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Micky WSET Lv3 > C19 - The Northern Rhone - completed > Flashcards

C19 - The Northern Rhone - completed Flashcards

1
Q

Describe the Rhone Valley area 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 their 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
Which typically Souther Rhone wine can also be made in the Northern Rhone?
Cotes du Rhone
26
Describe the appellation system of the Northern Rhone
Most Northern Rhone wines come from one of the cru appellations
27
Describe a common attribute between Northern Rhone crus
They are often tiny
28
What are the two Northern Rhone crus which cover a significant area?
- Saint-Joseph | - Crozes-Hermitage
29
Around which town are the vineyards of Cote Rotie?
Ampuis
30
What is the most northerly appellation of the Northern Rhone?
Cote Rotie
31
What is the translation of Cote Rotie?
Roasted slope
32
What wines can be produced in Cote Rotie?
Reds only
33
How is Viognier used in Cote Rotie?
In small amounts and blended with Syrah
34
What percentage of wine blends can Viognier make up?
Up to 20%
35
Describe wines of Côte Rôtie
- Deeply coloured - Full-bodied - Spicy - Aromatic, floral freshness and textural elegance, distinct from Hermitage
36
What colours of wine are made in Condrieu?
White only
37
Which grapes are used in Condrieu?
Viognier only
38
Where do the best wines of Condrieu come from?
- Low-yielding old vines | - Steep, well-exposed terraced vineyards
39
Where is Chateau Grillet? Describe it and its wines
It's a single property appellation within Condrieu
40
Where is Saint-Joseph?
Along the western bank of the Rhone, between Condrieu and Tournon
41
What style are the majority of Saint-Joseph wines?
Reds made from Syrah
42
What is the 'other' style of wine made in Saint-Joseph?
Whites made from Marsanne/Roussanne
43
Where are the best wines of Saint-Joseph found?
- Terraced vineyards near Tournon | - Just south of Condrieu
44
Describe the best wines of Saint-Joseph
Flavour intensity and structure similar to Hermitage
45
Where do the high-volume wines of Saint-Joseph come from?
- The more fertile, flatter sites of the valley floor | - The plateau above the valley
46
Describe the high-volume wines of Saint-Joseph
- among the lightest-bodied of the Northern Rhone. - Often incorporating carbonic maceration - Expressing pepper perfume aspects of Syrah
47
Where is Hermitage?
On a steep, south-facing slope behind Tain-l'Hermitage
48
What is a lieux-dit?
A named vineyard site
49
How is Hermitage arranged?
It's divided into a number of lieux-dits
50
What is the benefit of Hermitage's lieux-dit system?
They all vary in steepness and aspect, giving wines of subtly different body and style
51
How are lieux-dits used when making wines of Hermitage?
They have traditionally been blends, but some now use single lieux-dits
52
What is the fullest bodied of the Northern Rhone wines?
Hermitage
53
What other varieties may be fermented with Syrah in Hermitage wines?
Marsanne and Roussanne
54
How much Marsanne and Roussanne may be fermented with Syrah in Hermitage wines?
Up to 15%
55
What colours of wine are made in Hermitage?
Red and white
56
What are the white wines of Hermitage made from?
Marsanne and Roussanne
57
What is the most common use of Marsanne and Roussanne in Hermitage now?
To make white wines
58
What proportion of Hermitage's production do white wines account for?
About one fifth
59
What is the most important Northern Rhone appellation in terms of production volume?
Crozes-Hermitage
60
Where are the vineyards of Crozes-Hermitage?
On mixed terrain around the hill of Hermitage
61
Describe the topography of Crozes-Hermitage in relation to Hermitage
- North: Vineyards are on slopes | - South: On a flat plain
62
What are the wines of Crozes-Hermitage made of?
- Syrah | - Adding up to 15% Marsanne/Roussanne
63
What quality, style and price are the wines of Crozes-Hermitage?
They vary wildly depending on location
64
Where are the lighter wines of Crozes-Hermitage from?
The higher-yielding, flatter sites to the south
65
What are the wines like from the northern sites of Crozes-Hermitage?
More concentrated, complex and tannic
66
What is the role of oak in Crozes-Hermitage?
Some of the more expensive wines may be aged in oak
67
What colours of wine are produced in Crozes-Hermitage?
Mostly red but some white
68
What is the most southerly of the Northern Rhone's appellations?
Cornas
69
What colour of wine is produced in Cornas?
Red only
70
What is the warmest of the Northern Rhone appellations?
Cornas
71
Where are the vineyards of Cornas?
On the south facing slopes of the Rhone's lateral valleys
72
Describe the vineyards of Cornas
Sheltered from wind, well-exposed, sun-baked and south-facing slopes
73
Which grapes are allowed in Cornas?
100% Syrah only
74
Describe the wines of Cornas
- Deeply coloured - Full-bodied - Similar style/quality to Hermitage
75
Which premium white wine in Northern Rhone has a significant reputation?
Viognier
76
What landscape is the best for growing Syrah in Northern Rhone?
- have southerly exposure | - on very steep slopes

Micky WSET Lv3 (46 decks)

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