The Loire Flashcards
Anjou-Saumur: Savennieres
WARM: North of R Loire, shadow of Mauges Hills on south-facing slopes, airflow inhibits Botrytis
Full-bodied Chenin in dry style
Enables complex dry Late Harvest Chenin Blanc which can age well
Touraine: Sauvignon Blanc
Generic appellation ‘Sauvignon de Touraine’ is simple, fruity, less concentrated SB style
Gentle pressing and temperature control = fruity wine
Some ferment and age in oak (and on lees) to give texture. Some use MLF, esp to drop acidity.
Cabernet Franc
Well-suited to the Loire – flowers & ripens early, cold tollerant and hardy
Flatter ground and sandy soils = light & fruity wines
South slopes and limestone /clay = full-body & more tannin, can age well
Chinon and Bourgueil in Touraine
Central Vineyards: Sauvignon Blanc
Much further inland and warmer with chalky, well-drained stony soils
High acidity, hints of green apple and wet stones
Pouilly-Fume – often with subtle smoky notes
Sancerre – expressive SB wines, even age worthy
Some ferment and age in oak (and on lees) to give texture. Some use MLF, esp to drop acidity
Touraine: Vouvray
World famous for Chenin Blanc – both still and sparkling
Cool climate and clay soils make Chenin Blanc with light-to-med body and fresh, floral notes
Rarely fermented in new oak
Anjou-Saumur Roses
Always dry w/ min 30% Cab Franc or Cab Sauv blend
Cabernet d’Anjou: med-sweet rose made of Cab Sauv and/or Cab Franc
Rose d’Anjou: less sweet than Cab d’Anjou made primarily with Grolleau (high yield black grape) blended w CF and others
Nantes / Muscadet
Primary grape: Melon Blanc (Melon de Bourgogne)
Early ripening, frost-resistant (rot resistant too?)
Wines are dry and low alcohol (required < 12%)
High acidity, light body, subtle green fruit, drink young
Made in old vats or more modern stainless steel
Muscadet Sevre et Maine
Nantes’ best vineyards are on the far east between two rivers, Sevre et Maine
Style is Sur Lie
Richer, spring bottling, minimal handling
Loire Climate
Generally at the far north reaches of growth for varieties grown
Very cool maritime in Nantes/Muscadet
Anjou is warmer due to shadowing of Mauges Hills
Touraine is cooler than Anjou-Samur
Central Vineyards are Cool Continental
Anjou-Saumur: Couteaux du Layon
South, along the Layon River in sheltered valley, where Botrytis develops well
Renowned for sweet Chenin Blanc wines
Vineyards Quarts de Chaume and Bonnezeaux are some of the worlds best sweet wines.
Chenin Blanc
High acid, non-aromatic grape with variable ripening, even within clusters - can be green
In youth: fresh apple to tropical fruit
With age: shows richness, round, honey
Dry wines: sweetly and even Smokey
Sweet wines: apricot & citrus peel
Dry or sweet, still or sparkling it reflects ripeness
Anjou-Saumur: Saumur and Saumur-Champigny
Red wines from Cabernet Franc
Lighter body and tannin than Touraine
Very nice juicy berry fruit, sometimes floral tones
Often drunk young and even served chilled
Some producers making age-worthy wines
Also - some sparkling Chenin
Loire Appellations
The four sub-regions are NOT appellations
Nantes / Muscadet
Anjou-Saumur
Touraine
Central Vineyards
There is an IGP - Val de Loire covering the region
