France - Loire Valley - Pays Nantais

Question 1

Describe the climate of the Pays Nantais

Answer 1

Cool
Wet
Maritime

Question 2

Why was the frost of 1709 significant in this region?

Answer 2

Melon de Bourgogne one of only two white grape varieties to survive. Red varieties wiped out and have never regained significance.

Question 3

What are the sub regions of Muscadet?

Answer 3

Muscadet AOP
Muscadet Coteaux de la Loire AOP
Muscadet Côtes de Grandlieu AOP
Muscadet Sèvre et Maine AOP

Question 4

Which Muscadet sub region produces 80% of the appellations output?

Answer 4

Muscadet Sèvre et Maine AOP

Question 5

What are the main soil types in Muscadet Sèvre et Maine AOP?

Answer 5

Complex:
Gneiss
Silica
Clay 
Granite

Question 6

What does the location of Muscadet Coteaux de Loire AOP mean for the resulting wines?

Answer 6

Further north
North east of Nantes
Leaner
High quality in warmer vintages

Question 7

Where is Muscadet Sèvre et Maine AOP located?

Answer 7

South east of Nantes

Confluence of Sèvre and Maine rivers

Question 8

What are the ORIGINAL three Cru Communaux of Muscadet Sèvre et Maine AOP?

Answer 8

Clisson
Le Pallet
Gorges

Question 9

Soil type of Clisson

Answer 9

Granite

Question 10

Sur lie aging requirement for Clisson

Answer 10

On lees until November 1 of the SECOND year following the harvest

Question 11

Soil type of Gorges

Answer 11

Clay

Gabbro (igneous rock similar to basalt)

Question 12

Sur lie aging requirement for Gorges

Answer 12

On lees until November 1 of the SECOND year following the harvest

Question 13

Soil type of Le Pallet

Answer 13

Gneiss
Quartz
Gabbro

Question 14

Sur lie aging requirement for Le Pallet

Answer 14

On lees until April 1 of the SECOND year following the harvest (6 months shorter than Clisson or Gorges)

Question 15

There are three approved Cru Communaux of Muscadet Sèvre et Maine. What are they and when were they approved?

Name the four proposed Cru Communaux of Muscadet Sèvre et Maine (2017)?

Name the two other proposed Cru Communaux of Muscadet Sèvre et Maine?
What is the one proposed Cru Communaux of Muscadet Coteaux de la Loire?

Answer 15

Clisson - 2011
Gorges - 2011
Le Pallet - 2011

HAVE THESE BEEN APPROVED BY INAO IN 2017? WAITING CONFIRMATION
Goulaine 
Mouzillon-Tillières
Monnières de St-Fiacre
Château Thébald

Others that may have been proposed:
La Haye Foussaière
Vallet

Muscadet Coteaux de la Loire:
Champtoceaux

Question 16

What is the aging requirement for Muscadet to use the term ‘sur lie’?

Answer 16

Aged on the fine lees in tank or barrel until at least 1 March the following year.
Bottled directly off of the fine lees.
Cannot be aged longer on the lees than 30 November of that year.

Question 17

Which AOP in Pays Nantais were formerly classified as VDQS?

Answer 17

Fiefs Vendéens AOP (Chenin Blanc, Pinot Noir, Gamay)

Gros Plant du Pays Nantais AOP (Gros Plant)

Coteaux d’Ancenis AOP (Gamay, Pinot Gris/Mavoisie)

Question 18

Which styles of wine can be made in Gros Plant du Pays Nantais AOP?

Answer 18

White - high acid, neutral
Can be aged sur lie - same requirements as for Muscadet

Min 70% Folle Blanche (Gros Plant)

Remainder Colombard (max 10%) and Montils

Question 19

Which styles of wine can be made in Fiefs Vendéens AOP?

Answer 19

White, Rosé, Red
VERY LIGHT WINES

White -
Min 60% Chenin Blanc
Remainder - Chardonnay (10%)
Some Communes allow Grolleau Gris (Brem) or Sauvignon Blanc (Vix)

Rosé-
Min 80% Gamay and Pinot Noir
Remainder - Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Négrette
(Some Communes require higher percentages of Pinot Noir or Gamay)

Red-
Cabernet Franc, Négrette, Pinot Noir
Remainder - Cabernet Sauvignon, Gamay

Question 20

Which styles of wine can be made in Coteaux d’Ancenis AOP?

Answer 20

White, Rosé, Red

White - 100% Pinot Gris (also called Malvoisie)
> Can be labelled ‘Malvoisie’

Rosé - 100% Gamay

Red - 100% Gamay

Question 21

Which appellation overlaps with Coteaux d’Ancenis AOP?

Answer 21

Muscadet Coteaux de la Loire AOP

Question 22

Where is Fiefs Vendéens AOP located, relative to Nantes?

Answer 22

South of Nantes, in the department of Vendée

Question 23

What are the five sub-zones of Fiefs Vendéens AOP?

Answer 23

Brem - west, by coast

Mareuil - central, west of Chantonnay
Chantonnay - central, east of Mareuil

Pissotte - south east
Vix - south east, below Pissotte

Question 24

Can Muscadet or any Muscadet sub zones make wine from a blend of grapes?

Answer 24

No - must be 100% Melon de Bourgogne

Question 25

Which grape varietie/s are used for Muscadet AOP?

Answer 25

100% Melon de Bourgogne

Question 26

Name three significant Muscadet producers.

Answer 26

Guy Bossard (Domaine l’Ecu)
Pierre Luneau- Papin
Jo Landron