South West France Flashcards
Which regions of South West France continue to be influenced by the Atlantic Ocean?
Madiran and Jurancon.
Flat and gently undulating territory allows the Atlantic influence to extend further.
Diminishes for Bergerac, Monbazillac and Cahors
What is the soil type in Bergerac?
Clay and limestone with some gravel.
What is the climate of Bergerac?
Warmer and dryer than Bordeaux, Bordeaux grapes grown and ripen well.
What are the main grapes of Bergerac and the percentage of the final red blend?
Cab Sauvignon, Cab Franc, Malbec and Merlot.
50%
What is the max yields of Bergerac?
Moderate yields in 60s
With 90% of Bergerac sold domestically, which are their key sales channels?
Supermarket and direct sales
With easy drinking styles being the main style of Bergerac AOC, what types of vessels are used for maturation?
Stainless steel or old oak casks
What is the price and quality of Bergerac wines?
Good to very good.
Inexpensive to mid priced
What are the requirements for Cotes de Bergerac AOC?
Bordeaux varieties only.
Moderate yields at 50.
Some age in oak…
With Monbazillac producing only sweet wines, do they only allow botrytis affected grapes?
No, both botrytis and late harvested grapes can be used
Which river and its tributaries allow the right conditions for noble rot in Monbazillac?
The River Dordogne
What is the max yields for Monbazillac and main grape varieties?
Low at 30 hL/ha
Sauvignon Blanc, Sauvignon Gris, Sémillon and Muscadelle
What is the quality and price of Monbazillac wines?
Good to very good.
Inexpensive to mid priced
Which are the main export markets for Bergerac AOC?
China, Belgium and UK
In Monbazillac, do they used new oak barrels for fermentation?
Less common than Sauternes, so wines are available a lower price.
What is the climate like in Cahors?
Still have some Atlantic influence but warmer and drier than Bordeaux.
What is the secondary red grape of Cahors?
Tannat, usually less than 10% of blend
Where can you find vineyards in Cahors?
Next to the River Lot, with rich alluvial soils.
mid slope with poorer soils.
Highest plateau with low nutrient limestone soils.
What is the most common training method in Cahors?
Single guyot.
Some used bush wines and cordon trained.
What are the key characters of Malbec?
Vigorous.
Susceptible to coulure.
What is the typical style of Cahor wines?
Deep ruby, medium to medium (+) acidity, medium (+) to high tannins, medium to pronounced intensity, violet, red and black plums, better quality have vanilla and sweet spice.
Good to outstanding.
Mid priced to premium.
What is the general view on French oak barriques in Cahors?
May be used in very good and outstanding wines.
Some now favour foudres for slower oxidation and not adding oak aromas.
What are the key legal requirements for Cahors AOC?
Minimum 70% Malbec, rest from Tannat and/or Merlot.
Destemming.
What is the main route to market for Cahors wines?
Private companies at 80%
20% from one Co-operative
What are the three levels of Cahors wines?
Traditional - inexpensive.
Prestige - mid priced from mid slopes.
Speciale- often 100% Malbec, often from highest plateau
With 70% of Cahors wines sold domestically, what are the main sales channels?
Supermarkets and direct sales.
With exports growing in Cahors, which are their key markets?
UK, Canada and USA.
What is the climate in Madiran?
Some Atlantic influence with high rainfall, but mainly in late winter and spring.
Warm sunny summers and dry autumns.
Warms days and cold nights, diurnal range.
What is the name of the hot dry southerly wind (helps ripening) in Madiran called?
Fohn
What is the soils and aspects of better Madiran vineyards?
Clay and limestone with good drainage.
West facing slopes.
Where in Madiran are wines with less tannins and earlier drinking style found?
Flatter land with clay with loam soils
What are the main characteristics of Tannat?
Vigorous, best in trellis.
Mid ripening so before autumn rains.
Prone to botrytis bunch rot.
Tannic variety.
What is the style of age worthy Madiran wines?
Deep ruby, high acidity, medium to high alcohol, full body, high tannins, pronounced intensity, blackberry, blackcurrant, oak flavours.
Very good to outstanding.
Mid priced to premium.
With majority of the Madiran blend (60-80%) from Tannat, what are the other components?
Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and/or local grape Fer.
What are the common training methods in Madiran?
Replacement cane and cordon de royat
What is the yields of Madiran?
Moderate at 55
How are producers making earlier drinking wines in Madiran?
Picking only ripest grapes.
Gentle pressing.
Shorter maceration.
Micro oxygenation.
With 80% of Madiran wines sold in France, which are the key sales channels?
Supermarkets and hospitality.
Then directly or specialist wine shops.
What is the split between Co-ops and private growers in Madiran?
50/50
What are the key export markets for Madiran?
UK, Belgium and Germany.
What is the climate of Jurancon?
Mild and humid.
Relatively high rainfall, spread throughout the year.
What is the main natural risk in Jurancon?
Spring frosts due to altitude, So vine trained higher.
What are the soils of Jurancon?
Limestone, sand, clay and stones.
In Jurancon, What causes the hot dry Fohn wind, which helps to produce over ripe berries?
The Pyrenees
What is the main viticultural techniques used in Jurancon for the sweetest wines?
Passerillage
What is the style of Jurancon?
Medium sweet.
Good to very good.
Inexpensive to mid priced.
What is the style of Jurancon Vendanges Tardives?
Sweet, high acidity, medium to high alcohol, full body, intense lemon and mango.
Very good to outstanding.
Mid priced to premium.
What is the sweetness level of Jurancon sec?
Dry
How much of Jurancon production is sweet or medium sweet wines?
70%
What are the main characteristics of Petit Manseng?
Early budding and mid to late ripening.
Thick skinned so resistant to botrytis bunch rot.
Moderately aromatic and retains acidity.
High alcohol so precise harvest time is essential for overall balance.
What is the main difference between Petit Manseng and Gros Manseng?
Quite similar but Gros Manseng has:
higher yields
Less aromatic
Less flavour intensity
Mainly used for dry wines
What are the max yields for Jurancon wines?
Jurancon Sec = moderate at 60
Jurancon = low at 40
Jurancon Vendanges Tardives = low at 40
What are the key laws of Jurancon?
At least 50% Petit and Gros Manseng but in reality they’re used exclusively.
Manseng grapes only for Vendanges Tardives
What is the use of old and new oak in Jurancon?
Higher quality sweet wines with Petit Manseng ferment in barriques and mature in them.
Top quality wines in general use old oak but some use new oak.
Does MLC normally happen in Jurancon?
No.
Retains acidity and preserve primary fruits.
With an increasing amount of high quality dry Jurancon wines made with tiny amount of Petit Manseng, how are they typically aged?
Stainless steel and on lees
Are Jurancon wines mainly exported or sold domestically?
Domestically, sales channels being direct sales, supermarkets and hospitality split equally.
What is the main route to market in Jurancon?
Co-ops, with Cave de Gan accounting for 50%
What is driving the upward trend of dry wines in Jurancon?
Due to competition, eg sweet wines versus other French regions.
Sweet wines harder to sell.
What is the general style of IGP Cotes de Gascogne?
Neutral, fruity and easy drinking with medium to medium (+) acidity.
Acceptable to good.
Inexpensive to mid priced.
With 80% of IGP Cotes de Gascogne exported, which are heir main markets?
UK and Northern Europe.
What are the main grapes behind IGP Cotes de Gascogne?
Most Colombard, then Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay.
