SW France Breakdown Flashcards
The Dordogne – Bergerac and Monbazillac
Bergerac AOC - dry and sweet white, rosé and red wines. 50 per cent of production is red wine, just over 10 per cent is rosé, and just under 40 per cent is white. clay and limestone soils with some gravel. The wines must be made from a blend of the allowed principal grape varieties. For example, the red wine must be made from at least two of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Merlot, and this blend must be at least 50 per cent of the final wine. Less internationally recognised local varieties are allowed as a small part of the blends. Max yields 67hl/ha white, 60hl/ha red.
Côtes de Bergerac AOC - is restricted to the main Bordeaux varieties (no local varieties permitted), the maximum yield is lower at 50 hL/ha
Monbazillac AOC - This is an appellation for sweet white wines only. The grapes may be affected by botrytis or simply late harvested. The region lies between the River Dordogne and one of its tributaries. The grapes must be picked by hand in a number of passes through the vineyard. The wine must be at least 80 per cent of the principal varieties, Sauvignon Blanc, Sauvignon Gris, Sémillon and Muscadelle. Maximum yield is 30 hL/ha. Fermentation
in barrel with new oak is much less common than in Sauternes
Cahors
Cahors AOC must be a minimum of 70 per cent Malbec with rest of the blend being Merlot and/or Tannat. The top-quality wines are increasingly 90–100 per cent Malbec. Destemming is required by the appellation
Malbec accounts for 85 per cent of hectares planted.Cahors is the only appellation in France in which Malbec is the principal grape variety. Tannat is also authorised though it is usually less than 10 per cent of the blend
Despite being 250 km inland, Cahors receives some influence from the Atlantic. However, the climate is warmer and slightly drier (less than 800mm per year) than Bordeaux. 17% organic.
Vineyards near River Lot (Tradition level wine, rich alluvial soil and high yield), mid-slope (Prestige level wine), or on the highest plateau at just below 350 metres (Speciale level wine. low nutrient limestone soils, resulting typically in lower yields and higher concentration)
Madiran
Madiran AOC is a high tannin red wine made principally from the Tannat variety. Madiran has some Atlantic influence with a relatively high annual rainfall of 1,000 mm. dry southern Föhn wind. The soils on slopes are mainly clay and limestone with good drainage.
Madiran AOC must be made with 60–80 per cent Tannat, blended with Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and/or the local black variety Fer. Grapes must be destemmed (to reduce the extraction of further tannins) and the maximum yield is 55 hL/ha.
In 1991, Patrick Ducournau pioneered the technique of micro-oxygenation, seeking to soften the tannins in Tannat wines.
Jurançon
foothills of the Pyrenes, at an altitude of around 300 m, producing
dry wines and a range of sweet white wines from the white varieties Petit Manseng, Gros Manseng and other local varieties. Gros Manseng most planted variety.
The wines produced are 70 per cent medium-sweet or sweet and 30 per cent dry.
Jurançon AOC is medium-sweet and is typically good to very good in quality and inexpensive to mid-priced. Jurançon Vendanges Tardives AOC is sweet and is typically very good to outstanding
there are three styles: Jurançon Vendanges Tardives (sweet), Jurançon (typically medium-sweet) and Jurançon Sec (dry).
The higher quality sweet wines made with Petit Manseng are typically fermented in barriques and aged in them for 12–18months.
Jurançon has a mild, humid climate, with relatively high annual rainfall, about 1,200 mm, which is distributed throughout the year and can affect flowering and fruit set and the period of harvest. Vineyards are planted on slopes for good drainage to offset these issues.
The region is also strongly influenced by the presence of the Pyrenees as this gives rise to a Föhn wind. This hot and dry wind blows in spring and autumn, about one day in three, drying the air and ventilating the canopy (and bunches in autumn), as well as boosting temperature. The heat and the wind help to produce over-ripe berries for the sweet wines.
IGP Wines
There are 14 IGPs in South-west France. IGP Côtes de Gascogne is by far the largest, in terms of vineyard planted. The wines are made from mainly from Colombard (producing neutral white wine with medium– medium (+) acidity, usually used in blends), Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay.
