Loire - Pays Nantais Flashcards
(21 cards)
What is the principal grape variety of Pays Nantais and it’s other names?
Melon
Melon de Bourgogne
Muscadet
Name one other grape that is grown here?
What style of wine does it make?
Folle Blanche aka Gros Plant
Makes acid wines that are sold locally and nationally
What is the Climate of Pays Nantais?
Cool Maritime Climate with cool springs, warm and humid summers and threat of rain any time (can affect harvest)
What is the soil of Pays Nantais?
well-drained soil??
Other threats to Pays Nantais?
What can help combat this?
Frost -wind machines and heaters, burning straw bales
Describe the Melon grape?
is the only allowed variety in Muscadet appellations
it’s a hardy variety
suited to cool region
buds early = susceptible to frost
ripens early (less harvest threat) and high yields
tight bunches = susceptible to downy mildew and botrytis bunch rot
Describe the wine made from Melon
High acidity
light body
low to medium alcohol
good in quality with some good examples
inexpensive to mid-priced
What is allowed since 2018?
up to 10% Chardonnay in basic Muscadet AOC
What are the key factors in the vineyard management for Pays Nantais?
Humidity means vineyards are monitored closely and spraying required to prevent fungal disease.
Marginal climate for ripeness means canopies are more open, and leaf removal is common (exposure of grapes to sun)
Attention to ripeness of skin and seeds for Harvest date
What are the key points for winemaking in Pays Nantais?
Chaptalization permitted up to 12% abv
Muscadet fermented in large, shallow underground glass-lined concrete vats, S/S also used
MLF avoided to retain high acidity
Experimentation with skin contact/fermentation, amphora - but adds cost
Describe Sur Lie
when does it happen?
effect on wine?
Highly typical in Pays Nantais
It’s a way of filling out body in a wine that would be v. light bodied
After fermentation, one racking allowed to remove gross lees
Wine remains on fine lees through winter until bottling in spring
Ageing on lees retains freshness and may retain a small amount of carbon dioxide = typical style
List the Muscadet Appellations (4)
Muscadet Sèvre et Maine AOC
Muscadet AOC
Muscadet Coteaux de la Loire AOC
Muscadet Côtes de Grandlieu AOC
What’s are the yields for these AOCs
Muscadet AOC = 70 hL/ha
Other 3 AOCs and Muscadet Sur lie = 55 hL/ha
Describe the style of wine
typically dry
low intensity aroma of green apple and grassy notes
high acidity
light body
acceptable to good quality
inexpensive
Where can the labelling term sur lie be added?
when must these wines be bottled?
in any of the 4 appellations
between 1 March and 30 November the year following harvest
What does the sur lie rule mean to négociants?
They can only buy grapes, must or bottled wine, not wine to be aged sur lie
What are the ten Muscadet cru communaux?
Name 3 of them.
10 Communes launched
Clisson
Gorges
Le Pallet
Give an example of where these names are added
Muscadet Sèvre et Maine AOC Clisson
What are the rules for these communes?
grapes must be grown in the defined areas
Lower max yield = 45 hL/ha
Wines on lees for 18m (Le Pallet) or 24m (Clisson/Gorges) which adds cost
What are the style of the wines of Clisson/Gorges/Pallet?
Typically rounder and more complex with longer finishes
Not labelled sur lie (as after AOC requirement of bottling)
Describe the wine business in Muscadet?
Success
Production
Position in wine market
négociants
Promoting board?
Huge success in Uk market in 1980s
Frost of 1991 saw production drop by 2/3 - this pushed prices up
Seeking to reposition itself as a source of terroir-specific wines of high quality
Négociants still play important role accounting for over half of sales
Vins du Val du Loire
