Loire Flashcards

Question

What is the Gulf Stream effect in the Loire?

Answer 1

- considerable portion of the Loire experiences a mild climate thanks to the soft Gulf Stream breezes taht are funneled up-river from the coast to Orleans.

Answer 2

Lower Loire - westernmost - located near the city of Nantes - known as Pays Nantais Middle Loire - vineyards lie between the cities of Angers and Tours - Anjou and Touraine are the names of the wine producing areas surrounding these two cities Central Loire - most famous wines from here: Sancerre and Pouilly-Fume Upper Loire - produces some of Loire's most obscure bottlings - most of these AOCs are rarely seen outside of France

Answer 3

Canopy management - close to northern limit for viable viticulture - canopy management to help control vigour = optimises ripeness of fruit Harvest - falls at the end of Sept/beg of Oct - goes well into November - manual harvesting is necessary for late harvest wines and cremant - machine harvesting is allowed in all other instances Organic - many wineries practice sustainable, organic or bio-dynamic viticultural practices - more challenging in cooler regions such as the Loire; more rainfall in growing season, higher humidity

Answer 4

Middle Loire: - Dominated by Chenin Blanc and Cab Franc - Anjou, Layon, Saumur, Touraine - Influenced by maritime climate of the Lower Loire and the continental climate of the Centre and Upper Loire - Humidity: stormy weather and humidity due to proximity to sea; more significant seasonal temp swings of a continental climate - dual climate: slightlyl colder in winter and slightly warmer in summer than Pays Nantais; more temperate climate than the Centre and Upper Loire - VY exposure: better vy sites face south to max sun exposure; other sighe get significantly less sunshine - Climate effest: red and white grapes characterised by bright acidity teypical to norther climes; red grapes that are not planted on optimal sites - light tannnins and light pigmentation Anjou: - scattered around town of Angers; most are on left bank of the Loire - vys from muscadet to chenin and PN; - Savennieres and 2 AOCs w/in are exceptions to rule and not on Left bank - approx half of production is rose from Cab Fr, Cab Sauv, Grolleau, Gama, Pinot d'Aunis and PN - soils of dark schist and white chalk (tuffeau); tuffeau is interspersed withpockets of clay, gravel and shale - most of the schist soils are located in the western portion of Anjou - sweet appellations of Anjou and the 3 Savennieres AOCs are all on schist Layon: - on the banks of the Layon River, tributary to Loire - technically w/in the Anjou zone of production; famous for sweet wine production Saumur - largest producer of sparkling wine in the Loire - limestone soils planted to grapes used in cremant - red varieties are planted on sand - fruit driven; subtle tannins - also has tuffeau soils: wines produced on calcium-rich soils possess significant acidity Touraine - located around the town of Tours - diversity of wine styles; wide variety of soil types: flint, clay, limestone, gravel, sand

Answer 5

White Grapes: Chenin Blanc: - syn: Pineau de la Loire - principal grape of Mid Loire - Vigorous, cold hardy, wind resistant, disease resisstnt, late-ripening and susceptible to botrytis - wines are high in extract and acidity; long lived - often used for dessert wines Sauvignon Blanc: - vigourous variety; prefers cool, sunny climates - wines are high in aromatics and acidity Secondary Grapes: - Arbois: mainly used in Cheveerny and IGP wines where it is customarily blended w/ SB or Chen B; also used in sparkling - Chardonnay: mainly used in sparkling wine - Romorantin: grown exclusively in our-Cheverny Red Grapes: Cabernet Franc: - Breton - principal red grape of the Mid Loire; native to Sapnish Basque Country - subject to early bud-break and coulure; ripens early - moderate i tanning, pigment and acidity Cabernet Sauvignon: - less widely planted than Cab Franc - late-ripening; requires wrm soils and a long growing season Gamay: - used in sparkling, red and rose blends - thin-skinned grape - wines are high acid, low tannin and pigment Pinot Noir: - used in sparkling, red and rose blends - thrives in cool climates and prefers limeston and marl - early budder; early ripener - wines are moderate in tannin and pigment; good acidity, alcohol and aromatics Other Grapes: - Grolleau: indigenous to Mid Loire; principal grape for rose; also incorporated in red and sparkling blends - Grolleau Gris: usedin sparkling and rose blends - Pineau d'Aunis: indig to Loire; incorp into red, rose and sparkling wines (to boost fruit) Other More Secondary Grapes: - Pinot Gris: used in white and rose blends in Touraine - Pinot Meunier: mainly used for sparkling wine production, but used in red and rose blends also - Malbec (cot) minor grape used mainly for blending into other reds and roses - Merlot: growin the Haut-Poitou area - Sauvignon Gris: blending partner for SB

Answer 6

Middle Loire: Anjou: Rose de Loire AOC - sources fruit from anywhere in the Mid Loire (Anjou, Saumur, Touraine) - Made from both Cabs, Gamay, Grolleau, Grolleau Gris, Pineau d'Aunis and PN - always dry Rose d'Anjou AOC - fruit sourced from Anjou and Saumur - by law: must contain min of 0.7% / 7g RS - Grolleau is the principal grape Cabernet d'Anjou AOC - Fruit may be sourced from Anjou and Saumur - by law must contain min of 1% / 10g RS - made from both Cabernets Direct press: 1-4 hours of skin contact IN the press while grapes are being pressed Saingnee: grapes crushed as in red wine; undergo about 12hours of skin contact

Answer 7

Middle Loire - most sweet wine from the Anjou come from the Layon area - all are 100% Chenin Blanc and are impacted by botrytis

Answer 8

Anjou Coteaux de la Loire AOC: - a sweet wine that is crafted from botrytised Chenin w/in Anjou from vys that do not flank the Layon River - outside of Savennieres all the other sweet AOCs wi/in Anjou are all located along the Layon River

Answer 9

- Anjou-Coteaux de la Loire - Bonnezeaux AOC - Coteaux du Layon AOC - Coteaux du Layon + village AOC - Coteaux du Layon Chaume 1er Cru - Coteaux de l'Aubance AOC - Quarts de Chaume Grand Cru AOC

Answer 10

- Coteaux du Laoyon +villages; 6 villages that may appear on the label - Coteaux du Laoyon Chaume "Premier Cru" - Quarts de Chaume "Grand Cru"

Answer 11

Savennières AOC - Lies on the right bank of the Loire, west of Angers, Saumur and Tours - made from Chenin Blanc - soils are chist, clate and clay - some of Frances most age-worthy whites - some do not enter prime until 20 yrs after bottling; loaded with extract, acidity and minerality, rich contentration of flavour - mostly dry, some demi-sec, moelleux and doux: Two noteworthy climats: AOC in 2011 Coulée de Serrant AOC - monopole belonging to Nicolas Joly - steep south/southeast-facing slope of red schist La Roche aux Moines AOC - lies within Sav AOC - also steep schist slope facing southeast

Answer 12

Middle Loire Many of the white wines of Anjou are blends with a backbone of Chenin; Reds can be blends based on both Cabernets or Gamay, optionally vinified as primeur Anjou Blanc AOC - basic dry or off-dry whites - made from a min of 80% Chenin - balance may be Chard and SB Anjou Rouge (regional AOC) Anjou Villages (communal AOC) Anjou Villages Brissac (communal AOC) - all are mainly from Cab Fr and Cab Sauv Anjou-Gamay AOC - made from Gamay - can be vinified as primeur Anjou-Coteaux de la Loire AOC - sweet wine from Chenin - long hang time, botrytis Anjou Mousseux AOC - white and rose sparkling primarily from Chenin w/ up to 60% CF, CS, Malbec, gamay, Grolleau, Pineu d'Aunis - vinified as blanc de noir - strawberry in roses; apricot peach linden and honesuckle in whites Bonnezeaux AOC - sweet wine from Chenin - long hang; botrytis Cabernet d'Anjou AOC - rose from both Cabernets - by law, off-dry to sweet w/ min 1% RS Cremant de la Loire AOC - white and rose spk from Chnin, Chrd, CF, CS, Pd'A, PN and Grolleau - by law, % of CS and Pd'A must be less than 30% - aromas of white blossoms and orchard fruits, w/ complexity of lees ageing ``` Coteaux du Layon Chaume 1er Cru Coteaux du Layon Coteaux du Layon + Village Coteaux de L'Aubance Quarts de Chaume Grand Cru - Sweet wines made from Chenin - long hang; botrytis ```

Answer 13

Middle Loire - Saumur is the largest producer of sparkling wines in the Loire - produces sparkling, wtill whites, reds and roses Saumur Blanc AOC - a still white comprised of Chenin Blanc Coteaux de Saumur AOC - a white from Chenin - characterised by late-harvest, hand-picked, botrytised graes vinified off-dry to sweet Cabernet de Saumur AOC - made from both Cabernets - max 0.7% RS Red Saumur AOCs - Saumur Rouge AOC - Saumur-Champigny AOC - Saumur Puy-Notre-Dame AOC - primarily made from Cab Franc Saumur Mousseux AOC - often referred to as Saumur Brut - made from Chenin w/ up to 40% Chard, SB, CF,, CS, Gamay, Grolleau, Grolleau Gris, Pd'A, PN; SB no more than 10% - must age 9 mos sur lie Saumur Mousseux Rose AOC - uses same red grapes as Saumur Mousseux (blanc); - but CF must be min 60% of blend - 9 mos sur lie

Answer 14

Middle Loire - Lies between the AOCs of Anjou/Saumur and Centre Loire - climate becomes more continental as the vys move inland along the Loire; some maritime influence, dissapates further east - Dry and sweet white; red, rose and sparkling - Soils: - - Tuffeau can be found on the hillsides; - - perruche (flint and clay) and - - aubuis (limestone and clay) can be found near the river - climate becomes more continental as the vys go inland along the Loire

Answer 15

Middle Loire: Whites - Sauvignon Blanc joins Chenin - Same as Anjou/Saumur: but also Romorantin: exclusive to Cour-Cheverny Reds - still inorporates both Cabs: - in addition to Anjou/Saumur vars: Pinot Gris, Pinot Meunier (Gris Meunier), Malbec (Cot), Merlot, Sauvignon Gris - Cab Franc (Breton); Pinot Noir (Auvernat Noir)

Answer 16

Touraine AOC whites: - a blend of at least 80% SB and up to 20% Sauv Gr. Touraine AOC roses: - min of 2: Cab Fr, Cab Sauv, Cot, Gamay, Grolleau, Pinot Meunier, Pineau d'Aunis, Pinot Gris, and PN - no one grape can comprise more than 70% of the blend - by law, roses amy have 0.4% or 4g/l RS (they are dry) Touraine AOC reds: - mainly Cab Fr and Cot blends w/ Cab Sauv, Gamay and PN as optional blending - small quants of "Touraine Gamay" and carbonic macerated Gamay labelled as "Touraine Gamay Primeur" Touraine AOC Sub-zones: - smaller zones can add their village name to the Touraine AOC - require lower yields, higher finished alcohol levels, tighter restrictions of which grapes can be used - sub-zones are: Mesland, Amboise, Azay-le-Rideau, Oisly, Noble Joue and Chenonceaux

Answer 17

Cabernet Franc = Breton Pinot Noir = Auvernat Noir Malbec = Cot Pinot Meunier = Gris Meunier

Answer 18

Middle Loire Bourgueil AOC: - Medium bodied, fairly tanninc, mainly Cab Franc; - max 10% Cab Sauv can be added - Roses follow the same blending formula St.-Nicolas de Bourgueil AOC: - West of Bourgueil on warmer soils w/ high %s of sand - mainly Cab Fr w/ up to 10% Cab Sauv; most are 100% Cab Fr - Dry roses are made frm the same grape vars Chinon AOC: - Tuffeau plus composites of sand, gravel and clay - whites are 100% Chenin - both reds and roses: mainly from Cab Franc w/ max of 10% Cab Sauv Vouvray AOC - on the right bank of the Loire facing Montlouis-sur-Loire - wines are made from Chenin, range from dry to sweet - sec; demi-sec; moelleux; doux - botrytis is optional Montlouis-sur-Loire AOC - bordered by the Cher and the Loire - Chenin whites; dry or sweet - sweet wines are made from late harvest; some affected by botrytis Coteaux du Loir AOC - right bank of the Loir, tributary to the Loire - whites: Chenin - reds: Pineau d'Aunis - dominant blend (min 65% w/up to 30% Cab F, Cot and Gamay) - roses: P d'A dominant blend (min 65%) w/ up to 30% Cot, Gamay and Grolleau Cheverny AOC - whites: primarily SB, Sauvignon Gris w/ some Chard, Chenin and Arbois - red: primarily PN w/ Gamay; CF and Cot Cour-Cheverny AOC - dry white AOC lying w/in the Cheverny AOC - 100% Romorantin (white)

Answer 19

Cremant de Loire AOC: - white and rose - Chenin, Chard, CF, CS, Pd'A, PN and Grolleau - by law the % of CS and PdA must be less than 30% Anjou Mousseux AOC - white and rose - Chenin, w/ up to 60% CF, CS, Cot, Gamay, Grolleau and PdA (vinified as blan de noirs) Saumur Mousseux AOC - often referred to as Saumur Brut - mainly made from Chenin; w/ up to 40% Chard, SB, CF, CS, Gamay, Grolleau, Grolleau Gris, PN, PdA - roses use the same red grapes but CF must comprise 60% of the blend Touraine Mousseux AOC - white or rose - whites: Chenin/Chard or Arbois/Chard - rose: Gamay, CF, Cot Montlouis-Sur-Loire Sparkling Wines - Pedtillant and Mousseux: - 100% Chenin Vouvray Sparkling Wines - Mousseux and Petillant AOCs - 100% Chenin - both must spend 12 months sur lie b/f release

Answer 20

Located south of Orleans and west of Auxerre (Bourgogne) - vys flank the Loire river and tributaries to take advantage of the temperature-moderating effect of the water - most vys are east and west facing Whites: almost exclusively SB Reds: almost exclusively PN Climate: - Centre and Upper Loire both Continental climate - largest diurnal and seasonal temp swings of the 4 Loire sub-regions - Winter: cold; prone to frost and ice - Spring: short and variable with sunny and cloudy days - Summer: hot and sunny; off-sets the short spring - Autumn: temperate and mild throughout harvest; humidity and fog can be problematic creating conditions that may promote rot Soils: - 3 distinct soil types rest atop a base of Kimmerdgean limestone: - - Terres Blanches: mark rich in oyster fossils; wines of vibrant acidity - - Caillottes: little limestone pebles; wines with a little less structure than the other two - - Silex: flint: wines of vibrant acidity; adds unique gunflint / smoky finish

Answer 21

Historically Chasselas; after phylloxera too difficult to graft so changed to SB 1. Sauvignon Blanc 2. Chasselas - neutral 3. Chardonnay 4. Sacy (Tressallier) 1. Pinot Noir - most reds and roses of CL are PN based 2. Gamay - importank in two minor AOCs: Coteaux du Giennois, Chateaumeillant 3. Gamay Saint Romain 4. Pinot Gris - blending for rose 5. Sauvignon Gris

Answer 22

Pouilly-Fume AOC - whites only - flint: gunflint/smoke - gravels and sands: fruit - clay: depth of flavour and texture Pouilly-Sur-Loire AOC - Whites from Chasselas - same zone of production of Pouilly-Fume Sancerre AOC - red, white and rose - Reds and Rose from PN - Whites from SB - Soils: Terres Blances, Silex and Caillottes Menetou-Salon AOC - whites: 100% SB - reds and rose: 100% PN - Kimmeridgean soils Quincy AOC - whites: SB; SGris allowed - VY flank the Cher River - Kimmerdigean soils Reuilly AOC - whites: SB - reds: PN - rose: PN and PGris - vy flank the Cher River - Kimmeridgean soils

Answer 23

- Whites: Chardonnay - Red/Rose: Gamay, PN - The AOCS of the upper Loire not on exam

Loire Flashcards

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