5.3 VDN Appellations & Wine Styles

Question 1

What three regions in France have Vin Doux Naturels appellations?

Answer 1

• Rhône
• Languedoc
• Roussillon

Question 2

There are two VDN appellations in the Rhône: List and describe them.

Answer 2

• Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise
  
  • The vines of Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise are planted on terraces on the south-east facing slopes of the Dentelles de Montmirail, which provides shelter from the Mistral and aids ripening. Approximately 95 per cent of production is white VDN made from Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains. Muscat à Petits Grains Rouge, a dark-skinned mutation (Brown Muscat in Australia), is allowed for the production of red and rosé VDN wines. These wines are always made in an unaged style. White Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise is generally medium bodied, with medium acidity and low alcohol for a fortified wine (around 15% abv). Due to protective winemaking the wines usually show primary aromas and flavours including blossom, grape, peach and honey. Significant producers include Domaine des Bernardins.
• Vin Doux Naturel Rasteau
  
  • Vin Doux Naturel Rasteau can either be red, rosé (made by saignee method, and fortified off the skins) or white, and can be made in unaged or oxidative styles. In practice, only a tiny proportion of white is made, and most of the production is red. The red wines must be made with a minimum of 75 per cent Grenache Noir; Grenache Gris and Grenache Blanc as well as a number of other Southern Rhône varieties can also be blended in. The appellation’s location on gentle south-facing slopes, providing maximum exposure to sunlight and some protection from the cool Mistral, means that grapes easily become very ripe, suitable for the production of sweet fortified wines with juicy, almost jammy fruit flavours. Unaged wines can show notes of cherries and plums, with oxidative styles showing more dried fruit and nutty hints. Levels of alcohol are generally low to medium, with 16-18% abv being typical.

Question 3

There are four VDN appellations in the Languedoc. Describe the region overall and name two appellations.

Answer 3

All of the wines must be made from Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains and made in an unaged style with subtle differences according to the location of the appellation. For example, the largest appellation, Muscat de Frontignan, is based south west of Montpellier at low altitude, and is hence relatively warm. It produces wines with a fuller body than many of the other appellations and displays aromas of tropical fruits. By comparison, Muscat de St-Jean-de-Minervois is located in the north east corner of Minervois at 250-300m elevation and the climate is more continental. The cooler climate gives wines with higher acidity, lighter body and more stone fruit and floral aromas.

Question 4

VDN wines make up a tiny proportion of production in the Rhône and Languedoc but play a much more significant role in ____________.

Answer 4

VDN wines make up a tiny proportion of production in the Rhône and Languedoc but play a much more significant role in Roussillon.

Question 5

VDNs represent ___% of all Roussillon AOC production, but only two per cent of all Languedoc AOC production.

Answer 5

VDNs represent 45% of all Roussillon AOC production, but only two per cent of all Languedoc AOC production.

Question 6

The VDN wines of each appellation in Rousillon are made in a range of styles. List and describe all six of them.

Answer 6

• Grenat/Rimage: denotes unaged styles of red wines. Grenat is the term used in Maury and Rivesaltes, Rimage in Banyuls.
• Blanc: denotes unaged styles of white wines.
• Tuilé /Traditionnel: denotes a red wine that has been matured oxidatively. Tuilé is the term used in Maury and Rivesaltes, Traditionnel in Banyuls.
• Ambré: denotes a white wine that has been matured oxidatively.
• Hors d’âge: denotes a wine that has been matured oxidatively for a longer period than Tuilé or Ambré wines. The wines can be red or white.
• Rancio: denotes a wine with ‘rancio’ character (see Key choices affecting Style in Fortified Wines). The wines can be red or white.

Question 7

List all six of the Vin Doux Naturels AOCs in Rousillon.

Answer 7

• Grand Roussillon AOC
• Banyuls AOC
• Banyuls Grand Cru AOC
• Maury AOC
• Muscat de Ribesaltes AOC
• Rivesaltes AOC

Question 8

Describe this AOC: Grand RousillonThe Grand Roussillon.

Answer 8

The Grand Roussillon AOC covers a wide yet specifically delineated area for VDNs produced outside the five leading AOCs described below but can include declassified wines from those AOCs.

Question 9

Describe this AOC: Banyuls

Answer 9

This appellation is located at the eastern end of the Pyrenees, bordered by the Mediterranean to the east and Spain to the south. The red wines must be made of a minimum of 50 per cent Grenache Noir, but can also include Grenache Blanc and Grenache Gris. The vineyards are planted on steep terraced schist slopes. A small amount of white VDN is also made. Significant producers include Domaine Vial-Magneres.

Question 10

Describe this AOC: Banyuls Grand Cru.

Answer 10

This appellation covers the same area as Banyuls, but the wines can only be red, must be made of a minimum 75 per cent Grenache Noir and must be matured for a minimum of 30 months (and hence can only be Tuilé, Hors d’âge or Rancio in style).

Question 11

Describe this AOC: Maury.

Answer 11

This appellation is located in the north of Roussillon. The vines are planted at 100-400 m in the foothills of the Pyrenees on dark-coloured schist soils that store heat from the day and release it at night, aiding ripening. The red VDNs must be made from a minimum of 75 per cent Grenache Noir. A small amount of white is also made, usually in an unaged style. Dry, unfortified wines can also be made in the same area, but these must be labelled as Maury Sec AOC.

Question 12

Describe this AOC: Muscat de Rivesaltes.

Answer 12

This is by far the largest appellation in Roussillon in terms of production. It is often made from a blend of Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains and Muscat of Alexandria, and only made in an unaged style.

Question 13

Describe this AOC: Rivesaltes.

Answer 13

This appellation, in the north of Roussillon close to the Mediterranean coast, encompasses a range of VDN styles. Both red and white VDNs are made in Grenat, Tuilé, Ambré, Hors d’âge and Rancio styles. The whites can only be made with a maximum 20 per cent Muscat varieties, with the balance coming from Grenache Blanc, Grenache Gris, Macabeu and Malvoisie. The reds are mainly made from Grenache Noir. Significant producers include Domaine Cazes.