THE DORDOGNE & SOUTH WEST FRANCE

Question 1

THE DORDOGNE

Answer 1

-CLIMATE: SIMILAR TO BORDEAUX/ LESS MODERATING MARITIME INF

MAJOR APPS:

• BERGERAC:RED/WHITE=SAME VAR W BORDEAUX (CAB. SAUV, CAB.FRANC, MERLOT, PETIT VERDOT, SEMILLION, S.BLANC, MUSCADELLE)
• MONBAZILLAC:SOURCE OF GOOD VALUE BOTRYTISED SWEET WINES MADE FROM SEMILLION & SAUVIGNON BLANC

Question 2

CAHORS & COTES DE GASCOGNE-SOUTH WEST FRANCE

Answer 2

CAHORS: EAST OF BORDEAUX

• HISTORICALLY DESCRIBED AS “BLACK” WINES & WERE VERY TANNIC & LONG LIVED
• LOC EITHER SIDE OF THE RIVER LOT
• BROAD RANGE OF STYLES PRO, DEP ON=WHETHER VIN ARE ON FERTILE VALLEY BOTTOM, ON THE POORER SOILS OF THE SLOPES OR ON PLATEAU ABOVE
• MALBEC: MOST. IMP. GR.V
• OTHERS PLANT: MERLOT & TANNAT
• BEST W: AGE IN OAK/ DEEPLY C/ H TANNIN/ INTENSE DARK BERRY F/ MATURE SLOWLY:CEDAR/ EARTH

COTES DE GASCOGNE: SOUTHEAST OF BORDEAUX (IGP)

• STYLE: DRY/ L BODIED
• GRAPE: UGNI BLANC : GREEN APPLE AROMA & FLAV

Question 3

MADIRAN & JURANÇON-SOUTH WEST FRANCE

Answer 3

MADIRAN: FURTHER SOUTH TOWARDS PYRENNES

• RED WINES: BLENDED/ DEEPLY C/ H TANNINS
• GRAPE: TANNAT
• TRADITIONALLY: THESE WINES NEED LONG PERIOD OF BOTTLE AGEING TO SOFTEN THEIR TANNINS
• TODAY:RIPER GR & MODERN W.M TECH=BEST WINES HAVE CONCENT. BLACK F & H SOFTER RIPER TANNINS

JURANÇON: RIGHT ON THE FOOTHILLS OF THE PYRENNES

• WINES: BOTH DRY & SWEET WINES
• MOST IMP ARE COMPLEX SWEET W MADE FROM: H ACID PETIT MANSENG GR
• FREE OF BOTRYTISED
• UNDERGO PASSERILLAGE
• WINES: PRON. APRICOT, GRAPEFRUIT, SOMETIMES SPICY OAK FROM NEW OAK