20 - The Southern Rhône Flashcards
vineyard area of the Southern Rhône compared to the Northern Rhône
much greater
production in the Southern Rhône
- from high-volume & inexpensive to premium
- dominated by red wine, some high-quality white & rosé wines too
describe the Climate in the Southern Rhône
Mediterranean
- mild winters & warm dry summers when drought can be a problem
describe the valley of the Southern Rhône
- the Rhône valley opens out south of Valence
- vineyards are planted on much flatter terrain than those of the Northern Rhône
the soil in Southern Rhône
- many of the best sites have very stony soil that absorb the sun’s head & warm the vineyard, aiding ripening
- in some sites, particularly in areas of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, these stones of galets completely cover the soil surface
what is galets
round stones in the vineyards of Southern Rhône, particularly in Châteauneuf-du-Pape
hazard in Southern Rhône
- drought: warm dry summers
- mistral: gain speed & can cause extensive damage
the mistral in Southern Rhône
- why is it more damaging here?
- how is the vy & vines protected?
- gain speed
- fewer slopes to protect the vines from the wind –> windbreaks have to be planted
- Grenache is mostly bush-trained low to the ground to offer protection from the wind & to benefit from the warmth of the soil
- Syrah is more easily damaged in the wind and it benefits from the support offered by trellising systems
Grapes in the Southern Rhône
- many grape varieties
Most used
- Grenache
- Syrah
- Mourvèdre
- Cinsault
- Viognier
- Marsanne
- Roussanne
- Clairette
- Grenache Blanc
- Bourboulenc
Grenache in the Southern Rhône
- dominates most of the red wines
- by far the most widely planted variety
- the warm summers mean that it can ripen fully here
- wines with concentrated spiced red fruit flavours
- in hot years: the fruit flavours can become baked & jammy
Syrah in the Southern Rhône
- plays a supporting role to Grenache
- provides blends with wxtra colour & tannin
- can struggle in the hottest sites
Mourvèdre in the Southern Rhône
- play a supporting role to Grenache
- is at the northern limit of where it can ripen successfully & thrives in these locations
- deeply coloured & very high in tannins
- fully ripe: can develop dense black fruit flavours as well as gamey & meaty aromas (that are highly prized by many top producers, especially in Châteauneuf-du-Pape)
Cinsault in the Southern Rhône
- can also perform a supporting role in red wine blends
- providing red fruit flavours rather than tannin or colour
- best known as a blending partner to Grenache in the production of fresh, fruity rosés
wm methods & styles of red wine in the Southern Rhône
- a range of winemaking methods
- almost impossible to describe a typical Southern Rhône red
- all winemakers must find a way of managing potentially high tannins & high alcohol levels in order to produce a balanced wine
Wm
- cold pre-fermentation maceration & storage in ss
- warm extractive fermentations in traditional open fermenters & maturation in large old oak vessels
- usually winemakers will make up their blends from wines that have been fermented using different techniques
- new oak is used by some, although a number of traditional producers believe it overwhelms the flavours of Grenache
The styles of the wines vary from-to
- light- to medium-bodied fresh, fruity wines with low tannins
- highly tannic full-bodied reds with flavours of spice, meat and/or earth
white wine in the Southern Rhône
- the cultivation of white grapes remains a minority concern in the Southern Rhône
- there is no Southern Rhône equivalent to Condrieu or Viognier
- Clairette, Grenache Blanc & Bourbolenc are the notable additions to the Northern Rhône trio of Viognier, Marsanne & Roussanne, which are also grown here
- best: usually richly textured & full-bodied, high in alcohol, low-medium acidity, subtle fruity aromas
- new oak is rarely used
Appellations in the Southern Rhône (3+6)
Generic Appellations
(regional & village appellations)
- Côtes du Rhône
- Côtes du Rhône Villages
- Côtes du Rhône Villages Cairanne
Crus
- Châteauneuf-du-Pape
- Tavel
- Lirac
- Gigondas
- Vacqueyras
- Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise
what appellation accounts for more than half of the entire production of appellation wines in the Southern Rhône?
Côtes du Rhône
what wines are made in Côtes du Rhône?
- mostly red wine: medium-bodied, fruity but simple wines
- fruity rosés & white wines
what are Côtes du Rhône Villages?
- a number of villages within the Côtes du Rhône entitled to call their red and, in some cases, white & rosé wines CdR Villages
- more stringent minimum alcohol levels & maximum yields
- greater % of the blend must be made from GSM
- there are a number of individual villages in CdR that can add their name on the label if …
- quality
- characteristics compared to CdR
- example
- all of these named villages have the option to apply for …
- … 100% of the wine comes from the named village
- the best wines outside of the crus
- more body, structure & spiced red fruit flavours
- CdR Villages Cairanne
- cru status
Where are Châteauneuf-du-Pape?
- in the Southern Rhône
- on the east bank of the Rhône
what are the largest of all the crus in the Rhône valley?
Châteauneuf-du-Pape
why has Châteauneuf-du-Pape a particular place in French wine history?
it was the first area to have Appellation contrôlée status
the first area to have Appellation contrôlée status
Châteauneuf-du-Pape
the vineyard area of Châteauneuf-du-Pape
- notably flat
- small variations in aspect can have a marked impact on how well Syrah and Mourvèdre perform
- wide range of soil types, aspects & number of grape varieties winemakers can choose from (13)
why is it a lot of diversity among the red wines in Châteauneuf-du-Pape?
- the appellations size, wide range of soil types, aspects & number of grape varieties winemakers can choose from (13)
dominant grape in Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Grenache
wines of CdP
(grapes, qual, char.)
- some very successful CdP are 100% Grenache
- others make far greater use of the gamey, meaty quality of Mourvèdre
- best: full-bodied & richly textured with concentrated spiced red fruit flavours that balance the charcteristic high alcohol
- a lot of mediocre CdP: rather dilute & unbalanced by the high alcohol
- a small quantity of white CdP is made
the only two crus that are on the west bank of the Rhône in Southern Rhône
Tavel & Lirac
where is Tavel?
- in the Southern Rhône
- on the west bank of the Rhône
- south of Lirac
- north of the town Avignon
where is Lirac?
- in the Southern Rhône
- on the west bank of the Rhône
- north of Tavel
- north of the town Avignon
what are Tavel & Lirac famous for?
the production of rosé
what grapes are mainly used in rosé from Tavel & Lirac?
Grenache & Cinsault
characteristics of rosé from Tavel & Lirac
- full-bodied compared with Provence rosés
- intensely flavoured
- capable of developing greater complexity when aged in bottle
what wines are made in Tavel?
only rosé
what wines are made in Lirac?
- rosé
- top quality red & white wines in the style of CdP
where is Gigondas
- in the Southern Rhône
- in and around the hills to the east of Châteauneuf
where is Vacqueyras
- in the Southern Rhône
- in and around the hills to the east of Châteauneuf
the 2 most long-standing crus in and around the hills to the east of Châteauneuf
Gigondas & Vacqueyras
what wines are made in Gigondas?
- red wines
- usually Grenache-led blends
- similar full-bodied, spicy style to CdP
- many of the wines are as good as CdP
- likely to remain in the shadow of their more famous neighbour
what wines are made in Vacqueyras?
- red wines
- usually Grenache-led blends
- similar full-bodied, spicy style to CdP
- many of the wines are as good as CdP
- likely to remain in the shadow of their more famous neighbour
what wines does the other Southern Rhône villages crus that lie in and around the hills to the east of Châteauneuf make?
- red
- some crus also permit rosé & white wine production
where is Beaumes-de-Venise?
in the Southern Rhône
what wines are made in Beaumes-de-Venise?
fortified Muscats called Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise
