Unit 3 - Cote des Blancs (Peter Liem Webinar)

Question 1

What happens to the soil once you had further west in Champagne

Answer 1

Chalk goes from being the top soil and moves down into a sub soil.

• The top soil becomes more complex with varieties of clay, sand, limestone, and gravel.

Question 2

Are the soils when you head west in Champagne younger or older

Answer 2

Younger soils

Question 3

When you head east or southeast in Champagne, are the soils younger or older

Answer 3

Older soils

Question 4

What is the name of the chalk mostly found in northern Champagne ( Grand Vallee de la Marne and Montage de Reims area)

Answer 4

Campanian Chalk

• Chalk is over 72 million years old

Question 5

What is the name of the chalk mostly found in the east and southeast of Champagne? (Vitry de Francois and Montgueux)

Answer 5

Turonian Chalk

• Chalk is over 90 million years old

Question 6

What is the name of the soil found in the Cote des Bar

Answer 6

Kimmeridgian Marl

• 155 million years old

Question 7

What type of slope does Chardonnay typically like

Answer 7

East

• Most of the vineyards in the Cote des Blancs face east

Question 8

What soil type does Chardonnay thrive in

Answer 8

Chalky soils

Question 9

What two villages in the Cote des Blancs is known for growing Pinot Noir

Answer 9

Cuis and Vertus

Question 10

What is the name of the forested area located in the southern Chouilly

Answer 10

Butte de Saran

• a forest covered hill

Question 11

What is Montaigu

Answer 11

The most popular vineyard in Chouilly

Question 12

What direction do the vineyards face in Cuis

Answer 12

West, South and North

• Fruit doesn’t get very ripe

Question 13

Is the temperature in Cuis warmer or cooler than the other villages in the Cote des Blancs

Answer 13

Cooler

Question 14

What is the flavor characteristics of wines from Cuis

Answer 14

Very racy, linear, not big in body, lots of minerality and acidity

Question 15

What producer makes wines from Cuis that best represent the terroir of that area

Answer 15

Pierre Gimmonet

Question 16

In the 19th Century what did the Cote des Blancs go by

Answer 16

Cote des Avize

Question 17

What is the soil type of the eastern side of Cramant

Answer 17

Clay heavy with chalk

Question 18

What is the soil type of Avize

Answer 18

Chalk and clay.

• Depends on the vineyard

Question 19

What is the dividing line between northern and southern Cote des Blancs

Answer 19

Between Avize and Oger

Question 20

Wines from Oger are typically what in regards to characteristics

Answer 20

Ripe

Question 21

What is the difference between the northern section and the southern section of the Cote des Blancs?

Answer 21

Northern section wines have a darker tone of chalkiness (Pencil shavings)

Southern section the wines are more selenic (saltier) and minerially

Question 22

What type of wines are made in Le Mesnil sur Oger

Answer 22

• The wines are typically very racy.
• Wines are known to have great structure and body
• Very age worthy

Question 23

How long has Le Mesnil sur Oger been a Grand Cru

Answer 23

Since 1985

Question 24

What famous house is located in Le Mesnil sur Oger

Answer 24

Salon

Question 25

Is there a lot of top soil in Le Mesnil sur Oger

Answer 25

No

Question 26

What is the difference between the two sides of Vertus

Answer 26

The Le Mesnil side has barely if any top soil, the slopes face east The southern side of Vertus has more of a clayish top soil , the slopes face south

Question 27

What side of Vertus is where Pinot Noir is grown and why

Answer 27

The southern side and because of the soil and slope exposure

Question 28

Where is le mont aime located

Answer 28

Southern end of Bergeses les Vertus

Question 29

What is the le mont aime famous characteristic

Answer 29

the wines have a silex or flint (smoky) taste to them