What are the four sub-divisions into which the Loire can be divided?
From west to east:
- Nantais
- Anjou-Saumur
- Touraine
- Central Vineyards
Talk about climate in the Loire.
Overall cool, but Central Vineyards is continental whereas Nantais region has a maritime climate.
Anjou warmer and drier than might be expected because of protection Mauges hills gives from Atlantic influences. Have warm, stoney soils.
Touraine has a cooler, wetter climate with clay soils.
Best sites face south and get extra light reflected from the river.
Name the important varieties of the Loire.
Sauvignon Blanc
Chenin Blanc
Melon Blanc
Cabernet Franc
Gamay
Cabernet Sauvignon
Grolleau
Talk about Sancere and Pouilly-Fumé.
Made from Sauvignon Blanc in Central Vineyards area.
- both on very chalky, well-drained stony soil
- dry and high in acidity, hints of green apple and wet stones
- Pouilly-Fumé subtle smokey notes
- villages such as Chavignol and vineyards such as Le Monts Damnés (both Sancerre) produce particularly expressive wines
- some of these wines can evolve in bottle but most Pouilly-Fumé and Sancerre does not.
Winemaking techniques vary:
- gentle pneumatic pressing and temp control in stainless steel used to create fresh fruity wines;
- some producers ferment and mature in old oak on lees to give broader texture;
- a few use new oak;
- sometimes MLF, sometimes not - often used in cooler years when the acidity is high.
What is Menetou-Salon?
501 hectare appellation to south west of Sancere
- makes good value Sauvignon Blanc wine in the style of Sancere and Pouilly-Fumé
Talk about Touraine.
Region to the east of Vouvray and well to the west of Sancere.
- from here comes most Loire Sauvignon Blanc
- white Touraine is a generic appellation that covers the whole region
- often labelled varietally such as ‘Sauvignon de Touraine’
- tend to have less concentration than the Sauvignon Blanc wines from the more prestigious appellations.
Chenin Blanc provides the region’s best wines
What is a peculiarity of and problem with Chenin Blanc?
Even within one bunch it is common for grapes to reach different levels of ripeness
- care has to be taken during harvest to exclude unripe grapes so as to avoid green, herbaceous notes
- several passes through the vineyard at harvest may be needed
What types of wine can be made with Chenin Blanc?
Dry
Sweet
Still
Sparkling
Ripeness of grapes at picking directly related to the style.
Can include grapes shrivelled by the sun or with botrytis.
Talk about styles of Loire Chenin Blanc.
- young wines can have flavours varying from fresh apple through to tropical fruit, depending on ripeness of grapes
- the dry wines can have a steely smokiness
- sweet wines often have the apricot and citrus peel flavours of noble rot
- both dry and sweet Chenin can aged for decades
- in bottle they develop notes of honey, toast and hay
- high acidity common to all these wines
- climate and soil affect the style
Talk about Vouvray.
To the east of the city of Tours and in the central north of the Touraine Region of which it forms a part
- still and sparkling Chenin Blanc wines
- still wines vary from dry to lusciously sweet
- cool climate and clay soils means wines tend to be light to medium in body, with fresh fruity floral notes
- rarely fermented or matured in new oak
Talk about Samur and Anjou.
- similar climates and soils
- Samur sparkling Chenin Blanc made by traditional method
- Anjou dry wines, often matured in oak
- Anjou includes the well-known appellations of Savennières and Coteaux du Layon
Talk about Savennières.
In Anjou.
- produces full-bodied, complex and dry Chenin blanc
- the best can age for decades in bottle
Talk about Coteaux du Layon.
In Anjou.
- produces renowned sweet wines
- in the sheltered valley of the river Layon where botrytis develops well
- The two best sites, Quarts de Chaume and Bonnezeaux, have their won appellations and produce some of the world’s greatest sweet wines
What is Quarts de Chaume?
Sweet wine producing appellation within Coteaux de Layon, Anjou
- 35 hectares
- Chenin Blanc
- the Loire’s first official Grand Cru
What is Bonnezeaux?
Sweet wine appellation within Coteaux de Layon, Anjou
- about 85 hectares
- Chenin Blanc
What are the other names for Melon Blanc?
Muscadet or Melon de Bourgogne.
What is Melon de Bourgogne better known as?
Melon Blanc.
What is Muscadet better known as?
Melon Blanc.
Where is the vast majority of Melon Blanc in the Loire grown? What are the wines known as?
Nantais. Muscadet.
Describe the three levels/types of Muscadet produced in Nantais.
- Appellation Muscadet covers widest area.
- Greatest production comes from more highly regarded Muscadet Sèvre et Maine.
- Muscadet (Sèvre et Maine) Sur Lie spends its winter maturing on lees before bottling
Describe typical Muscadet wine.
Dry Medium alcohol (maximum 12% allowed) High acidity Light body Subtle green fruit flavours Drink young
What is the maximum alcohol level allowed for any Muscadet wine?
12%
Talk about Cabernet Franc in the Loire.
Well suited to Loire as flowers and ripens early.
- made in range of styles dependent on site, climate, soil and winemaking techniques.
Chinon, to south of Loire, and Bourgueil and Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil, to north of Loire, (all in Touraine) produce Cabernet Franc
- in these three areas light fruity wines for early drinking tend to come from sandy soils whereas fuller-bodied, more tannic versions come from south-facing slopes and limestone and clay soils.
Saumur-Champigny also produces Cabernet Franc
- tend to be lighter than the Touraine versions
Talk about Gamay in the Loire.
Second most planted black variety in Loire
- mainly found in Touraine and Anjou
- here it makes a fruity, early drinking wine
