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38 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
Monks of Saint Hilaire
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Credited with crafting the first French sparkling wines in the ancestral methode; located near Languedoc town of Limoux.
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Clovis, King of the Franks
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United all of the tribes of Gaul (former name of France) under his rule under new name (France) and faith (Christianity).
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Bishop Remi of Reims
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-Spiritual leader of Reims (principle city in Champagne)
-Convinced Clovis to convert to Christianity if he was victorious in uniting France. -Went on to be cannonized as Saint Remi |
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City of Reims
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Extraordinary political importance; for 600 years, 27 French kings from Louis VIII to Charles X were crowned in the Cathedral of Reims. Champagne became know as wine of Kings and King of wines.
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17th Century
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-shift from still to sparkling wine production
-rise of the champagne houses: Ruinart, Moet, Clicquot... -champagne allowed to be traded/transported in bottle |
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1887 Champagne Decree
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Declaration that the word "Champagne" could only be used in conjunction with the wines produced from that region.
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Location
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-Represents most northernly of all French wine regions
-Lies btw 49 and 49.5 degrees parallel north -1.5 hrs drive east of Paris |
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Climate
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Continental and Maritime (Atlantic) influences
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Traditional Grapes
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-Gouais: white; used to craft vins de la montagne
-Fromenteau: gray-pink; used to craft vins de riviere |
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Modern Grapes
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**In order of volume
-Pinot Noir: gives cherry, strawberry, power, structure -Pinot Meunier: gives acid, red fruit, depth, earthiness -Chardonnay: gives most acid/alcohol, floral, citrus, apple |
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Other Authorized Grapes
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-Pinot Blanc
-Arbanne (w) -Petit Meslier (w) **Authorized, but uncommon |
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Sub-Regions (7) & Grapes
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-Cote des Bar: main Pinot Noir, Kimmeridgean limestone
-Montagne de Reims: mostly Pinot Noir w/ PM & Chard -Val de Reims: mostly Pinot Meunier w/ some PN -Vallee de la Marne: mostly Pinot Meunier -Cote de Blancs: mostly Chardonnay -Cote de Sezanne: mostly Chardonnay -Vitry-le-Francois: mostly Chardonnay |
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Soils
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-Belemnite & Micraster Chalk
**Belemnite perfered, upper to mid-slope -Kimmeridgean Marl (Cote des Bar) |
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Chalk Soils
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-Chalk: a type of porous limestone
**All chalk is limestone, not all limestone is chalk -Are known as "dry" champagne -Reims, Epernay, Ay, Ambonnay and Verzernay |
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Sand & Clay
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Vallee de la Marne
Val de Reims |
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Limestone-Rich Marls
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Soil type found only in the Cote des Bar
**Part of Kimmeridgean Ring running through England & France |
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The Echelle des Crus
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-Champagne possess on 1 AOC.
-System is an effort to recognize different terriors -Established 1911; ranks wine producing villages and surrounding vineyards a single entity (grower may get 1er Cru designation due to village designation, but have a Grand Cru vineyard) |
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The Echelle des Crus
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-Villages & their vineyards ranked on scale of 80-100%
-Grand Cru: 100% rating, 17 *Cote des Blanc (6), Montagne de Reims (9), Vallee de le Marne (2) -Premier Cru: 90-99% rating, 41 -Village Cru: 80-89% rating, 255 |
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Historical Impact of the Echelle des Crus
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Was used to set price of grape each harvest; no longer used (as of 2003).
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Base Wine Production
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Grapes picked by hand and fermented to still wine. Wine blended with other still wines to create one "house style" that remains consistent year to year.
**No more than 80% of a year's harvest may be used; remaining 20% saved for future vintages & blending |
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Prise de Mousse
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Translates as "the seizing of the foam" and refers to the second alcoholic fermentation which creates 4.9-6 atmospheres of pressure inside the bottle to become sparkling.
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Tirage
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French for the act of bottling. Yeast and sugar mixed into the blended wine or cuvee, than bottled - adding the "liqueur de tirage." Distinguishing element btw Ancestral & Traditionnelle method; guarantees sparkling product.
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Brother Jean Oudart
(Abbey of St. Pierre aux Monts) |
Credited for developing "liqueur de tirage" method.
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Elevage Sur Lattes
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Bottles sealed with crown cap and stored on its side in a wine cellar separated by wood strips called lattes.
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Dom Perignon
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Credited for integrating Spanish cork and English glass into Champagne production.
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Remuage
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Riddling - process of collecting dead yeast cells in the neck of the champagne bottle in preparation for disgorging. Moved from hand riddling (3 months) to use of gyropalates (one week).
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Disgorgement
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Disgorging - process of removing dead yeast cells from the bottle of sparkling wine in order to deliver a clear and non-gritty sparkling product.
**A La Volee: disgorging by hand. |
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Liqueur de Dosage/Liqueur d'Expedition
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Process of adding a mixture of sugar and still reserve wine after disgorging a sparkling wine; determines final sweetness level.
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Cork Shapes
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Cylindrical: shape before bottling
Juponne: skirt or mushroom shape when released Cheville: order cork shaped when released (breaks down) |
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Levels of Sweetness
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Brut Nature: 0-0.3% RS
Extra Brut: 0-0.6% RS Brut: 0-1.5% RS Extra Dry (Extra-Sec): 1.2-2% RS Dry (Sec): 1.7-3.5% RS Demi-Sec: 3.3-5% RS Doux: over 5% RS |
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Label Nomenclature: NM
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NM: negociant-manipulant
Producer that incorporates grapes purchased from others in the vinification process; may also use own fruit |
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Label Nomenclature: RM
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RM: recoltant-maninpulant
Producer vinifying only his own estate grapes; doesn't purchase grapes from others |
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Label Nomenclature: RC
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RC: recoltant-cooperateur
Vine grower affiliated w/ wine making co-op cellar; brings his grapes for co-op to vinify then retrieves, bottles & sells under his private label |
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Label Nomenclature: SR
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SR: societe de recoltants
Group of grape growers who jointly vinify and sell one communal or several communal brands. |
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Label Nomenclature: CM
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CM: cooperative de manipulation
Co-op cellar which vinifies grapes of member growers. |
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Label Nomenclature: MA
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MA: marque auxiliare
Private label registered by any individual, group or society (restaurant, wine store, supermarket, etc); source of wine can be any of above producers |
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Label Nomenclature: ND
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ND: negociant-distributeur
Wine buyer who purchases finished wines and gives them his own private label |
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Bottle Names
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-Magnum: 2 bottles
-Jeroboam: 4 bottles -Rehoboam: 6 bottles -Methuselah: 8 bottles -Salamanzar: 12 bottles -Bathalzar: 16 bottles -Nebuchadnezzar: 20 bottles |