South-West France

Question 1

Bergerac?

Answer 1

Classic Bordeaux varieties: Cabarnets and Merlot for the red wines; and Sauvignon; Semillon; and Muscadelle for dry whites. Some Bergerac Rose is made; generally of Cabernet.

Question 2

Cotes de Bergerac red wine?

Answer 2

Longer-lasting; more usuallly barrel-aged; yields are generally lower (a maximum of 50 hl/ha or 3 tons/acre) and alcoholic strength higher (although rarely more than 12.5 per cent). Principal variety is Merlot; supported by Cabernets and Malbec.

Question 3

Cotes de Bergerac white wine?

Answer 3

Divided into three categories depending on the sugar level: Medium Dry; Medium Sweet and Sweet. Principal variety is Semillon.

Question 4

Cotes de Bergerac Moelleux?

Answer 4

Sweet wine made mainly from Semillon. The term Moelleux in this context refers to making wine from grapes that have been picked later than normal but but before they reach the shrivelled stage used for very sweet dessert-style wines.

Question 5

Pecharmant?

Answer 5

Only red wines considered a step up in quality from the rustic red wines of Bergerac. Merlot (main variety); Malbec; Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc.

Question 6

Rosette?

Answer 6

Small; sweet white wine appellation in the Bergerac region made from Semillon; Sauvignon and Muscadelle.

Question 7

Saussignac?

Answer 7

Another small appellation that produces sweet white wines; from Sémillon; Sauvignon Blanc; and some particularly successful Muscadelle grapes.

Question 8

Monbazillac?

Answer 8

Increasingly serious sweet white appellation within the Bergerac district which like Sauternes is made from Semillon; Sauvignon; and particularly successful here; Muscadelle grapes.

Question 9

Monbazillac rules?

Answer 9

Basic max permitted yields here are 40 hl/ha as opposed to the 25 hl/ha in Sauternes; but in a good vintage such in 1996; the average yield in Mobazillac was 26 hl/ha. Tries successives. The potential alcohol must be at least 14.5 per cent. mechanical harvesting was banned from 1993 and today top-quality botrytized wines offer exceptional value.

Question 10

Tries successives?

Answer 10

Multiple passes (tries successives) are made through a vineyard; during which only the very ripest grapes; and those affected by botrytis; are picked. Think Sauternes.

Question 11

Montravel white wines?

Answer 11

Dry white wines made primarily from Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc (which must each constitute at least 25% of the blend); and Muscadelle.

Question 12

Montravel red wines?

Answer 12

Cabernet Franc; Cabernet Sauvignon; Malbec and; importantly; Merlot; which must now make up at least 50% of the final blend. . Montravel red wines require a minimum maturation period of 15 months.

Question 13

In Monte Revelationem (on the mountain I had a revelation)?

Answer 13

AOC approval for Montravel wine is only given once the wine is bottled in a personalized bottle engraved with the words In Monte Revelationem.

Question 14

Cotes de Montravel?

Answer 14

The area is traditionally a source of sweet white wines from Sauvignon Blanc; Semillon and Muscadelle.

Question 15

Haut-Montravel?

Answer 15

The area is traditionally a source of sweet white wines from Sauvignon Blanc; Semillon and Muscadelle but the presence of Botrytis cinerea is what makes Haut-Montravel wines the sweetest in the region - it is rarely seen in the slightly less-sweet Cotes de Montravel wines.

Question 16

Cotes de Duras?

Answer 16

Merlot-based reds account for the majority of the appellation’s output; although rose and white (dry and sweet) wines are also produced. Varieties are same as in other surrounding appellations.

Question 17

Cotes du Marmandais red wines?

Answer 17

Cabernet Sauvigon; Cabernet Franc and Merlot are the dominant varieties and are permitted to form a maximum 75% of a finished wine. The other authorised varieties set the Cotes du Marmandais apart from Bordeaux. They include the local grapes Abouriou; Cot ( the local name for Malbec) and Fer; as well as - surprisingly - the eastern French varieties Gamay and Syrah.

Question 18

Cotes du Marmandais white wines?

Answer 18

Sauvignon Blanc makes up the majority of the fresh; crisp white wines produced in the Cotes du Marmandais; but also may be accompanied by up to 30% of Muscadelle; Ugni Blanc and Semillon.

Question 19

Buzet?

Answer 19

The gravels and clays of these inland hills are planted with classic red Bordeaux vine varieties Cabernet Sauvignon; Cabernet Franc; and; especially; Merlot. The average Buzet is given much more sophisticated élevage (use of new oak) than the average Bordeaux AC; without an enormous price differential.

Question 20

Buzet white and rose wines?

Answer 20

Small production of crisp whites (Semillon; SB; and Muscadelle) and dry but fruity and gently perfumed rose (mostly CF).

Question 21

Brulhois?

Answer 21

Very small appellation for red and rosé wines. Tannat; Merlot and Cabernet Franc are the key grape varieties; producing a robust; tannic style of red wine.

Question 22

Cahors?

Answer 22

Only red wines are produced. At their best the wines are aged in oak; deeply coloured; high in tannin; with intense; dark berry fruits that mature slowly to reveal notes of cedar and earth. Cahors is exceptional among the important south west French appellations in that neither Cabernet vine is allowed.

Question 23

Cahors varieties?

Answer 23

The most important variety is Malbec (called here for obscure reasons Auxerrois); must account for at least 70 per cent in any blend; supplemented by the tannic Tannat and/or the supple Merlot.

Question 24

Cahors Producers?

Answer 24

The most prominent Cahors producers such as Ch du Cedre; Ch Lagrezette; and Domaine Cosse Maisonneuve were making special cuvees so concentrated and velvety that they were difficult to distinguish from Argentina`s most winning examples of the same grape-apart from their much higher prices.

Question 25

Madiran?

Answer 25

The traditional grape variety is Tannat; with naturally astringent character of its high tannin level. The AC regulations stipulate that vineyard proportions should be 40 to 80 per cent of Tannat with Cabernet Sauvignon; Cabrnet Franc; and Pinenc (Fer) but many top cuvees depend heavily on Tannat.

Question 26

Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh?

Answer 26

This sweet wine appellation made from passerillé grapes; cover the exact same viticultural area as Madiran AC. Late-harvested dessert wines made from various combinations of Petit Courbu; Petit Manseng; Gros Manseng; Courbu Blanc; Arrufiac and no more than 10 % of Sauvignon Blanc.

Question 27

Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh Sec?

Answer 27

The less widely produced dry form; made from the same array of grape varieties.

Question 28

Saint-Mont red wines?

Answer 28

Its red wines are full-bodied and tannic; and are produced predominantly from Tannat blended with Cabernet Franc; Fer Servadou and (unlike in Madiran) Merlot.

Question 29

Saint-Mont white wines?

Answer 29

These lighter wines make use of the Arrufiac; Petit Corbu; Petit Manseng and Gros Manseng grape varieties. Until the harvest of 2020; Clairette may also be included. The two Mansengs are together permitted to constitute a maximum of 60% of white wine blends.

Question 30

Béarn red wines?

Answer 30

Characterful reds (often very similar to Madiran) and some firm rosés are made with up to 60 per cent Tannat grapes blended with Cabernet Franc; Cabernet Sauvignon; Fer; Manseng Noir.

Question 31

Béarn white wines?

Answer 31

Very rare; tangy white wines may be made from such classic south west white grape varieties as Manseng; Petit Courbu; Lauzet; Camaralet (as in Jurançon); which together with Raffiat de Moncade (as well as Sauvignon); are conserved in the letter of the appellation law if not in the reality of the vineyard.

Question 32

Fronton red wines?

Answer 32

This appellation is distinguished by its local red grape variety the Négrette; which must constitute 50 to 70 per cent of the appellation’s reds; complimentary grape varieties are usually Fer; Syrah; and the Cabernets.

Question 33

Fronton white wines?

Answer 33

Small production of white wine from Mauzac.

Question 34

Gaillac red and rose wines?

Answer 34

Duras; Fer Servadou and Syrah; which together must comprise at least 60% of the final blend. Cabernet Sauvignon; Cabernet Franc and Merlot are also permitted for use; albeit in minor proportions. Small quantities of Gamay are also allowed.

Question 35

Gaillac white wines?

Answer 35

Len de l’El; Mauzac and Muscadelle; complemented by small quantities of Ondenc and Sauvignon Blanc.

Question 36

Gaillac vendanges tardives?

Answer 36

Sweet vendanges tardives stickies typically rely on Len de l’El and Ondenc.

Question 37

Gaillac Méthode Ancestrale?

Answer 37

The sparkling Gaillac Méthode Ancestrale wines are made exclusively from Mauzac.

Question 38

Gaillac Perlé?

Answer 38

About a third of all white grapes; and much of the Mauzac; is vinified as a slightly sparkling wine sold as Gaillac Perlé.

Question 39

Vin de Voile?

Answer 39

Vin jaune style of wine; the voile or veil being that of the film-forming yeast responsible.

Question 40

Gaillac Premieres Cotes?

Answer 40

Appellation for high-quality sweet and dry white which should theoretically be made from grapes harvested at higher ripeness levels than its equivalent produced under the standard Gaillac title. The appellation laws state that the grapes are not considered sufficiently mature until their juice has a sugar level of at least 178 grams per liter. This figure sits at 170 g/l for standard Gaillac blanc.

Question 41

Gaillac Premieres Cotes varieties ?

Answer 41

Principal grape varieties are Len de l’El and Mauzac grapes. The wines may also contain Ondenc; Muscadelle and Sauvignon Blanc.

Question 42

Irouléguy red wines?

Answer 42

The local Tannat grape is blended with Cabernet Sauvignon or Cabernet Franc for light; crisp reds and much of the wine produced is a fragrant; relatively substantial rosé in this Basque country appellation.

Question 43

Irouléguy white wines?

Answer 43

Distinctively fragrant white wine from Petit Courbu; Gros Manseng; and Petit Manseng.

Question 44

Jurançon three styles of wine?

Answer 44

Regular Jurançon (sweet); Jurançon Vendanges Tardives (very sweet) and Jurançon Sec (dry).

Question 45

Jurançon varieties?

Answer 45

Its wines are exclusively white; and are made principally from Petit Manseng and Gros Manseng with support of the local Petit Courbu; and a little local Camaralet and Lauzet.

Question 46

Jurançon Sec?

Answer 46

Gros Manseng is chiefly responsible for Jurançon Sec; the more common dry but strongly flavoured.

Question 47

Jurançon?

Answer 47

Petit Manseng is the main variety; grapes are partially dried on the vine which in some years may not be harvested until December; at a maximum yield of 40 hl/ha but often much less. Several tries are made through the vineyard (two are mandatory).

Question 48

Marcillac?

Answer 48

Main variety is Fer; or Mansois as it is known locally. No other appellation uses Fer as the key grape variety. Small amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon; Merlot and Prunelard are also allowed in the blend to tame Fer’s tannic nature; although in practice; most Marcillac wines are 100% Fer.

Question 49

Estaing red wines?

Answer 49

Fer and Gamay must contribute at least 50% of the red wines; which are also permitted to contain Cabernet Sauvignon; Cabernet Franc and a collection of other obscure local varieties. Rosés must be predominantly Gamay.

Question 50

Estaing white wines?

Answer 50

Mauzac and Chenin Blanc.

Question 51

Entraygues - Le Fel?

Answer 51

Another ancient but tiny French wine appellation whose wines are rarely seen abroad. Same varieties as Estaing.