WSET D3 - South West France Flashcards
What is the climate like here?
Similar to Bordeaux, influenced by Atlantic.
Summarise the Dordogne.
Immediately east Entre-Deux-Mers.
Many appellations make wines with same varieties and similar styles to Bordeaux.
Bergerac AOC and Monbazillac AOC are 2 largest.
Summarise Bergerac AOC & Côtes de Bergerac AOC.
Dry and sweet white (40%) , rosé (10%) and reds (50%). Warmer and drier than Bordeaux. Clay and limestone soils with some gravel. Bordeaux varieties (black and white).
Reds must from at least 2 of CS, CF, Malbec and Merlot, blend must at least 50% final wine (local varieties allowed).
Max 67hl/ha for whites, 60hl/ha for reds (some low intensity), typically aged in stainless steel or older oak casks, early drinking style.
Côtes de Bergerac AOC: higher quality, restricted to main Bordeaux varieties (no local varieties permitted).
Max 50hl/ha. Aging in oak used by some. Most predominantly Merlot.
Good to very good, inexpensive to mid-priced.
90% sold in France, main export markets: China (40%), Belgium and UK.
Summarise Monbazillac AOC.
Sweet wine only.
Botrytis or late harvest.
Between River Dordogne and one of its tributaries. Location, plus funnelling of moist air (moist and dew) along rivers creates high humidity. In warm late summer and early autumn, humidity burnt off by sun creating good conditions for noble rot.
Hand pick with number of passes.
Must at least 80% principal varieties, SB, sauvignon Gris, Sémillon and Muscadelle.
Maximum 30hl/ha.
Fermentation in barrel much less common than Sauternes, thus reducing cost making wine available at lower price.
Good to very good, inexpensive to mid-priced.
Mainly sold in France, less than 10% exported, main export markets are north-west Europe.
Summarise Cahors.
“Black wine of Cahors” - deep colour .
Malbec - 85% planted. Only appellation(in France) Malbec is principal variety.
Cahors receives some influences from Atlantic. Climate warmer and slightly drier (less than 800mm) than Bordeaux, Malbec suffers less from coulure and mildew, ripens more regularly in Cahors.
Tannat also authorised, usually less than 10% blend or not used at all. lower rainfall - less spraying - 17% organic growing.
Rich, alluvial soils (next to River Lot) (higher yields and lower concentration )
Mid slop (poorer soils hence lower yields and higher concentration) to highest plateau just below 350m (low nutrient limestone soils)
Single Guyot most common (bush vines, cordon-trained also used).
Describe the grape variety Malbec.
AKA Cot.
Vigorous (need careful canopy and yield management)
Susceptible to Coulure, reduced yields.
Traditional style Cahors : high percentage Malbec, deep ruby, M to pronounced violet, red and black plum, M to M+ acidity and M+ to high tannin. Very good to outstanding examples may aged in barriques (adding cost) so have vanilla and sweet spice notes. Some use foudres.
Good to outstanding, mid-premium priced. Some higher coloured high quality wines also made.
Summarise winemaking , wine law and regulations for Cahor AOC.
Cahors AOC - min 70% Malbec with rest being Merlot and/or Tannat.
Top quality wines increasingly 90-100% Malbec.
Destemming required.
Lack of maturity was likely due to cool seasons in past, today likely due to lack of water preventing full ripeness.
Early drinking : using Merlot in blend, 7-10 days on skins. Bottle age: 15-25 days on skins.
How is wine business like in Cahors?
80% by private companies
20% by a single co-operative : cooperative des Vignerons d’Olt (belong to Vinovalie)
Since 2000, what has Cahors marketed itself as?
“Cahors, the French Malbec” and “ The Capital of Malbec”
What voluntary code has been introduced by growers to indicate 3 levels of quality and price?
- Tradition - inexpensive, 70-85% Malbec, often grown on rich alluvial soils and higher yields lower fruit concentration.
- Prestige - mid-priced , often grown on mid-slope.
- Spéciale - often 100% Malbec, premium priced, often grown on highest plateau.
What are the top 3 export markets for Cahors?
UK, Canada and USA.
Name 2 significant producers.
Ch. du Cèdre and Ch. de Chambert.
Summarise Madiran region.
In sight of Pyrenees mountain, 80km from Atlantic.
AOC: high tannin reds principally from Tannat.
Late harvest sweet wine - Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh AOC is made from local varieties, similar to Juraçon.
What is the climate like in Madiran?
Some Atlantic influence with relatively high rainfall 1,000mm (late winter and spring). Warm, sunny summers and dry atumns with warm days, cool nights and hot, dry southern Föhn wind enable Tannat ripen fully most years.
What are the soils types found here?
Comprises 4 large, roughly parallel ridges oriented north-south, with steep west-facing slopes.
On slopes : mainly clay and limestone with good drainage, producing grapes make tannic wines suitable for long bottle-aging.
Flatter land: clay and loam soils resulting wines less tannic and can be drunk earlier.
