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WSET 4 > South West France > Flashcards

South West France Flashcards

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1
Q

South West France

A

South West France

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2
Q

Regions of Dordogne

A

Bergerac
- Cotes de Bergerac AOC

Monbazillac

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3
Q

Bergerac AOC

A

50% red wine 10% rose 40% white

Slightly warmer than Bordeaux

Clay, limestone and some gravel

Bordeaux varieties grown
- wines must be blends
+ less internationally known varieties

max yield 55 hl/ha

Typically aged in steel or oak

Cotes de Bergerac AOC

  • Bordeaux varieties only
  • max yield 50 hl/ha
  • more common ageing in oak
  • predominantly Merlot
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4
Q

Cotes de Bergerac AOC

A
  • Bordeaux varieties only
  • max yield 50 hl/ha
  • more common ageing in oak
  • predominantly Merlot
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5
Q

Monbazillac AOC

A

sweet wines only
- botrytised or late harvested

Between two rivers, air funnels along river - humidity

Must be picked by hand

Min 80% of Sauvignon Blanc, Sauvignon Gris, Semillon, Muscadelle

Max yield 30 hl/ha

Ferment in barrels with new oak is less common than in Sauternes

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6
Q

Which variety are wines of Cahors based on?

A

Malbec

only appellation in France based on Malbec

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7
Q

Cahors climate and terroir (+training systems)

A

Some influence of Atlantic

Warmer and drier than Bordeaux

  • enables the region to grow Tannat
  • lower rainfall (less spraying than Bordeaux)
Rich alluvial soils
 - higher yields, lower concentration
Mid slope 
 - poorer soils
Highest plateau 300m
 - low nutrient limestone - great concentration

Bush vines, cordon, replacement cane with VSP all used

Picked by hand or machine depending on steepness

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8
Q

Malbec

A

also known as Cot

Vigorous (needs careful canopy management)

Susceptible to coulure

Deep ruby, med to pronounced violet, red and black plum, med to med+ acidity, med+ to high tannin

May be aged in French oak barriques (vanilla, sweet spice)

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9
Q

Synonym for Malbec

A

Cot

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10
Q

Region known as ‘black wines of ….)

A

Cahors

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11
Q

Cahors winemaking

A

Early drinking styles have more Merlot in blend
- 7-10 days on skins for limited tannin

Wines for ageing

  • 15-25 days on skins
  • often matured in oak (barriques)
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12
Q

Cahors wine law and regulations

A

Min 70% Malbec (rest Merlot or Tannat)

Destemming required by the appellation

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13
Q

Cooperative in Cahors

A

Vinovalie (20% of the region’s production)

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14
Q

Wine business in Cahors

A

Seeking to exploit success of Argentinian Malbec
- ‘original Malbec’, ‘the French Malbec’

80% private companies 20% cooperative Vinovalie

Producers: Château du Cèdre, Clos Triguedina

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15
Q

Producers in Cahors

A

Château du Cèdre, Clos Triguedina

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16
Q

3 levels of quality and price in Cahors

A 
Tradition
 - inexpensive
 - 70-85% Malbec grown on alluvial soils
Prestige
 - mid slopes
Speciale
 - mainly 100% Malbec
 - often grown on highest plateau
17
Q

Madiran growing environment and viti

A

Some Atlantic influence
- relatively high rainfall (1,000mm - but dry autumns)

Föhn wind

4 large parallel ridges with steep west-facing slopes

  • mainly clay and limestone (good drainage)
  • tannic, ageworthy wines
  • flatter, clay-loam soils
18
Q

Tannat

A

Vigorous - best supported on trellis

Mid ripening and prone to botrytis bunch rot

Highly tannic

Deep ruby colour, pronounced aromas of blackberry, blackcurrant with oak flavours.
High tannins, high acidity, full body
Alcohol top end of medium to high

(also made wines with lower tannin for early drinking)

19
Q

Madiran wine law and regulations

A

Must be 60-80% Tannat blended with Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and/or Fer (local grape)

Can only be trained with Cordon de Royat or cane-replacement system

Must be destemmed

Max yield 55 hl/ha

Can be sold from the beginning of Novembere in the year following harvest

20
Q

Madiran winemaking

A

Micro-oxigenation used to soften tannins
(pioneered by Patrick Ducournau)

trend towards softer wines
- picking ripest grapes, gentle pressing, micro-oxigenation

21
Q

Madiran producers

and split with cooperatives

A

Alain Brumont

Chateau d’Aydie

50% cooperatives

  • Cavede Crouseilles
  • Plaimont
22
Q

Jurançon growing environment and viti

A

Foothills of Pyrenes

  • around 300m
  • some vineyards are terraced
  • best south and south-west facing (max sunlight)
  • risk of frost (trained high above ground)
  • limestone, sand, clay and stones

Föhn wind

  • hot and dry wind in spring and autumn
  • drying the air and ventilating the canopy
  • boosting temperature
  • helps to produce over-mature berries for sweet wine

Mild humid climate with relatively high rainfall (1,200mm falling throughout the year)

Selective picking
- last pick have been dried on the vine (passerillage)

23
Q

Styles and varieties in Jurançon

A

dry wines and range of sweet white wines
- 70% medium sweet or sweet and 30% dry

Petit Manseng, Gros Manseng and other local grapes

24
Q

Influence of Föhn wind

+ which regions are affected?

A
  • hot and dry wind in spring and autumn
  • drying the air and ventilating the canopy
  • boosting temperature
  • helps to produce over-mature berries for sweet wine

Madiran and Jurançon

25
Q

Petit Manseng

A

early budding, mid to late ripening

Thick skins (resistant to botrytis bunch rot)
 - suitable for late harvesting

Highly aromatic

Retains acidity well

26
Q

Gros Manseng

A

Higher yield than Petit Manseng

Principally used for dry wines

Otherwise same as Petit Manseng:

  • early budding, mid to late ripening
  • Highly aromatic
  • Retains acidity well
27
Q

Categories of Jurançon wines and their regulations

+ winemaking

A

all must be min 50% Petit and/or Gros Manseng

Jurançon Sec 
 - max 60 hl/ha
Jurançon
 - medium sweet, min 40 g/l RS
 - max 40 hl/ha
Jurançon Vendages Tardives
 - sweet, min 55 g/l RS
 - no enrichment allowed
 - max 40 hl/ha
 - only Petit and Gros Manseng
 - grapes may not be picked before 2 November

Higher quality is typically fermented and aged in barriques for 12-18 months
Top quailty uses new oak

Malo is usually avoided for sweet wines

28
Q

Wine business in Jurançon

+ producers

A

direct sales and hospitality mainly

Domaine Cauhape

Cooperative Cave de Gan (half of production)

29
Q

IGP Cotes de Gascogne

A

mainly Colombard, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay

Fruity and easy to drink

30
Q

Bergerac AOC grape varieties

A

Cabernet Sauvignon
Malbec
Cabernet Franc
Merlot

Must make min 50%

31
Q

Monbazillac AOC wines must be an 80% blend of the principal grape varieties permitted in the region.

A

Muscadelle
Sauvignon Blanc
Sauvignon Gris
Semillon

32
Q

What is the name of the late-harvest sweet wine made in Madiran AOC?

A

Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh

33
Q

Which of the following vine training systems are frequently used in Madiran?

A

Cordon de Royat

Replacement-cane

34
Q

Which technique was pioneered in 1991 by Patrick Ducournau, in an attempt to soften the tannins in Madiran’s Tannat wines?

A

Micro-oxygenation

35
Q

When can wines from Madiran AOC legally be released?

A

From the beginning of the November in the year following the harvest.

36
Q

Which mountain range has a significant impact on the vineyards of Jurançon?

A

Pyrenees

WSET 4 (32 decks)

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