7 - Southern Rhone Flashcards
Describe the climate and topography of the Southern Rhone.
Climate: Mediterranean - mild winter, warm and dry summers
Rainfall: adequate but drought increasing risk
Topography: flatter than N Rhone, little protection from Mistral
How are vines trained to protect them from the mistral in the Southern Rhone?
Grenache - bush vines
Syrah - trellised (vigour)
Is irrigation permissible in the Southern Rhone? If so, under what circumstances?
Yes, when drought is severe - proof of water stress needed, not allowed post-veraison (yield/concentration), yield cannot exceed AOC maxes
Name the four levels of appellations in the Southern Rhone
- Côtes du Rhône
- Côtes du Rhône Villages
- Côtes du Rhône Villages + named village (22)
- Individual cru appellation for top villages e.g. Châteauneuf-du-Pape , Gigondas, Cairanne
Other appellations exist outside of the hierarchy e.g. Ventoux
What is the typical blend of grapes stipulated by most Southern Rhone appellations?
Grenache-dominant blends w/ Mourvedre, Syrah + others like Carignan, Cinsault
CNDP an exception
Appellation regulations in the Southern Rhone typically stipulate… (2)
1. Varieties: Principal, complementary (main blending components) and permitted varieties
2. Min % of each variety esp. principal and complementary
N.B. difference between min % planted and % in the final blend gives flexibility e.g. CdR requires 70% principal in vineyard but only 60% in blend
Describe the budding, ripening, yield, ideal climate and soil, training methods, vulnerabilities, style and uses of/for Mourvedre
Budding: late
Ripening: late
Yield: low
Climate: hot for ripeness
Soils: soils with water-retaining property (e.g. calcereous)
Training: pruned short for either cordon or bush vine
Vulnerabilities: water stress, mites, leafhoppers, sour rot
Style: Deep ruby, intense blackberry, blueberry, violet, prone to reduction, high + firm tannin and high alc
Used for: blended with Grenache/Syrah in southern Rhone, main grape for red and rose in Bandol AOC
Outline the max yields, principal and permitted varieties for Cotes du Rhone AOC.
Contrast the appellation rules of Cotes du Rhone and Cotes du Rhone Villages?
Min 66% of 2/3 principal varieties incl Grenache Noir (c.f. 60%)
44 hL/ha (Villages) or 41 hL/ha (Named village) (c.f. 51 hL/ha)
How do the yields of Southern Rhone crus compare to other appellations in the region?
CNDP 35
Others 36-38
C.f. 41 (named village), 44 (Villages), 51 (CdR)
Describe the situation, climate, blends, and price/quality of Gigondas and Vacqueryras AOC
Situation: Gigondas 600m ASL and shaded by Dentelles de Montmirail; Vacqueyras is SW and adjacent at 440m ASL
Climate: Gig cooler than central valley due to above + Mistral –> morning temps –> maturation length –> concentration; Vac is somewhat warmer but retain some diurnal
Blends: >50% Grenache, at least one of Syrah/Mour
Quality/Price: Good-VG/mid-premium
Describe the split of production (by vol) across the entire Rhone by:
- AOC to IGP
- CdR, CdR Villages, S. Rhone cru, N Rhone cru and other AOCs
Describe the situation, climate, winemaking, blends and price/quality of Rasteau AOC
Situation: east of the valley, north of Gig, 100m south-facing slopes –> sunlight, drainage, Mistral
Climate: Warm (obvs) –> irrigation allowed
Winemaking: Large vats esp concrete with maturation in large vats –> HQ Syrah may go into small barrels. Some VDN also made.
Blend: >50% Grenache, at least one of Syrah/Mour.
Price/quality: Good/VG, mid/premium
Vinsobres: Good-VG, mainly mid-priced with some prem
Describe the typical CdR AOC wine (appearance, nose, structure, price-quality)
Med intensity ruby
Med intensity red plum and blackberry, no oak
Med acid, med tannin (low if carbo used), med alc
Good / inexpensive
What are the main grape varieties used for CNDP
- 13 total
RED
- Grenache Noir
- Mourvedre - intense black fruit but needs moisture in soil
- Syrah
WHITE
- Grenache Blanc
- Clairette
- Bourboulenc
- Roussanne
N.B. no principal varieties or min % and single varietal wines allowed
Describe the situation and soils of CNDP (7)
Situation: centre of S. Rhone valley on largely flat ground - 3000ha
Soils: vary significantly incl. limestone, clay, sandstone, sand
–> clay important for water retention
–> generally low fertility and fast draining –> average yield 30 hL/ha
–> galets roules radiate heat at night –> diurnals –> climate change
–> sand gives finer, lighter styles c.f galets roules
–> producers commonly blend across vineyards and soil types for complexity, balance and volume
Describe the situation, wines, grapes, yield, appearance, nose, structure and price/quality of wines made in Tavel.
Situation: south of Lirac, SE of CNDP
Wines: rose only
Grapes: Grenache (>60%) of 12 different varieties
Yield: 46 hL/ha
Appearance: med pink-orange
Nose: Med-med(+) strawberry and raspberry
Structure: Med(+) - full body, med alcohol
Quality/Price: Good-VG, mid-premium
What % of CNDP production is red wine?
90%
Describe the situation, wines, grapes, yield, production structure and price/quality of Ventoux AOC.
Situation: SE of Southern Rhone on south + west slope of Mount Ventoux with vineyards up to 450m
Wines: 2/3 red, 1/3 rose, very small amount of white
Grapes: Grenache Noir, Syrah, Mourvedre, Carignan, Cinsault, >50% of final blend –> many possibilities (must have at least two)
Yield: 60hL/ha max –> concentration
Structure: 25% exported, co-ops v. important
Price/Quality: Good-VG, Inexpensive-mid-priced
Is machine harvesting allowed in CNDP?
No
Describe the appearance, nose, structure and price/quality of a red CNDP. Describe the general winemaking and style trends for white CNDP (2).
RED
- Med ruby
- Med(+) - pronounced ripe red plum, blackberry, spice, occasionally new oak
- Med acid, high alc, med(-) - high tannin
- Good-outstanding, mid-SP
WHITE
- Varying degrees of reductive/oxidative winemaking, % of new oak varies
- Trend toward lighter, floral fresher style
Account for the wide range in style and quality within CNDP (3)
- Large (3000ha) area with varying soil types
- Relaxed laws on varietal blends
- Differences in winemaking
What wines are challenging Tavel’s reputation as France’s best rose’s and how have some producers in Tavel responded? (2)
- Challenging by pale Provence rose
- Some producers are copying the style but most are still making the deeper style
Why is Ventoux AOC cooler than neighbouring appellations? (2)
- Higher altitude (up to 450m) –> diurnals and lower average temp
- Cool air descending from the mountain
How do IGP’s differ from AOCs? Give examples.
Int’l varieties may be used e.g. Merlot is 3rd and Cab S is 5th most planted in Gard (where Costieres de Nimes is located
Outline the difference in production structured between the North and Southern Rhone. Which companies are important in both regions?
Co-ops more important in south e.g. Cellier des Princes (CNDP), although important N.Rhone co-ops include Cave de Tain (40% of sales of Crozes-Herm AOC)
Largest negociants based in North but operate in south incl. Guigal, Jaboulet, Chapoutier
How are sales of Rhone wine (N+S) divided? Where are its main export markets?
2/3 Domestic / 1/3 export - by vol
Domestic - supermarkets (32%), specialist retail and hospo (29%), discounters (6%) - by volume, of total sales
Export markets - USA, UK, Belgium (by vol)
Briefly describe trends in production structure in the recent past (4)
Move from negoc + co-op –> growers
Alongside rise in value of wines from AOCs and crus
E.g. C-R has the highest ratio of domains to negociants with 50 producers bottling their own wine
Small EP market for top wine e.g. CR, Hermitage and CNDP
Where does the Cotes du Rhone appellation apply?
Large swathes of Southern Rhone - Northern Rhone applicable too but rarely used as producers can sell under more prestigious appellations
What is sour rot and how is it dealt with?
A disease which enters bunches via bird/insect damage –> then prone to bacterial and fungal diseases. Mainly affects Mourvedre.
Describe the ripening, yield, ideal climate and soil, vulnerabilities and style of Grenache
Ripening: late (–> autumn rain), accumulates sugar quickly –> ABV, VDN
Yield: high
Climate: warm
Vigour: grows upright so good for training as bush vine if pruned short
Soils: dry, low fertility soil –> drought resistance
Vulnerabilities: coulure, downy mildew, phomopsis, BBR, bacterial blight
Style: pale ruby, ripe red fruit, spice, herbal, low acid, low-med tannin, high ABV
Used for: blending with Syrah, Mourvedre and more
What is bacterial blight and how is it dealt with?
Bacterial disease which kills leaves and shoots –> plant
Disease combatted by planting disease free root stocks and avoiding contaminate pruning tools
Describe the budding, yield, resistances, vulnerabilities, style and uses of/for Cinsault
Budding: late
Yield: high –> must be restricted to produce quality
Resistant to: drought, heat
Vulnerabilities: chlorosis, Esca, Eutypa, mites, grape moths
Style: Light ruby, med-med(+) fresh red fruit, low-med tannin, high alcohol
Used for: mid-range temp for ferment –> fruit and protective winemaking –> small part of red blends and/or early-drinking reds and rose
Compare and contrast Grenache Blanc, Clairette and Bourboulenc.
In particular, focus on which aspects make them well suited to be grown in the Southern Rhone and how they are used in white blends.
Grenache Blanc
- Early budding and resistance to wind –> where is suitable to grow?
- Can reach high ABV –> VDN
- Low intensity ripe green fruit, floral, low acid, high ABV –> white blends and VDN
Clairette
- Vigorous - soil and rainfall –> where is suitable?
- Needs pruning for vigour (how?) but grows upright (easy to manage canopy) and resistant to wind
- Late ripening
- Apple, grapefruit, fennel, white flower, oxidises easily, low-med(-) acid and high ABV –> white blends
Bourboulenc
- Late ripening
- Loose bunches and thick skins –> resistance to BBR
- Lemon, med(+) acid, med alc –> white blends
