D3 - Loire: Pays Nantais

Question 1

What is the climate of Pays Nantais?

Answer 1

Cool maritime

Question 2

When does the rain fall in Pays Nantais?

When are the biggest threats and what can the rain affect?

Answer 2

• Year round
• March/April (affecting flowering)
• September (affecting harvest)

Question 3

What is the major environmental hazard in Pays Nantais?

Answer 3

Spring frost

Question 4

Melon is a grape that’s hardy but it buds ____, making it prone to ____.

But thankfully, Melon ripens ____.

Answer 4

• Buds early, prone to spring frosts
• Ripens early

Question 5

Muscadet

1. Is chaptalization permitted?
2. Why is malo typically avoided?

Answer 5

• Yes, up to 12% potential ABV
• To preserve the high acidity typical for the style

Question 6

What does sur lie aging in Muscadet do for the wine?

Explain the steps of sur lie aging and its effects.

Answer 6

Sur lie aging fills out the body of what would otherwise be very light-bodied wines.

1. After alcoholic fermentation, one racking is allowed to remove the gross lees.
2. After this, the wine remains on the fine lees through the winter until bottling.
3. Aging on the lees retains the freshness of the wine and may retain a small amount of carbon dioxide, which is part of the style of these wines.

Question 7

Name the two larger Muscadet appellations of Pays Nantais.

Answer 7

1. Muscadet Sèvre et Maine AOC
2. Muscadet AOC

Question 8

Name two smaller Muscadet appellations.

Answer 8

1. Muscadet Coteaux de la Loire AOC
2. Muscadet Côtes de Grandlieu AOC

Question 9

Fill in the blanks:

The maximum yield for Muscadet AOC is ____ hl/ha.

The max yields for Sèvre et Maine and the two smaller AOCs is ____ hl/ha.

Answer 9

• Muscadet AOC = 70 hl/ha
• The others: 55 hl/ha

Question 10

The term sur lie can be added to any of the 4 Muscadet AOCs.

When and where must sur lie wines be bottled?

Answer 10

March 1 to November 30 the year following harvest AND in the winery in which they were made.

Question 11

1. Name 3 Cru Communaux in Muscadet.
2. What are their maximum yields?

Answer 11

1. Clisson; Gorges; Le Pallet
2. 45 hl/ha

Question 12

Clisson, Gorges, and Le Pallet are not allowed to add sur lie to their labels because their lees aging extends beyond the aging requirement.

What is each Cru’s lees aging requirement?

Answer 12

• 18 months = Le Pallet
• 24 months = Clisson, Gorges