Southern & South-Western France. Location Production BORDEAUX=121,500 ha RHONE VALLEY= 79,900 ha...
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Transcript of Southern & South-Western France. Location Production BORDEAUX=121,500 ha RHONE VALLEY= 79,900 ha...
Southern&
South-Western France
Location
Production BORDEAUX = 121,500 ha
RHONE VALLEY = 79,900 ha
BURGUNDY = 49,200 ha
LOIRE VALLEY = 48,600 ha
LANGUEDOC = 38,350 ha
ALSACE = 15,300 ha
PROVENCE = 29,000 ha
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Provence
Rosé, Red & White
Languedoc-Roussillon
Red, Rosé & White
Wine Styles - South
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Provence – Mostly Appellation Contrôlée
Languedoc-Roussillon – mostly Vin de Pays
Quality Classifications
Climate & ViticultureMediterranean climate
Provence affected by mistral
Languedoc & Roussillon affected by tramontane
Possible drought in Languedoc & Roussillon
Many organic producers
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Traditional Grape Varieties
CarignanGrenacheCinsault
MourvèdreSyrah
ClairetteGrenache Blanc
Ugni BlancMaccabeu
Southern France
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International Grape Varieties
Cabernet SauvignonMerlot
ChardonnaySauvignon Blanc
Viognier
Southern France
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Southern France
Provence
Languedoc-Roussillon
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RiversThe wines are related to the rivers: DordogneGaronneLot
and their tributaries. The Garonne is about 575km long and flows in an arc
from its origin in the Spanish PyreneesJoined by the Ariège and the Gers before being joined by
the Tarn flowing from the east, near Toulouse and finally by the Lot.
This means that it drains most of the south-west region and it cuts through one of the largest alluvial plains in France.
Rivers
The Dordogne flows more or less east to west for about 500kmflowing through Limousin and Périgord.
The Lot also flows west to east, though the old region of Quercy, for about 481km. The river fell into disuse as a transportation
means in the 1920s as a result of railway completion.
ClimateClimate becomes more continental as you go
eastwards Hours of sunshine rise as you go south. No difficulty getting 2200 hours of sunshine per
year.
Effect of the varied landscape
Considerable difference between the uplands and the plains.
Significant variation in the soils profiles of the region.
GrapesTwo types
Those in use in Bordeaux Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc and
Sémillon
Local grapes often indigenous to a small region
Abouriou, Clairette, Colombard, Duras, Fer, Folle Blanche, Gros and Petit Manseng, Len de l'El, Malbec, Muscadelle, Négrette, Tannat, Ugni blanc.
Satellites of BordeauxThe main ACs are
Buzet, Bergerac, Côtes de DurasMonbazillac.
Reds and whites are made from the same
grapes as Bordeaux, and in the same style.
BuzetBuzet has about 1700 ha under vines on the
left bank of the Garonne. Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc are
grown, Merlot is the most important red grape. Small quantity of white wine is made from
the Bordeaux grapes.
Bergerac Bergerac is a big producing area through which the Dordogne flows.
about 12,600 ha under vines Produces red and both dry and sweet white wines as well as rosé wine 13 different ACs.
Reds and dry whites are in the image of Bordeaux. Red wines blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot
sometimes supplemented by Côt or Fer Servadou or Mérille. White wines are mainly a blend of Sémillon with Sauvignon Blanc,
Sauvignon Gris and Muscadelle. some blends with Ugni Blanc, Ondenc and Chenin Blanc.
Bergerac AC Generic AC for the dry white wines, rosé wines and red wines of the region.
Bordeaux blends designed to be drunk within a year or so of the vintage.
Côtes de Bergerac AC is regarded as producing better wine.
Côtes de DurasAn extension of Bordeaux with the same basic
climate though the weather is generally hotter and drier.
Whites are Sauvignon Blanc (67% of planting), Sémillon, Muscadelle with the addition of Mauzac, Rouchelein, Chenin
Blanc and Ondenc. Red wines come from Merlot (52% of planting),
Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Côt with a limit of 55 hl/ha.
Montravel Wines are predominantly white. Main grape is Sémillon and quality has
improved in recent years.
Only about 360ha under vines and the sweet versions are hard to come by (<50ha)
AC Côtes de Montravel or Haut-Montravel.
MonbazillacAC for serious sweet white wine
Only hand harvesting is permitted Sweet wines must be made with grapes
affected by noble rot. If the rot does not materialise, the wine must
be sold as dry Bergerac AC.
Look out for Chateau Tirecul La Graviere.
PécharmantAbout 360 ha under vines
Most of wine is red and a Bordeaux blend, with some Malbec but in which Merlot figures strongly.
The wines will age from four to ten years and are tannic in youth.
Good examples are full bodied, dark ruby in colour but with good fruit.
Saussignac Developing a reputation for its sweet botrytis
white wines based on Sémillon and Muscadelle.
A little drier in style than those of Montbazillac
Clos d’Yvigne (Patricia Atkinson)Chateau Richard.
CahorsThe AC dates from 1971 and it is based on Malbec, known
locally as Côt" Malbec must make up a minimum of 70% Merlot and Tannat as supplementary grapes. White and rosé wine produced in the same area is sold as
Vin de Pays du Lot. Malbec, despite being a relatively thin skinned grape,
produces wines of very deep colour. Very deep purple in youth = “black wines”. Needs more sun to ripen than Cabernet Sauvignon or
Merlot but ripens early. Highly tannic and so is often used in Bordeaux blends to
give some body Suffers badly from frost damage, as mentioned above, and
coulure.
Tannat and FerTannat is suggestive of tannins and the association is
justified. Often blended with Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet
Franc and Fer to soften them. Ages well and it is an important element in the wines in the Basque areas near the Pyrénées.
Modern versions tend to use oak to soften the tannins with an emphasis on producing a fruit-forward wine. The problem is that this is not the traditional style expected from the grape.
Fer is favoured for its perfumed current aromas, soft
tannins and concentrated fruit.
AC BéarnA complex area
AC in its own right
Can also be used within the AC regions of Madiran and Irouléguy.
Production is relatively small at 269ha. Reds are Bordeaux-likeOnly a tiny amount of white
MadiranAC is for red wine only.
Tannat must comprise between 40-60% of the wine and it is supplemented by the two Cabernets and Fer.
Main producers use 100% Tannat grapes
The wine needs time to develop and only top class versions are worth the trouble.
JurançonWhite wine in a dry and sweet version from
Gros Manseng, Petit Manseng and Courbu. Sweet wines from Petit Manseng
Often hand selected into October and should have noble rot.
Irouléguy AC About 210 ha New AC, having been created only in 1970 About 70% is red with the remainder divided into
20% rosé and 10% white. Red
Bordelesa Beltza (Tannat), Axeria (Cabernet Franc and Axeria Handia (Cabernet Sauvignon)
White come from Xuri Zerratia (Courbu), Izkiriota
Ttipia (Petit Manseng) and Izkiriota (Gros Manseng).