The Dordogne and South West France Flashcards

1
Q

What river runs through Cahors and what are the soil types?

A

The River Lot

Fertile alluvial soils at bottom of Lot river valley - higher yields and less concentration in the wines

mid slope - poorer soils - with more concentration in the wines

Top of the slope - plateau - lower yield and higher concentration

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2
Q

White wines produced in Madiran AOP are released under which appellation?

A

Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh AOP

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3
Q

What white grape is predominantly grown in Cotes de Gascogne?

A

Ugni Blanc

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4
Q

What types of wine are produced in Cotes de Gascogne?

From which grapes?

A

Reds and Rosé: mostly Bordeaux varietals

Whites: Ugni Blanc and Bordeaux varietals.

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5
Q

Arrange these appellations according to their proximity to Toulouse, from nearest to furthest away:

Coteaux du Quercy

Fronton

Gaillac

Saint-Mont

A
  1. Fronton
  2. Gaillac
  3. Coteaux du Quercy
  4. Saint-Mont
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6
Q

3 Top Producers in Fronton AOP?

A

Domaine Le Roc

Chateau Bouissel

Chateau La Colombiére

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7
Q

Is Botrytis used to make Jurancon sweet wines?

A

No, Passerillage (leaving grapes on the vine to dry.)

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8
Q

The Dordogne region is located East of which section of Bordeaux?

A

Entre-deux-mers.

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9
Q

What year did Madiran receive AOP status?

A

1948

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10
Q

What is micro-oxygenation?

What is the French term?

Who developed it/at which chateau?

Where was it first developed/for which grape specifically?

A

Introducing oxygen to wine in a slow, controlled manner in order to soften harsh tannins. “Microbullage”

Patrick DuCournau, Chateau Aydie.

Madiran, for Tannat.

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11
Q

The majority of production in Irouléguy is __ wine.

A

Red

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12
Q

What kinds of wine are made in Gaillac AOP, based on which grapes?

A

Red/Rosé: Duras, Fer, Syrah, and Gamay

White: Mauzac, Muscadelle, and Len de l’El

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13
Q

Sweet wines in Gaillac AOP are labelled as ___? Sparkling wines in Gaillac AOP are labelled as ___? Sparkling wines may be made by which 2 methods?

A

Gaillac Doux

Gaillac Mousseux

Traditional Method, Méthode Gaillaçoise (a variant of Méthode Ancestrale)

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14
Q

What is the only type of wine made in Madiran AOP? What grape is used in high proportion in their red wines?

What are the secondary grapes used?

A

Red

Tannat

Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Fer

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15
Q

What kinds of wine are made in Fronton AOP, based primarily on which grape (which percentage)?

A

Reds/Rosé: based primarily on Négrette, at least 50%.

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16
Q

Excluding Languedoc and Roussillon, which appellation produces the most AOP wine in Southwest France?

A

Bergerac AOP

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17
Q

Mechanical harvesting is illegal in Monbazillac AOP.

True or False?

A

True

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18
Q

Where is Jurancon?

A

Foothills of the Pyrenees, just north of the Spanish border.

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19
Q

Gaillac Premieres Cotes AOP is an appellation for which type of wine?

Includes how many communes?

A

Dry white wine only.

11 communes.

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20
Q

The oldest vineyards of Southwest France are found in which appellation?

A

Gaillac

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21
Q

How do grapes for the sweet wines of Jurancon achieve their sweetness?

A

Passerillage

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22
Q

Tannat contains __ seeds than the average Vitis vinifera grape.

A

More

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23
Q

Jurançon is located in which département?

Famous for sweet wines made from which grape? Famous for dry wines made from which grape?

A

Pyrénées Atlantique département

Sweet: Petit Manseng

Dry: Gros Manseng

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24
Q

In which appellation is the wine below produced?

A

Madiran

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25
Q

What is the largest appellation immediately to the SE of Bordeaux’s Right Bank?

What kinds of wine are produced there?

What varietals are used?

A

Bergerac

Red/White/Rosé

Bordeaux varietals.

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26
Q

What kinds of wine are made in Irouléguy AOP, based primarily on which grape(s)?

A

Red: Must be a blend of Min. 50% combined Cabernet Franc and Tannat.

White: Must be a blend of at least 2: Courbu, Petit Courbu, Gros Manseng, Petit Manseng

Rosé: Min. 90% combined Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Tannat

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27
Q

Order the following appellations from west to east: (1 = Westernmost, 6 = Easternmost)

Côtes du Milau

Béarn

Brulhois

Tursan

Irouléguy

Fronton

Gaillac

A
  1. Irouléguy, 2. Béarn, 3. Tursan, 4. Brulhois, 5. Fronton, 6. Gaillac, 7. Cotes du Milau
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28
Q

The oldest vineyards of Southwest France are found in which appellation?

A

Gaillac AOP

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29
Q

What is the color and style of Cahors wine?

A

Reds aged in oak delivering deep colour, high tannins and dark berry fruit.

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30
Q

In which appellation is the wine below produced?

Which family produces it?

What type of wine is this and from which grape is it produced?

A

Jurançon.

The Dagueneau Family.

Sweet, Passerillage dessert wine, made from Petit Manseng.

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31
Q

Roughly how is the climate of Dordogne?

A

Similar to Bordeaux but with less moderating maritime influence

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32
Q

The Collines Rhodaniennes IGP is located in which region of France?

A

Northern Rhone

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33
Q

What are the 5 Sweet Wine appellations within Bergerac?

Which is the most highly-regarded?

What grape(s) used?

A

Monbazillac AOP, Pécharment AOP, Rosette AOP, Saussignac AOP, Haut-Montravel AOP.

Monbazillac is the most notable.

Same varietals as Sauternes etc…, but Muscadelle particularly excels.

34
Q

What is the only kind of wine permitted in Saussignac AOP?

What are the primary varieties used?

A

Sweet white wines.

Sauvignon Blanc, Sauvignon Gris, Muscadelle, Semillon.

35
Q

Name the 5 AOPs that border/overlap Armagnac:

A

Brulhois AOP, Buzet AOP, Tursan AOP, Saint-Mont AOP, Madiran AOP

36
Q

Where is Gaillac AOP located, NE of which city, along which river?

A

Southwest France NE of Toulouse, West of Albi

Along the Tarn River

37
Q

Where is Fronton AOP located, N of which city, between which 2 rivers?

A

Southwest France.

North of Toulouse, between the rivers Garonne and Tarn

38
Q

Where is Madiran, what wine does it produce and primarily based on which grape?

Producers may make sweet white wines under which appellation?

A

South-West of Cotes de Gascogne

High tannin reds, primarily from Tannat

Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh AOP.

39
Q

What kinds of wine are made in Marcillac AOP, based on which grape(s)?

A

Red and rosé wines based on Fer (minimum 90%).

40
Q

Cotes de Duras AOP is located south of which bigger appellation?

Produces what color wines?

Based on which grapes?

A

South of Bergerac.

Whites: Mostly Bordeaux varieties.

Red/Rosé: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec (Cot), Cabernet Franc

41
Q

Where did ‘Black Wines’ traditionally come from and what grapes are used?

A

Cahors

Min. 70% Malbec, with Tannat and Merlot

42
Q

What are the 2 primary and 4 secondary white grapes of Jurançon?

A

Primary: Petit Manseng, Gros Manseng.

Secondary: Lauzet, Courbu, Petit Courbu, and Camaralet de Lasseube

43
Q

Cahors - Wine Business?

A

Wine Business of Cahors

80% produced by private companies

20% by one cooperative – VINOVALIE

Using success of Argentinian Malbec to market itself – ‘the original Malbec’

Introduced a voluntary quality code:

Tradition: inexpensive, 75-85% Malbec, on river flats

Prestige: mid priced, often on mid slope

Speciale: mainly 100% Malbec, normally grown on high plateau

Sales

70% of wine is sold in France, Supermarkets and direct sales

30% is exported and growing

Top markets are UK, Canada and USA

UK is biggest in volume but Canada and USA are bigger in value

44
Q

Madiran AOC rules for Winemaking

A

AOC rules

Madiran AOC must be 60-80% Tannat

Can be blended with Cabernet F, Cabernet S, and local variety FER

Grapes must be destemmed

Max. yield is 55 hL/Ha.

Wines can only be sold from November of the following year of harvest

45
Q

Wine Business - Madiran

A

Wine business

80% of Madiran is sold in France (50% Supermarkets, 20% directly)

20% exported, mainly Belgium, Germany and Canada

Leading producers: Alain Brumont (Chateau Bouscassé and Chateau Montus).

Most of the top wines 100% Tannat

Production split 50/50 between private wineries and cooperatives

Cooperatives – Cave de Crouseilles and Plaimont

46
Q

What are the AOC wines of Jurancon and what are AOC rules for winemaking

A

Jurancon Sec

max. yield 60 hL/Ha.

A dry white wine

Jurancon

Medium sweet wine

Min. 40 g/l RS

Max. yield of 40 hL/Ha.

Jurancon Vendanges Tardives

Sweet wine

Min. 55 g/l RS

No enrichment allowed

Max. yield of 40 hL/Ha.

Petit and Gros Manseng exclusively

Grapes for this wine – can’t be picked before 2nd November!

High quality sweet wines

Made predominantly with Petit Manseng

Typically fermented in barriques

Aged in them for 12-18 months

Top tier use new oak

For the sweet wines – no MLF is allowed to preserve acidity and primary fruit

47
Q

climate of Jurancon?

A
  • Climate
    • hilly relatively cool corner (300mRL hi) at the foot of the Pyrenees
    • 1200mm of rainfall throughout the year
    • Mild and humid climate with spring frost and fungal risk
    • A southern breeze, called the ‘Fohn’
      • Helps to dry out canopy
      • Raises the temperature and assists ripening
48
Q
A
49
Q

topography and soils of Jurancon

A
  • Topography and soils
    • Vineyards planted on slopes to avoid frost risk and improve drainage
    • South or South-west facing slopes are best for ripening
    • Some are steep enough to require terracing
    • Soils are a mixture of limestone, sand, clay and stones
50
Q

Viticulture of Jurancon?

A

o Viticulture

o the budding zone is trained well above the ground to avoid frosts

o the slopes mean that hand picking is needed

o selective picking is needed due to the need to pick sound fruit after it has dried on the vine

o picking normally starts in October – for the dry wines

o low yields due to the drying on the vine – passerillage+

51
Q

Jurancon Vendange Tardive

A
  • Jurancon Vendanges Tardives (late harvest)
    • Sweet wine
    • Min. 55 g/l RS
    • No enrichment allowed
    • Max. yield of 40 hL/Ha.
    • Petit and Gros Manseng exclusively
    • Wines:
      • Pronounced intensity aromas of lemon & mango, high acidity
      • alcohol between medium and high
      • full body
      • very good to outstanding in quality, mid-priced to premium in price
    • Grapes for this wine – can’t be picked before 2nd November!
52
Q

the Jurancon wine?

A
  • Jurancon
    • Medium sweet wine
    • Good to very good quality
    • Inexpensive to mid-priced
    • Min. 40 g/l RS
    • Max. yield of 40 hL/Ha.
53
Q

Jurancon Sec?

A
  • Jurancon Sec
    • max. yield 60 hL/Ha.
    • A dry white wine
54
Q

what are the winemaking AOC rules for Jurancon and how is the harvest handled?

A
  • Winemaking AOC rules
    • Three categories of Jurancon wine
      • ALL must have 50% min. of Petit and/or Gros Manseng
      • Have progressively higher min. levels of sugar in the GRAPES with each picking of the vineyard
        • First pass for dry whites and early drinking sweet whites
        • Second and Third passes for over-ripe grapes – generally dried on the vine – passerillage – giving low yields and heightened intensity
55
Q

Petit Manseng

A
  • Petit Manseng
    • Early budding – prone to spring frost
    • Mid to late ripening
    • Has thick skins – resistant to botrytis bunch rot
    • Highly aromatic and retains high acidity
56
Q

Gros Manseng

A
  • Gros Manseng
    • Similar to Petit Manseng – but higher yields
    • Produces wines of less elegant, less rich than Petit Manseng
    • Not as high in quality as Petit Manseng
    • Used predominantly for dry wines
57
Q

Jurancon cooperatives represent how much production?

Where are the wines sold?

A
  • Wine Business
    • Almost all sold in France
    • Equally sold between direct sales, Supermarkets and Hospitality
    • Domaine Cauhape – significant producer
    • Cave de Gan cooperative accounts for 50% of production
58
Q

MLF for the Jurancon sweet wines?

A

No MLF is allowed for the sweet Jurancon wines

59
Q

Typical Jurancon sweet wines are made from and how?

A
  • High quality sweet wines are:
    • Made predominantly with Petit Manseng
    • Typically fermented in barriques
    • Aged in them for 12-18 months
    • Top tier use new oak
60
Q

Bergerac AOC is located where?

what is the climate and soils like?

what does it produce?

A
  • Eastern continuation of right bank and Entre-deux-mers with vineyards on both sides of the Dordogne
  • Climate between maritime and continental – slightly warmer than Bordeaux
  • Soils from alluvial silt to clay and limestone on higher terraces
  • Produces 50% REDS, 40% WHITES and 10% ROSE
61
Q

What are the grapegrowing and winemaking rules of Bergerac AOC?

A
  • Grapegrowing
    • mainly Bordeaux varietals are grown
    • Cabernet S, Cabernet F, Merlot, Malbec
    • But there are smaller local varieties allowed
  • Winemaking AOC rules
    • Allowed to make Red, White (dry and sweet), Rose
    • Max. yields are 55 hL/Ha.
    • Red wine
      • At least two of CabS, CabF, Merlot or Malbec must be 50% of blend
      • And other lesser known international varietals are allowed
      • Normally aged in SSteel or oak casks
62
Q

An appellation within Bergerac AOC which is called ?

How is it different to Bergerac AOC

A
  • Cotes de Bergerac AOC
    • A small appellation of higher quality
    • Only Bordeaux varieties allowed
    • Max. yield is 50 hL/Ha. (lower)
    • Ageing in oak is used by some producers
    • Most wines are predominantly Merlot
63
Q

Typically the wines of Bergerac are?

A
  • Typically, these AOCs
    • Good to very good in quality
    • Inexpensive to mid-priced
64
Q

Sales of Bergerac are made where and to whom?

A
  • Sales
    • 90% of Bergerac AOC is sold in France
    • Supermarkets are the main customers
    • Direct customers are second in line
    • Main export markets are China, Belgium and UK
65
Q

Monbazillac AOC is where?

A

South bank of Dordogne and a sub region of Bergerac

66
Q

Climate of Monbazillac?

A
  • The climate
    • Moist air over the river with high levels of humidity
    • Perfect for development of noble rot
    • The humidity is burnt off by afternoon
67
Q

Grapegrowing of Monbazillac?

A
  • Grape growing
    • Botrytised whites made from Sémillon, Sauvignon blanc and Muscadelle
    • Mechanical harvesting banned
68
Q

Sales of Monbazillac?

A
  • Sales
    • 90% sold in France, 50% thru supermarkets
    • 10% exported
    • North West Europe is the main export market
69
Q

Where is Cahors located?

A

100km north of Toulouse, along the Lot river, centred mainly around the town of Cahors

70
Q

Climate of Cahors

A

Influenced by the Atlantic, but great sun exposure with cold winters, dry summers - drier and warmer than Bordeaux

71
Q

Viticulture in Cahors?

A
  • Viticulture
    • Warm dry climate allows Malbec and Tannat to fully ripen
    • Organic viticulture is widely practiced due to climate
    • Varying soil types
      • Lot River soils are rich alluvial soils and give high yields, low concentration
      • Mid slope – poorer soils, lower yields, high concentration
      • Plateau – poor limestone soils, low yields and high concentration
    • Different pruning/training techniques – bush vine, cordon trained, cane with VSP
    • Machine picking on flatter ground
    • Hand picking on steeper slopes – allows sorting for higher quality outcome
72
Q

Winemaking AOC rules?

A
  • Winemaking AOC rules
    • Malbec min 70% of AC’s blend with Merlot & Tannat remaining 30%
    • Destemming is required – to remove chance of tannins from stalks
73
Q

Wine style and varietal characteristics of Malbec in Cahors

A
  • Wine techniques and style
    • Most high-quality Cahors is 90 to 100% Malbec
    • Generally - very tannic when young and benefit from ageing; berries, liquorice and herbs flavours
    • Generally, this varietal makes
      • Deep ruby colour
      • Medium to pronounced flavours, violet, red, black plum
      • Medium to medium+ acidity
      • Medium+ to high tannins
      • Very good examples are aged in French Oak
      • Range from good to outstanding and are mid to premium in price
74
Q

Winemaking techniques and resulting styles of Cahors

A
  • Style of Cahors
    • Early drinking
      • has Merlot in blend
      • Limited maceration, 7-10 days on skins
    • Intended for bottle ageing
      • 15-25 days on skins for greater extraction
    • The higher quality Cahors will be matured in French Oak barriques – which adds sweet spice, cedar and vanilla
75
Q

Cahors - who are the main producers?

A

20% is cooperative production

balance is by private companies

76
Q

Marketing of Cahors?

Sales - where are the wines sold?

A

Marketing

  • Using success of Argentinian Malbec to market itself – ‘the original Malbec’
  • Introduced a voluntary quality code:
    • Tradition: inexpensive, 75-85% Malbec, on river flats
    • Prestige: mid-priced, often on mid slope
    • Speciale: mainly 100% Malbec, normally grown on high plateau
  • Sales
    • 70% of wine is sold in France, Supermarkets and direct sales
    • 30% is exported and growing
      • Top markets are UK, Canada and USA
      • UK is biggest in volume but Canada and USA are bigger in value
77
Q

Climate and topography & soils of Madiran

A
  • Climate
    • 1000mm of rainfall, mainly Winter and Spring
    • 80kms from Atlantic, with some Atlantic influence
    • A dry southern wind ‘Fohn’ helps to ripen the fruit in Summer
  • Topography and soils
    • Four large parallel ridges, North-South orientation
    • Western side is steep
    • Mainly clay, limestone soils with good drainage on slopes
    • Flatter land is clay, limestone and some loam
78
Q

Tannat

A
  • Tannat
    • AOC stipulates Cordon de Royat or a cane replacement system
    • Susceptible to botrytis bunch rot
    • Needs to be picked with ripe tannins
    • Very tannic variety
    • Mid ripening, normally picked before Autumn rains
    • Vigorous – needs to be supported on a trellis
    • The slopes in Madiran produce more tannic grapes whereas the flats produce less tannic grapes which produce more approachable wines
    • The key grape varietal of Madiran
79
Q

Winemaking for Tannat and the resulting wine style?

A
  • Tannat
    • Typically, deep ruby in colour
    • Pronounced aromas of blackberry, blackcurrant
    • High tannins, high acidity
    • Full body and alcohol from medium to high
    • Makes wines of very good to outstanding quality – mid to premium priced
    • The high tannin level can be managed for earlier drinking
    • Methods to manage tannins:
      • Microoxygenation – the bubbling of small amounts of oxygen through the wine to soften the tannins – and enables the wine to be approachable sooner
      • Picking the grapes riper so less astringent tannins
      • Soft pressing to lessen extraction of tannins
      • Blending of varietals with softer tannins
80
Q

AOC rules for Madiran

A
  • AOC rules
    • Madiran AOC must be 60-80% Tannat
    • Can be blended with Cabernet F, Cabernet S, and local variety FER
    • Grapes must be destemmed
    • Max. yield is 55 hL/Ha.
    • Wines can only be sold from November of the following year of harvest
81
Q

the business of Madiran?

who are the main producers?

Exports?

A
  • Wine business
    • 80% of Madiran is sold in France (50% Supermarkets, 20% directly)
    • 20% exported, mainly Belgium, Germany and Canada
    • Leading producers: Alain Brumont (Chateau Bouscassé and Chateau Montus).
    • Most of the top wines 100% Tannat
    • Production split 50/50 between private wineries and cooperatives
    • Cooperatives – Cave de Crouseilles and Plaimont
82
Q
A