7.0 Rhône copied to L4.3 WoW Flashcards
What are the prestigious appellations in Northern Rhône?
Hermitage
Côte Rôtie
Condrieu
These rival the great names of Bordeaux and Burgundy in terms of quality and longevity of their wines
How much of total production does Northern Rhône represent of total Rhône production?
Only 5%
But commands a high reputation and prices to match
What is topography of Northern Rhône?
Narrow and steep.
Most vines planted on the western slopes of the Rhône
What is the soil in Northern Rhône?
Granitic soils prone to soil erosion
What appellation represents over half of wine produced in Northern Rhône?
Crozes-Hermitage
What is the climate of Northern Rhône?
Continental climate
Hard winters and hot summers
Dominant feature is the Mistral, a strong, cold north wind that cools the climate but inhibits disease
Rain is usually in early spring and late autumn
Risk of frost in early spring and late ripening
How are vines trained in Northern Rhône?
Individually staled to combat the affect of the Mistral and due to gradient of slopes
Why is there little mechanisation in Northern Rhône?
Due to slopes, production costs are high
Eroded soils often needs to be put back on the slopes by a pulley system
What vinificación technique is used for cheaper wines in Northern Rhône?
Semi carbonic maceration
What is the vinification process for most red wines in Northern Rhône?
Mostly traditional, length maceration and barrel aging for up to 3 years
What white Northern Rhône wines may see some oak ageing?
Fine Condrieu and white Hermitage
How is white wine vinified in Northern Rhône?
Generally cool fermented in stainless steel and bottled within 6 months
Fine Condrieu and white Hermitage May see some oak ageing
What is the dominant grape variety in Northern Rhône?
Syrah
Viognier, Roussanne and Marsanne also planted
What is profile of Syrah in Northern Rhône?
Deep colour
High tannin and ageing potential
Aromas and flavours of blackberries, blueberries and pepper
Takes on gamey character when aged
What is the only red grape allowed for AC wines in Northern Rhône?
Syrah
What character does Northern Rhône Syrah develop with age?
Gamey character
Why are plantings of Roussanne declining in Northern Rhône?
Poor resistant to disease and Mistral wind
What does Roussanne add to a Northern Rhône blend?
Fruit and acidity
Which Northern Rhône grape is similar to Roussanne but less aromatic?
Marsanne
Which two Northern Rhône white grapes are often blended?
Roussanne and Marsanne
Viognier the other main white grape in Northern Rhône is never blended with other white varietals
Which white grape in Northern Rhône is increasing its plantings and why?
Viognier
Low yield, opulent wine with exotic fruit character
Roussanne & Marsanne plantings are decreasing as they have poor resistant to disease and Mistral wind
How much Viognier can be added to Côte-Rôtie AC red wine?
Up to 20%
What is the only wine that can be made in Côte-Rôtie AC?
Red wine only but 20% of Viognier can be added
What is the most northerly vineyard area in Northern Rhône?
Côte-Rôtie AC
How are vines trained in Côte-Rôtie AC and why?
Individually staked and trained to a teepee to stabilise against the Mistral wind
Why is mechanisation impossible in Côte-Rôtie AC?
Steep narrow terraced make mechanisation impossible
What does Côte-Rôtie literally translate as?
Roasted slope
What is the profile of Côte-Rôtie AC wines?
Deep coloured reds, full bodied, spicy and complex
What is the only grape permitted in Condrieu AC?
Viognier
What is the style of Château Grillet AC wines?
A single vineyard in Condrieu producing oak aged Viognier
What pushes up prices in Condrieu AC?
Steep vineyards and tiny production
What are the best wines made from in Condrieu AC?
Low yielding old vines
The AC is Viognier only
What is the profile of Condrieu AC wines?
Unique floral perfume
Best drunk young
Where is Saint-Joseph AC?
West Bank of the Rhône river in Northern Rhône
Which Northern Rhône AC does the lightest bodied red wines come from?
Saint-Joseph AC
The Syrah there has raspberry and pepper characters and is the lightest bodied Northern Rhône red
What grape dominates Saint-Joseph AC?
Syrah
Small quantities of Marsanne and Roussanne
Where do the best wines come from in Saint-Joseph AC, Northern Rhône?
Terraced vineyards near Tournon produce the best quality
Large volume production from flatter sites
Where is Crozes-Hermitage AC?
Northern Rhône around the town of Hermitage
Over 50% of Northern Rhône production
Why is wine from Crozes-Hermitage AC medium priced?
Due to large volume and less prestigious reputation
Highest production lighter bodied wines made from high yielding flatter sites. Concentrated, complex wines from steeper slopes
What grape is white wine made from in Crozes-Hermitage AC?
Marsanne, fruity with medium body, designed to be drunk young
What is the most famous Northern Rhône appellation of all?
Hermitage AC
Where is Hermitage AC?
Northern Rhône
Located on a steep, south facing hull on the east bank of the Rhône behind the town of Tain-l’Hermitage
Why is Hermitage AC so damn expensive?
Very small area 132ha
High reputation since Roman times
Complex, very long lived wines can age 50 years
How much white grapes can be fermented in a Hermitage AC blend?
Legally up to 15% of white grapes can be fermented but in reality unlike Côte-Rôtie white grapes are rarely added to the blend
How much of Hermitage AC production is white?
Around 20%
The blend is dominated by Marsanne, full bodied and long ageing capacity developing honey and hazelnut flavours with age
Which Northern Rhône AC must be 100% Syrah?
Cornas AC
Unlike other Northern Rhône appellations where a small percentage of white can be added
What is an undervalued Northern Rhône appellation with deep, full bodied wines to rival Hermitage?
Cornas AC
Why are the wines of Cornas AC deep and full bodied?
Sun-baked sheltered location gives deep, full bodied wines to rival Hermitage AC
What encourages ripening in Northern Rhône?
Heat retaining granite soils and reasonably steep southern exposition
What is the topography of Southern Rhône?
The Rhône Valley flattens our as it heads closer to the sea, rolling hills with scrubs (carriage) interspersed with vineyards
Covered in large round pudding shines which store heat during the daytime hours and release it to the vineyard at night
What helps ripening in Southern Rhône?
Mediterranean climate and plenty of sunshine
Also large round pudding stones which store heat during daytime hours and release it to the vineyard at night
What is the climate in Southern Rhône?
Mediterranean
Mild winters
Hot summers
Low rainfall
Plenty of sunshine
Mistral particularly strong as no protection from slopes
Why is the Mistral particularly strong in Rhône Valley?
There is no protection from slopes as Rhône Valley flattens out as it heads closer to the sea
What is essential to protect vines from the Mistral in Southern Rhône?
Wind breaks
Why is low pruning common in Southern Rhône?
To increase ripening from reflected heat of large pudding stones
How are vines trained in Southern Rhône?
Syrah is wire trained
Other varieties are spur pruned into a bush
What is seldom seen in Southern Rhône wines?
Single varietal wines
Chateauneuf permits 100% Grenache but most other AC wines in Southern Rhône are found as a blend
What are the key Northern Rhône ACs?
Côte-Rôtie AC - Syrah with up to 20% Viognier added
Condrieu AC - Viognier only
Saint-Joseph AC - lightest bodied reds with Syrah with raspberry and pepper
Crozes-Hermitage AC - highest production
Hermitage AC - most famous and long lived red and whites 50year +
Cornas AC - undervalued 100% Syrah
What is the dominant grape variety in Southern Rhône?
Grenache but it mostly appears as a blend
What do the Southern Rhône varietals add to a blend?
Grenache - Low tannin and colour, flavours of spiced red berries
Syrah - provides colour and tannin
Cinsault - low in tannin, provides fruit and acidity
Mourvèdre - deep in colour and tannins
Viognier, Marsanne, Roussanne, Clairette, Grenache Blanc and Bouboulenc - produce fat full bodied wines with low acidity
