7.0 The Rhone Valley Flashcards
1
Q
Describe the contribution by the various appellations to the vol of wine in the region.
A
2018 figures:
Total Area
- Plantings North <4000ha : South 66000 ha
-
North, on slopes overlooking river: range of aspects
- Several clearly defined AOC’s called “Crus”
-
South considerable distance from river
- Individual AOC (CNdP) as well as large vol of basic “Cotes du Rhone AOC
All Wine
- 69% is AOC : 31% is IGP
AOC Production
- 46% Cote du Rhone
- 11% Cotes du Rhone Villages
- 8% South Rhone Crus
- 6% North Rhone Crus
- Other AOC 24%
Styles:
- 74% is Red
- 16% is Rose
- 10% is White
- 8% is Organic
2
Q
The IGP that covers the Northern Rhone?
The IGP that covers the Southern Rhone?
A
Collines Rhodaniennes IGP (‘hills of the Rhone’)
- Used for red, white and rose
- For wines made from grapes outside of the AOCs of Northern Rhone
- Yields of 80 hL/Ha.
- Allows wines from other varieties to be made
Southern Rhone IGP
- IGP wine may be made from Rhone var or international varieties
- e.g. Costieres de Nimes AOC grows Merlot and CS
3
Q
Syrah?
A
- Syrah
- Late bud, early ripe (rel to position)
- Vigourous
- yield control for aromas and acid
- Stakes protect frm Mistral (hand work - cost)
- Sus to mites, BBR, and “Syrah decline/disorder - leaves turn red, graft point breaks, vine dies)
Character
- High levels of anthocyanins, respond well to oak
- deep ruby, m/h acid, m/h tannin
- m/pron int violet, plum, blackberry, black pepper, herbal notes (red if cool, black fr if warm)
Rules
- only red grape authorised in N Rhone
- Syrah adds structure, fruit and colour to Southern Rhone blends
4
Q
Grenache Noir?
A
Grenache Noir
- High yield Vigorous – does better on poorer soils
- Late ripe, needs warm site (autumn rain=risk)
- Good drought resistance, but prone to coulure, D MD, phomopsis, BBR
- bacterial necrosis, bacterial blight (event kills the plant)
- In ripening can accumm sugar very quickly - issue for dry, but good for VDN
Character
- Major component in southern Rhone blends (“GSM”)
- Pale ruby, ripe red sberry, plum, cherry, spicy, herbal.
- Hi alc, l/m tannin, Low acid
5
Q
Mourvedre?
A
Mourvèdre
- Low yields,
- late bud, late ripen, needs warm/hot climate to ripen
- underripe if late summer not hot
- Not drought resistant, needs small + regular water (calcareous soils perfect)
- Trained short, and grown on a cordon or bush vine
- prone to mites, leafhoppers, sour rot
Winery
- prone to reduction - must have adequate access to O2 (punch & pump)
- Typically aged in oak - cost
- Usually part of a blend:
- deep ruby, pron blackberry, blueberry, violets, hi alc, hi+firm tannin
- By contrast - principle variety for red/rose of Bandol AOC, Provence
6
Q
Cinsaut
A
Cinsaut
- late bud, high yield (restrict for quality)
- Good drought and disease resistance
- Prone to esca (trunk disease) and Eutypa, mites, grapemoth
- Lime soils - chlorosis
Winery
- Small part of red blend,
- Usually vinified to preserve the fruit:
- SS vessels, with mid range fermentation temperature
Character
- Light ruby, m/m+ raspberry, cherry; hi alc, l/m tannin
- aromas most prom in first year after wine is made - therefore suitable for early drinking reds/rose
7
Q
Describe the Carignan variety
A
Carignan
- high yield - control for flavour concentration - best from old vines (nat red yield)
- late bud, late ripe needs long warm summer
- Prone to P MD, grape moth
- Not suited to mech harvest - bunches cling to vine
Character
- hi acid, hi tannin - softened by use of carb mac / blending
- Not old vine: med ruby, simple blackberry, hi acid,hi tannin, unoaked: a/g, inexp
- Old vine: vg/OS intense black fruit, spice and earth for prem & sprm prices
8
Q
Viognier
A
Viognier
- Early bud (frost) - trellis/poles to protect from wind
- Coulure, poor flowering > low and unpredictable yields
- Must be fully ripe to have true flavours - picking time !!
- rapidly loses flavour, acid, accumm sugar if left too long.>unbalanced wine
Character
- med lem, pron honeysuckle, apricot, peach; m/hi alc, lo acid.
- 20% Viognier allowed in N Rhone Syrah
9
Q
Marsanne?
A
Marsanne
- Late bud, vigourous, productive - control for hi q wines
- Performs best on stony/low fert soils (lowers the yield)
- > good on the slopes of the N Rhone Valley.
- Prone to P MD, mites, BBR
Character
- M Lemon / Gold, lo int honeysuckle, lemon, apricot, oily texture, med acid, full body, m/hi alc.
- In N Rhone made as varietal or blended with Roussanne
- S Rhone - part of blend
10
Q
Roussanne?
A
Roussanne
- Late bud, best on low fertility, well drained soil,
- Poor resistance to wind (coulure9- sites carefully chosen
- Variable yields -> coulure
- Susc to P MD, BBR, mites
- More diff to grow than Marsanne, > less common in Rhone Valley
Character
- med lemon - gold,
- m /m+ aroma pear, herbal, m/m+acid, m/h alc
- ages quicker than Marsanne
-
Normally blended (but single var also)
- N Rhone Marsanne
- S Rhone Clairette & Grenache Blance
- contributes acidity and perfume, with age develops hazelnut aromas
11
Q
Grenache Blanc?
A
Grenache Blanc
- early budding (no frost in South France/Spain)
- Good wind resistance with an erect habit
- Almost only grown in S Rhone
- dry white blends & VDN (it can reach hi alc levels)
Character
- Lo int green fruit and floral, hi alc, low acid
12
Q
Clairette?
A
Clairette
- Ripens late (aut rain!)
- Vigorous, best on low fertility, dry soil - suits S Rhone & its low rainfall
- Pruned short and buds removed to control vigour
- Grows upright - wind resistant, without staking
Character
- Handle with care - oxidises easily
- primarily white blends in S Rhone
- cont freshness and fruit - white flower, fennel, apple, gfruit,
- hi alc, l/m- acid
13
Q
Bourboulenc?
A
Bourboulenc
Blending partner s Rhone, S of France
- Late ripe, loose bunches, thick skins
- > BBR resistant (benefit resist aut rain)
- Grows well in warm, dry locations - suits S Rhone (South France)
Character
- S Rhone white blends
- Lemon, m+ acid, m alc
14
Q
What is the climate like in Northern /Southern Rhone?
A
Moderate continental, similar to Beaujolais.
Northern: Continental, Higher rainfall, fewer hours of sunshine.
- Continental climate cold winter, warm summer
- adequate rain falls mainly autumn & winter
- Cold Mistral wind blows from north
- Reduces fungal disease pressure
- decreases vine vigour ~ lowers yields = higher concentration BUT lower prod.
30 miles between N Rhone and S Rhone is the reason for better ripening in South.
Southern:
- Warm Mediterranean climate
- hot, dry summers, mild winter & most of the rain in the winter
- 700mm rainfall - adequate, but drought is becoming a problem
- Land flatter than in N Rhone
- Stony Galet soils absorb heat radiate at night > (ext ripening)
- In CNP Galet is signature feature
- Little protection from Mistral wind > bush trained Grenache
- Syrah grown tied to wires and trellises to protect from the wind
- Northerly Mistral wind generally chases away diseases
Irrigation
- with permission - if hydric stress to vines
- no irrigation after veraison, or to exceed yield
15
Q
What is the primary grape for the following appellations?
- Cote Rotie
- Condrieu
- Chateaneuf-du-Pape
- Hermitage Blanc
- Tavel
- Gigondas
- Cornas
A
Cote Rotie: Syrah (up to 20% Viognier)
Condrieu: Viognier
CNdP: Grenache-based blend
Hermitage Blanc: Rousanne/Marsanne
Tavel: Grenache
Gigondas: Grenache
Cornas: Syrah
16
Q
Production of Red Cru level wines?
A
PRODUCTION OF RED CRU-LEVEL WINES
- Hand harvest
-
Crush
- Ddestemmed, chilled and cold soaked ( 1-3 days - colour)
- OR vinified whole bunches (or partially destemmed) to promote lifted aromatics
-
Fermentation
- SS / large concrete tanks / open top wooden fermenters-
- warm temps enh extraction col/flav/tannin
- Cultured or ambient yeasts
- Maceration ( extraction), 20-30 days + punch/pump or rack and return
-
Maturation before bottling
-
12-24 months :
- large oak - Grenache;
- small barrels for Syrah and Mourvèdre, 20–30 per cent new.
-
12-24 months :
17
Q
Production of inexpensive red wines
A
PRODUCTION OF INEXPENSIVE HIGH-VOLUME RED WINES
- Machine harvest
- Maybe some hand pick/ carbonic maceration - enh colour/fruit flavours - keep tannin low, suitable for early drinking (esp if unripe)
- Large producers may use flash détente or thermovinification to gain low-tannin, fruity style, quickly
-
Fermentation
- Cultured yeast - for quick+reliabe ferm to dry
- Temps mid-range for avoiding tannin, pres fruit
- Maceration short for same reason
- Store wines SS for few months before bottling
Refresh on Flash Detente / Thermovinification
- Higher temp = more extraction of anthocyanins and flavours
- With FD and Thermo. extraction is achieved quickly, and some tannins may also be extracted, but to a lesser extent.
- With both juice may be pressed off the skins before fermentation for low tannin, fruity style.
- Neg - wines produced in this way tend to have issues with colour instability
- not enough tannin to bind with the anthocyanins and form more stable compounds.
- thus best suited to inexp wines for early drinking
- or for creating a fruity blending component in higher quality wines
Thermovinification
- heat must to around 50–60°C sometimes higher.
- Can macerate for minutes to several hours - the higher the temp, the shorter the time.
Flash détente
-
destemmed grapes quickly heated to 85–90°C then rapidly cooled under a vacuum.
- duration = two minutes.
- Process bursts the cells in the grape skins, allowing a very rapid extraction of anthocyanins and flavours.
- The short time at high temperatures limits the risk of ‘cooked’ flavours developing.
- Expensive, thus norm only hi vol & large throughput to justify cost.
18
Q
Rose winemaking?
A
ROSÉ WINEMAKING
- Typically grapes are pressed after a cold maceration on the skins for 12–48 hours (depends on depth of colour/flav/tannin rqd
- e.g. Tavel Rose
- Fermentation as for a white wine.
- Typically aged in oak/concrete/SS
- some producers age prem ex in old small oak barrels to add texture.
- This method sometimes referred to as saignée but in this case the idea is to make only rosé wine from the grapes and all of the juice extracted from them.
- Saignee essentially is when must is drawn off to make rosé as a by-product of concentrating what will become a red wine.
19
Q
White wine winemaking?
A
WHITE WINEMAKING
- Ferment mid range to retain fruit (some ferment in oak for integration if they will also mature in oak)
- Malo C may be avoided to retain natural acidity.
- Most aged in large old oak /SS.
- The natural full body of the white Rhône varieties means lees stirring is sometimes avoided,
- Some do stir the lees for fuller-bodied style (e.g. M. Chapoutier’s Hermitage).
- Some matured in oak, adding a layer of complexity
- Fermenting/ maturing in small oak barrels adds cost.
20
Q
Comment on growing env N. Rhone
A
- Valley is narrow and steep slopes, 40 miles long (south areas ripen better)
- Vineyards planted close to the river, on steep slopes and in lateral valleys with south-facing aspect - good sun intercept.
- Most appellations on the western bank of the river (better exposure)
- Granite in best sites, very long north to south appellation, over 60 kilometres long
- Steep slopes > soil erosion = constant threat.
- The slopes also assist with water drainage
- Vines supported by individual stake or by teepee arrangement of stakes
21
Q
Describe the Cote Rotie AOC
A
- Cote Rotie - Small AOC, most northern : Only reds
-
Growing Environment
- Steep slopes, narrow terraces face E / SE
- = manual vineyard maintenance
- terraces need repair time to time
- Erosion is a constant problem – have to cart soil back up the hill
- single or double guyot (cane) tied to one or more poles (echalas)
- high sunlight interc, heat, rapid drainage and poor soils result in fully ripe grapes
- Planting density 10,000/Ha. With maximum yield of 40hL/ha. (competition for resources, reduces yields, higher conc in fruit)
- Vines commonly propagates by mass selection
- Rootstock 3309 preferred - (productive + good colour)
Wines
- Syrah only
- up to 20% of Viognier permitted in blend
- if used, must be co-fermented
- in practice often 0 and if so, norm max 8%
- up to 20% of Viognier permitted in blend
- Winemaking emphasises aromatic potential (Viognier brings floral/fruity aromas)
- Frequently natural yeast for terroir expression
- Malo C in barrel
- Maturation usually 225l
- OR large wood “demi-muids ~500-600l for less overt oak notes in young wine
-
Stylistically wines known for pronounced aromas
- softer, less full bodied than other top appellations, hermitage, Cornas
- Revived by E. Guigal (La Mouline, La Landonne, La Turque)
22
Q
Condrieu - describe this AOC and its wines
A
Condrieu AOC (100% Viognier41 hL/ha)
- Small, 197ha
- Steep south facing rocky, low fertile slopes
- often terraced
- soils of granite and decomposed mica (“arzelle”)
- challenges - soil erosion, wind.
- sf = good ripening
Wine
-
Wine must be
- fermented SS/ large wood vessel
- few prod prefer small barrel for texture+flavour
- Malo C - producer choice & depends on vintage
- Lees 10 - 12 m with stirring
- Model for hiQ Condrieu wines around the world.
- F body, Low acid, h alc, Pron int peach, honeysuckle, apricot, rose water & candied citrus.
- Best drunk within 5yrs.
- Normally quite viscous texture
- F body, Low acid, h alc, Pron int peach, honeysuckle, apricot, rose water & candied citrus.
- fermented SS/ large wood vessel
- Guigal: ~40% of production
23
Q
St Joseph - describe the AOC and its wines
A
Saint-Joseph AOC
- 50 km long appellation Condrieu - Cornas
- less steep banks on the western side of the Rhône
- heart of region is a lieu-dit “St Joseph”
- Some sites not hillside - lesser q wines~ debate - reduce the AOC only hillsides and imp q??
- Notable producer - Jean Louis Chave
Wines
- 90% red, max yield 40 hl/ha
- small prop of Marsanne & Roussanne allowed
- in practice rarely included
- SS & large wood tanks most common ferm vessels
- ageing in larger wood / large barrels, sometimes barriques
- wide range of wines
- g….os, mid….sprem prices
24
Q
Growing environment, Wines, Business for Hermitage
A
- 40hl/h (R) and 45 (W) seldom acheived
- 137 ha, almost all planted many old vine 1/3 dev to white wine prod
- Left bank, sf bank of granite thinly covered with various soils, catch the sun, avoid the cold wind
- hot dry vineyards, thin stony soil~great ripening
- Various climats with different altitudes, exposures & soil types***.
- Erosion is a constant issue, increasing the cost of production
- Terracing is needed in places
Red:
- proportion of stems included in ripe vintages
- warm fermentation for max extraction of flavour / tannin
-
lengthy oak ageing (12 - 18m)
- proportion of new oak common (not always used)
- med/large wood vessels common
Model of the world’s most structured and long-lived Syrah wines
White
- typically blend: maj Marsanne, some Roussanne,
- OR 100% Marsanne.
- Ferm in old wood/new or old barrels/SS
-
Maturation in oak, min proportion being new
- OR in SS - depends on style
- Ageing - on lees 10-12m
- After long bottle ageing - best can develop rich, creamy nutty flavours with OS complexity
- In very ripe years a rare Vin de Paille is made (sweet wine made by drying grapes OFF the vine)
Climats:
- Le Meal, more aromatic, soil with more limestone
- L’Hermite at the top, bigger stones has more sand and fine Loess
25
Growing conditions of Crozes-Hermitage
**Growing conditions**
* Covers 1700 ha on left bank, surrounds Hermitage
* **North** - continental climate, Alpine influences
* ext cold in winter, strong influence of cold Mistral
* Long growing season, high diurnal range
* **\>moderate sugar accumm & retained acid**
* **Southern secto**r - warmer, rain - autumn, winter
* Deeper soil, more fertile
* 45 hL/Ha - lower conc
* Flatter \> mech– lower costs
* g/vg and mid priced,
* some premprice, hiQ wines from Jaboulet's Domaine de Thalabert
26
Wine production of Crozes Hermitage
**Wine production**
* Reds - Syrah,
* Whites 9% Marsanne(dom)/Roussanne.
* **Reds** -early drinking, m tannins
* ferment on skins, for wines intended for ageing
* destemming widely practiced
* fermentation in concrete/SS
* Maturation in same or large oak.
* **For Whites**
* top examples will be aged in old wood, occasionally a prop of new barrels
* Wines are majority g/vg mid - prem price. some OS examples
27
Describe the growing environment and wines of Cornas AOC
**Red Wine ONLY and must be 100% Syrah**
**Growing environment**
* Small (145 ha)
* Most south (Red)
* natural s/se facing amphitheatre, steep slopes (aspects)
* protected from Mistral
* ripens first in NRhone
**Wines**
* 40 hl/ha
* _reputation for hi tann_
* some prod use small barrels to soften,
* trend is back to robust and long-lived wines
* typ vg - os & prem - sprem prices
* **Notable producers**
* Domaine Alain Voge; Domaine Vincent Paris; Domaine Auguste Clape
28
What types of wines are produced in St.-Peray?
From which grapes?
Most South of all N Rhone
* slightly cooler
* **white wine only maj Marsanne, some Roussanne (45hl/ha)**
* soil: limestone and granite \> water retention + drainage
**Wine**
**Fermentation:** SS or Oak barrels
* Aged in same/large old oak vessels
* HiQ \> lees 10-12m
* stirring y/n
* g/vg Q and mid - prem price
29
Which white varieties and in what % are allowed in the blends following appellations?
Cote-Rotie
St Joseph
Hermitage
Crozes Hermitage
Cote-Rotie:20% Viognier
St Joseph - small prop Marsanne, Roussanne - seldom done.
Hermitage, Crozes Hermitage 15% Marsanne, Roussanne - seldom done
30
What is "Vin de Paille"?
Where is it commonly found?
"Straw wine", sweet wine made from grapes that have been dried on straw mats.
Made in Hermitage
31
Collines Rhodaniennes IGP
* Red, White, Rose
* from grapes outside of the AOC's in NRhone
* 80 hl/ha - low conc
* mechanised - cheaper
* mid - prem price.
32
Climate of southern Rhone?
* Warm Mediterranean climate
* hot, dry summers, mild winter & most of the rain in the winter
* 700mm rainfall - adequate, but drought is becoming a problem
* Irrigation permitted if drought is severe(strict rules)
* Land flatter than in N Rhone
* Best sites have stony soils that absorb sun's heat and warm the vineyard at night (ext ripening)
* In CNP these stones "galets" completely cover the ground.
* * Little protection from Mistral wind
* Vines are bush trained (certain var - esp Gren N which is the most planted in the South)
* Syrah grown tied to wires and trellises to protect from the wind
* Northerly Mistral wind generally chases away diseases
33
Viticulture in the southern Rhone
* **Flat \>\> Wind breaks** (Mistral) and Galets and irrigation/drought
* Low pruning increases ripening from reflected heat/prot from wind
* **Bush spur-pruned for Grenache and others** **except Syrah**
* **Syrah is tied to wires on trellises instead**
* Irrigation allowable in severe drought conditions
* Mechanisation is possible due to flatter topography
34
Hierarchy of Rhone AOCs?
**The hierarchy is:**
* Cotes du Rhone AOC
* Cotes du Rhone Villages AOC
* Cotes du Rhone Villages AOC + named village – i.e. Seguret
* (there are 20 villages...)
* Individual appellations for top villages – **_known as cru_** –
* Chateauneuf-du-Pape AOC
* Gigondas AOC
* Cairanne AOC
* Outside this hierarchy there are other appellations such as Ventoux AOC - separate cards
35
Cote du Rhone - the largest AOC in the Rhone - all the details including what do the red wines look like?
**_Côte du Rhône AOC_**
* 46% of RHONE wine
* Covers all VY area suitable for grape growing in S Rhone
* except for **other Rhone** appellations
* 2nd largest appellation in FR after Bordeaux AOC
**R & P: 51 hL/Ha.**
* 60% of blend must be GSM
* min 30% Grenache, min 20% Syrah+Mourvedre
* Other var - various, incl Carignan and Cinsaut
Most wines from flat, wind-swept vineyards with light & fruity style (some carbonic maceration)
* M ruby, m int red plum, blackberry, m acid, m tann (lo if carb mac), m alc - **No oak**
* Good - inexp
**W 51 hL/Ha (same)**
* 80% Bourbelenc, Clairette, GrenacheB, Marsanne, Roussanne, Vionier
* Other - various, incl Piquepoul B
36
lowest to highest permtted yields and blend rules, Southern Rhone....
* **_For Red: Yield hl/ha Blend %_**
CndP 35
Crus 36-38
CdR Village + Village 41
CdR Villages 44 66% of 2\> (1 mb G)
CdR 51 60% GSM 30G+20SM
37
Gigondas AOC
**Gigondas \> 1971**
* VY at 600m asl.
* alt + shade from Dentelles de Montmirail mts \>\> cool mornings
* extends period of ripening, inc flavour in final wine.
* Cooling from Mistral valuable - GrenN accumm less sugar \> so not so high alc
* Requirements:
* Must be over 50% Grenache
* Syrah & Mourvèdre are popular blending partners
* G/vg – mid - prem price
38
Vacqueyras AOC
* VY at 440m asl
* **Dentelles de Montmirail & alt give diurnal var** but not suff to threaten ripening in cooler yrs
* Min 50% Gren N
* at least one of Syrah or Mourvedre
* Yield 36 hL/Ha.
* Small qty W & Ro
* Good to very good quality – mid/prem priced
39
Vinsobres AOC
**Prev named village in CDRV**
**_Exclusively Red_**
* S/SE facing slopes 200-500 m asl\> sunlight interception, drainage
* ome protection from Mistral
* Higher - cooler - long ripening , conc
* Must be 50% Grenache Noir with at least one Syrah or Mourvèdre
* Some older plots of Carignan and Cinsault incr valued for hiQ fruit
* G/VG Q; mid price
40
Rasteau AOC
**Rasteau \> 2010 for Red**
* also makes small qty VDN
* Low SF slopes (100m), sheltered from mistral
* results in ripe & full bodied wine
* Irrigation allowed within limits
* Grenache at least 50% plus at least one of Syrah or Mourvèdre
* **Fermented** in large vats (concrete)
* **Matured** in large oak vessels (some hiq in small barrels (cost)
* G/VG Q and mid-prem price
41
Cairanne AOC?
* Cairanne AOC - 2015
* Not very steep
**Wines**
* Mainly red wines (small qty of white - reputation for hiQ)
* Fruity and approachable style
* Principal variety 40% GrenN plus at least one of Syrah or Mourvedre
42
Beaumes de Venise AOC
**Beaumes de Venise \> 2005 (the AOC covers the VDN and still Red)**
* Most VY on slopes, some shaded by Dentelles de Montmirail
* Grenache Noir principal variety with Syrah – together must be 50% of blend
43
AOC rules for Chateauneuf du Pape?
* 13 varieties allowed -
* Red - mainly used Gren N, Mourvèdre, Syrah,
* other Cinsaut, Muscardin, Counoise, Vaccarese, Piquepoul N, Terret N
* White - mainly used Gren B, Clairette, Bourboulenc, Roussanne.
* **Note – Viognier and Marsanne not allowed**
* **NO RESTRICTION ON VARIETAL PERCENTAGES**
* Single varietal wines such as
* **Rayas Chateauneuf** (100% Grenache)
* Beaucastel : **Chateauneuf Roussanne Vieilles Vignes**
* Min alc. 12.5% (no chaptalisation allowed)
* Allows R & W - **no Ro**
* Grapes must be picked by hand
44
the vineyards of Chateauneuf soil types?
* Large - \>3000 ha
* Limestone, clay, sandstone and sandy soil
* Clay particularly helpful (holds water in this hot region)
* Low-fertility, and well draining \> suits vines & reduces veg growth, \> smaller crops \> smaller yields of ripe grapes
* Perm yield 35hl, realised = 30hl/ha
* Galets radiate absored heat at night - less valued recently with climate change to warmer temps \> higher sugar levels
* Sandy soil = lighter wines
* Galets = higher sugar, riper, more structured.
* Blending from across the lieux-dits is common - for complexity and for commercial viability.
45
What are the typical style of wines made in the Chateauneuf du Pape?
**90% RED**
* Mostly Grenache Noir with Syrah and Mourvèdre
* M Ruby, M+/pron int red plum, blackberry, spice,+ new oak.
* M acid, hi alc, m-/hi tannin dep on blend(wm)/var/vintage
* Quality - due to size of appellation & no. of producers there is a range of quality....
* norm g - OS Q; mid to sprem price
**WHITE**
* Grenache Blanc, Clairette, Bourboulenc and Roussanne, + local var.
* fermentation
* some hiQ in barrel - complexity
* others preserve freshness & prim fruit character
* maturation - tanks / oak barrels, occasionally with new oak.
* Recent trend - lighter, more floral, more fresh.
46
Lirac AOC?
**Lirac AOC (long established)**
* Opposite bank from Châteauneuf du Pape
* High sunlight hours, well drained, infertise soil = good growing, ripening conditions
* Mainly R and some Ro, W
**RED** Winemaking
* Grenache Noir, Syrah, Mourvèdre – and Cinsaut
* Together these must = 90% of the final blend
* Notable producer **Domaine de la Mordoree**
* typifies the connection with CndP - having VY in that appellation also
47
Tavel AOC
**Tavel – DEDICATED TO ROSE (unique in Rhone Valley)**
* 12 principal varieties B&W
* Final blend must include Grenache Noir
* GSM not more than 60% (balance fromt the 12)
* Max. yield is 46 hL/Ha.
**Wines**
* Med int pink/orange (**darker** than others esp Provence Rose)
* m/m+ int strawberry, raspberry, **m+/f body,** m alc (at the top end of the band e.g. **13.5% abv**)
* G / VG and mid - prem price
48
Other AOC's in S Rhone?
**Ventoux AOC**
**Costieres de Nimes**
**Luberon**
**Grignan Les Adhemar**
49
* Who are the large Negociants who operate across north and south Rhone?
* How is the rest of the market structured?
* Comment on the Sales
* many large **Negociants** operate across north and south Rhone
* E. Guigal
* Jaboulet
* Chapoutier
* The above are all examples of this
* **Cooperatives** are more important in the south than the north
* Cellier des Princes – large cooperative in Chateauneuf du Pape
* Cave de Tain (in Tain l’Hermitage) an important Northern Rhone cooperative makes 40% of all Crozes-Hermitage AOC wines
**Trends**
* As value of wine has risen, more growers makingand bottling own rather than selling to negociantco-op
* Cote Rotie has 50 growers undertaking own bottling and a higher ratio of domaines relative to the number of negociants than many other communes
* small no. of en primeur and inv market for the regions very top wines
* esp Cote Rotie, Hermitage, CndP
**Sales**
* **Domestic**
* 32% supermarkets
* 29% specialist wine retail
* 6% discounters
* **Export** 33%
* USA, UK, Belgium
50
What 4 key factors are responsible for the broad differences in style of CNdP wines?
1. Soil Types: Vastly varied over the appellation's 3000 acres.
2. Use of oak: Some age for a long time in old oak foudres, others in new barrique.
3. Assemblage: Producers vary greatly in style when selecting from the 13 varieties allowed.
4. Use of Carbonic Maceraton / New vinification techniques.
51
What white grapes are used in Southern Rhone?
White is minority production but Bourboulenc, Clairette and Grenache Blanc plus Northern Rhone trio; Viognier, Marsanne and Rousanne
Except in CndP where Voignier and Marsanne are not permitted.
52
How does Cotes du Rhone compare with Cotes du Rhone Village?
Yield: 51\> 44\> 41
GSM cdr 30g +20sm \> cdrv 66g+sm
Generally more body, structure and concentrated, spiced fruit
53
What is the minimum abv allowed for
Chateauneuf-du-Pape AOP?
12.5%
54
What is the minimum % of Grenache required for Vacqueyras AOP wine?
50%
55
Describe the style of CndP red wine.
m ruby, m+/p ripe red plum, blackberry, spice, some with new oak
m acid, hi alc, tann dep on blend - cb m- to hi
g/os and m / prem price
56
What kind of still dry wine is produced in Beaumes-de-Venise and from which grape?
Red wine of which 50% is a mix of Gren N and Syrah
