Vins Doux Naturels Flashcards
What are the three main production regions of VDN?
Roussillon; Languedoc; and Southern Rhone
Which is largest production region of VDN?
Roussillon
What is the general climate of the three growing regions for VDN?
Mediterranean
What is the warmest and driest region for VDN?
Roussillon
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.
Why is the tramonte wind beneficial to fortified wines?
Less spirit is needed to fortify wine
What varietals are used in VDN?
Muscat and Grenache
What two types of Muscat are used in VDN?
Muscat Blanc a Petits Grains and Muscat of Alexandria
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
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
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
Other than Grenache Noir what other Grenache can be in blend for VDN in Roussillon?
Grenache Blanc, Macabeau and Grenache Gris
All the growing climates for VDN are what?
Warm
Why are shady canopies required in growing muscat?
sunburn
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
Why do producers want to retain as much acidity as possible?
To balance the high sugar
How is harvest performed for VDN?
hand-harvested, often several passes
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
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
Why Do VDNs not have a particular spirity character?
Only 5-10% of the volume of wine is made up by the fortifying spirit
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
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
