South-West Flashcards
1
Q
What are the four main rivers of the south-west region?
A
Garonne, Dordogne, Lot, Tarn
2
Q
What was the historical influence of Bordeaux on the south-west’s trade?
A
Rivers allowed wines to be connected with international wine trade from the port of Bordeaux. Bordeaux introduced high taxes on wines from the south west entering the port
3
Q
What is the main reason that wines of the south-west are still relatively unknown/unpopular?
A
The immense taxes placed on them by the port of Bordeaux
4
Q
What are the 2 local names for Malbec in the south-west?
A
Côt, auxxerois
5
Q
Provide an overview of the Dordogne area of the south-west.
A
- 13 AOPs
- Famous for Bordeaux style reds of a little less power
- AOPs vary immensely in production style
- Known for sweet wines - late harvest or botrytis
- Immediately to the east of Bordeaux
6
Q
Describe the wines of AOP Bergerac
A
- Mainly red wines
- Grew in popularity as they had tax benefits of being located on the Dordogne - not paying port fees
- Dry red, white rose
- Red grapes: CS, CF, Merlot, Malbec, Fer Servadou, Merille
- White grapes: Semillon, SB, muscadelle, ondenc, chenin blanc, ugni blanc (max 25%)
7
Q
Describe the wines of AOP Cotes de Bergerac.
A
- Dry red wines, sweet white wines
- Same area as AOP Bergerac, stricter regulations
- AOP Cotes de Bergerac rouge: Blend of at least 2/4 permitted grapes
- AOP Cotes de bergerac blanc: Late harvest sweet wine between 4-54g/l RS
- Red grapes: CS, CF, Merlot, malbec
White grapes: - Semillon, SB, Muscadelle (min 75%)
- Ondenc, chenin blanc, ugni blanc (min. 20%)
8
Q
Describe the wines of AOP Pécharmant.
A
- Dry red wines only
- Iron, sandstone, gravel on south facing vineyards
- Maturation until min. 15th august year after harvest
- Grapes: CS, CF, Merlot, Malbec
- Each grape no more than 65% of the blend
- Blend of min. 3 grapes
- Mimics wines of Pomerol
9
Q
Describe the wines of AOP Rosette.
A
- Sweet white wines only
- Immediately west of Bergerac
- Late harvest, 25-51 g/l RS
- Grapes: Semillon, SB , sauvignon gris, muscadelle
- SB and sauv gris must represent 15-70% of the blend
10
Q
Describe the wines of AOP Saussignac.
A
- 33ha of sweet white wines
- Susceptible to botrytis
- Late harvest or botrytis
- Min. 68g/l RS
- Semillon (min. 50%), SB, Sauv gris, muscadelle
- Chenin,, ugni blanc, ondenc max 10%
11
Q
Describe the wines of AOP Montravel.
A
- Furthest west part of the Dordogne area, 16km east of St Emilion
- Maritime influence from atlantic
- 2 AOPs for dry wines
- 2 AOPs for sweet white wines
12
Q
Describe the wines of AOP Montravel Rouge
A
- Dry red wines
- Blend of at least 2/4 permitted grapes
- Min maturation 18 months
- Grapes: Merlot (min 50%), CS, CF, Malbec
13
Q
Describe the wines of AOP Montravel Blanc
A
- Dry white wines
- Must be a blend of at least 2/5 permitted grapes
- Semillon (min. 25%), sauvignon blanc, sauv gris, muscadelle, ondenc
14
Q
Describe the wines of AOP Cotes de Montravel
A
- Sweet white wines only
- 8-54 g/L RS
- Semillon (min 30%), SB, sauv gris, muscadelle, ondenc (max 10%)
15
Q
Describe the wines of AOP Haut Montravel
A
- Hand harvested with or without botrytis
- 25-54g/l RS
- Semillon (min 50%), SB, sauv gris, muscadelle, ondenc (max 10%)
- Only 2 winemakers can consistently produce these wines: Chateau le Rax, Chateau les Grimard
16
Q
Describe the wines of AOP Monbazillac.
A
- 2360ha for sweet white wines only
- Located on the left bank of the Dordogne
- Picked late harvest or botrytis
- 30-100g/l RS
- Semillon (min 50%), SB, sauv gris, muscadelle minimum 80% of the blend
- Special mention “selection de grain nobles” if sugar concentration is above 255g/l in must, RS above 85g/l
17
Q
Describe the wines of AOP Cotes de Duras
A
- Dry white, rose, red, sweet white
- AOC 1937
- Associated with Boredaux and Bergerac regions - west of entre-deux-mers
- Elevated limestone slopes
- Red grapes: CS, CF, merlot, malbec
- White grapes: Chenin blanc, mauxac, muscadelle, ondenc, SB, sauv gris, semillon, colombard, ugni blanc
- Dry white wines are under AOP Cotes de Duras sec
18
Q
Describe the general characteristics of the Lot region
A
- Warmer climate
- Soil types vary immensely
- Bordeaux + local grapes
- Continental climate
- Cahors is the best known AOP
- Escaped powdery mildew in 1830s
- Centered around the Tarn and Garonne rivers
19
Q
Describe the wines of AOP Cahors
A
-Dry red wines only
- Malbec (min 70%), merlot, tannat
- Best soils are on the plateau - dry limestone
- Clos the Gamot is the most famous plot
- Region has benefitted from it’s link with Bordeaux, exporting wines and Bordeaux adding Cahors wine to boost their power
20
Q
Describe the wines of AOP Gaillac
A
- Towards the south east of the area
- Light mediterranean influence
- One of the oldest wine regions of France
- Comprised of left, right banks and a plateau
- Left, right banks are limestone mixed with other rocks
- Plateau is a thinck layer of limestone
- White grapes: Mauzac (white, rose), len d’el, muscadelle, ondenc, SB
- Red grapes: Duras, Fer Servadou, syrah, cabernet franc, CS, gamay, merlot, prunelard
21
Q
Describe the wines of AOP Fronton
A
- Predominantly red wines, some rose
- Negrette is the main grape variety, accounts for minimum 40% of the blend in all wines
- Other grapes: CF, CS, fer servadou, syrah, gamay, cinsault, malbec
- Negrette is also named “folle noir”
22
Q
Describe the history of the Armagnac region
A
- Oldest French Eau de vie (1310 first mentioned)
- In 17th century, Dutch bought most of the wines from the area, preferred distilled wines as they would travel better
- Circa 1730, armagnac starts being matured in oak
- Quality increases throughout the 19th century, where vintages are blended for consistency, quality
- Originally a large region, only 25% was replanted after Phylloxera
23
Q
What are the 3 subregions of AOP Armagnac
A
Bas- Armagnac
Armagnac Tenarèze
Haut Armagnac
24
Q
What are the main 4 grapes used for Armagnac?
A
Ugni Blanc (55% of vineyards)
Folle Blanche
Baco
Colombard
25
Describe the process of making armagnac
- Grapes are harvested early with high acid, low alc.
- Left to ferment naturally with no additives - must ferment fully
- Distilled in an alambic (copper still)
- Reaches alc level between 52-72%
- Distillation must finish by march 31st year after harvest
- Aged in 400L new oak barrels, moved to old oak, then glass vessels
- Blended after desired maturation is reached
- Distilled water added to bring alc. level down to min. 40%
26
What are the maturation requirements for the different ages of Armagnac?
VS - min. 1 year oak
VSOP - min. 4 years oak
XO - min. 10 years oak
Vintage - single harvest
27
What 3 AOPs overlap AOP Armagnac?
IGP Cotes de gascogne
AOP Floc de gascogne
AOP Blanc d'Armagnac
28
Describe AOP Blanc d'Armagnac
- AOP established 2006
- Shares the same are as AOP Armagnac
- Not matured in oak
- Creates a fiery, youthful, fresh, aromatic armagnac
29
Describe AOP Floc de Gascogne
- Made of a mix of 1/3 armagnac and 2/3 mid-fermented grape must
- White or rose
- Alc between 16-18%
- Matured min 10 months
- Incredibly high RS
- Deemed a "vin de liqueur"
30
Describe the wines of IGP Cotes de Gascogne
- Mainly dry whites, all styles permitted
- Encompasses the regions of AOP Armagnac, AOP Madiran, AOP Saint-Mont
- Maritime climate to the west, continental to the east
- Main grapes: Coubu, gors manseng, colombard, arrufiac SB, chardonnay
- Tannat, malbec, cab sauv
- 60% of production is exported
- Produces young, crisp light body white wines with little oak or MLF
31
Describe the wines of AOP Madiran
- Small area within IGP Cotes de Gascogne
- ONLY red wine
- Tannat must be 60-80% of the wines, mixed with CS, CF, Fer Servadou
- produces big, tannic, full body reds with heavy oak treatment
- Limestone rich soils, clay and silts
- Exact same area as AOP Pacherenc de Vic-Bilh
32
Describe the wines of AOP Pacherenc de Vic-Bilh
- Covers the same area as AOP Madiran
- White wines only
- Dry and sweet
- 6 permitted grapes, must be a blend of at least 2:
- Courbu, petit manseng, gros manseng, petit courbu, arrufiac SB, SB
33
Describe the wines of AOP Jurançon
- Maritime, mountainous climate
- Dry, sunny days, cold nights retain acidity
- 1000ha
- Allows 2 AOPS - AOP Jurancon Sec, AOP Jurancon
- Major grapes are petit and gros manseng
34
Describe the sweet wines of AOP Jurançon
- Min RS 40g/l
- Min RS 55g/l for AOP Jurançon vendanges tardives
- Gros and petit manseng
35
Describe the wines of AOP Irouléguy
- On the spanish border, vines were first planted to quench the thirst of pilgrims walking el camino de santiago
- Mountainous - mountains to the north block the northerly winds
- Red, white, rose
- White grapes: Gros, petit manseng, courbu
- Red grapes: Tannat, CF, CS
