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2019-06-03 WSET3 EXAM > C20 - The Southern Rhone /checked > Flashcards

C20 - The Southern Rhone /checked Flashcards

1
Q

What is the first town north of the Southern Rhone?

A

Valence

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2
Q

Describe the terrain in the Southern Rhone

A

FLAT

Much flatter than that of the Northern Rhone

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3
Q

Describe the soils of many of the best vineyard sites in the Southern Rhône

A

STONY SOILS

They have very stony soils

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4
Q

What is the effect of the very stony soils in the Southern Rhone?

A

HEAT RE-RADIATION

They absorb the sun’s heat and warm the vineyard, aiding ripening

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5
Q

What are the soils in some areas of Chateauneuf-du-Pape like?

A

GALETS

The stones/galets completely cover the soil surface

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6
Q

Describe the climate of the Southern Rhone

A

MEDITERRANEAN

It is mediterranean
Mild winters and warm, dry summers

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7
Q

What are the 2 major climatic hazards of the Southern Rhone?

A
  1. Drought

2. High winds (from the Mistral)

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8
Q

Why is the Mistral more of a problem in the Southern Rhone than the Northern Rhone?

A

FLAT

Winds gain more speed here
There is less shielding from the wind by slopes

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9
Q

How are the effects of the Mistral (artificially) protected against in the Southern Rhone?

A

By building WIND BREAKS

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10
Q

Describe how Grenache and Syrah respectively are protected from the Mistral

A

Grenache is trained low (benefiting from warm soil)

Syrah benefits from the support offered by trellising systems

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11
Q

What is particularly different about grape content in Southern Rhone wines (particularly relating to the North)

A

Southern Rhone wines are often complex blends

Northern Rhone wines are single variety or simple blends

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12
Q

How many grape varieties can a Southern Rhone wine be made from?

A

More than a dozen

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13
Q

Which variety is by far the most widely planted in the Southern Rhone and dominates its wines?

A

Grenache

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14
Q

Why is Grenache successful in the Southern Rhone?

A

The warm summers allow it to ripen fully

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15
Q

What flavours does Grenache produce in the Southern Rhone?

A

Concentrated, spiced red fruit flavours

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16
Q

What can happen to Grenache-based wines in the Southern Rhone in overly hot years?

A

BAKED AND JAMMY

Their flavours can become baked and jammy

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17
Q

What does Syrah offer to blends in the Southern Rhone? (2)

A
  1. Colour

2. Tannin

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18
Q

Which grape variety of the Southern Rhone can struggle in the hottest sites?

A

Syrah

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19
Q

Which grape is at its northernmost limit in the Southern Rhone?

A

Mourvedre

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20
Q

Describe Mourvèdre in Southern Rhône

colour, tannin, flavours

A
  1. Deeply coloured
  2. Very high tannins
  3. Dense, black fruit flavours and gamey/meaty aromas when fully ripe
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21
Q

In what appellation of the Southern Rhone are Mourvedre’s ripe aromas most prized.

A

Chateauneuf-du-Pape

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22
Q

Name the fourth most important grape in the Southern Rhone (after GSM) and describe its role in blends.

A

Cinsault

It provides red fruit flavours (rather than structure)

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23
Q

What is the best known role of Cinsault in the Southern Rhone?

A

As a blending partner to Grenache in the production of fresh, fruity Roses

24
Q

Name some ways in which Southern Rhone producers may battle potentially high tannins and high alcohol levels (4)

A
  1. Cold pre-fermentation maceration
  2. Storage in stainless steel
  3. Warm, extractive fermentations in traditional open fermenters
  4. Maturation in large old oak vessels
25
Q

What is the range of styles within the Southern Rhone?

body, tannin, flavours (2 ends of spectrum)

A

From light-to-medium bodied fresh, fruity wines with low tannins to

highly tannic, full-bodied reds with flavours of spice, meat and/or earth

26
Q

What are the 3 notable white grape additions to those of the Northern Rhone in the Southern Rhone?

(aside Viognier, Rousanne, Marsanne)

A
  1. Clairette
  2. Grenache Blanc
  3. Bourboulenc
27
Q

Describe the best whites of the Southern Rhône

body, alcohol, acidity, aromas

A

Usually richly textured and full-bodied
High alcohol
Low to medium acidity
Subtle fruity aromas - Rarely made with new oak

28
Q

What is the role of white wine in the Southern Rhone?

A

Relatively VERY SMALL

29
Q

What are the 2 generic appellations of the Southern Rhone?

A
  1. Cotes du Rhone

2. Cotes du Rhone Villages

30
Q

What fraction of appellation wine production in the Southern Rhone does Cotes du Rhone account for?

A

More than 50%

31
Q

Describe most Cotes du Rhone wines

body, flavour

A

Medium-bodied

Fruity but simple

32
Q

What colour of wine is Cotes du Rhone made into?

A

White, red and rose

33
Q

What kind of rules must a producer adhere to if it is to call its wine ‘Cotes du Rhone VILLAGES’ versus ‘Cotes du Rhone’? (4)

A
  1. Minimum alcohol levels
  2. Maximum yields
  3. A greater percentage of the blend must be made from Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre
  4. 100% of the wine must come from the village on the label
34
Q

Give an example of a village-labelled Cotes du Rhone

A

Cotes du Rhone Villages CAIRANNE

35
Q

What are the best Southern Rhone wines outside of the crus?

A

VILLAGE-named Cotes du Rhone Villages wines

36
Q

What sets the wine flavour/structure of a Cotes du Rhone Village apart from generic Cotes du Rhone?

in terms of body, structure, flavour

A
  • More body,
  • More structure
  • More spiced red fruit flavours
37
Q

Legally what option do village-named Cotes du Rhone Village have?

A

To apply for cru status

38
Q

What is the largest of all of the crus in the Rhone valley?

A

Chateauneuf-du-Pape

39
Q

What was the first area in France to have AOC status?

A

Chateauneuf-du-Pape

40
Q

What is the general topography of Chateauneuf-du-Pape?

A

It is notably flat

41
Q

What has the biggest impact on how Syrah and Mourvedre perform in Chateauneuf-du-Pape?

vineyard character

A

Small variations in aspect

42
Q

What are the factors accounting for Chateauneuf-du-Pape diversity in styles? (4)

A
  1. SIZE - Appellation size
  2. SOIL - Wide range of soil types
  3. ASPECT - Wide range of aspects
  4. VARIETY - Large number of grape varieties (13)
43
Q

Which grape dominates the wines of Chateauneuf-du-Pape?

A

Grenache

Some are 100% Grenache

44
Q

What do producers hope to bring to a wine by adding Mourvedre?

flavour

A

Its gamey, meaty quality

45
Q

Describe the best wines of Chateauneuf-du Pape

body, alcohol, flavours

A

Full bodied and richly textured
High alcohol
Concentrated spiced red fruit flavours

46
Q

What are the characteristic problems of lesser-quality Chateauneuf-du Pape? (2)

A
  1. DILUTE

2. HIGH IN ALCOHOL

47
Q

What colours of Chateauneuf-du Pape are produced?

A

Red and some white

48
Q

How many Southern crus are on the west bank of the Rhone? What are they?

A

2

Tavel and Lirac

49
Q

What are Tavel and Lirac most famous for?

A

Rosés

50
Q

Describe the Roses of Lirac and Tavel

variety, body, flavour, ageing potential

A
  • Made mainly from Grenache and Cinsault
  • Full-bodied
  • Intensely flavoured
  • Capable of further complexity when bottle-aged
51
Q

What styles (colours) can be made in Tavel and Lirac respectively?

A

Tavel: Roséonly
Lirac: Rosé, red and white (reds and whites in the style of CNdP)

52
Q

What are the 2 most longstanding crus in Southern Rhone besides Chateauneuf-du Pape?

A
  1. Gigondas

2. Vacqueyras

53
Q

Describe the cru wines of Southern Rhone besides Chateauneuf-du Pape

colour, blend, body

A
  • Red wines
  • Usually Grenache-led blends
  • Full-bodied and spicy (similar to Chateauneuf-du Pape)
54
Q

What is the quality of the cru wines outside of Chateauneuf-du Pape?

A

Many are as good as Chateauneuf-du Pape

55
Q

What colours are the cru wines of Southern Rhone made into?

A

Mainly red

Some permit white and rose production

56
Q

What is the fortified wine of the Southern Rhone called?

A

Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise

2019-06-03 WSET3 EXAM (52 decks)

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