South West France Flashcards

1
Q

Two largest AOCs in Dordogne

A

Bergerac AOC

Monbazillac AOC

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2
Q

Bergerac breakdown red/white/rose

A

50% red
40% white
10% rosé

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3
Q

Climate of Bergerac vs Bordeaux

A

Bergerac slightly warmer and drier

Bordeaux varieties ripen well here

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4
Q

Cotes de Bergerac AOC what kind of wines

A

High quality red wines
Main Bordeaux varieties only (no local varieties)
Max yield 50hl/ha
Some oak ageing

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5
Q

What % of Bergerac AOC is sold in France?

A

Around 90%

Supermarkets more than 50%

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6
Q

Largest export markets for Bergerac AOC

A

China (Bdx connection!)
Belgium
UK

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7
Q

Monbazillac AOC what kind of wines

A

Sweet white only

Botrytis or alte harvest

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8
Q

Fermentation in Monbazillac vs Sauternes

A

Much less likely to be fermented in new French oak in Monbazillac - lower cost, wine available cheaper price

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9
Q

Account for Cahors AOC shrinking to a tenth the size it had been at its glory days

A

Competition with Bordeaux (taxes and Bordeaux privilege)
Phylloxera
Frost of 1956

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10
Q

Land under vine in Cahors (and total area available)

A

4,000ha today

further 18,000ha available unplanted

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11
Q

Other than Malbec what else can be grown in Cahors?

A

Tannat
Authorised grape but usually less than 10% of blend - some wineries don’t use it at all

Merlot

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12
Q

Cahors a bit warmer and drier than Bordeaux. What does this mean for Malbec?

A

It suffers less from coulure and mildew - it ripens more regularly in Cahors

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13
Q

Low rainfall in Cahors means what for spraying?

A

Less need to spray against fungal than in Bordeaux

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14
Q

What % of Cahors is organic?

A

17% (well above national average)

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15
Q

River in Cahors?

A

River Lot

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16
Q

Cahors: rich, alluvial soils give what results

A

Higher yields

Lower fruit concentration

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17
Q

Cahors: mid slope vineyards give what results

A

Poorer soils, lower yields, higher concentration

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18
Q

Cahors: high plateau wines

A

350m
low nutrient limestone soils
lower yields, higher concentration

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19
Q

Vine training in Cahors

A

Single Guyot most common

Also bush vines (cordon trained)

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20
Q

Cahors: machine or hand harvest?

A

Machine widely practiced but hand sometimes (mark prices, machine accessibility, availability of labour etc)

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21
Q

Malbec vigour

A

High

Needs careful canopy and yield management

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22
Q

Malbec susceptible to what? So what?

A

Coulure

Reduced yields

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23
Q

Cahors style

A

Deep ruby
Medium to pronounced violet, red and black plum
Medium to medium (+) acidity
Medium (+) to high tannin

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24
Q

Grape(s) for Cahors

A

Malbec (min 70%)

and Merlot and/or Tannat

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25
Q

Destemming in Cahors?

A

yes, mandatory

elimiante underripe stems = agressive tannins

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26
Q

What impedes ripeness in Cahors today?

A

Lack of water prevents full ripeness

in the past: cool seasons

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27
Q

How do you make an early drinking style of Cahors?

A

Use Merlot in the blend

7-10 days on skins for limited tannin extraction

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28
Q

How do you make an ageworthy style of Cahors?

A

15-25 days on skins, greater extraction of flavour and tannins
Mature in oak

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29
Q

80% of Cahors is produced by private companies. One company makes the other 20%. Who is it?

A

Cooperative des Vignerons d’Olt

belongs to Vinovalie

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30
Q

What % of Cahors production comes from co-ops?

A

20%

Just one co-op: Coop des Vignerons d’Olt

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31
Q

What are the three tiers in the Cahors voluntary code?

A

Tradition
Prestige
Spéciale

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32
Q

What is “Tradition” in Cahors?

A
Entry-level tier of voluntary code
Inexpensive
70-85% Malbec
Rich alluvial soils
Higher yields
Lower fruit concentration
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33
Q

What is “Prestige” in Cahors?

A
Mid tier of voluntary code
Mid-priced
Mid-slope
Lower yield
High fruit concentration
Longer ageing potential
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34
Q

What is “Spéciale” in Cahors”?

A
Often 100% Malbec
Premium price
Highest plateau
Low yield
High concentration
Long ageing
35
Q

Example of a Cahors prodcuer?

A

Georges Vigoroux

Ch. du Cedre

36
Q

Domestic/export split of Cahors (volume)

A

70% domestic (supermarkets and direct sales)

30% export (UK, USA, Canada)

37
Q

Madiran distance from Atlantic Ocean

A

80km

38
Q

What is the late harvest white-wine AOC located in same area as Madiran AOC?

A

Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh AOC

Local varieties, similar to Jurancon

39
Q

Rainfall in Madiran?

A

High - 1,000mm

Late winter and spring

40
Q

Climate in Madiran

A

Atlantic influence
High rain
Warm sunny summers, dry autumns
Fohn wind

41
Q

Tannat vigour?

A

High

Best supported on a trellis

42
Q

Tannat is mid-ripening. So what?

A

Normally picked before onset of autumn rains (relatively high rain in Madiran)

43
Q

Tannat signature?

A

High tannin

44
Q

Madiran wine style

A
Deep ruby
Pronounced blackberry, blackcurrant, oak
High tannin
High acid
Full body
Alcohol medium (+) to high
45
Q

Grape(s) for Madiran?

A

60-80% Tannat

+ Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Fer (aka Fer Servadou)

46
Q

Grapes must be destemmed in Madiran. Why?

A

Reduce extraction of further tannins (Tannat has very high tannins naturally)

47
Q

Soften tannins in Madiran how?

A

Shorter maceration

Age in oak and/or bottle (+ cost)

48
Q

Patrick Ducournau pioneered what technique in 1991? Where? Why?

A

Micro-oxygenation
Madiran
To soften the tannins of Tannat

49
Q

Are all Madiran wines for long ageing?

A

No. Recent trend towards moer accessible style

Pick only ripest grapes, gently press and micro-oxygenate

50
Q

Domestic/export split for Madiran

A

80% domestic (supermarkets mostly, also hospiatlity)

20% export (UK, Belgium, Germany)

51
Q

Producers in Madiran

A

Alain Brumont

Ch. d’Aydie

52
Q

Important co-ops in Madiran

A

Cave de Crouseilles

Plaimont (also in Saint-Mont AOC)

53
Q

Grape varieties for Jurancon

A

Petit Manseng
Gros Manseng
other local vareities

54
Q

Breakdown between sweet and dry Jurancon

A

70% sweet or medium-sweet

30% dry

55
Q

Three styles of Jurancon

A

Jurancon Vendanges Tardives (sweet)
Jurancon (usually medium-sweet)
Jurancon Sec (dry)

56
Q

Jurancon Vendanges Tardives style

A
Sweet
Intense lemon and mango
High acid
Medium (+) to high alcohol
Full body
57
Q

Jurancon AOC style

A

Medium sweet

58
Q

Climate in Jurancon

A

Mild and humid

Relatively high rain (1,200mm) througohut the year

59
Q

Topograph in Jurancon? Why?

A

Planted on slopes (up to 300m)

Good drainage helps with rainfall (high)

60
Q

What influence does the Pyrennees have on Jurancon?

A

Gives rise to a Fohn wind
Hot, dry wind blows 1 day in 3, drying the air and ventilating the canopy
Boosts temperatures
= over-ripe berries for sweet wines

61
Q

Frost in Jurancon?

A

Yes it’s a risk due to altitude here (300m)

Budding zone trained high above ground to mitigate

62
Q

Picking in Jurancon?

A

Grapes picked by hand
Multiple passes for sweet wines = raise cost
First selection October (dry wines and some sweet for early drinking)
Second and third (November to December) for sweeter wines

63
Q

Passerillage

A

grapes dried on vine in Jurancon

64
Q

Account for the drying process in Jurancon?

A

Passerillage
Effect of prolonged time hanging on vine
Autumn shine
Wind

65
Q

Petit Manseng buds when?

A

Early budding
Spring frost
(Jurancon susceptible to frost; 300m altitude)

66
Q

What makes Petit Manseng suitable for late harvest?

A

Mid-to-late ripening
Thick skins
Resists BBR

67
Q

Why must produers be precise about picking dates for Petit Manseng?

A

It has high alcohol = ensure balance of full flavour ripeness, acidity and potential alcohol

68
Q

Petit Manseng vs Gros Manseng

A

Similar characteristics (retain acid, high alcohol etc) but gros manseng has higher yields and less aromatic concentration

69
Q

Gros Manseng usually used for what?

A

Dry wines

70
Q

Grape requirements for Jurancon

A

Min 50% of Petit Manseng and/or Gros Manseng

In practice: mostly these two exclusively

71
Q

Rules for Jurancon Sec

A

dry

max yield 60hl/ha

72
Q

Rules for Jurancon AOC

A

medium sweet
min 40g/l
max yield 40hl/ha

73
Q

Rules for Jurancon Vendanges Tardives

A
Sweet
Min 55g/l (usually much higher)
no enrichment
max 40hl/ha yield
Petit M and Gros M exclusively
Picked not before 2 November
74
Q

Oak use in Jurancon?

A

Higher quality sweet wines from Petit Manseng fermented in old barrique then aged for 12-18 months
Some use new barrique

75
Q

Malo in Jurancon

A

Typically no
pH too low, acidity too high
Retain acidity, preserve primary fruit

76
Q

Name of co-op in Jurancon

A

Cave de Gan

77
Q

Significant exports in Jurancon?

A

Not really

Sales divided equally between direct sales, supermarkets and hospitality

78
Q

Significant producer in Jurancon

A

Domaine Cauhapé

79
Q

Cave de Gan produces around what % of Jurancon wine?

A

50%

80
Q

How many IGPs in South West France?

A

14

IGP Cotes de Gascogne the largest

81
Q

Largest IGP in South West France

A

Cotes de Gascogne

82
Q

Key producers in IGP Cotes de Gascogne

A

Domaine Tariquet

Plaimont

83
Q

Key grape for IGP Cotes de Gascogne

A

Colombard
Neutarl white wine
Medium to medium (+) acid

Also Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay