Loire Flashcards

1
Q

Distance from Atlantic to Sancerre?

A

400km along the Loire river

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2
Q

Spring in the Nantais comes how much earlier than in Sancerre?

A

2 weeks

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3
Q

Synonyms for Melon

A

Melon de Bourgogne

Muscadet

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4
Q

Other than Melon, what else is grown in Pays Nantais?

A

Chardonnay
Gamay
Folle Blanche
Cabernet Franc

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5
Q

Pays Nantais climate

A

Cool maritime

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6
Q

Features of Pay Nantais climate (cool maritime)

A

Cool spring
Warm and humid summer
Rain at any time during season (especially March/April, flowering and September, harvest)

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7
Q

What offsets the regular rainfall in Pays Nantais?

A

Well drained soils

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8
Q

Spring frost in Pays Nantais

A

A problem, despite proximity to Atlantic

Serious issue in 1991 - lost UK market

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9
Q

Frost prevention in Pays Nantais?

A

Wind machines
Heaters
Burning straw bales

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10
Q

Why is Melon well suited to Pays Nantais?

A

Hardy so suited to cool region
BUT
Buds early so susceptible to frost

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11
Q

Melon buds early or late

A

Early

spring forst

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12
Q

Melon ripens early or late

A

Early - reducing rain at hravest

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13
Q

Melon susceptible to what?

A

Downy, BBR

Resistant to powdery

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14
Q

Melon wine style

A
High acid
Light body
Low to medium (-) alcohol
Light intensity green apple
Sur lie
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15
Q

Grape(s) for muscadet AOC

A

Vast majority Melon

Since 2018, basic Muscadet AOC can have 10% Chardonnay

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16
Q

Why is spraying needed a lot in Pays Nantais?

A

Humid rainy climate

Need to prevent fungal disease

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17
Q

How has canopy mgmt been improved in Pays Nantais? Why?

A

To facilitate ripening (marginal climate):
canopies more open
leaf removal = sun exposure and reduce fungal
careful to avoid sumburn

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18
Q

Chaptalisation in Pays Nantais?

A

Allowd up to 12% potential alcohol

Practiced in cooler years

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19
Q

Malo in Muscadet?

A

Typiaclly avoided, preserving high acid

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20
Q

What does Sur Lie do in Muscadet?

A

Fills out the body, otherwise very light-bodied wine

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21
Q

How is Sur Lie done in Muscadet?

A

After alcohol ferment, one racking to remove gross less
Then wine in contact with fine lees through winter until bottling
Retains freshness
Retains a small amount of CO2 sometimes

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22
Q

Two largest Msucadet AOCs

A

Muscadet Sevre et Maine AOC

Muscadet AOC

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23
Q

Two smaller Muscadet AOCs

A

Muscadet Coteaux de la Loire AOC

Muscadet Cotes de Grandlieu AOC

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24
Q

Four Muscadet AOCs

A

Muscadet Sevre et Maine AOC
Muscadet AOC
Muscadet Coteaux de la Loire AOC
Muscadet Cotes de Grandlieu AOC

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25
Q

Max yield for Muscadet AOC

A

65hl/ha

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26
Q

Yield for Muscadet sur Lie and Musc Sev-et-Maine, Musc Cot-d-l-L, Musc C-d-Grandlieu

A

55hl/ha

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27
Q

Muscadet style

A

Dry
Low intensity green apple, grass
High acid
Light body

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28
Q

Sur Lie Muscadet must be bottled between which dates

A

1 March - 30 November the year after harvest

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29
Q

What can negociants buy in Pays Nantais?

A

Grapes must or bottled wine

They can’t buy wine to be aged sure lie because those need to be bottled in the winery they were made in

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30
Q

How many cru communaux in Muscadet?

A

10

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31
Q

Examples of some of the 10 cru communaux in Muscadet?

A

Clisson
Gorges
Le Pallet

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32
Q

Muscadet Cru Communaux (eg Musacdet Sevre et Maine AOC Clisson) maximum yield?

A

45 hl/ha

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33
Q

Why can’t Muscadet Cru Communaux be labelled as Sur Lie

A

they actually need to be lees aged longer than Sur Lie requirements

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34
Q

Muscadet Cru Communaux style

A

Rounder, more complex, longer finish than standard

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35
Q

Frost of 1991 did what to Muscadet?

A

Saw production drop by 2/3s
Booming UK market had led to huge planting (13,000ha)
Low production pushed prices up. New world Ozzie etc becoming more popular and stole market

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36
Q

Pays Nantais exports are what % by volume

A

15% export

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37
Q

Negociants account for what % of sales in Pays Nantais?

A

Over 50%

But this is declining

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38
Q

Examples of big negociants in Pays Nantais

A

Castel
Grands Chais de France
Ackerman

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39
Q

Promotional body for Pays Nantais

A

InterlOire

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40
Q

Climate in Anjou-Saumur vs Touraine

A

A-S more maritime
Touraine more continental
Atlantic influence lessens progressively along Loire

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41
Q

Touraine climate

A

Continental with cold winters and warm summers

not as extreme as in Central Vineyards

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42
Q

Rainfall in Anjou-Saumur and Touraine

A

Around 700mm

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43
Q

Anjou: what creates conditions for botryis?

A

River Layon and its multiple tributaries create misty conditions

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44
Q

Soils in Anjou

A

More schist and limestone

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45
Q

Soils in Touraine

A

More chalk

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46
Q

Common properties for many CentreLoire soils

A

Good drainage, water rentetion

High lime content (so rootstocks like Fercal and Raparia Gloire de Montpelleier)

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47
Q

Chenin Blanc buds early or late

A

Buds early

spring frost

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48
Q

Is Chenin vigorous?

A

Yes

will carry high yields if allowed

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49
Q

Chenin susceptible to:

A

powdery, BBR and noble rot, trunk disease

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50
Q

Chenin ripens early or late

A

Late
Vulernable to autumn rain
also ripens unevenly (needs several passes, limiting machine work)

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51
Q

Dry and off-dry Chenin style in Middle Loire

A
Medium intensity green apple and lemon
Sometimes steel, smoky
Medium alcohol
High acidity
Some RS to balance
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52
Q

Example of outstanding Chenin producer in Middle Loire

A

Domaine Huet

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53
Q

Cabernet Franc buds early or late

A

Early

Spring frost

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54
Q

Cab Franc prone to coulure. so what?

A

reduction in yields

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55
Q

Why is Cab Franc good for cool areas?

A

It’s winter hardy

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56
Q

If Cab Franc not fully ripe what does it taste like

A

Overly herbaceous

Leafy

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57
Q

Grolleau Noir: buds; ripens; prone to what; used for what/

A

Buds early
Mid ripening
BBR
blending in rose: d’Anjou and de Loire

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58
Q

Is there a generic Loire AOC (equivalent of Bordeaux AOC or Burgundy AOC)?

A

No

But three regional appellations in middle Loire: Anjour AOC, Saumur AOC and Touraine AOC

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59
Q

Anjou AOC: max yield

A

60hl/ha (red and white)

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60
Q

Minimum grape requirement for Anjou AOC? (Red and white)

A

Anjou Blanc: 80% Chenin

Anjou Rouge: 70% Cab Franc and/or Cab Sauv

61
Q

What is Anjou Villages AOC?

A

Higher quality reds only
Entierly from Cab Franc or Sauv; blended or singly. Most 100% Cab Franc
55hl/ha

62
Q

Where is Coteaux du Layon AOC located

A

Right Bank of Layon river (which runs into Loire)

Part of Anjou

63
Q

Style of wine in Coteaux du Layon AOC

A

Botrytis and dried on vine
White sweet
Luscious but high acid

64
Q

Two smaller AOCs within Coteaux du Layon

A

Bonnezeaux AOC
Quarts de Chaume AOC

(there are also Coteaux du Layon + village name AOC, eg Coteaux du Layon Chaume)

65
Q

What is the Loire’s first Grand Cru/

A

Quarts de Chaume Grand Cru AOC

66
Q

Premier Cru in Coteaux du Layon

A

Coteaux du Layon AOC Chaume Premier Cru

67
Q

Quarts de Chaume: max yield, min potential alcohol

A

20hl/ha
18% potential alc

(standard Coteaux du Layon AOC is 35hl/ha and 14%)

68
Q

Savennieres style

A
Fully dry white from Chenin Blanc
Austere in youth
Long ageing
Very high acid
High alcohol
69
Q

Account for concentration and ripeness in Savennieres

A

South-facing slopes
Low fertility rocky schist soil
Low yields

70
Q

Max yield in SAvennieres

A

50hl/ha

71
Q

Two smaller ACOs within Savennieres AOC

A

Savennieres La Roche aux Moines AOC

Coulée de Serrant AOC

72
Q

Coulée de Serrant owner

A

Nicolas Joly

it’s a monopole

73
Q

Coulee de Serrant yields

A

30hl/ha

74
Q

Rosé de Loire vs Rosé d’Anjou vs Cabernet d’Anjou

A

R de Loire: range of varieties (Cab F, Cab S, Gamay, Grolleau); 60hl/ha; dry; can be made outside Anj-Saum but rarely is

R d’Anjou: mostly Grolleau; 65hl/ha; popular; best-selling of three

Cab d’Anjou: Cab Franc/Sauv; 60hl/ha; medium-dry; deep colour

75
Q

Rosé de Loire AOC

A

Range of varieties (Cab F, Cab S, Gamay, Grolleau)
60hl/ha
Dry
Can be made outside Anjou-Saumur but rarely is

76
Q

Rosé d’Anjou AOC

A

Most popular of three rosé styles here
65hl/ha
Mostly Grolleau

77
Q

Cabernet d’Anjou

A

Cab Franc and/or Cab Sauv
60hl/ha
Medium-dry
Deep colour

78
Q

What kind of wines made in Saumur AOC?

A

Red, white, rosé and sparkling
Whites: Chenin
Reds: Cab Franc and Cab Sauv

79
Q

Coteaux de Saumur AOC?

A

Sweet Chenin Blanc
Over-ripe grapes with or without botrytis
35hl/ha
Lusciously sweet with high acid

80
Q

Saumur-Champigny style

A
Red wines mostly Cab Franc (85% min)
Pale ruby
Medium /(+) redcurrant, leafy
Medium alcohol
High acid
Medium tannin
81
Q

Cabernet Franc minimum % in Saumur-Champigny AOC

A

85%

82
Q

Chalk, flint and clay in Saumur-Champigny. So what?

A

Good drainiage and water-holding potential, valuable in dry periods

83
Q

Yields in Saumur-Champigny

A

57hl/ha

84
Q

Example of premium Saumur-Champigny

A

Clos Rougeard

85
Q

What kind of wines from Touraine AOC?

A

Red, white, rose and sparkling
Whites: Sauvignon Blanc
Reds: Cab Franc and Cot (Malbec)

86
Q

Example of a Touraine AOC subzone

A

Touraine AOC Amboise
Allows differences reflecting locally grown fruit
eg in Amboise, Chenin is principal grape, not Sauvignon

87
Q

Most important white wine appellation in Touraine?

A

Vouvray AOC

88
Q

Vouvray AOC minimum % Chenin Blanc?

A

95%

89
Q

Vouvray AOC yield

A

52hl/ha

90
Q

Best vineyard position in Vouvray?

A

Slopes overlooking Loire river
Promote ripening = good sunlight interception
River moderates temperature

91
Q

Soils in Vouvray, and so what?

A

Flinty, clay and limestone over tuff

Good drainage

92
Q

Is sweet Vouvray made every year?

A

No

93
Q

Sweetness levels of Vouvray?

A

Dry, demi-sec, sweet

94
Q

AOC across the river from Vouvray?

A

Montlouis-sur-Loire AOC

95
Q

Mountlouis-sur-Loire AOC grape requirement

A

100% Chenin Blanc

96
Q

Account for dynamism, popularity of Montlouis-sur-Loire AOC

A

Vineyards cheaper than nearby Vouvray
Inlux of newcomers
Organic and biodynamic

97
Q

Three important AOCs for red wine in Touraine

A

Bourgueil AOC
Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil AOC
Chinon AOC

98
Q

Bourgeuil AOC makes what kind of wines

A
Mostly red
Some rosé
Mostly Cabernet Franc
10% Cab Franc allowed
55hl/ha
99
Q

What is lighter in style: Bourgeuil or St Nicolas de Bourgueil?

A

St Nicolas

100
Q

Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgeuil compared stylistically with what AOC in Saumur?

A

Saumur-Champigny

Similar in style and price

101
Q

Chinon AOC makes what kind of wiens

A

Best known for reds (Cab Franc)
Also white (Chenin)
Some rosé

102
Q

Chinon reds: light and easy drinking or structured and serious?

A

Both! It’s a spectrum.

  1. Fruity, light, easy to drink with short maceration on skins (6-8 days)
  2. structured, powerful, aged for up to two years before release, longer maceration (2-3 weeks)
103
Q

Chinon: grapes for more structured wines come from where?

A

Clay and limestone soils

vs sandy or gravelly soils for lighter wines

104
Q

Anjou-Saumur and Touraine export what % of their production?

A

20%

105
Q

Who produces more wine: Anjou-Saumur or Touraine?

A

Anjou-Saumur produces around twice as much wine as TOuarine

106
Q

Who makes more rosé: Anjou-Saumur or Touraine?

A

Anjou-Saumur makes 10x the amount of rose as Touraine

107
Q

Who makes moer sparkling wine: Anjou-Saumur or Touraine?

A

Anjou-Saumur makes more sparkling thatn Touraine

108
Q

Climate in Loire’s Central Vineyards?

A

Continental

Cold winters and warm summers

109
Q

Account for restrained flavours in Central Vineyards wines

A

Long growing season day lengths
Low light inensity
Low heat

110
Q

Rainfall in Central Vineyards? So what?

A

Surprisingly high for continental climate (750mm)
Reduces drought risk
Increases fungal risk

111
Q

Sauvignon Blanc buds early or late

A

Buds late

Less risk of spring frost

112
Q

Sauvignon Blanc ripens early or late

A

Ripens early

Suitable to cool climates and threat of autumn rains

113
Q

Is Sauvignon Blanc vigorous?

A

Yes. best grown on poor soils

canopy must be managed to avoid shading (underripe over green flavours)

114
Q

What would happen if Sauvignon Blanc canopy had too much shading?

A

Under-ripe and green fruit flavours in the wine

115
Q

Sauv Blanc prone to what diseases etc

A
Powdery
Downy
BBR
Trunk disease eg esca
Eutypa dieback (if cordon trained)
116
Q

Sauvignon Blanc aromas

A

Pronounced

Grass, bell pepper, aspargus, gooseberry, grapefruit and wet stone (cool areas); ripe passion fruit (warmer areas)

117
Q

Sauv Blanc style

A

Pronounced grass, bell pepper, asparagus, gooseberry etc
Medium body
Medium alcohol
High acid

118
Q

How does row orientation affect SAuv Blanc?

A

With shady conditions; green pepper, grass

Sunny conditions: tropical fruit flavour

119
Q

What % of Central Vineyards plantings is Sauv Blanc?

A

70%

120
Q

70% of Central Vineyards is planted to what grape?

A

Sauv Blanc

121
Q

Pinot Noir planting % in Central Vineyards?

A

20%

122
Q

Typical ferment temperatures for whites in Central Vineyards?

A

Slightly higher than new world (upper part of cool to lowest part of mid-range; not “cool”)
More restrained fruit expression

123
Q

Malo in Central Vineyards white?

A

Often blocked

Some allow it

124
Q

Where is oak used in Sancerre etc

A

Typically large old oak for high quality whites (fill out body without any new oak flavours)
Francois Cotat: old oak and lees to give long ageing wine
Henri Bourgeois: heavily oaked wine

125
Q

Largest Central Vineyards appellation?

A

Sancerre AOC

126
Q

Until phylloxera, Sancerre was planted to what?

A

Pinot Noir

Replanted to SB afterwards

127
Q

Elevation in Sancerre

A

Steep hillside slopes 200-400m

same as Cote d’Or

128
Q

Moderating influences against spring frost in Sancerre?

A

River and nearby forests

129
Q

Yields in Sancerre

A

White: 65hl/ha
Rose: 63hl/ha
Red: 59hl/ha

They are high - but SB can take big yields with enough flavour
Pinot needs to yield lower to keep flavour intensity

130
Q

Sancerre aromas

A

Medium intensity

Grapefruit, gooseberry

131
Q

Examples of super-premium Sancerre (2)

A

Didier Dagueneau

Francois Cotat

132
Q

Three types of soil in Sancerre?

A
  1. Caillottes
  2. Terre Blanches
  3. Silex
133
Q

Caillotes soil

A
Very shallow (25-40mm) over limestone
Aroamtic wines, drink young
134
Q

Terre Blanches soil

A
limestone and marl as in Chablis
Slow ripening
Famous vineyards eg Cote des Monts Damnes, Cul de Beaujeu
Most structured wines
Long ageing
135
Q

Silex soil

A

Flinty
Accumulates heat, early ripening
e.g. Les Romains vineyard
Stony or smoky aromas

136
Q

Difference(s) and simialrities between Sancerre AOC and Pouilly-Fumé AOC?

A
Flatter land in P-F (more frost prone)
Wine a little more round and less aromatic, needs a bit more time in bottle 
Same max yield (65hl/ha)
Same range of soils
Similar price and quality
137
Q

Frost protection in Pouilly-Fumé

A

Wind machines

Flatter land than Sancerre = more frost prone area

138
Q

Reuilly styles of wine

A

White (Sauv Blanc only)
Red (Pinot Noir only)
Rose (Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir)

139
Q

Quincy AOC: what blend?

A

Min 90% Sauvignon Blanc

Sauvignon Gris permitted

140
Q

Yields for Sancerre, Pouilly-Fumé, Reuilly, Quincy, Menetou-Salon whites?

A

65hl/ha

141
Q

Menetou Salon AOC vines planted on what exposition

A

Gentle south facing slopes

More vulnerable to frost than in Sancerre

142
Q

Two famous sites in Sancerre

A

Les Monts Damnés

Les Belles Dames

143
Q

Négociants sell about what % of Loire Valley wine?

A

50% by volume

144
Q

Loire: top 10 negociants account for what % of negociant sales?

A

82%

145
Q

Breakdown of Loire sales volume: negociants, estates and co-ops

A

Negociants 50%
Estates 41%
Co-ops 10%

146
Q

Examples of Loire negociants owning prestige estates?

A

Grand Chais de France: Chateau des Fesles (Bonnezeaux) and Chateau de Cléray (Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine)
Ackerman: Chateau de Valiere (Anjou) and Chateau de Sancerre

147
Q

What % of Loire production is exported?

A

20%

top markets US, UK, Germany

148
Q

Top export markets for Loire?

A

US, UK Germany

20% of production is exported

149
Q

Group founded by Nicolas Joly

A

Renaissances des appellations/Return to terroir