Regions/Districts Flashcards
5 districts of Champagne and their grapes
How does Peter Liem divide Champagne
—Montagne de Reims: occupies a high, forested plateau contains some of Champagne’s finest PN vineyards
—Cotes des Blancs: preeminent Chardonnay terroir famous for its chalky soils
—Valle de la Marne- Meunier
—Cote de Sezanne- Chardonnay
—Cote De Bars (the Aube)-Pinot Noir
Peter Liem divides into 7 subregions
Liem divides Vallèe de la Marne into 3 section:
-Grande Vallèe-section of the Marne east of the village of Cumières, which forms the southern flank of the Montagne de Reims plateau
-Vallèe de la Marne- west of Cumières where the river is enclosed within a valley. Chalk lies under a thick layer of clay, deeper the more west you go and Meunier thrives in these conditions
-Coteaux Sud d’Èpernay “cote-d-sue de-per-nay”- SW of Èpernay, collections of villages tucked in between the Vallèe de la Marne and the Cote des Blancs that’s distinctly different in makeup.
-Cote de Sèzanne is also grouped with the Coteaux du Morin. Each has its own characteristics, but they are all areas of new plantings.
-Cote de Bar-principle area of the Aube department, laying on Kimmeridgian marl like its neighbor, Chablis, to the south.
What are the 9 grand cru villages from the Montagne de Reims (N-S)?
Which were added in 1985?
Wrapped in a horseshoe shape:
—Sillery- Most Northern of GCs. During Th. Jefferson’s time most MDR wines were all sold under Sillery name, and the Brulart estate as the apogee of MDR.
—Puisieulx (pooz-you)- directly west of Sillery; Champagne’s most obscure grand cru
—Beaumont-sur-Vesle (boo-mon-ser-vel) east of Verzenay
—Verzenay locked between Sillery (North), Mailly (West), and Beaumont-sur-Vesle/Verzy (East/SE)
—Mailly Champagne (mah-yee shom-pan-ya)-westernmost GC in MDR Verzenay to the east and Ludes to the west; defined by the cooperative of Mailly Grand Cru
—Verzy (added after 1985)- Locked between Verzenay (NW), Villers-Marmery (SE) and Trèpail and Ambonnay (South); style is a transition between Villers-Marmery and Verzenay
—Louvois (Lew-vha) South of Verzenay, Mailly, and Ludes
—Bouzy (boo-zy)- south of Louvois and west of Ambonnay; one of the warmest terroirs in MDR. Full southfacing
—Ambonnay (Om-bow-nay)- SE facing, helps temper ripeness and more delicate than Bouzy
What are the 2 grand cru villages from the Vallée de la Marne?
Aÿ (I-ye)
Tours-sur-Marne “Toor su marne”(GC for red; debated) (argument over whether this is considered Vallèe de la Marne or Montagne de Reims) north bank of the Marne River just south of Bouzy, a village that is, in many ways, synonymous with the Montagne de Reims style.
What are the 6 grand cru villages from the Côte des Blancs? N-S
Which were added in 1985?
*just below Epernay and goes south
—Chouilly* (shoe-ee)(GC for white; debated) Most north, center; very mineral and citrusy, giving freshness. “Exoctic pineapple-like”
—Oiry* (worry) directly to the east of Chouilly
—Cramant (Kla-man) South of Chouilly; complexity and completeness, contrast of body and liveliness; sweet spices and green tea…autumnal wine.
—Avize (Ah-veez) South of Cramant; power, structure, roundness; ripe citrus
—Oger* (oh-zhee) South of Avize; delicate, flowery, perfume, red fruit and tangerine
—Le Mesnil-sur-Oger* (may-kneel sir oh-jay) South of Oger;Acidic and racy with power; needs time to mature.
- added after 1985
What is the name of the hill in the Aube that is currently an incredibly popular area for vine and why? Which producer is known for vines here?
Montgueux–pure chalk soil (creates wine with spicy peppery minerality.) Southeastern exposure and consists entirely of Chardonnay. Jacques Lassaigne
Name two AOP’s for still wine in Champagne and the styles for each.
Coteaux de Champenoise (red, white, and rose)
Rose de Riceys in the Aube (100% Pinot Noir rose wine)
What is the eastern side of the Montagne de Reims horseshoe colloquially known as?
What are the four distinct sections of this area?
Grande Montagne
—South-facing grand crus- Bouzy and Ambonnay
—East-facing Chardonnay terroirs Trèpail “tre-PIE” and Villers-Marmery “vee-YARE mar-mer-REE”
—North-facing grand crus: Verzenay and Verzy
—Northern premier crus of Ludes (Bereche), Chigny-les-Roses “shen-yee lay rose”, and Rilly-la-Montagne (Vilmart)
What is the main north-south road between Èpernay and Reims?
D951
The dividing line between the Grande Montagne and Petite Montagne
What river runs along the southern part of the Montagne de Reims?
Marne river
Where are the premier crus of Trèpail and Villers Marmery?
What do they grow?
How do they differ in soil and style?
Name a producer from each.
—Located in Montagne de Reims (east of Verzy and Verzenay) on fully east-facing slopes (best for chardonnay)
Trèpail-Nakedly chalky soils=racy and austere
Villers-Marmery-slightly deeper soils=fuller bodied and richer
David Lèclapart in Trèpail
Margaine in Villers-Marmery
What are the two primary homes for Meunier?
Vallèe de la Marne Petite Montagne (the name refers to lower elevation, not quality)
**terroirs are notably different; difference between VDLM’s proximity to the river and Petite Montagne’s more mountainous soils.
What is the argument over the exact location of the Vallèe de la Marne?
—Most wine books classify Vallèe de la Marne as including Tours Sur Marne and Mareuil-sur-Ay
—Most growers or winemakers would disagree and argue that Vallèe de la Marne begins west of Cumieres, where Meunier is the dominant grape. East of Cumières are SE facing slopes; more chalkly bedrock closer to the surface, and more PN grown; believed to be more the southern flank of Montagne de Reims.
—mostly southern exposure, a temperate climate, and an ideal blend of clay and chalk soils explains why the Grand Vallèe is hom to some of the most historic PN vineyards in Champagne; i.e. Clos des Goisses
How can Mareuil-Sur-Ay be divided
Chalkier eastern side
Clay-rich western side
Where is Dizy and name the two best producers?
Premier cru in Vallée de la Marne
Gaston Chiquet and Jacquesson (Corne Bautray) (proprietors are cousins)
Where is Cumières?
Name two best producers?
Premier cru in the Vallèe de le Marne
- Renè Geoffroy (although the estate is now located in Ay, majority of its vineyards lie in Cumières.) Vintage dated “Empreinte”
- George Laval most profound single vineyard wines from Cumières today. Les Hautes Chèvres (had to pull up old PN vines in 2009, but also has old meunier vines in this vineyard). Les Chenes, based on Chardonnay from the east side of the village.
