
  • Sauvignon Gris: Blending partner for Sauvignon Blanc
120
Q

What type of soils does Anjou have?

A

Dark schist with white chalk (tuffeau). There is also some pockets of clay, gravel and shale

121
Q

All of the sweet appellations of Anjou and the three Saviennere AOCs are on what soil?

122
Q

Tuffeau is also known as?

A

Turonian chalk. All chalk is technically limestone

123
Q

What are the three roses produced in Anjou?

A
  • Rose de Loire AOC
  • Rose d’ Anjou AOC
  • Cabernet D’Anjou AOC
124
Q

Rose de Loire AOC?

A
  • Sources fruit from anywhere in the Middle Loire (Anjou, Saumur, Touraine)
  • Made from both cabernets, Gamay, Grolleau, Grolleau Gris, Pineau d’Aunis and Pinot Noir
  • Always Dry
125
Q

Rose d’Anjou AOC?

A
  • Fruit sourced from Anjou and Saumur
  • By law it must contain a minimum of 0.7% or 7 g RS
  • Grolleau is the principal grape used
126
Q

Cabernet d’Anjou AOC?

A
  • Fruit may be sourced from Anjou and Saumur
  • By law it must contain a minimum of 1% or 10 g RS
  • Made from both Cabernets
127
Q

Anjou and Layon: Botryitised Sweet Wines

A
  • Most sweet wines from the Anjou come from the Layon area

- All are 100% Chenin Blanc and impacted by botrytis

128
Q

Anjou Coteaux de la Loire AOC

A
  • A sweet wine that is crafted from botrytised Chenin within Anjou from vineyards that do not flank the Layon River
  • Outside of Savennieres all the other sweet AOCs within Anjou are all located along the Layon River
129
Q

What are the 6 AOCs that produce botrytised sweet wines on the banks of the river Anjou?

A
  • Bonnezeaux AOC
  • Coteaux du Layon AOC
  • Coteaux du Layon + Village AOC
  • Coteaux du Layon Chaume 1er Cru
  • Coteaux de l’Aubance AOC
  • Quarts de Chaume Grand Cru AOC
130
Q

What is so special about Anjou and Layon botrytised sweet wines upper levels?

A
  • Coteaux du Layon + villages; 6 villages that may appear on the label
  • Coteaux du Layon Chaume “Premier Cru”
  • Quarts de Chaume “Grand Cru”
131
Q

On what side of the Loire is Savinnieres located?

A

The Right side of the Loire. It is made exclusively from Chenin Blanc

132
Q

What are the soils of the Savinnieres?

A

Schist, slate and clay soils

133
Q

What are special about Savinniere wines?

A

They are thought to be the most age worthy wines in France. They come in some demi-sec, molleaux and roux styles

134
Q

What are the two noteworthy climate of Saviennere?

A
  • Coulee de Serrant
  • La Couche aux Moines

Both achieved AOC status in 2011

135
Q

Savennieres Coulee de Serrant AOC

A
  • 17.5 acres/ 7 hectares monopole belonging to Nicolas Joly

- Steep south/ southeast- facing slope comprised of red schist

136
Q

Savenieres La Touche aux Moines AOC

A
  • A steep schist slope facing stheast

- 82.5 acres/ 33 hectares in size

137
Q

Anjou Blanc AOC

A
  • Basic dry or off-dry whites
  • Made from a minimum of 80% Chenin Blanc
  • The balance may be comprised of Chardonnay and Sauvignon
138
Q

Anjou Rouge, Villages, Villages Brissac AOCs

A
  • Anjou Rouge (regional AOC)
  • Anjou- Villages (communal AOC)
  • Anjou- Villages Brissac (communal AOC)

Mainly crafted from Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon

139
Q

Anjou- Gamay AOC

A
  • Made from Gamay
  • Can be vilified as Primeur
  • For early consumption
140
Q

What is Saumur mainly known for?

A

Making the most sparkling wines in the Loire.

However it does also produce still whites, reds and roses

141
Q

What is Saumur Blanc AOC comprised of?

A

Chenin Blanc

142
Q

Coteaux de Saumur AOC

A
  • A white crafted from Chenin

- Late harvest, hand- picked, botrytised grapes vinified off-dry to sweet

143
Q

Cabernet de Saumur AOC

A
  • Crafted from both Cabernets

- Max 0.7% residual sugar

144
Q

What are the 3 red Saumur AOCs?

A

Saumur Rouge, Saumur- Champigny and Saumur Puy-Notre- Dame

  • Primarily from Cab Franc
145
Q

Where do the vineyards of Touraine lie?

A

Between the AOCs of Anjou/ Saumur and Centre Loire

146
Q

What are the wine styles of Touraine?

A
  • Dry and sweet white
  • Red
  • Rose
  • Sparkling
147
Q

Touraine soils?

A

Tuffeau can be found on the hillsides; perruche (flint and clay) and aubuis (limestone and clay) can be found near the river

148
Q

Climate becomes more and more continental as the vineyards of the Loire……..

A

March inland along the Loire river

149
Q

Regional Touraine AOC?

A
  • Sauvignon Blanc joins Chenin in the white arena

- Reds, although still incorporating both Cabernets see a lot of play from other red varietials

150
Q

Touraine Blanc?

A
  • A blend of at least 80% Sauvignon Blanc and up to 20% Sauvignon Gris
151
Q

Touraine AOC Roses?

A
  • Min of 2: Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cot, Gamay, Grolleau, Pinot Meunier, Pineau d’Aunis, Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir
  • No one grape can comprise more than 70% of the blend
  • By law roses may have 0.4% or 4 g/L maximum residual sugar, ie they are dry
152
Q

Touraine AOC Reds

A
  • Predominately Cabernet Franc and Cot blends with Cabernet Sauvignon, Gamay and Pinot Noir as optional blending partners
  • Small quantities of ‘Touraine Gamay’ and carbonic macerated Gamay labeled as ‘Touraine Gamay Primeur’
153
Q

Touraine Grape Names?

A

Cabernet Franc= Breton

Pinot Noir= Auvernat Noir

Malbec= Cot

Pinot Meunier= Gris Meunier

154
Q

Bourguiel (Bourgay- pronouncation) AOC: Touraine

A
  • Medium- bodied, fairly tannin wines made primarily from Cabernet Franc
  • A maximum of 10% Cabernet Sauvignon can be added
  • Roses follow the same blending formula
155
Q

St- Nicolas de Bourgueil AOC: Touraine

A
  • Wst of Bourgeil on warmer soils containing high percentages of sand
  • Primarily Cabernet Franc with up to 10% Cabernet Sauvignon; most wines are 100% Cabernet Franc
  • Dry Roses are made from the same grape varieties
156
Q

Chinon AOC: Touraine

A
  • Soils: Tuffeau plus composites of sand, gravel and clay
  • Whites: 100% Chenin
  • Both reds and roses: Made primarily from Cabernet France with a max of 10% Cabernet Sauvignon
157
Q

Vouvray AOC: Touraine

A
  • On the right bank of the Lorie Facing Montlouis- sur- Loire
  • Wines are made from Chenin and range from dry to sweet
  • Botrytis: optional
158
Q

Vouvray Sugar Levels

A

Sec (< 0-0.8% or <8gl RS)
Demi Sec (0.8- 3.5% or 8-35 g/l RS)
Moelleux (>3.5% or >35g/l RS)
Doux (>15% or 150 g/l RS)

159
Q

Coteaux du Loir AOC: Touraine

A
  • Right bank of the Loir (which is a tributary of the Loire)
  • Whites: Chenin Blanc
  • Reds: Pineau d’Aunis- dominant blend (min. 65%) with up to 30% of Cabernet Franc, Cot and Gamay for reds
  • Roses: Pineau d’Aunis- dominant blend (min. 65%) with up to 30% Cot, Gamay and Grolleau
160
Q

Cour- Cheverney AOC: Touraine

A
  • A dry white AOC lying wishing the Cheverney AOC

- 100% Romorantin (white)

161
Q

Middle Loire: Sparkling Wines

A
  • As a result of excavating building stone from the limestone sub-soil, a plethora of man- made tunnels and caves have been made
  • The caves have been turned into “natural” cellars for sparkling wine production
  • There are several categories of sparkling wines in the middle loire: Petillants, Mousseaux and Cremants
162
Q

Petillants

A
  • Contain about half the pressure as mousseaux or cremant
  • Delicately sparkling wines (1-2.5 atms) made according to the methode traditionnelle
  • Petillant means fizzy
163
Q

Mousseux

A
  • Made according to the methode traditionnelle but with a min. of 3 atms of pressure
  • Most have a min. 9 months sur lie ageing requirement
  • Mousseux means frothy or bubbly
164
Q

Cremant

A
  • Made according to the methode traditionnelle
  • Must spend 12 mths aging on lees plus one month in the bottle before release
  • The only sparkling wine produced in the Loire with regulations concerning pressing (weight of grapes/ volume of juice extracted)
165
Q

Cremant de Loire AOC

A
  • White and rose sparkling wine
  • Made from Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pineau d’Aunis, Pinot Noir and Grolleau
  • By law, the percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon and Pineau d’Aunis must be less than 30%
166
Q

Anjou Mousseaux AOC

A
  • White and rose sparkling
  • Created from Chenin Blanc with up to 60% Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cot/ Malbec, Gamay, Grolleau and Pinot d’Aunis (vinified as blanc de noirs)
167
Q

Saumur Mousseux AOC

A
  • Often referred to as ‘Saumur Brut’
  • Primarily made from Chenin Blanc with up to 40% Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Cab Franc, Cab Sauv, Gamay, Grolleau, Grolleau Gris, Pinot Noir and Pinot d’Aunis
  • Roses use the same red grapes as Saumur Mousseux but Cabernet Franc must comprise 60% of the blend
168
Q

Touraine Mousseux AOC

A
  • Whites: Chenin Blanc/ Chardonnay or Arbois/ Chardonnay are traditional blends
  • Roses: Gamay, Cabernet Franc, Cot dominate the blend
169
Q

Montlouis- Sur- Loire Sparkling Wines

A

Montlouis sur Loire Petillant and Mousseux: 100% Chenin Blanc

170
Q

Vouvray Sparkling Wines

A
  • Vouvray Mousseux and Vouvray Pétillants AOC
  • 100% Chenin Blanc
  • Both Mousseux and Petillant must send 12 month aging sur lie before release
171
Q

What does the centre Loire produce?

A

Probably the most well known wines of the Loire

172
Q

Where is the Centre Loire located?

A
  • South of Orleans and west of Auxerre (Bourgogne)
  • Vineyards flank the Loire Valley and its tributaries in order to take advantage of the temperature- moderating effect of the water
  • Most of the vineyards are east- and- west facing
173
Q

What are the most famous AOCs of the Centre Loire?

A

Sancerre and Pouilly Fume

But Quincy and Menetou- Salon are gaining in popularity

174
Q

What are the grape varieties of the Centre Loire?

A
  • White: Almost exclusively Sauv Blanc

- Reds: Almost exclusively Pinot Noir

175
Q

What is the climate of the Centre Loire?

A
  • Continental

- Has the largest dirunal swing of the four sub regions of the Loire

176
Q

Winter in the Centre Loire?

A
  • Cold

- Prone to frost and ice

177
Q

Spring in the Centre Loire?

A
  • Short and Variable with both Sunny and Cloudy skies
178
Q

Summer in the Centre Loire?

A
  • Hot and Sunny

- This off-sets the short spring

179
Q

Autumn in the Centre Loire?

A
  • Temperate and mild throughout harvest

- Humidity and fog can be problematic creating conditions that may promote rot

180
Q

What are the three soil types of the Centre Loire that sit above Kimmeridgean Limestone?

A

Terres Blanches, Caillottes and Silex

181
Q

Terres Blanches?

A

A marl rich in oyster fossils. Wines of vibrant acidity

182
Q

Silex:

A

Flint

Wines of Vibrant acidity
Adds a unique gunflint/ smoky finish

183
Q

Caillottes

A

Little limestone pebbles. Wines with a little less structure.

184
Q

What was the traditional grapes of the Centre Loire?

A

Chasselas. Sadly after phyolloxera Chasselas proved difficult to graft. Vignerons switched to Sauvignon Blanc.

185
Q

Sauvignon Blanc- Centre Loire

A
  • High acid, aromatic white with a distinctive ‘flinty’ or ‘smoky’ characteristic
  • Sauvignon is taken from the French word ‘sauvage’ meaning ‘wild’
186
Q

Chasselas- Centre Loire

A
  • Ancient grape variety native to the area surrounding Lake Geneva in Switzerland
  • A fairly neutral white
  • On good sites it picks up a distinctive hint of flint or smoke midst a flavour profile of hay and flowers
187
Q

Pinot Noir- Centre Loire

A
  • Relatively light to moderate tannins and pigment; notable acidity
188
Q

Pinot Gris- Centre Loire

A
  • Used as a blending grape for the production of rose
189
Q

Gamay- Centre Loire

A
  • Plays an important role in 2 minor AOC; Coteaux du Giennois, Chateaumeillant (most reds and roses are Pinot Noir- based)
190
Q

Pouilly - Fume AOC- Centre Loire

A
  • White wines only
  • Flint: gunflint/ smoke (Fume)
  • Gravels and sands: fruit
  • Clay: depth of flavour and texture
191
Q

Sancerre AOC- Centre Loire

A
  • Produces red, white and rose
  • Reds and Roses: Pinot Noir
  • Whites: Sauvignon Blanc
  • Soils: Terres Blanches, Silex and Caillottes
192
Q

Menetou- Salon AOC- Centre Loire

A
  • Whites: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
  • Reds and Roses: 100% Pinot Noir
  • Kimmeridgean soils
193
Q

Quincy AOC- Centre Loire

A
  • Whites: Sauvignon Blanc, Sauvignon Gris, is allowed
  • Vineyards flank the Cher River
  • Kimmeridgean soils
194
Q

Reuilly AOC- Centre Loire

A
  • Whites: Sauvignon Blanc
  • Reds: Pinot Noir
  • Roses: Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris
  • Vineyards flank the Cher River
  • Kimmeridgean soils
195
Q

Upper Loire

A

Whites: Chardonnay, Sacy

Red/ Roses: Gamay, Pinot Noir

French Wine Scholar - Micky (14 decks)

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