19 - Northern Rhone

Question 1

Where are the vineyards of the Northern Rhone located?

Answer 1

On steep slopes next to the River Rhone

Question 2

What are characteristics of the best sites of the Northern Rhone?

Answer 2

They occupy steep slopes with south-facing aspect. They often lie in valleys that feed into the Rhone river – the valleys protect the vineyards from mistral

Question 3

What is the climate in the Northern Rhone?

Answer 3

Similar to Beaujolais – moderate and continental. They are cooler here than in the Southern Rhone

Question 4

What is the only black variety permitted in the Northern Rhone?

Answer 4

Syrah. The northern rhone gets its reputation from powerful Syrah produced here.

Question 5

Why are the most prized sites for Syrah on steep slopes with southerly exposure?

Answer 5

Because of the moderate continental climate in the Northern Rhone, Syrah is at the northern limit of where it is able to ripen successfully. It needs the additional warming factors to ripen well in Northern rhone, especially in the cooler northern reaches.

Question 6

What are key characteristics of Syrah produced in Northern Rhone?

Answer 6

Deep color, medium to high tannin, black fruit, black pepper, floral. Sometimes oak is used (range of new/old and large/smaller oak)

Question 7

Why is Syrah sometimes co-fermented with Viognier and other white varieties in Northern Rhone?

Answer 7

Addition of white grapes can stabilize color extraction and viognier can add aromatic intensity.

Question 8

What are white varieties commonly grown in Northern Rhone? What are their characteristics?

Answer 8

Viognier: full bodied white wines, perfumed aromas – blossom and apricot, stone fruit, low acid, high alcohol (grapes reach high sugar ripeness before developing signature aromas). Viognier can develop an oily character if not handled property in winery. New oak and off-dry are common styles.
Marsanne and Roussanne: two varieties usually blended together. Marsanne adds richness, Rousanne adds perfume and acidity.

Question 9

True/False: generic Cotes du Rhone can come from the Northern Rhone

Answer 9

True in theory – though most of the Northern Rhone’s wine comes from one of the cru appellations

Question 10

What are the major crus of the Northern Rhone?

Answer 10

Cote Rotie, Condrieu, Saint-Joseph, Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage

Question 11

What is the most northerly appellation of the Rhone Valley? What are characteristics of the wines made here?

Answer 11

Cote Rotie (translates to ‘roasted slope’). Very full sun exposure. Only red wines produced, up to 20% Viognier can be added. 
Deeply colored, full body, spicy and aromatic and fresh and floral.

Question 12

What is the white wine made solely from Viognier that is produced in the Northern Rhone (it is located south of Cote Rotie)?

Answer 12

Condrieu

Question 13

What are the vast majority of wines made in Saint Joseph, along western bank of the Rhone

Answer 13

Reds made from Syrah. The best wines come from terraced vineyards and have flavor intensity and structure similar to Hermitage.
The fertile valley sites make large volume light bodied wines from Syrah with peppery notes

Question 14

Where is Hermitage located and what are its characteristics?

Answer 14

It is located on a steep south-facing slope on eastern bank of River Rhone. It is divided into lieux-dit, named sites. The best Hermitage is a blend of these sites usually.
Hermitage also produces some whites from Roussanne and Marsanne.

Question 15

Which is the fullest-bodied of Northern Rhone reds?

Answer 15

Red Hermitage. Ages well.

Question 16

Which is the most important vineyard in terms of volume in the Northern Rhone? Where is it located?

Answer 16

Crozes-Hermitage. Its vineyards lie on mixed terrain around Hermitage (steep south-facing slope). Some of the vineyards are on steep slopes and some are on flat plains.

Question 17

What kind of red wine does Crozes-Hermitage produce? How does it differ depending on location of vineyards?

Answer 17

Red wines from Crozes-Hermitage are made from Syrah (15% Marsanne or Roussanne can be added, as in Hermitage).
Lighter wines are from higher yielding flatter sites in the south
Steeper slopes to the north make more concentrated, complex and tannic wines.

Question 18

True/False: Crozes-Hermitage’s reputation is equal to that of Hermitage and Cote Rotie

Answer 18

False.

Question 19

Which is the most southerly of red wine crus?

Answer 19

Cornas. Given southern latitude it is the warmest cru as well. It has south-facing and sun baked slopes. Must be made from 100% Syrah. The wines are deep color, full body, similar style and quality to Hermitage.