Montlouis-sur-Loire (wine region)

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The Montlouis-sur-Loire wine-growing region is part of the large Loire wine-growing region . Until 2002 the appellation was only called Montlouis for short. The appellation belonging to the Touraine has had the status of an AOC since December 6, 1938 .

The area is about ten kilometers upstream from the city of Tours on the orographic left bank of the Loire . The Vouvray appellation is on the opposite side of the river ; further upstream are the areas of Cheverny and Cour-Cheverny .

The wedge-shaped wine-growing region is bordered by the Loire and the Cher tributary . The approximately 350 hectares of vineyards are spread over the three communities of Montlouis-sur-Loire (eponymous), Saint-Martin-le-Beau and Lussault-sur-Loire . The vineyards slope gently towards the Cher valley and are therefore ideally oriented towards the south. You are at a height of 60 to 90  m . Molasse and a limestone base are located under a sandy loam soil .

The appellation only produces white wines and white sparkling wines of the qualities Montlouis-sur-Loire pétillant ( sparkling wine ) and Montlouis-sur-Loire mousseux. All variants are made from the Chenin Blanc grape variety .

Before the fermentation of the white wines, the natural minimum sugar content of the must must be as low as 153 g / l, which corresponds to an alcohol content of 10.5% by volume in the wine. If chaptalization is approved in bad years , the alcohol content of the finished fermented wine must not exceed 13% by volume. The harvest restriction is 52 hectoliters / hectare. The density of plants in the vineyard should be at least 6,000 vines / hectare. If the vintage allows it, a late harvest after October 10th is aimed for. The result is first-class dessert wines with a residual sweetness of 40 g / l or more. In contrast to the sweet wines of the Vouvray, the Montlouis retains a higher acid content, as acid degradation through malolactic fermentation is avoided.

For sparkling wine, the minimum sugar hook is 136 g / l and the minimum alcohol content is 9% by volume for sparkling wine and 9.5% by volume for sparkling wine.

The best locations in the area are:

  • in Montlouis-sur-Loire : Clos de la Barre, Clos de la Frebonnerie, La Milletière, Clos Renard, Les Sicots
  • in Lussault-sur-Loire : Gray, Pintray
  • in Saint-Martin-le-Beau : Clos de Mosny, Clos Michet, Clos Yvonnet, Le Boulay, Grand Clos, La Rochère, Cangé, Les Liards, Les Borderies, Les Brunettes

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