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Matt's WSET level 3 > C19 - The Northern Rhone > Flashcards

C19 - The Northern Rhone Flashcards

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1
Q

Describe the Rhone Valley in the Northern Rhone

A

It is quite narrow and steep

Vineyards mainly planted close to the river

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2
Q

The best northern Rhone vineyards occupy…with…

A

Steep slopes

Southerly facing aspect

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3
Q

What is the general location/situation of the Northern Rhone’s best vineyards?

A

In lateral valleys that feed into the Rhone

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4
Q

What is the benefit of the best vineyards of the Rhone being in lateral valleys?

A

The vines are better protected from the cold northerly winds

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5
Q

What is the name of the cold northerly wind in the Rhone valley?

A

The mistral

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6
Q

Why is the Mistral a threat to Rhone vines?

A

It can easily damage them

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7
Q

How are vines typically supported in the Northern Rhone?

A

By individual stakes or tepee-like arrangements of stakes

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8
Q

What is the climate of the Northern Rhone?

A

Moderate continental

Similar to Beaujolais

Noticeably warmer in the Southern Rhone

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9
Q

How many red grapes are permitted in the Northern Rhone?

A

1

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10
Q

What is the only red grape permitted in the Northern Rhone?

A

Syrah

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11
Q

Which Rhone grape is at the very northern limit of where it can ripen successfully?

A

Syrah

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12
Q

Describe the Syrah wines of the Northern Rhone

A

Deeply coloured

Medium to high tannins

Black fruit and sometimes black pepper or floral aromas

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13
Q

What is the role of oak in Northern Rhone based Syrah wines?

A

It is dependant on the winemaker Some use new oak for heir best wines Some use older oak or larger barrels

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14
Q

What winemaking practice was traditionally practiced in a number of Northern Rhone Crus but is now rarely seen?

A

Fermenting Syrah with white varieties

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15
Q

What is the role of white grapes when fermented with Syrah in the Northern Rhone?

A

It can help to stabilise the colour extraction from the red grapes

It can add an aromatic intensity to the grapes (Viognier particularly)

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16
Q

Describe wines made from Viognier in the Northern Rhone

A

Full bodied whites

Low acidity

High alcohol

Flavours of blossom and apricots/stone fruits

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17
Q

Why is Viognier typically high alcohol and low in acidity?

A

It doesn’t usually develop its signature aromas/flavours until very late in the season, when they reached a very high level of sugar ripeness

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18
Q

Why do Viognier grapes need very careful handling in the winery?

A

So that they do not develop an overtly oily character that can overwhelm the varietal aromas

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19
Q

What is the role of new oak in the vinification of Viognier?

A

It is being increasingly used, but must be handled carefully so that the oak aromas do not easily overwhelm the primary aromas

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20
Q

What is the ‘other’ style of Viognier made in the Northern Rhone?

A

Some are made in an off-dry style from late-harvested grapes

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21
Q

Which other white grapes are grown in the Northern Rhone?

A

Marsanne and Rousanne

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22
Q

How are Marsanne and Rousanne usually used in the Northern Rhone?

A

They are usually blended together

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23
Q

What characteristics do Marsanne and Roussanne individually offer to a wine?

A

Marsanne: Richness and weight

Roussanne: Acidity and perfumed fruit

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24
Q

How are Marsanne/Roussanne blends generally characterised?

A

They are not as aromatically intense as Viognier wines, but can age well and develop complex hazelnut aromas

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25
Q

Which typically Souther Rhone wine can also be made in the Northern Rhone?

A

Cotes du Rhone

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26
Q

Describe the appellation system of the Northern Rhone

A

Most Northern Rhone wines come from one of the cru appellations

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27
Q

Describe a common attribute between Northern Rhone crus

A

They are often tiny

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28
Q

What are the two Northern Rhone crus which cover a significant area?

A

Saint-Joseph Crozes-Hermitage

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29
Q

Around which town are the vineyards of Cote Rotie?

A

Ampuis

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30
Q

What is the most northerly appellation of the Northern Rhone?

A

Cote Rotie

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31
Q

What is the translation of Cote Rotie?

A

Roasted slope

32
Q

What wines can be produced in Cote Rotie?

A

Reds only

33
Q

Which varietals are used in Cote Rotie?

A

Syrah and Viognier

34
Q

How is Viognier used in Cote Rotie?

A

In small amounts and blended with Syrah

35
Q

What percentage of wine blends can Viognier make up?

A

Up to 20%

36
Q

Describe wines of Côte Rôtie

A

Deeply coloured

Full-bodied

Spicy

Aromatic, floral freshness and textural elegance, distinct from Hermitage

37
Q

What colours of wine are made in Condrieu?

A

White only

38
Q

Which grapes are used in Condrieu?

A

Viognier only

39
Q

Where do the best wines of Condrieu come from?

A

Low-yielding, old vines

Steep, well-exposed terraced vineyards

40
Q

Where is Chateau Grillet? Describe it and its wines

A

It’s a single property appellation within Cote Rotie

Wines very similar to those of CR

41
Q

Where is Saint-Joseph?

A

Along the western bank of the Rhone, between Condrieu and Tournon

42
Q

What style are the majority of Saint-Joseph wines?

A

Reds made from Syrah

43
Q

What is the ‘other’ style of wine made in Saint-Joseph?

A

Whites made from Marsanne/Roussanne

44
Q

Where are the best wines of Saint-Joseph found?

A

Terraced vineyards near Tournon

Just south of Condrieu

45
Q

Describe the best wines of Saint-Joseph

A

Flavour intensity and structure similar to Hermitage

46
Q

Where do the high-volume wines of Saint-Joseph come from?

A

The more fertile, flatter sites of the valley floor

The plateaux above the valley

47
Q

Describe the high-volume wines of Saint-Joseph

A

Lighter-bodied

Often incorporating carbonic maceration

Expressing pepper perfume aspects of Syrah

48
Q

What are the lightest-bodied wines of the Northern Rhone?

A

High volume reds of Saint-Joseph

49
Q

Where is Hermitage?

A

On a steep, south-facing slope behind Tain-l’Hermitage

50
Q

What is a lieux-dit?

A

A named vineyard site

51
Q

How is Hermitage arranged?

A

It’s organised into a number of lieux-dits

52
Q

What is the benefit of Hermitage’s lieux-dit system?

A

They all vary in steepness and aspect, giving wines of subtly different body and style

53
Q

How are lieux-dits used when making wines of Hermitage?

A

They have traditionally been blends, but some now use single lieux-dits

54
Q

What is the fullest bodied of the Northern Rhone wines?

A

Hermitage

55
Q

What else may be fermented with Syrah in Hermitage wines?

A

Marsanne and Roussanne

56
Q

How much Marsanne and Roussanne may be fermented with Syrah in Hermitage wines?

A

Up to 15%

57
Q

What colours of wine are made in Hermitage?

A

Red and white

58
Q

What are the white wines of Hermitage made from?

A

Marsanne and Roussanne

59
Q

What is the most common use of Marsanne and Roussanne in Hermitage?

A

To make white wines

60
Q

What proportion of Hermitage’s production do white wines account for?

A

About a fifth

61
Q

What is the most important Northern Rhone appellation in terms of production volume?

A

Crozes-Hermitage

62
Q

Where are the vineyards of Crozes-Hermitage?

A

On mixed terrain around the hill of Hermitage

63
Q

Describe the topography of Crozes-Hermitage in relation to Hermitage

A

North: Vineyards are on slopes

South: On a flat plain

64
Q

What are the wines of Crozes-Hermitage made of?

A

Syrah

Up to 15% Marsanne/Roussanne

65
Q

What quality, style and price are the wines of Crozes-Hermitage?

A

They vary wildly depending on location

66
Q

Where are the lighter wines of Crozes-Hermitage from?

A

The higher-yielding, flatter sites to the south

67
Q

What are the wines like from the northern sites of Crozes-Hermitage?

A

More concentrated, complex and tannic

68
Q

What is the role of oak in Crozes-Hermitage?

A

Some of the more expensive wines may be aged in oak

69
Q

What colours of wine are produced in Crozes-Hermitage?

A

Mostly red but some white

70
Q

What is the most southerly of the Northern Rhone’s appellations?

A

Cornas

71
Q

What colour of wine is produced in Cornas?

A

Red only

72
Q

What is the warmest of the Northern Rhone appellations?

A

Cornas

73
Q

Where are the vineyards of Cornas?

A

On the south facing slopes of the Rhone’s lateral valleys

74
Q

Describe the vineyards of Cornas

A

Sheltered from wind, well-exposed, sun-baked and south-facing

75
Q

Which grapes are allowed in Cornas?

A

Syrah only

76
Q

Describe the wines of Cornas

A

Deeply coloured

Full-bodied

Similar style/quality to Hermitage

Matt's WSET level 3 (44 decks)

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