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2019-06-03 WSET3 EXAM > C19 - The Northern Rhone /checked > Flashcards

C19 - The Northern Rhone /checked Flashcards

1
Q

What are the best location for vineyards in the Northern Rhone? (2)

A
  1. Steep slopes

2. Southerly facing aspect

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2
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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3
Q

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

A

WIND PROTECTION

The vines are better protected from the cold northerly winds

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4
Q

What is the name of the cold northerly wind in the Rhone valley which can damage vines?

A

The MISTRAL

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5
Q

How are vines typically supported in the Northern Rhone?

A

By individual stakes or TEPEE-like arrangements of stakes

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6
Q

What is the climate of the Northern Rhone?

How does it compare to Southern Rhone?

A
  • Moderate continental

- Similar to Beaujolais. Noticeably warmer in the Southern Rhone

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7
Q

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

A

Syrah

It is the only permitted red grape variety

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8
Q

Describe the Syrah wines of the Northern Rhone

colour, tannins, aroma/flavour

A
  • Deeply coloured
  • Medium to high tannins
  • Black fruit and sometimes black pepper or floral aromas
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9
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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10
Q

What is the role of white grapes when fermented with Syrah in the Northern Rhone? (2)

A
  1. It can help to stabilise the colour extraction from the red grapes
  2. It can add an aromatic intensity to the grapes (Viognier particularly)
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11
Q

Describe wines made from Viognier in the Northern Rhone

body, acidity, alcohol, flavours

A
  • Full bodied whites
  • Low acidity
  • High alcohol
  • Flavours of blossom and apricots/stone fruits
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12
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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13
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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14
Q

Aside from Viognier, which main other white grapes are grown in the Northern Rhone? (2)

A
  1. Marsanne

2. Rousanne

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15
Q

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

A

They are usually BLENDED together

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16
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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17
Q

How are Marsanne/Roussanne blends generally characterised?

aroma, ageing, aroma

A

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

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18
Q

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

A

Cotes du Rhone

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19
Q

Is Cotes du Rhone made in Northern Rhone?

A

Yes, but most Northern Rhone wines come from one of the cru appellations

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20
Q

What are the 2 Northern Rhone crus which cover a significant area?

A
  1. Saint-Joseph

2. Crozes-Hermitage

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21
Q

Around which town are the vineyards of Cote Rotie?

A

AMPUIS

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22
Q

What is the most northerly appellation of the Northern Rhone?

A

Cote Rotie

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23
Q

What colour wines can be produced in Cote Rotie?

A

Reds only

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24
Q

Which varietals are used in Cote Rotie? (2)

A
  1. Syrah

2. Viognier

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25
Q

What percentage of wine blends can Viognier make up?

26
Q

Describe wines of Côte Rôtie

colour, body, aromatic

A
  1. Deeply coloured
  2. Full-bodied
  3. Spicy Aromatic, floral freshness and textural elegance, distinct from Hermitage
27
Q

What colours of wine are made in Condrieu?

A

White only

28
Q

Which grapes are used in Condrieu?

A

Viognier only

29
Q

Where do the best wines of Condrieu come from?

name vines and vineyard characteristics

A
  1. Low-yielding, old vines

2. Steep, well-exposed terraced vineyards

30
Q

Where/what is Chateau Grillet?

Describe its wines

A

It’s a single property appellation within Condrieu

Wines very similar to those of Condrieu

31
Q

Where is Saint-Joseph?

A

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

32
Q

What style of wines are Saint-Joseph wines?

red, whites

A

Reds made from Syrah

Whites made from Marsanne/Roussanne

33
Q

Where are the best wines of Saint-Joseph found?

A

Terraced vineyards near Tournon

Just north of Cornas

34
Q

What sort of area 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

35
Q

Describe the high-volume wines of Saint-Joseph

body, maceration, aroma

A

Lighter-bodied
Often incorporating carbonic maceration
Expressing pepper perfume aspects of Syrah

36
Q

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

A

High volume reds of Saint-Joseph

37
Q

Where is Hermitage?

A

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

38
Q

What is a lieux-dit?

How are they distinguished?

A

A named vineyard site, NOT PART OF AN AOC

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

39
Q

How is Hermitage arranged; what is it divided in?

A

It’s organised into a number of lieux-dits

40
Q

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

A

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

41
Q

What is the fullest bodied of the Northern Rhone wines?

42
Q

What other varietals may be fermented with Syrah in Hermitage wines? (2)

Up to what percentage?

A
  1. Marsanne
  2. Roussanne

Up to 15%

43
Q

What colour of wine are made in Hermitage?

A

Red and white

44
Q

What varietals are the white wines of Hermitage made from? (2)

A
  1. Marsanne

2. Roussanne

45
Q

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

46
Q

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

A

Crozes-Hermitage

47
Q

Where are the vineyards of Crozes-Hermitage?

A

On mixed terrain around the hill of Hermitage

48
Q

Describe the topography of Crozes-Hermitage in relation to Hermitage

north, south

A

North: Vineyards are on slopes
South: On a flat plain

49
Q

What are the wines of Crozes-Hermitage made of?

A
  1. Syrah

2. Up to 15% Marsanne/Roussanne

50
Q

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

A

They vary wildly depending on location

51
Q

Where are the lighter wines of Crozes-Hermitage from?

A

The higher-yielding, flatter sites to the south

52
Q

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

concentration, tannins

A

More concentrated, complex and tannic

53
Q

What is the role of oak in Crozes-Hermitage?

A

Some of the more expensive wines may be aged in oak

54
Q

What colours of wine are produced in Crozes-Hermitage?

A

Mostly red but some white

55
Q

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

56
Q

What colour of wine is produced in Cornas?

57
Q

What is the warmest of the Northern Rhone appellations?

58
Q

Where are the vineyards of Cornas?

A

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

59
Q

Describe the vineyards of Cornas (3)

A
  1. Sheltered from wind
  2. Sun-baked
  3. South-facing
60
Q

Which grapes are allowed in Cornas?

A

Syrah only

61
Q

Describe the wines of Cornas

colour, body, style equivalent

A
  1. Deeply coloured
  2. Full-bodied
  3. Similar style/quality to Hermitage

2019-06-03 WSET3 EXAM (52 decks)

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