France - South West Flashcards
What is the climate of the South West?
Broadly similar to Bordeaux, in that the whole region is influenced by the Atlantic. South of Bordeaux (Madiran, Jurançon) , the Atlantic influence extends inland for more than 100km owing to the largely flat, gently undulating land.
Elsewhere the Atlantic influence diminishes with greater distance from the ocean (Bergerac, Monbazillac and Cahors), resulting in less rainfall and warmer summers compared to Bordeaux, eg Cahors receives 200mm less rainfall per year.
What quantity of wine is made at PDO and PGI level in the South West?
Large volumes at both.
What area is to the east of Entre-Deux-Mers, and what style of wine is produced here?
The Dordogne, home to a number of appellations that make wines with similar varieties and in a similar style to the wines of Bordeaux.
What are the largest AOCs in the Dordogne?
Bergerac and Monbazillac AOC.
What is Cahors’ commercial history?
In the middle ages and down to the 19th century, Cahors produced a great deal of wine that was transported vie the River Lot that runs into the Garonne and on to Bordeaux. The wine was then exported from Bordeaux. It came to be known as the ‘black wine of Cahors’due to its deep colour.
Due to the combination of competition with Bordeaux (which imposed taxes on exports of Cahors, and only allowed it to be exported once its own wines had been released) phylloxera and a devastating frost in 1956, the area under vine was reduced to a tenth of its size compared to what it had been.
Today it has 4000ha planted to Malbec (85% of plantings) and 18,000ha unplanted.
Cahors is the only appellation in France where Malbec is the principal variety.
Where does Madiran AOC lie, and what styles of wine are produced here?
In sight of the Pyrenees and 80km from the Atlantic Ocean.
Madiran AOC is a high tannin red wine made principally from the Tannat variety.
Within the same geographical area, a white late harvest sweet wine called Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh AOC is made from local varieties, similar in style to Jurançon.
Where does Jurancon lie, and what styles of wine are produced?
In the foothills of the Pyrenees at an altitude of around 300m, producing dry wines and a range of sweet wines from the white varieties Petit and Gross Manseng, and other local varieties.
70% of production is medium sweet-sweet, 30% is dry.
There are three styles:
• Jurançon Vendanges Tardives (sweet), intense lemon and mango, high acidity and alcohol medium to high with a full body, very good to outstanding and mid to premium.
• Jurançon (medium sweet), good to very good, inexpensive to mid.
• Jurançon Sec (dry)
