C20 - The Southern Rhone /checked Flashcards
What is the first town north of the Southern Rhone?
Valence
Describe the terrain in the Southern Rhone
FLAT
Much flatter than that of the Northern Rhone
Describe the soils of many of the best vineyard sites in the Southern Rhône
STONY SOILS
They have very stony soils
What is the effect of the very stony soils in the Southern Rhone?
HEAT RE-RADIATION
They absorb the sun’s heat and warm the vineyard, aiding ripening
What are the soils in some areas of Chateauneuf-du-Pape like?
GALETS
The stones/galets completely cover the soil surface
Describe the climate of the Southern Rhone
MEDITERRANEAN
It is mediterranean
Mild winters and warm, dry summers
What are the 2 major climatic hazards of the Southern Rhone?
- Drought
2. High winds (from the Mistral)
Why is the Mistral more of a problem in the Southern Rhone than the Northern Rhone?
FLAT
Winds gain more speed here
There is less shielding from the wind by slopes
How are the effects of the Mistral (artificially) protected against in the Southern Rhone?
By building WIND BREAKS
Describe how Grenache and Syrah respectively are protected from the Mistral
Grenache is trained low (benefiting from warm soil)
Syrah benefits from the support offered by trellising systems
What is particularly different about grape content in Southern Rhone wines (particularly relating to the North)
Southern Rhone wines are often complex blends
Northern Rhone wines are single variety or simple blends
How many grape varieties can a Southern Rhone wine be made from?
More than a dozen
Which variety is by far the most widely planted in the Southern Rhone and dominates its wines?
Grenache
Why is Grenache successful in the Southern Rhone?
The warm summers allow it to ripen fully
What flavours does Grenache produce in the Southern Rhone?
Concentrated, spiced red fruit flavours
What can happen to Grenache-based wines in the Southern Rhone in overly hot years?
BAKED AND JAMMY
Their flavours can become baked and jammy
What does Syrah offer to blends in the Southern Rhone? (2)
- Colour
2. Tannin
Which grape variety of the Southern Rhone can struggle in the hottest sites?
Syrah
Which grape is at its northernmost limit in the Southern Rhone?
Mourvedre
Describe Mourvèdre in Southern Rhône
colour, tannin, flavours
- Deeply coloured
- Very high tannins
- Dense, black fruit flavours and gamey/meaty aromas when fully ripe
In what appellation of the Southern Rhone are Mourvedre’s ripe aromas most prized.
Chateauneuf-du-Pape
Name the fourth most important grape in the Southern Rhone (after GSM) and describe its role in blends.
Cinsault
It provides red fruit flavours (rather than structure)
What is the best known role of Cinsault in the Southern Rhone?
As a blending partner to Grenache in the production of fresh, fruity Roses
Name some ways in which Southern Rhone producers may battle potentially high tannins and high alcohol levels (4)
- Cold pre-fermentation maceration
- Storage in stainless steel
- Warm, extractive fermentations in traditional open fermenters
- Maturation in large old oak vessels
What is the range of styles within the Southern Rhone?
body, tannin, flavours (2 ends of spectrum)
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
What are the 3 notable white grape additions to those of the Northern Rhone in the Southern Rhone?
(aside Viognier, Rousanne, Marsanne)
- Clairette
- Grenache Blanc
- Bourboulenc
Describe the best whites of the Southern Rhône
body, alcohol, acidity, aromas
Usually richly textured and full-bodied
High alcohol
Low to medium acidity
Subtle fruity aromas - Rarely made with new oak
What is the role of white wine in the Southern Rhone?
Relatively VERY SMALL
What are the 2 generic appellations of the Southern Rhone?
- Cotes du Rhone
2. Cotes du Rhone Villages
What fraction of appellation wine production in the Southern Rhone does Cotes du Rhone account for?
More than 50%
Describe most Cotes du Rhone wines
body, flavour
Medium-bodied
Fruity but simple
What colour of wine is Cotes du Rhone made into?
White, red and rose
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)
- Minimum alcohol levels
- Maximum yields
- A greater percentage of the blend must be made from Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre
- 100% of the wine must come from the village on the label
Give an example of a village-labelled Cotes du Rhone
Cotes du Rhone Villages CAIRANNE
What are the best Southern Rhone wines outside of the crus?
VILLAGE-named Cotes du Rhone Villages wines
What sets the wine flavour/structure of a Cotes du Rhone Village apart from generic Cotes du Rhone?
in terms of body, structure, flavour
- More body,
- More structure
- More spiced red fruit flavours
Legally what option do village-named Cotes du Rhone Village have?
To apply for cru status
What is the largest of all of the crus in the Rhone valley?
Chateauneuf-du-Pape
What was the first area in France to have AOC status?
Chateauneuf-du-Pape
What is the general topography of Chateauneuf-du-Pape?
It is notably flat
What has the biggest impact on how Syrah and Mourvedre perform in Chateauneuf-du-Pape?
vineyard character
Small variations in aspect
What are the factors accounting for Chateauneuf-du-Pape diversity in styles? (4)
- SIZE - Appellation size
- SOIL - Wide range of soil types
- ASPECT - Wide range of aspects
- VARIETY - Large number of grape varieties (13)
Which grape dominates the wines of Chateauneuf-du-Pape?
Grenache
Some are 100% Grenache
What do producers hope to bring to a wine by adding Mourvedre?
flavour
Its gamey, meaty quality
Describe the best wines of Chateauneuf-du Pape
body, alcohol, flavours
Full bodied and richly textured
High alcohol
Concentrated spiced red fruit flavours
What are the characteristic problems of lesser-quality Chateauneuf-du Pape? (2)
- DILUTE
2. HIGH IN ALCOHOL
What colours of Chateauneuf-du Pape are produced?
Red and some white
How many Southern crus are on the west bank of the Rhone? What are they?
2
Tavel and Lirac
What are Tavel and Lirac most famous for?
Rosés
Describe the Roses of Lirac and Tavel
variety, body, flavour, ageing potential
- Made mainly from Grenache and Cinsault
- Full-bodied
- Intensely flavoured
- Capable of further complexity when bottle-aged
What styles (colours) can be made in Tavel and Lirac respectively?
Tavel: Roséonly
Lirac: Rosé, red and white (reds and whites in the style of CNdP)
What are the 2 most longstanding crus in Southern Rhone besides Chateauneuf-du Pape?
- Gigondas
2. Vacqueyras
Describe the cru wines of Southern Rhone besides Chateauneuf-du Pape
colour, blend, body
- Red wines
- Usually Grenache-led blends
- Full-bodied and spicy (similar to Chateauneuf-du Pape)
What is the quality of the cru wines outside of Chateauneuf-du Pape?
Many are as good as Chateauneuf-du Pape
What colours are the cru wines of Southern Rhone made into?
Mainly red
Some permit white and rose production
What is the fortified wine of the Southern Rhone called?
Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise