Ch 20 - Southern Rhone

Question 1

What is the climate of the Southern Rhone? What are the challenges faced regarding climate?

Answer 1

Mediterranean with mild winters and warm dry summers. Drought can be a challenge, as can the north mistral wind which damages vineyards.

Question 2

Why are winds more of a problem in Southern Rhone than in Northern Rhone? How can this be compensated for?

Answer 2

Southern Rhone has flatter terrain and therefore less slopes to protect the vines from wind. Windbreaks can be planted to protect the vines; Grenache is bush-trained low to the ground to protect from wind (and benefits from warmth of the soil) whereas Syrah is more easily damaged and benefits from support of trellising.

Question 3

What is one notable difference in the wines between Nth and Sth Rhone?

Answer 3

The wines in Southern Rhone are usually complex blends of several varieties, whereas in the Nth they are less likely to be blends and more varietally focussed

Question 4

What is the main variety of the Southern Rhone? What climatic factors influence it?

Answer 4

Grenache dominates the reds and is the most widely planted variety. Warm summers mean it can fully ripen producing wines with concentrated spiced red fruit flavours. In hot years may become baked and jammy.

Question 5

What are the main supporting grapes in Southern Rhone? What do they add to the wines and how do they suit the climate?

Answer 5

Syrah and Mouvedre.

Syrah adds colour and tanning but can struggle in hottest sites.

Mouvedre is at the northern limit of where it can ripen and thrives – deeply coloured and high in tannin. When fully ripened it develops dense black fruit flavours and gamey, meaty aromas that are highly prized especially in Chateauneuf-du-Pape.

Cinsault also supports – provides red fruit flavours rather than tannin or colour but is best known as blending partner to Grenache in fresh, fruity rosés

Question 6

What style of winemaking is used in the Southern Rhone and what are the main challenges faced? What are some examples of techniques used?

Answer 6

Winemaking varies – almost impossible to describe a typical style but they all have to find a way of managing potentially high tannins and high alcohol to produce balanced wines.

Techniques may range from using cold pre-fermentation maceration and storage in stainless steel to warm extractive fermentations in traditional open fermenters and maturation in large old oak vessels.

Question 7

Comment on the use of oak in Southern Rhone

Answer 7

New oak is used by some, although many traditional producers believe it overwhelms the flavours of Grenache

Question 8

What style of red wine is Southern Rhone characterised by?

Answer 8

Vary from light to medium bodied, fresh, fruity wines with low tannins to highly tannic full bodied reds with flavour of spice, meat and/or earth.

Question 9

What varieties of white wine are grown in the Southern Rhone?

Answer 9

White wine is a minority concern in the region.

Varieties: Clairette, Grenache Blanc and Bourboulenc are additions to the main trio of Viognier, Marsanne and Roussanne.

Question 10

What style are the best white wines from Southern Rhone? Comment on the use of oak.

Answer 10

Best whites are usually richly textured and full bodied, high in alc with low to med acidity and subtle fruity aromas.

New oak is rarely used.

Question 11

How can growers in Southern Rhone protect grapes from the drop in temperature at night? Why does the temp drop so markedly?

Answer 11

Some use large pebbles around the bases of the vines to absorb the heat of the sun during the day - this keeps the vines warm at night. The region tends to have little cloud cover, if any, hence there is a significant diurnal range.

Question 12

What is the appellation hierarchy in Southern Rhone? (Lowest to highest)

Answer 12

Generic - Côtes du Rhône
Côtes du Rhône Villages
Côtes du Rhône Villages + [Village Name]
Crus

Question 13

What proportion of the region’s production comes from the Côtes du Rhône appellation and what sort of wines are is it characterised by?

Answer 13

More than half entire production of appellation wines in Sth Rhone – mostly red.

Most are medium bodied, fruity but simple wines. Fruity roses and whites are made here too.

Question 14

What is required to qualify for the Côtes du Rhône Villages appellation?

Answer 14

More stringent min alcohol levels must be met and max yields must be observe. A greater % of blend must be Grenache, Syrah and Mouverdre.

Question 15

What is required to qualify for the Côtes du Rhône Villages + [Village Name] appellation?

Answer 15

100% of wine must come from the named village.

Question 16

What type of wine comes from the Côtes du Rhône Villages + [Village Name] appellation? Can these named villages rise in status?

Answer 16

These are the best wines outside of the crus and have more body, structure and spiced red fruit than generic Côtes du Rhône appellation – all of the named villages can apply for cru status.

Question 17

Describe the Châteauneuf-du-Pape Appellation (location, terrain, comment on soil type and aspect of sites).

Answer 17

Châteauneuf-du-Pape is situated on east bank of the Rhone – it is the largest of the crus in the valley.

It was the first area to have Appellation Contrôlée status.

Notably flat although small variations in aspect can have marked impact on how well Syrah and Mouverdre perform

It is a large appellation and has a wide range of soil types, aspects and varities that can be used (13)

Question 18

What are the main varieties and styles of wine produced in Châteauneuf-du-Pape? What is the quality level you would expect of wines from this region?

Answer 18

Red wine dominates, particularly Grenache.Many wines are 100% Grenache while others make use of the gamey, meaty quality of Mouvedre.

Because of the large size of the appellation and variation in soil type and aspect of sites, there is a lot of diversity among the red wines here.

The factors that offer so much variety also mean there is lots of mediocre Châteauneuf-du-Pape – dilute and unbalanced by high alcohol.

A small quantity of white is made too.

Question 19

What would you expect of the best Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines?

Answer 19

Best wines are full bodied and richly textured with concentrated spiced red fruit flavours that balance the high alcohol

Question 20

Describe what you would expect from Tavel Cru and its location.

Answer 20

On the west bank of the Rhone – can only produce rosé.

Made mainly from Grenache and Cinsault – full bodied compared with provence rosés, intensly flavoured and capable of developing greater complexity when aged in bottle

Question 21

Describe what you would expect from Lirac Cru and its location.

Answer 21

On the west bank of the Rhone – most famous for rosé.

Roses made mainly from Grenache and Cinsault – full bodied compared with provence rosés, intensly flavoured and capable of developing greater complexity when aged in bottle

Also produces top quality red and white in style of Châteauneuf-du-Pape .

Question 22

What are Gigondas and Vacqueyras? What do they produce?

Answer 22

Two of the most long-standing crus in the Southern Rhône. Make red wines, Grenache-led, similar full bodied spicy style to Châteauneuf-du-Pape and many are as good as Châteauneuf-du-Pape.

Question 23

What are the differences between Left and Right Bank Southern Rhône wines?

Answer 23

The reds from the left bank are full bodied, rich in tannins while young, and are characterised by their aromas of prune, undergrowth, chocolate and ripe black fruit. The right bank reds are slightly lighter and fruitier.