The Loire Valley Flashcards by Darren D.

Working east from the coast what are the 4 key regions of the Loire Valley?

Nantais

Anjou-Saumur

Touraine

Central Vineyards

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What is the climate of Nantais?

What is the soil type?

Cool Maritime

Volcanic and Granite; warming and good drainage.

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What is the climate of Anjou Saumur?

What is the soil type?

Continental

Varied, some clay, some limestone for storing sparkling, and some warm & stony

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What is the climate of Touraine?

What is the soil type?

Cool Continental

Cool clay

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What is the climate of Central vineyards?

What is the soil type?

Continental

Chalky and stony = well drained

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What grape is Muscadet made from?

Melon Blanc (Melon de Bourgogne)

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What are the key appellations of Nantais?

Muscadet

Muscadet Sevre et Maine

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Considering climate risks why is Melon Blanc a vine-grower’s friend?

The grape ripens early and is frost resistant.

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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.

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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

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What are the key grapes of Anjou-Saumur?

Chenin Blanc

Cabernet Franc

Grolleau

Gamay

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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

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What are the differences between Rose de Loire, Cabernet d’Anjou, Rose d’Anjou, and Sancerre Rose?

Rose de Loire - Alwyas dry. 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

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Savennieres and Coteaux de Layon are 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. Best can age for decades.

Coteaux de Layon - Renowned sweet wine. Lies in a sheltered valley of River Layon that encourages Noble Rot. Quarts de Chaume and Bonnezeaux

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Chenin Blanc can be used to make many styles, what are it’s characteristics:

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

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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 the entire Touraine?

Sauvignon Blanc

Chenin Blanc

Cabernet Franc

What are the key appellations of Touraine?

Vouvray - Dry to 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 does a winemaker do with barely ripe Chenin Blanc grapes?

Made in to sparkling wines

What grape are the wines of Chinon and Bourgueil based on?

What are the two soil types and how do they afffect flavor?

Cabernet Franc

Sandy soil : Light and fruity

Limestone and clay south-facing slopes: Riper &Full bodied and tannic

What are the key appellations of Central Vineyards?

Sancerre

Pouilly Fume

Menetou Salon (Less expensive Sauv. Blanc + Pinot + 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

How are the sauvignon blanc grapes gently treated in winemaking to preserve the fresh, fruity, varietal flavours?

Pneumatic pressing, temp controlled fermentation in stainless steel

Despite Sauvignon Blanc being an aromatic grape what 2 things might winemakers allow / use in cool vintages?

MLF Oak

Despite Sancerre and Pouilly Fume heroics where is the majority of Sauvignon Blanc made into wine?

Touraine

What is Grolleau?

A red grape variety used to make Rosé still and sparkling wines in Anjou

If you wanted Loire red wine which 4 towns would you head to and what grape would be used?

Chinon, Bourgueil in Touraine - Cab Franc, Light fruity red for early drinking. From Sandy soils, to more tannic and full bodied from limestone south-facing slopes. Saumur, Saumur-Champigny in Anjou-Saumur. Lighter and lower tannin than those from Chinon and Bourgueil. Juicy berry fruit and floral notes. Drunk young and often chilled. Cabernet Franc grape

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**Describe the soil types and climate of each of the four Loire regions.**

Nantais : Cool maritime with volcanic and granite soils Anjou-Saumur : Moderate Continental with limestone and stony soils that warm Touraine: Cool Continental with clay soils Central Vineyards: Continental with chalk, stone, schist and silex, well-drained.

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**Describe the style**

Working West to East what are the key appellations of Nantais?

Muscadet Muscadet Sevre et Maine

Working West to East what are the key appellations of Anjou-Saumur?

Savenniers, Coteaux de Layon Anjou Saumur, Saumur-Champigny

Working West to East what are the key appellations of Touraine?

Bourgueil, Chinon Vouvray Touraine

Working West to East what are the key appellations of Central Vineyards?

Menetou-Salon Sancerre Pouilly-Fume

List the 4 Human factors of wine

Grape Growing Wine Making Maturation Market Forces