C20 - The Southern Rhone - completed Flashcards
What is the first town north of the Southern Rhone?
Valence
Describe the terrain in the Southern Rhone
Much flatter than that of the Northern Rhone
Describe the soils of many of the best vineyard sites in the Southern Rhône
They have very stony soils
What is the effect of the very stony soils in the Southern Rhone?
They absorb the sun’s heat and warm the vineyard, aiding ripening
What are the soils in some areas of Chateauneuf-du-Pape like?
The stones/galets completely cover the soil surface
Describe the climate of the Southern Rhone
- It is mediterranean
- Mild winters and warm, dry summers
What are the two major climatic hazards of the Southern Rhone?
- Drought
- High winds (from the Mistral)
Why is the Mistral more of a problem in the Southern Rhone than the Northern Rhone?
- Winds gain more speed here
- There is less shielding from the wind by slopes
How are the effects of the Mistral 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
- 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)
The wines are often complex 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?
Grenache
Which variety dominates the wines of the Southern Rhone?
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 hots years in Southern Rhone?
Their flavours can become baked and jammy
What does Syrah offer to blends in the Southern Rhone?
Extra colour and 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
- Deeply coloured
- Very high tannins
- Dense, black fruit flavours and gamey/meaty aromas - when fully ripe
Where are Mourvedre’s ripe aromas highly prized in the Southern Rhone?
Chateauneuf-du-Pape
Name the fourth most important grape (other than Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre) in the Southern Rhone and describe its role(s)
- 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
What is notable about winemaking in the Southern Rhone
It is incredibly varied
What is a consistent challenge for winemakers in the Southern Rhone?
They must all find a way of managing potentially high tannins and high alcohol levels to produce a balanced wine
Name some ways in which Southern Rhone producers may battle high tannins and high alcohol levels
- Cold pre-fermentation maceration and storage in stainless steel
- Warm, extractive fermentations in traditional open fermenters and maturation in large old oak vessels
How will Southern Rhone producers usually make up their blends?
With wines that have been fermented using different techniques
What is the role of oak in the Southern Rhone?
- New oak is used by some producers
- Some producers believe that new oak overwhelms the flavours of Grenache
What is the range of styles within the Southern Rhone?
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 notable white grape additions to those of the Northern Rhone in the Southern Rhone?
- Clairette
- Grenache Blanc
- Bourboulenc
Describe the best whites of the Southern Rhône
- 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 generic appellations of the Southern Rhone?
- Cotes du Rhone
- Cotes du Rhone Villages
What fraction of appellation wine production in the Southern Rhone does Cotes du Rhone account for?
More than half
Describe most Cotes du Rhone wines
- 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’?
- More stringent minimum alcohol levels and maximum yields must be observed
- A greater percentage of the blend must be made from Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre
What additional rule must a producer adhere to if they are to add a village name to Cotes du Rhône Villages?
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 village CDR apart from generic CDR?
They have more body, structure and spiced red fruit flavours
Legally what option do village-named CDRs have?
To apply for cru status
Where is Chateauneuf-du-Pape?
On the east bank of the Rhone
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 Appellation Controlee status?
Chateauneuf-du-Pape
What is the general topography of CNdP?
It is notably flat
What factors impact how Syrah and Mourvedre perform in CNdP?
Small variations in aspect
What are the factors accounting for CNdP’s diversity in styles of red wines?
- Appellation size
- Wide range of soil types
- Wide range of aspects
- Large number of grape varieties (13)
Which grape dominates the wines of CNdP?
Grenache
Some CNdPs are 100%…
Grenache
What do producers hope to bring to a wine by adding Mourvedre?
Its gamey, meaty quality
Describe the best wines of Chateauneuf-du Pape
- Full bodied and richly textured
- High alcohol
- Concentrated spiced red fruit flavours
What are the characteristic problems of lesser-quality CNdPs?
It can be dilute and high in alcohol
What colours of CNdP 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
- Made mainly from Grenache and Cinsault
- Full-bodied
- Intensely flavoured
- Capable of further complexity when bottle-aged
What styles can be made in Tavel and Lirac respectively?
- Tavel: Roséonly
- Lirac: Rosé, red and white (reds and whites in the style of CNdP)
Where else in the Southern Rhone has been promoted to cru status?
Some other Southern Rhone villages that lie in and around the hills to the east of Chateauneuf
What are the two most longstanding crus in Southern Rhone besides CNdP?
Gigondas and Vacqueyras
Describe the cru wines of Southern Rhone besides CNdP
- Red wines
- Usually Grenache-led blends
- Full-bodied and spicy (similar style to CNdP)
What is the quality of the cru wines outside of CNdP?
Many are as good as the better CNdP
What colours are the cru wines of Southern Rhone made into?
Mainly red, but some permit white and rose production
What is the name of the separated AC for the wines of Beaumes de Venise?
Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise
What wine does Beaumes de Venise make?
fortified Muscat
