Loire Valley Flashcards
1
Q
The Loire is France’s ___ river and the last ___ river in Europe.
A
longest, wild
2
Q
The Loire Valley runs from where to where?
A
629 mile-long path, headwaters in the Massif Central to its mouth on the Atlantic Coast
3
Q
Where is Cab Franc from in origin?
A
Basque country
4
Q
The Loire Valley produces more ___ than any other French region
A
white wine
5
Q
The Loire is second only to ___ in sparkling wine production
A
Champagne
6
Q
Name the white varietals of the Loire
A
Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Melon de Bourgogne, Chardonnay, Orbois, Romorantin, Gros Plant (Folle Blanche), and Chasselas
7
Q
Name the red varietals of the Loire
A
Cabernet Franc (Breton), Pinot Noir, Gamay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec (Cot), Pineau d’Aunis, and Groslot (Grolleau)
8
Q
What is the climate of the Pays Nantais?
A
a cool, wet maritime region
9
Q
What 4 AOPs exist for Melon de Bourgogne?
A
- Muscadet
- Muscadet Coteaux de la Loire
- Muscadet Côtes de Grandlieu
- Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine
10
Q
Where does Pays Nantais extend?
A
from the south toward the northeast of the city of Nantes near the Atlantic coast
11
Q
To ensure lighter, fresher character, Muscadet wines show best at what?
A
12% abv or below
12
Q
All Muscadet wines may include what geographical designation on the label?
A
“Val de Loire”
13
Q
For “Sur Lie” Muscadet, what are the ageing requirements?
A
must be kept on its lees (in either tank or barrel) after fermentation until at least March 1 of the year following the harvest
14
Q
When is Muscadet bottled off its fine lees?
A
between March 1 and November 30 of the year following the harvest, and not marketed until at least March 8
15
Q
What are the principal soils of the Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine subzones?
A
Clisson: Granite
Gorges: Clay and gabbro (igneous rock)
Le Pallet: Gneiss, quartz, and gabbro
16
Q
What are the subzones of Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine?
A
Clisson, Gorges, Le Pallet
17
Q
What is the basic appellation for Melon de Bourgogne?
A
Muscadet AOP (seldom used)
18
Q
What wines account for over 80% of Muscadet production?
A
Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine
19
Q
Where are Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine wines sourced from?
A
a collection of 23 communes near the confluence of the Sèvre and Maine Rivers
20
Q
In order to label Muscadet as sur lie, the wine must originate from where?
A
land qualifying for one of the three sub-appellations
21
Q
How are Sur lie wines aged?
A
on their lees over the winter, and are bottled directly off the fine lees (without filtering) between March 1 and November 30 of the year following the harvest
22
Q
What does the Sur lie process add?
A
complexity, richness and a slight sparkle to the finished wines
23
Q
Describe Muscadet Coteaux de la Loire AOP
A
more northerly appellation, and the wines are correspondingly leaner. In warmer vintages the area is an excellent source
24
Q
Describe Muscadet Côtes de Grandlieu AOP
A
the newest AOP (1994), The wines struggle to achieve quality beyond basic Muscadet
25
What is “Hermine d’Or?"
an unofficial label term that promotes terroir and stresses age-ability
26
What was the purpose of adopting the term “Hermine d’Or?"
producers in Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine are striving to create a badge of quality for the better wines.
27
What producer pioneered “Hermine d’Or?"
Guy Bossard
28
What was proposed in 2001 in Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine?
A Cru Communaux designation, requiring eligible wines from specified schist soils to spend a min 18 months sur lie (longer than "sur lie" term allows)
29
In 2011, the Cru Communaux designation proposal bore what fruit?
the introduction of 3 subzones for Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine: Clisson, Le Pallet, and Gorges
30
The subzones of Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine may not include what on the label?
"sur lie" since the minimum length of aging for each subzone is too high
31
Wines from the subzones of Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine may what?
be destined to become some of the finest expressions of the Melon grape available
32
With the elimination of the VDQS tier in 2011, what 3 new regions in Pays Nantais gained AOC status?
1. Gros Plant du Pays Nantais
2. Coteaux d'Ancenis
3. Fiefs Vendéens
33
Like Muscadet, Gros Plant may be produced as what?
a sur lie wine, but it will require some serious effort on the part of the region's producers to improve perceptions, lees aging or not
34
What is the Encépagement for Gros Plant du Pays Nantais AOP?
70% Folle Blanche (Gros Plant); plus Montils & max. 10% Colombard
35
What styles are allowed in Coteaux d'Ancenis AOP?
Blanc, Rosé, Rouge and Varietal-Labeled "Malvoisie"
36
Encépagement for Blanc Coteaux d'Ancenis AOP?
100% Pinot Gris
37
Encépagement for Rosé Coteaux d'Ancenis AOP?
100% Gamay
38
Encépagement for Rouge Coteaux d'Ancenis AOP?
100% Gamay
39
Encépagement for Varietal-Labeled "Malvoisie" Coteaux d'Ancenis AOP?
100% Pinot Gris
40
Encépagement for Fiefs Vendéens AOP Blanc?
```
(Min. 60%): Chenin Blanc
Complementary Varieties (Min. 10% combined): Chardonnay (Grolleau Gris in Brem, and Sauvignon Blanc in Vix)
```
41
Encépagement for Fiefs Vendéens AOP Rosé?
(Min. 80%): Gamay and PN (Brem and Chantonnay require a min. 50% PN and a min. 30% Gamay. In Mareuil, Pissotte, and Vix requires a min. 50% Gamay and a min. 30% PN.)
Accessory Varieties: CF, CS, Négrette (Grolleau Gris in Brem)
42
Encépagement for Fiefs Vendéens AOP Rouge?
CF, Négrette, PN (Brem and Pissotte requires a min. 50% PN and a min. 20% CF. Chantonnay, Mareuil, and Vix require a min. 50% CF, and a min. 20% PN, Négrette is always at a min. 10%.)
Accessory Varieties: CS, Gamay
43
Between the Pays Nantais and Touraine lies what?
the Loire’s largest, most diverse and most dynamic region, Anjou
44
Although Anjou and Saumur are often considered collectively, where does Saumur lie?
Saumur is an eastern sub-region of Anjou, adjacent to Chinon in Touraine.
45
What is the Loire’s center for sparkling wine production?
Saumur
46
Anjou produces both sweet and dry interpretations of what?
Chenin Blanc
47
What is Chenin Blanc known locally as in Anjou?
Pineau de la Loire.
48
What is 45% of Anjou’s total production devoted to?
rosé, a blended wine dominated by Grolleau grapes
49
Nearly one third of Anjou’s plantings are what?
Cabernet Franc, with the resulting red wines achieving a higher quality than in the past
50
What is Anjout AOP a designation for?
red, white, and sparkling wines
51
Many Saumur wines may be bottled as __ AOP, but not what?
Anjou, vice versa.
52
Describe how Chenin Blanc performs in Anjou?
slow to ripen, in northerly climates like Anjou the grape will maintain its persistent, high acidity in the finished wine
53
What is also common in Anjou blanc?
Astringency from high levels of extract
54
Anjou Blanc AOP dry wines tend toward what?
aggressive acidity and bitterness
55
the best wines of Savennières AOP develop what?
great complexity and honeyed richness with age
56
Desribe Savennières AOP wines
Produced from 100% Chenin Blanc and generally dry, the wines of Savennières are austere and rigid in their youth.
57
Where does Savennières AOP lie?
On the north bank of the Loire, enjoys a steep southern exposure
58
What is the unique soil structure of Savennières AOP?
blue schist mixed with volcanic debris
59
What 2 sub-appellations, long regarded as unofficial grands crus, finally received their own AOCs in 2011?
Roche aux Moines and Coulée de Serrant (a monopole of the rigidly biodynamic Nicolas Joly)
60
South of Angers and the Loire, Chenin Blanc is harvested later in the season as producers hope for what?
botrytis in the sweet wine districts
61
What are the sweet wine districts south of Angers?
Coteaux du Layon AOP
| Coteaux de l’Aubance AOP
62
What is mandatory in Coteaux du Layon AOP and Coteaux de l’Aubance AOP?
Harvesting in tries (multiple passes through the vineyard), resulting in either healthy grapes with pure late-harvest flavors or the selection of grapes gripped by noble rot
63
What is the min RS in Coteaux du Layon AOP and Coteaux de l’Aubance AOP?
34 grams per liter (vs. 45g/g in Sauternes)
64
Within Coteaux du Layon, what AOPs are noteworthy for the high quality of their botrytised sweet wines?
Bonnezeaux AOP and Quarts de Chaume AOP
65
Bonnezeaux AOP enjoys what?
south-facing aspects in the commune of Thouarcé
66
Quarts de Chaume AOP enjoys what?
south-facing aspects in the commune of Rochefort-sur-Loire
67
Quarts de Chaume AOP is entitled to what moniker from the 2010 harvest forward?
"grand cru"
68
Quarts de Chaume AOP consists of what?
a small band of sandstone and schist hillsides on the banks of the Layon River
69
How does the climate of Quarts de Chaume AOP contribute to the wines?
Protected from the prevailing winds and touched by morning mists streaming from the Layon, the small appellation is a good incubator for pourriture noble, and, like Sauternes, its regulations require manual harvests to be conducted in successive tries
70
What is the size of Quarts de Chaume AOP?
54 ha, just a few hectares larger than Burgundy's Clos de Vougeot AOP
71
What is the total production of Quarts de Chaume AOP?
under 10,000 cases of wine a year!
72
Name some good producers of Quarts de Chaume
Domaine des Baumard and Château Pierre-Bise (both also highly regarded producers of Savennières)
73
What is one of the most respected estates in Bonnezeaux?
Château des Fesles
74
Describe Bonnezeaux
a larger AOP that is often actually harder to find in the marketplace
75
What 7 villages are entitled to add their names to the basic Coteaux du Layon AOP?
1. Beaulieu-sur-Layon
2. Rochefort-sur-Loire
3. Faye d’Anjou
4. St-Lambert du Lattay
5. St-Aubin de Luigné
6. Rablay-sur-Layon
7. Chaume
76
Coteaux du Layon AOP wines labeled by village must what?
reach higher min must weights and harvested at lower max yields
77
Due to vociferous complaints by the producers of Quarts du Chaume, the Chaume/Chaume Premier Cru appellation was what?
in 2009, sent back into the fold of Coteaux du Layon AOP
78
The wines of Chaume were/are what?
At a min 80 g/l of RS, are exceptionally rich
79
In 2011, with the approval of grand cru status for Quarts du Chaume, opposition relented and the INAO again bestowed what?
the status of premier cru on wines from the commune of Chaume
80
While the Cabernet Franc-based wines of Anjou AOP are good values, ___ AOP, a red wine-only appellation, provides some of the region’s finest.
Anjou-Villages
81
Anjou-Villages producers typically bolster Cabernet Franc with what?
a proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon, resulting in sturdier and fuller wines
82
What is Anjou Villages Brissac AOP?
a more recent red wine appellation, covers the same ten communes that are authorized for Coteaux de l'Aubance
83
Gamay gives Anjou's lightest reds (Anjou Gamay varietal wines), but the grape may not be blended in what?
standard Anjou rouge bottlings
84
Saumur AOP covers what?
red, dry white, and sparkling white/rosé wines
85
Although regulations call for a move to pure Chenin Blanc wines in the future, Saumur whites may currently contain what?
a combined optional addition of up to 20% Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc—a recipe indentical to Anjou Blanc
86
What is the blend for Saumur Rouge wines?
Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Pineau d’Aunis.
87
What is not authorized in Saumur?
Rosé wines
88
Over half of Saumur’s grapes are destined for what?
Saumur AOP sparkling wines or méthode traditionnelle Crémant de Loire AOP
89
The promising Crémant de Loire AOP allows what?
blending across Touraine and Anjou-Saumur while permitting fewer restrictions on grape usage
90
What are the soils of Saumur?
soft tuffeau limestone soils, resemble those of Touraine
91
What is the soil like in the Saumur commune of of Champigny—the “field of fire”?
limestone is harder, iron-rich and inflected with shale
92
Describe the wines of Saumur-Champigny
light, bright and elegantly floral expression of Cabernet Franc
93
What 8 surrounding villages may produce the red wine Saumur-Champigny?
1. Chacé
2. Montsoreau
3. Parnay
4. Saint-Cyr-en-Bourg
5. Saumur
6. Souzay-Champigny
7. Turquant
8. Varrains
94
What achieved AOC/AOP status in late 2011 with the dissolution of the VDQS category?
Haut-Poitou, about 50 miles due south of Chinon and the eastern edge of Saumur
95
Describe the wines of Haut-Poitou
Whites from mainly SB and Sauv Gris, Reds from CF (mainly) with Gamay more, Gamay de Bouze, Gamay de Chaudenay, Merlot, Pinot Black, Rose from CF, plus Pinot Black and Gamay
96
While both Anjou-Villages and Saumur-Champigny can produce attractive, expressive reds, the Loire’s best and most ageworthy red wine has historically been produced where?
in the two regions of Chinon and Bourgueil in Touraine
97
Describe the red wines of Touraine
Brimming with raspberry and green tobacco aromatics and framed by silky tannin, the wines demonstrate remarkable terroir distinctions—especially in Chinon
98
Chinon soils are broadly divided into what 3 types?
tuffeau, clay, and varennes
99
Describe the varennes soil type of Chinon
sandy, alluvial varennes soils are closest to the river Vienne (a Loire tributary)
100
Where is tuffeau most common in Chinon?
on the slopes
101
Describe the "vins de tuffe" of Chinon
originating from the limestone south-facing slopes, they carry the most promise for depth and ageworthiness
102
Like Chinon, Bourgueil soils are divided between what?
sand and limestone
103
St-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil is situated almost wholly on what?
lighter alluvial soils, with a corresponding lighter style of wine
104
Chinon, Bourgueil and St-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil permit the addition of what?
up to 10% Cabernet Sauvignon
105
Bourgueil and St-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil offer only what?
red and rosé wines
106
Chinon produces a small amount of __ wine from ___
white, Chenin Blanc
107
Further upstream from Touraine, what communes lie on opposing banks of the Loire?
Vouvray and Montlouis-sur-Loire
108
What is Touraine’s largest and most important white wine district?
Vouvray AOP
109
What provided soft material for excavation, resulting in an impressive network of cellar tunnels running underneath Vouvray?
The tuffeau limestone subsoil of Vouvray
110
What are the 8 Communes of Production for Vouvray?
1. Chançay
2. Noizay
3. Parçay-Meslay
4. Reugny
5. Rochecorbon
6. Tours
7. Vernou-sur-Brenne
8. Vouvray
111
Vouvray blanc must be what?
min 95% Chenin Blanc, plus a max. 5% Orbois
112
What is also produced in Vouvray?
vin Mousseux/Pétillant
113
What are the Sparkling Wine Requirements for Vouvray?
Traditional Method secondary Fermentation and wines may not be released until 12 months after the date of tirage.
114
What is a synonym for the local, rustic Orbois grape?
Menu Pineau
115
Vouvray may be produced in what range of sweetness levels?
sec, sec-tendre (off-dry), demi-sec, moelleux, and liquereux
116
The final decision on residual sugar is usually a response to what?
the vagaries of each vintage, rather than a consistent stylistic choice
117
Why do some Vouvray producers also choose to make a sparkling wine?
it can be a successful strategy in cooler years
118
Describe the wines of Montlouis-sur-Loire AOP
formerly part of Vouvray, are very similar in style and may be made across the same spectrum of styles
119
What is not permitted in Montlouis-sur-Loire?
Orbois
120
As a whole, the Touraine AOP can produce what?
charming—but just as often generic—wines from the local grapes
121
While Chenin Blanc currently dominates Touraine white wines, a new encépagement mandates what?
Sauvignon Blanc and a max 20% Sauvignon Gris, replacing the older style entirely by 2016
122
Red and rosé varieties include (but are not limited to) what in Touraine?
Gamay, Groslot, Pineau d’Aunis and Cabernet Franc
123
The Gamay bottlings of Touraine are often sold locally as what?
primeur, in the style of Beaujolais nouveau
124
In recognition of their superior wines, what 5 villages are allowed to add their name to the basic Touraine appellation?
1. Mesland
2. Azay-le-Rideau
3. Amboise
4. Oisly
5. Chenonceaux
125
What is also made in Touraine AOP?
pétillant and mousseux wines
126
Describe Touraine Noble-Joué AOP
Created in 2001, recreates a historical style of vin gris, a blend of Gris Meunier (Pinot Meunier), Malvosie (Pinot Gris), and Pinot Noir
127
Several __ appellations exist in Touraine
outlying
128
North of the Loire Valley is the awkwardly named __ tributary and the ____ AOP.
Loir, Coteaux du Loir AOP
129
Describe Coteaux du Loir AOP
red blends and rosés are based on Pineau d’Aunis and the white wines are exclusively produced from Chenin Blanc
130
Chenin Blanc alone is bottled as what in the Coteaux du Loir AOP?
Jasnières AOP, a sub-appellation and source of the Coteaux du Loir’s best wines
131
Chenin Blanc from Jasnières is similar in style to what?
Vouvray, yet often more green & herbaceous
132
Northeast of the Coteaux du Loir is what?
Coteaux du Vendômois AOP
133
Describe Coteaux du Vendômois AOP
newer AOP specializing in dry rosés of Pineau d’Aunis
134
Cheverny AOP and Cour-Cheverny AOP lie where?
on the eastern edge of Touraine
135
Cheverny’s light reds are based on what?
Pinot Noir with Gamay, CF and Cot (Malbec)
136
Cheverny’s lean whites are dominated by what?
Sauvignon Blanc, with Sauvignon Gris, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc and Orbois
137
The local Romorantin grape is bottled varietally as what?
Cour-Cheverny
138
Cheverny’s Rosés are based on what?
Pinot Noir with Gamay, CF and Cot (Malbec)
139
To the south of Cheverny is what AOP?
Valençay AOP, a French appellation for both wines and goats' milk cheeses
140
Reflecting the proximity of Reuilly and Quincy to the east, Valençay's whites are what?
predominantly composed of Sauvignon Blanc
141
Red and rosé wines from Valençay AOP are based on what?
Gamay, Pinot Noir, and Cot
142
The Loire’s Central Vineyards are a noncontiguous stretch of vineyards where?
in the center of France, where the Loire curves from its northward path to bend toward the Atlantic
143
Describe the climate of the Loire’s Central Vineyards
chiefly continental; cold winters and brisk days during harvest and budbreak bring the danger of frost and short summers do not assure easy ripening
144
What AOPs straddle the river and provide the classic Loire style SB?
Sancerre AOP and Pouilly-Fumé AOP
145
In Sancerre, the vines are planted on what 3 main soils?
1. silex
2. terres blanches
3. caillottes
146
Describe the Terres Blances soil of Sancerre
a continuation of the same Kimmeridgian clay that extends into Chablis
147
Describe the caillottes soil of Sancerre
a stony soil, littered with fossils
148
Describe the Silex soil
has a higher proportion of flint, continuing into the communes of Pouilly-Fumé across the river, where a certain “gunflint” character is implied in the wines
149
The late Didier Dagueneau famously appropriated the Silex moniker for his what?
top Pouilly-Fumé bottling
150
Whereas Pouilly-Fumé AOP wines must be white, Pinot Noir may be vinified as what?
Sancerre Rouge or Rosé
151
The Pouilly-sur-Loire AOP, named after the central commune of Pouilly-Fumé, is reserved for what?
whites produced from the Chasselas grape
152
Describe the wines of Menetou-Salon AOP
Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir, similar to those of Sancerre
153
Reuilly AOP, Quincy AOP, and Coteaux du Giennois AOP also produce what?
varietal Sauvignon Blanc
154
Coteaux du Giennois produces reds and rosés obligatorily blended from what?
Pinot Noir and Gamay.
155
Reuilly’s reds are pure __; whereas the best rosés are the pale vin gris wines produced from ___.
Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris
156
Quincy, a white wine-only AOP, is notable for being what?
the 2nd demarcated AOP in France—following only Châteauneuf-du-Pape
157
Where does Orléans AOP lie?
promoted from VDQS in 2006, lies just east of Touraine
158
Orléans AOP blancs?
60% Chardonnay, plus Pinot Gris
159
Orléans AOP Rosés?
Min. 60% Meunier, plus Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris
160
Orléans AOP Rouge?
70-90% Meunier, plus Pinot Noir
161
What is Orléans-Cléry AOP?
a sister AOP to Orléans, reserved soley for reds from CF
162
Several other wine regions surround the Loire closer to its source, and have ___ with the other appellations.
little in common
163
The red and rosé wines of Côtes du Forez AOP and Côte Roannaise AOP are exclusively produced from what?
Gamay and are similar to the lighter styles of Beaujolais
164
Côtes du Forez AOP and Côte Roannaise AOP are much closer to what?
Lyon and Beaujolais than the Central Vineyards
165
In the southwestern corner of the Cher département, the ___ AOP also produces reds and rosés, principally from Gamay.
Châteaumeillant
166
What is produced in Côtes d’Auvergne AOP and St-Pourçain AOP?
Wines of all three colors
167
Describe Côtes d’Auvergne AOP
the southernmost and most remote Loire region
168
Describe St-Pourçain AOP
just to the north of Côtes d’Auvergne AOP, in the Allier département
169
Saint-Pourçain is located literally where?
in the center of France
170
Saint-Pourçain produces a range of wines but is best known for what?
white wines incorporating traditional Loire variety Tressalier
