Loire Vally - CW Coast France

Question 1

Loire Region Break Down:

Answer 1

Divided into 4 SECTORS Coastal - Inland:
Pays Nantais = Near Loire Mouth, Maritime Climate
Anjou-Saumur = Vast + Dynamic, Slight Maritime
Touraine = Surround Tours, Excellent Drainage
Central Vineyards = Touch Continental Climate, up River

Question 2

Loire Region Major Grapes:

Answer 2

Melon de Bourgogne/Muscadet = Acidity, Lean, Structure
Chenin Blanc = Honey, Herbal Tea, Damp Hay, Flowers
Sauvignon Blanc = Green, Grassy, Sharp + Stoney
Cabernet Franc = Raspberry, Cherry, Tobacco + Green Herb
Pinot Noir = Burgundy Alternative, Recent Quality Improvement
Gamay = 2nd only to Beaujolais in Plantings

Question 3

Loire White - Melon de Bourgogne/Muscadet:

Answer 3

~ Acidity, Lean, Structure, Lemon, Mineral, Saline ~
Pairing: Light Sea Fare
-> Muscadet AOP = PAYS NANTAIS
-> Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine AOP = PAYS NANTAIS

Question 4

Loire White - Chenin Blanc:

Answer 4

~ Honey, Herbal Tea, Damp Hay, Flowers ~
Loire Valley: Gold Standard Chenin Blanc
——–LABEL TERMINOLOGY———
Sec = Dry, Demi-Sec = Semi-Dry, Moelleux = Sweet, Petillant = Semi-Sparkling, Mousseux = Full-Sparkling
—————————————————–
-> Vouvray = TOURAINE
-> Savennieres AOP = ANJOU
2 SINGLE VINEYARDS = Coulee de Serrant & Roche Aux Moine (have own AOPs)
-> Coteaux du Layon AOP = S of SAVENNIERS, ANJOU-SAUMUR
-> Bonnezeaux AOP + Quarts de Chaume ‘Grand Cru’ AOP = ANJOU

Question 5

Loire White - Sauvignon Blanc:

Answer 5

~ Green, Grassy, Sharp & Stoney ~
Central Vineyards: Classic, Direct - Vegetal, Citrus & Lilikoi
-> Sancerre AOP = CENTRAL VINEYARDS
-> Pouilly-Fume AOP = ACROSS RIVER from SANCERRE

Question 6

Loire Red - Cabernet Franc:

Answer 6

~ Raspberry, Cherry, Tobacco + Green Herb ~
Cooler Vinyards - Grows where No Cab Sauv, NEW OAK RARE, Med to Full bod, Acid+, 13%abv
-> Chinon AOP = W TOURAINE
-> Bourguiel AOP = W TOURAINE, Neighbor to Chinon
-> Saumur-Champigny AOP = “Field of Fire”, SAUMUR

Question 7

Loire Red - Pinot Noir

Answer 7

~ Real Burgundy Alternative, Recent Quality Improve ~

• > Sancerre = Red + Rose
• > Menetou-Salon AOP = Sancerre Neighbor, Red + Rose

Question 8

Loire Red - Gamay

Answer 8

~ 2nd only to Beaujolais in Plantings ~
Typically used as a blending component in Red or Rose
Cheverny AOP = NoteWorthy Pinot Noir/Gamay Blends

Question 9

Other Loire Grapes:

Answer 9

• Whites:
  Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Romorantin, Gros Plant, Orbois/Arbois
• Reds:
  Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec/’Cot’ (France), Pineau d’Aunis, Meunier, Grolleau, Negrette

Question 10

Label Terminology of ?:
Sec = ?
Demi-Sec = ?
Moelleux = ?
Petillant = ?
Mousseux = ?

Answer 10

Chenin Blanc - Vouvray:
Sec = Dry
Demi-Sec = Semi-Dry
Moelleux = Sweet
Petillant = Semi-Sparkling
Mousseux = Full-Sparkling

Question 11

Cheverny AOP

Answer 11

NoteWorthy Pinot Noir/Gamay Blends

Question 12

Muscadet AOP

Answer 12

Grape = Muscadet, PAYS NANTAIS, Consume Young + Vibrant, Pair East-Coast Oysters

Question 13

Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine AOP

Answer 13

Grape = Muscadet, NANTAIS, Best Sur Lie, Chablis-Like

Question 14

Vouvray

Answer 14

Grape = Chenin Blanc, TOURAINE, Dry = Whisper Sweet ~ Pair = Earthy (Beets + Carrots + Turnips), Off Dry ~ Pair = Ripe Cheeses

Question 15

Savennieres AOP

Answer 15

Grape = Chenin Blanc, ANJOU, 13.5%abv, Dry Oxidative Full-Bod, Loire’s MOST POWERFUL white, Honey Roasted-Apple Ginger ~ Pair = Richer Dishes Cream Base. 2 SINGLE VINEYARDS = Coulee de Serrant & Roche Aux Moine (have own AOPs)

Question 16

Coteaux du Layon AOP

Answer 16

Grape = Chenin Blanc, Anjou, S of SAVENNIERS, offdry = spring apperitif vs. Sweet = Dessert or Cheese Pair, Lighter/Sprightlier ~ Pair = Foie Gras

Question 17

Bonnezeaux AOP + Quarts de Chaume ‘Grand Cru’ AOP

Answer 17

Grape = Chenin Blanc, ANJOU, 2 appellations offer Best Sweet Botrytis-affected complex Dessert wines of Loire

Question 18

Sancerre AOP

Answer 18

Grape = Sauvignon Blanc, CENTRAL VINEYARDS, Mostly Tank/Neutral Oak = Natural Sharp Mineral Character unobstructed, NZ style = Loud Aromatics + Tropical fruit, Other = Tight Steely Nerve & Citrus. All = Light to Med Bod ~ Pair = goat cheese, Garden vegs & Greens, Ceviche & Light Sea food

Grape = Pinot Noir, Red + Rose, Real Burgundy Alternative, Recent Quality Improve

Question 19

Pouilly-Fume AOP

Answer 19

Grape = Sauvignon Blanc, Central Vineyards, ACROSS RIVER from SANCERRE, Similar to Sancerre - Difference = Flint & Smoke + More Oak

Question 20

Chinon AOP

Answer 20

Grape = Cabernet Franc, W TOURAINE, Most well know AOP, Modern = Ripe, dense Fruity vs. Traditional = Bitter, Earthy + Green (Off putting to New World Drinkers), ~ Pair = Bistro (Pork, Rabbit, Bavette & Potatoes)

Question 21

Bourguiel AOP

Answer 21

Grape = Cabernet Franc, W TOURAINE, Similar & Neighbor to Chinon

Question 22

Saumur-Champigny AOP

Answer 22

Grape = Cabernet Franc, SAMUR, “Field of Fire”, More Floral + Aromatic

Question 23

Menetou-Salon AOP

Answer 23

Grape = Pinot Noir, Red & Rose, CENTRAL VINEYARDS, Sancerre Neighbor, Real Burgundy Alternative, Recent Quality Improve

Question 24

Pay Nantais Sector

Answer 24

Atlantic Coast, Near Loire Mouth, Cool + Wet Maritime Climate

• > Muscadet AOP
• > Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine AOP

Question 25

Anjou-Saumur Sector

Answer 25

Vast + Dynamic, Slight Maritime influence, E of Pays N., Anjou = Vast forests SW, Saumur = Tuffeau Limestone

• > Saumur-Champigny AOP
• > Bonnezeaux AOP
• > Quarts de Chaume ‘Grand Cru’ AOP
• > Savennieres AOP
• > Coteaux du Layon AOP

Question 26

Touraine Sector

Answer 26

Surround Tours, Soft Tuffeau limestone, Excellent Drainage

• > Vouvray
• > Chinon AOP - W
• > Bourguiel AOP
• > Cheverny AOP

Question 27

Central Vineyards Sector

Answer 27

Eastern most = Close to Continental Climate, Shorter growing season than W, Far up the river

• > Sancerre AOP
• > Pouilly-Fume AOP
• > Menetou-Salon AOP