South West France

Question 1

Cahors Rainfall vs Bordeaux?

Answer 1

200mm less in Cahors

Question 2

What % of production of Bergerac AOC is sold in France?

Answer 2

90% - mainly supermarkets

Question 3

Largest export market of Bergerac AOC?

Answer 3

China - 40% of all exports

Then Belgium and the UK

Question 4

Bergerac AOC blending laws?

Answer 4

Must be from two of the following and make up 50% of the wine

Malbec
Cab franc
Cab sauv
Merlot
all Bordeaux varieties except PV and Carmenere

Question 5

Reputation of Bergerac AOC wines? (5)

Answer 5

Stainless steel or old oak
Easy drinking style
Similar style to Bordeaux AOC
Good to very good
Inexpensive to mid price

Question 6

Monbazillac wine styles?

Answer 6

100% sweet wines

Question 7

Monbazillac permitted grape varieties? (4)

Answer 7

Sauvignon Blanc
Sauvignon Gris
Semillon
Muscadelle

Question 8

Monbazillac max yield?

Answer 8

30hL/ha

higher than barsac/Sauternes at 25hL/ha

Question 9

New oak fermentation in Monbazillac?

Answer 9

Less common than Sauternes. Lower price point

Question 10

Cahors Malbec plantings %

Answer 10

85% of the regions vines are Malbec

Question 11

Rainfall in Cahors?

Answer 11

Less than Bordeaux

Less than 800mm per year

Question 12

Organic grape growing in Cahors?

Answer 12

17% of production. Lower rainfall

Question 13

soil types in Cahors? (3)

Answer 13

1. Rich alluvial around the river
2. Poor at mid slope
3. Poor limestone on the high plateau

Question 14

How much of Cahor is exported?

Answer 14

30% by volume

Question 15

Does Cahor have a Cru system?

Answer 15

No

Question 16

Cahors early drinking style maceration?

Answer 16

7-10 days, usually with some merlot

Question 17

Cahors maceration for wines intended to age?

Answer 17

15-25 days, usually just Malbec

Question 18

Soil types in Madiran? (3)

Answer 18

1. Clay limestone
2. Clay
3. Pebbles

Question 19

Min aging requirements for Madiran?

Answer 19

Wines can only be sold in November of the year following harvest

Question 20

Budding/Ripening for Tannat

Answer 20

mid budding

Mid ripening

unique for a red grape

Question 21

Madiran permitted varietals?
(4)

Answer 21

1. Tannat
2. Cab Franc
3. Cabernet Sauvignon
4. Fer

Question 22

Madiran max yield?

Answer 22

55 hL/ha

Question 23

What unique method of winemaking is common in Madiran?

Answer 23

Stainless steel micro-oxygenation

Question 24

Three styles of Jurancon?

Answer 24

Jurancon Vendages Tardives (sweet)

Jurancon (medium sweet)

Sec (dry)

Question 25

Jurancon vineyards are planted on?

Answer 25

1. Slopes for drainage (high rainfall) 2. South west and south facing slopes for the best sites

Question 26

Strong wind in The South West of France?(3)

Answer 26

The Föhn. Hot and dry wind that blows in spring and autumn. This helps over ripen grapes and dry the canopy

Question 27

What is a risk in spring for Jurancon? (2)

Answer 27

Spring frosts due to altitude Budding zone is trained high to mitigate the risk

Question 28

What raises the cost of sweet wines in Jurancon?

Answer 28

Hand picking, the grapes are picked in a series of selective pickings

Question 29

When does Jurancon pick?(3)

Answer 29

October for dry wines and some simple sweet wines November and December for second and third picks December includes grapes that have dried on the vine

Question 30

Petit Manseng in the vineyard? (4)

Answer 30

1. Early budding - spring frost 2. Mid to late ripening - helps with over ripening and late picking (Same as Falanghina) 3. Thick skin - resistant to botrytis so late harvest is better 4. Open bunches

Question 31

Petit Manseng tasting note? (3)

Answer 31

High acid Moderately aromatic Can reach high alcohol levels - up to 17%

Question 32

Gross Manseng tasting note?

Answer 32

Similar to Petit Manseng but less aromatic and less intensity

Question 33

Jurancon blending laws?

Answer 33

Min 50% Petit Manseng and or Gross Manseng

Question 34

Max yield for Jurancon and Jurancon Vendanges Tardives?

Answer 34

40hL/ha - same as white Burgundy Grand Cru

Question 35

Max yield for Jurancon Sec?

Answer 35

60hL/ha same as Beaujolais AOC and Bergerac reds

Question 36

Jurancon Vendanges Tardives AOC rules? (3)

Answer 36

1. Only Petit Manseng and or Gross Manseng 2. Min 55 g/L RS 3. Grapes cannot be picked before 2nd November

Question 37

Is Malolactic conversion done in higher quality sweet wines in Jurancon?

Answer 37

No - the PH is too low and acidity is too high

Question 38

Higher quality dry wines of Jurancon?

Answer 38

1. Some Petit Manseng 2. Aged on lees 3. Stainless steel

Question 39

A top producer in Jurancon?

Answer 39

Domaine Cauhape

Question 40

Production of sweet wines vs dry wines as a %?

Answer 40

32% dry wines 67% sweet