C20 - The Southern Rhone (reviewed) Flashcards
Discrined Southern Rhone broadly
- Streches from Valence (north) to Avignon (south)
- Terrain is much flatter than that of the Northern Rhone
- Best vineyards have very stony soils, which helps absorb the sun’s heat and warms the vineyard, aiding ripening
- Ex: CDP stones/galets completely cover the soil surface
- Climate: mediterranean (mild winters and warm, dry summers)
- Hazards: Drought and High winds (from the Mistral)
- Winemaking is incredibly varied
- Winemakers must all find a way of managing potentially high tannins and high alcohol levels to produce a balanced wine
Discuss Mistral in Southern Rhone.
- Mistral Winds gain more speed here, and there is less shielding from the wind by slopes vs. Norther Rhone
- Wind-breaks have to be planted
- Grenache bush trained and low to the ground
- Syrah is more easily damanged and benefits from the support offered by trellising systems
- Crus from West to East
- Tavel
- Lirac
- CDP
- Vacqueyras
- Gigondas
- Muscat des Beaumes de Venise
What is particularly different about grape content in Southern Rhone wines (particularly relating to the North)
The wines are often complex blends
Discuss at a high level the grape varieties in Southern Rhone
More than a dozen allowed
Red:
- Grenache - by far the most widely planted
- Syrah - supporting role to Grenache
- Mourvedre - supporting role to Grenache
- Cinsault - supporting role to Grenache
White:
- Clairette
- Grenache Blanc
- Bourboulenc
- Condrieu
- Marsanne
- Roussanne
Discuss Grenache in the Southern Rhone?
- Grenache is by far the most widely planted in the Southern Rhone
- The warm summers allow it to ripen fully
- Concentrated, spiced red fruit flavours
- Flavours can become baked and jammy
- Syrah adds Extra colour and tannin
Which grape variety of the Southern Rhone can struggle in the hottest sites?
Syrah
Discuss Mourvedre in the Southern Rhone
Mourvedre is at its northernmost limit in the Southern Rhone
Wines are:
- Deeply coloured
- Very high tannins
- Dense, black fruit flavours and gamey/meaty aromas when fully ripe
Its ripe aromas as most prized in Chateauneuf-du-Pape
Discuss Consault in Souther Rhone
- Fourth most important grape in Souther Rhone
- Provides red fruit flavours (rather than structure)
- Known as a blending partner to Grenache in the production of fresh, fruity Roses
Discuss Winemaking in Southern Rhone
- Winemakers must all find a way of managing potentially high tannins and high alcohol levels to produce a balanced wine
- Techniques vary from:
- Cold pre-fermentation maceration
- storage in stainless steel
- Warm, extractive fermentations in traditional open fermenters
- Maturation in large old oak vessels
- Blends - usually with wines that have been fermented using different techniques
- Oak
- 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
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 proportion of white wine in the Southern Rhone?
Relatively very small
What are the generic appellations of the Southern Rhone? Describe
Cotes du Rhone and Cotes du Rhone Villages
- More than half of appellation wine production in the Southern Rhone come from Cotes du Rhone
- Medium-bodied Fruity but simple
- White, red and rose
Cotes du Rhone Villages
- More stringent min alcohol levels and max yields
- A greater % of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre
- Wines have more body, structure and spiced red fruit flavours
- 100% of the wine must come from the village if they are to add a village name to Cotes du Rhône Villages
- Village-named Cotes du Rhone Villages wines represent the best wines from Sothern RHone besides the crus
Give an example of a village-labelled Cotes du Rhone
Cotes du Rhone Villages Cairanne
Legally what option do village-named CDRs have?
To apply for cru status