CH19 Flashcards
describe Cornas
N Rhone cru- furthest south/ warmest
- vineyards lie on sheltered well exposed South face slopes
- 100 syrah
- deep color, full body, style and quality, similar to hermitage
describe Croze Hermitage
N Rhone most important in terms of volume
- lie on mixed terrain
- N of Hermitage, terrain on slopes, concentrated complex, tannic,
- S of Hermitage, flat terrain, lighter, higher yield
- Syrah; can have up to 15 percent Marsanne or Roussanne
describe the best Croze Hermitage
best aged in oak
over all not as high rep as Hermitage and Cote Rotie
describe Hermitage
N Rhone cru
- town of Train -l’Hermitage
- steep S face slopes
- Red is generally the fullest bodied and age well
- 15 percent Roussanne and Marsanne may be fermented with Syrah
- white is 20 percent of production in region
- best are blends of different sites
describe Saint- Joseph
N Rhone, S of Condrieu, N of Tournon
- vast majority is syrah
- some Marsanne and Roussan
- large volume, lt bodied
- -is often use carbonic maceration
- fertile, flatter sites on valley floor/ with plateau above
- expresses pepper perfumed
- best come terraced vineyards near Tournon which can have intensity and structure similar to Hermitage
describe Condrieu
N Rhone Cru (2nd one south)
- made solely from Viognier
- best come from low yielding old vines
- steep slopes
- well exposed
- terraced vineyards
- Chateau grillet, single property appellation
describe cote Rotie
N Rhone cru, most N region -town of Ampuis = translated as roasted slope -up to 20 percent viognier can be added -deep color, full body, spicy Best have floral, texture elegance
what are important regions of N Rhone (n to s)
Cote Rotie Condrieu * Saint Joseph Hermitage * Crozes Hermitage Cornas most wine come from Cru appellation and are tiny w/ exception of "*" ones
how are Marsanne and Rousanne used in N Rhone?
usually blended together -adds richness and weight -adds acidity and perfumed fruit neither is as big as viognier -both can develop complex hazelnut
describe Viognier in N Rhone
aromas of blossom, apricots -develop late in season -full bodied flavors of stone fruits low acid high alcohol can have oily character if not handled well new oak increasingly used but careful
describe Syrah in N Rhone
it is at the Northern limit of growth -b/c latitude and Mistral (cold N wind), best have S exposure and steep slopes deep color med to high tannin black fruit, black pepper, floral sometimes oaked, sometimes white added
major grapes varieties that grow in N Rhone
SYRAH - only black grape grown
VIOGNIER -helps stabalize color extraction from black grapes
-add aromatic intensity
MARSANNE and ROISSANNE: to a lessor amount grown
vineyards practices in N Rhone
- valley is quite steep and narrow
- vineyards planted on steep slopes S facing, close to river
- Sites lie in lateral valley
- valley protect vines from Mistral (cold N wind)
- vines are supported by Tepee like stakes
what is climate like in N Rhone?
the climate here is Moderate and Continental
- noticeably cooler than points south
- there is cold north wine call Mistral