The Loire Valley Flashcards
Working east from the coast what are the 4 key regions of the Loire Valley?
Nantais
Anjou-Saumur
Touraine
Central Vineyards
What is the climate of Nantais?
What is the soil type?
Maritime
Volcanic and Granite; warming and good drainage
What is the climate of Anjou Saumur?
What is the soil type?
Continental
Varied, some clay soils and some warm and stony
What is the climate of Touraine?
What is the soil type?
Cool Continental
Cool clay
What is the climate of Central vineyards?
What is the soil type?
Continental
Chalky and stony = well drained
What grape is Muscadet made from?
Melon Blanc (Melon de Bourgogne)
What are the key appellations of Nantais?
Muscadet
Muscadet Sevre et Maine
Considering climate risks why is Melon Blanc a vine-grower’s friend?
The grape ripens early and is frost resistant.
What is the style of Muscadet and how is Muscadet Sevre et Maine sur lie different
Dry, medium alc (max 12%), high acidity, light body with subtle green fruit.
Sevre et Maine is a superior appellation and ‘sur lie’ wines are bottled in the Spring following harvest having spent the Winter on its lees giving a richer texture.
As a modern winemaker how would you ferment Muscadet?
Key objective retain varietal delicasy and freshness so ferment in temp controlled s. steel or concrete
What are the key grapes of Anjou-Saumur?
Chenin Blanc
Cabernet Franc
Grolleau
Gamay
What are the key appellations of Anjou Saumur?
Saumur, Saumur Champigny
Anjou
Savennieres, Coteaux de Layon
Rose d’Anjou, Cabernet d’Anjou, Rose de Loire
What are the differences between Rose de Loire Cabernet d’Anjou Rose d’Anjou Sancerre Rose
Rose de Loire - Made mainly in Anjou-Saumur. Always dry and must have min 30% Cab Franc and/or Cab Sav-
Cabernet d’Anjou - Medium sweet and made from a blend of Cab Franc and Cab Sav
Rose d’Anjou - less sweet than Cab d’Anjou and largely made from Grolleau blended with Cab Franc
Sancerre Rose - Must be made 100% Pinot Noir. Pale colour,light in body and dry with delicate fruit flavours
Savennieres and Coteaux de Layon ar both made in Anjou-Saumur from Chenin Blanc. How do the wines differ and why?
Savennieres - Full bodied, complex and dry. Good air circulation round the vines enables late harvest whilst impeding Noble Rot.
Coteaux de Layon - Renowned sweet wine. Lies in a sheltered valley of R. Layon that encourages Noble Rot
Chenin Blanc can be used to make many styles, what are it’s charcteristics
Generally as a grape?
When young?
When aged?
High acid non aromatic grape stands out in Anjou-Saumur and Touraine.
Young - Flavours from fresh apple to tropical fruit depending on grape ripeness, dry wines have steely smoky character Sweet wines have apricot and citrus peel from Noble Rot
Aged - Richer and rounder with aromas of honey, toast and hay
Why can Chenin Blanc be a pain to harvest and what is the countermeasure?
Even within one bunch common for grapes to reach different levels of ripeness. Several passes through the vineyard might be necessary to pick grapes at desired ripeness.
What are the key grapes of Touraine?
Sauvignon Blanc
Chenin Blanc
Cabernet Franc
What are the key appellations of Touraine?
Vouvray - Dry –> Sweet, Still and sparkling
Chinon Bourgueil
Touraine
How would you describe Touraine Sauvignon Blanc compared to that from Sancerre / Pouilly Fume?
Generally less concentrated and more fruity
What happens to barely ripe Chenin Blanc grapes
They are made in to sparkling wines
What grape are the wines of Chinon and Bourgueil based on?
How do flavours differ based on soil type?
Cabernet Franc
Sandy soil - Light and fruity
Limestone and clay slopes - Riper - Full bodied and tannic
What are the key appellations of Central Vineyards?
Sancerre
Pouilly Fume
Menetou Salon (Sancerre Rose)
What are the key grapes of Central Vineyards?
Sauvignon Blanc
Pinot Noir
What are the tasting notes of classic Sancerre and Pouilly Fume?
High acidity, meduim body, hints of green apple and wet stones. Poss also smoky notes
