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WSET 3 (2nd Edition) > Chap 20: Southern Rhone > Flashcards

Chap 20: Southern Rhone Flashcards

1
Q

The Southern Rhone starts south of which city?

A

Valence

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2
Q

Describe the terrain in the Southern Rhone compared to N. Rhone?

A

Much flatter than that of the Northern Rhone

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3
Q

Describe the soils of many of the best vineyard sites in the Southern Rhône

A

They have very stony soils

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4
Q

What is the effect of the very stony soils in the Southern Rhone?

A

They absorb the sun’s heat and warm the vineyard, aiding ripening

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5
Q

What are the soils in some areas of Chateauneuf-du-Pape like?

A

The stones completely cover the soil surface

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6
Q

What are the stones (on the soil) in Chateaneuf-du-Pape called?

A

Galets

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7
Q

Describe the climate of the Southern Rhone:
* Continental, Maritime or Med
* Describe the charectoristics of the winters and summers here

A

It is mediterranean

Mild winters and warm, dry summers

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8
Q

What are the two major climatic hazards of the Southern Rhone?

A

Drought

High winds (from the Mistral)

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9
Q

Why is the Mistral more of a problem in the Southern Rhone than the Northern Rhone?

A

Winds gain more speed here and can cause extensive damage to the vines.

There are fewer slopes to protect the vines from the wind

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10
Q

How are the effects of the Mistral protected against in the Southern Rhone?

A

By planting windbreaks

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11
Q

What is the dominant black varietal here? And what other black varietals play a supporting role?

A
  • Grenache - dominant & most widely planted varietal here
  • Syrah
  • Mourvèdre
  • Cinsault
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12
Q

Describe how Grenache and Syrah respectively are protected from the Mistral?
Which is more easily damaged by the wind?

A
  • Grenache is bush trained low to the ground to offer protection from the wind and benefit from the warmth of the soil
  • Syrah is more easily damaged in the wind vs. Grenache and it benefits from the support offered by trellising systems
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13
Q

What is particularly different about grape content/wines in Southern Rhone wines (particularly relating to the North)

A

The wines are often complex blends vs. made from just 1 or 2 varities

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14
Q

How many grape varieties can a Southern Rhone wine be made from?

A

More than a dozen

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15
Q

Why is Grenache successful in the Southern Rhone?

A

The warm summers allow it to ripen fully

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16
Q

What flavours does Grenache produce in the Southern Rhone?
What happens to these flavors in a hot vintages?

A
  • Concentrated, spiced red fruit flavours
  • hot vintages = fruit flavors can become baked and jammy
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17
Q

What does Syrah offer to blends in the Southern Rhone?

A

Extra colour and tannin

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18
Q

Which grape variety of the Southern Rhone can struggle in the hottest sites?

A

Syrah

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19
Q

Which grape is at its northernmost limit where it can ripen successfully (in the Southern Rhone)?

A

Mourvèdre - it thrives in these conditions

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20
Q

Describe Mourvèdre in Southern Rhône
* Color
* Tannins
* Flavors/Aromas when fully ripe

A

Deeply coloured

Very high tannins

Dense, black fruit flavours and gamey/meaty aromas when fully ripe

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21
Q

Where are Mourvedre’s ripe aromas most prized in the Southern Rhone?

A

Chateauneuf-du-Pape

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22
Q

What is the best known role of Cinsault in the Southern Rhone?

A

As a blending partner to Grenache in the production of fresh, fruity Roses.

Can also be used as a supporting role in red wine blends.

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23
Q

What does Cinsault provide to red wine blends in Southern Rhone?

A

It provides red fruit flavours (rather than structure)

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24
Q

What is notable about winemaking in the Southern Rhone

A

It is incredibly varied

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25
Q

What is a consistent challenge for winemakers in the Southern Rhone?

A

They must all find a way of managing potentially high tannins and high alcohol levels to produce a balanced wine

26
Q

Name some ways in which Southern Rhone producers may battle high tannins and high alcohol levels

A

Cold pre-fermentation maceration and storage in stainless steel

Warm, extractive fermentations in traditional open fermenters and maturation in large old oak vessels

27
Q

How will Southern Rhone producers usually make up their blends?

A

With wines that have been fermented using different techniques

28
Q

What is the role of oak in the Southern Rhone?

A

New oak is used by some producers, but some producers believe that new oak overwhelms the flavours of Grenache

Some use old oak vessels for maturation

29
Q

What is the range of styles within the Southern Rhone?
* body
* tannin
* flavors

A

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

30
Q

What white grape varietals are used in the Southern Rhone?

A

N. Rhone Varietals: Viognier, Marasanne & Roussanne AND:
* Clairette
* Grenache Blanc
* Bourboulenc

31
Q

Describe the best whites of the Southern Rhône
* texture
* body
* alcohol
* acidity
* aromas
* oak?

A

Usually richly textured and full-bodied

High alcohol

Low to medium acidity

Subtle fruity aromas

Rarely made with new oak

32
Q

What is the role of white wine in the Southern Rhone?

A

Relatively very small

33
Q

What is the appellation Hierarchy in S. Rhone and how does it compare to N. Rhone?

A
  • Generic regional appellation: Cote du Rhone (mostly in S. Rhone, but theoretically possible to see in N. Rhone)
  • Generic Village appellation: Cote du Rhone Villages (S. Rhone) –> there are a # of villages that can also add the village name if 100% of the wine comes from that village. They can also apply for cru status. These are the best sites outside of the crus.
  • Crus (N. & S. Rhone - most N. Rhone wine labeled by cru)
34
Q

What are the generic appellations of the Southern Rhone?

A

Cotes du Rhone & Cotes du Rhone Villages

35
Q

What fraction of appellation wine production in the Southern Rhone does Cotes du Rhone account for?

A

More than half

36
Q

Describe most Cotes du Rhone wines
* Body
* Flavor

A

Medium-bodied Fruity but simple

37
Q

What colour of wine is Cotes du Rhone made into? What about Cotes du Rhone Villages?

A

Cote du Rhone - White, red and rose
Cote du Rhone Villages - red & in some cases white and rose as well (not all though)

38
Q

What kind of rules must a producer adhere to if it is to call its wine ‘Cotes du Rhone Villages’?

A

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

39
Q

What additional rule must a producer adhere to if they are to add a village name to Cotes du Rhône Villages?

A

100% of the wine must come from the village on the label

40
Q

Give an example of a village-labelled Cotes du Rhone

A

Cotes du Rhone Villages Séguret

41
Q

What are the best Southern Rhone wines outside of the crus?

A

Village-named Cotes du Rhone Villages wines

42
Q

What sets the wine flavour/structure of a CDR village wine apart from generic CDR wine?

A

They have more body, structure and spiced red fruit flavours

43
Q

Legally what option do village-named CDRs have?

A

To apply for cru status

44
Q

What is the largest Cru in the Rhone valley?

A

Chateauneuf-du-Pape - it is by far the largest

45
Q

Where is Chateauneuf-du-Pape located?

A

On the east bank of the Rhone

46
Q

What is the historical significance of Chateauneuf-du-pape?

A

It was the first area in France to have Appellation Controlee status

47
Q

What is the general topography of CNdP?

A

It is notably flat

48
Q

What has the biggest impact on how Syrah and Mourvedre perform in CNdP?

A

Small variations in aspect

49
Q

What are the factors accounting for CNdP’s diversity in styles?

A

The vast size of the Appellation:
* Wide range of soil types
* Wide range of aspects
* Large number of grape varieties (13)

50
Q

Are the wines of CNdP blends or single varietals? What grape variety is used?

A

Blends (grenache dominated), but also some really great single varietal Grenache wines made.

51
Q

What do producers hope to bring to a wine by adding Mourvedre?

A

Its gamey, meaty quality

52
Q

Describe the best wines of Chateauneuf-du Pape
* Body
* Texture
* Alcohol
* Flavors

A

Full bodied and richly textured

High alcohol

Concentrated spiced red fruit flavours

53
Q

What are the characteristic problems of lesser-quality CNdPs?

A

It can be rather dilute and unbalanced by the high alcohol

54
Q

What colours of CNdP are produced?

A

Red and small quantity of white

55
Q

How many Southern crus are on the west bank of the Rhone? What are they?

A

2 - Tavel and Lirac

56
Q

What type(s) of wine (white, red, rose) is permitted in Tavel AOC and Lirac AOC?

A

Tavel - Rosé only
Lirac - permitted to make white, red and rose

57
Q

What type of wine is Lirac most well known for?

A

Best known for red and white wines in the style of Chateauneuf-du-Pape, but they also produce roses as well.

58
Q

Describe the Roses of Tavel:
* Varietal(s)
* Body
* Flavor
* Age Potential

A
  • Made mainly from Grenache and Cinsault
  • Full-bodied when compared with Provence roses
  • Intensely flavoured
  • Capable of developing further complexity when bottle-aged
59
Q

Where else in the Southern Rhone has been promoted to cru status?

A

Some other Southern Rhone villages that lie in and around the hills to the east of Chateauneuf

60
Q

What are the two most longstanding crus in Southern Rhone besides CNdP?

A

Gigondas and Vacqueyras

61
Q

Describe the cru wines of Southern Rhone besides CNdP
* Red, white, rose
* Varietal(s)
* Body
* Flavor
* Quality

A

Mainly Red wines (but white and rose wines permitted in some of the crus)

Usually Grenache-led blends

Full-bodied and spicy (similar to CNdP)

Many as good as CNdP, just less well known.

62
Q

What is name of the AOC that produces fortified wine (in the Southern Rhone)? Which varietal is used?

A

Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise is seperate AOC from Beaumes-de-Venise AOC and dedicated to fortified Muscat.

WSET 3 (2nd Edition) (29 decks)

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