Vins Doux Naturels Flashcards by CHRISTY COUNTS

What are the three main production regions of VDN?

Roussillon; Languedoc; and Southern Rhone

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Which is largest production region of VDN?

Roussillon

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What is the general climate of the three growing regions for VDN?

Mediterranean

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What is the warmest and driest region for VDN?

Roussillon

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What is another factor affecting the Roussillon region?

The Tramontane Wind; leads to greater transpiration from grapes during end of ripening leading to greater concentration of sugar.

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Why is the tramonte wind beneficial to fortified wines?

Less spirit is needed to fortify wine

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What varietals are used in VDN?

Muscat and Grenache

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What two types of Muscat are used in VDN?

Muscat Blanc a Petits Grains and Muscat of Alexandria

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Describe Muscat Blanc A Petits Grains?

smaller grapes than Alexandria; greater intensity of aroma and flavor; tolerant of dry weather; susceptible to powdery mildew, botrytris and mites

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Describe a Muscat of Alexandria

Bigger grapes than Muscat Blanc; achieves higher sugar levels; tolerant of dry weather; susceptible to powdery and downy mildew; plantings in decline as its less refined than Muscat Blanc

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Describe Grenache Noir

late ripening; drought resistant; high yields; pale in color; accumulates sugar quickly so suitable for fortified wines; susceptible to all the typical mildew and fungus

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Other than Grenache Noir what other Grenache can be in blend for VDN in Roussillon?

Grenache Blanc, Macabeau and Grenache Gris

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All the growing climates for VDN are what?

Warm

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Why are shady canopies required in growing muscat?

sunburn

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What are the laws regarding yields and abv for VDN?

max yield is 30 hL/ha; grapes must be picked w/min. 14.8% abv

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Why do producers want to retain as much acidity as possible?

To balance the high sugar

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How is harvest performed for VDN?

hand-harvested, often several passes

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How are VDN’s fortified?

96% grape spirited added to stop fermentation when the wine reaches 5-8% abv to make wines of 15-18% abv

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In VDNs what is residual sugar in muscat based wines and grenache based wines?

100 g/l to 125 g/l in Muscat; 45 g/ l in grenache

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Why Do VDNs not have a particular spirity character?

Only 5-10% of the volume of wine is made up by the fortifying spirit

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Describe winemaking process for VDN for white wines

grapes pressed and must fermented off the skins; 6-24 hrs of skin contact may happen, blend with free run juice may happen; stainless steel used for fermentation at temps of 59 f

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For unaged VDNs, how is winemaking done?

must may be chilled and stored and then fermented on demand to ensure wines are fresh as possible, protect from oxygen

Describe winemaking process for VDN for red wines

must is fermented and fortified while in contact with grape skins; maceration on skins continues for a couple of weeks past fortification to maximize extraction. Cap management techniques used, stainless steel used for fermentation at temps around 82 f to promote extraction

What are the style options for VDNs?

released relatively young or oxidatively matured

Describe a youthful unaged VDN

Muscat: Floral, grapey, peach, pear, honey; Grenache based: blackberries, raspberry and plum

How are the oxidatively aged VDN's made>

matured in a variety of vessels over several years; often in old, oak barrels; barrels not topped to encourage oxygen; some aged in glass (demi-johns), not full and left out in sun to speed up aging

What are the two VDN appellations in Rhone?

Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise and Vin Doux Natural Rasteau

How are the vineyards planted in Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise?

On terraces with south-east facing slopes of the Dentelles de Montmirail providing shelter from the Mistral which aids ripening.

What is the vast majority of production in Muscat de Beaumes de Venise? And describe it.

Muscat Blanc a Petits Grains; Brown Muscat is also allowed. Wines are in unaged style. Generally medium bodied, medium acidity and low alcohol (15%); primary aromas including blossom, grape, peach and honey

Who is a significant producer in Muscat de Beaumes de Venise?

Domaine des Bernadines

What style is Vin Doux Natural Rateau usually?

either red, rose or white; aged or oxidative styles; Most the production is red; min of 75% grenache for red wines;

Why is the Vin Doux Natural Rasteau suitable for very ripe, jammy wines?

appellation has maximum south facing slopes with protection from cool Mistral

Describe an unaged style of Vin Doux Natural Rasteau

cherries, plums,

What are the two main VDN appelllations in Languedoc?

Muscat de Frontignan (largest) and Muscat de St-Jean-de-Minervois

Describe the Muscat de Frontignan

SW of Montpellier at low altitude; warm; produces wines of fuller body; displays aromas of tropical fruits

Describe Muscat de St-jean-de-Minervois

NE corner of Minervois at 250 m elevation and continental climate; wines have higher acid; lighter body; stone fruit and floral aromas

All VDN made in Langudoc must use what varietal?

Muscat Blanc a Petits Grains in unaged style with subtle differences based on appellation

What % of VDNs come from Roussillon?

30%

What are the 5 styles of VDN from Roussillon?

Grenat/Rimage: Tuile/Traditional; Ambre; Hors D'age; Rancio;

What is Grenat/Rimage?

Denotes unaged style red wines

What is Tuile/Traditional?

red wine made oxidatively

What is Ambre?

white wine matured oxidatively

What is Hors D'age?

wine that has been matured oxidatively for a longer period than tuile or ambre; can be red or white

What is Rancio?

denotes a rancio character, can be red or white

What is the AOC called in Roussilon?

Grand Roussilon AOC

What are the 5 leading AOCS in Roussilon?

Banyuls AOC; Banyuls Grand Cru AOC; Maury AOC; Muscat de Riveslates AOC; Rivesaltes AOC;

Desribe the Banyuls AOC

eastern end of Pyranees, reds must be 50% grenache noir; vineyards on steep terraced schist slopes, small amount of white made

Describe teh Banyuls Grand Cru AOC

same area as Banyuls but wines can only be red and must be 75% grenache noir; min matured for 30 months; if longer may be labeled as hors D'age or Rancio

Describe the Maury AOC

located in North of Roussillon, vines planted at 100-400 m in foothills of pyrenees on dark colored schist soils. reds must be 75% grenache noir; small amount of white in unaged style

Describe the Muscat de Rivesaltes AOC

largest appellation in Roussillon in production; made from blend of Muscat Blanc a Petits Grains and Muscat de Alexandria, only in unaged styles

Describe the Rivesaltes AOC

North of Roussillon close to mediterannean coast; range of VDN styles; both red and white made in all styles; whites can only be max of 20% muscat varieites and rest coming from Grenache blanc, grenache gris, macabeau and malvoisie

What is cool about the dark colored schist soils in Maury AOC?

store heat from the day and release it at night, aiding in ripening.

What is Maury Sec AOC?

Dry unfortified wines coming from Maury AOC