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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
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
26
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
27
How will Southern Rhone producers usually make up their blends?
With wines that have been fermented using different techniques
28
What is the role of oak in the Southern Rhone?
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
What is the range of styles within the Southern Rhone? * body * tannin * flavors
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
What white grape varietals are used in the Southern Rhone?
N. Rhone Varietals: Viognier, Marasanne & Roussanne AND: * Clairette * Grenache Blanc * Bourboulenc
31
Describe the best whites of the Southern Rhône * texture * body * alcohol * acidity * aromas * oak?
Usually richly textured and full-bodied High alcohol Low to medium acidity Subtle fruity aromas Rarely made with new oak
32
What is the role of white wine in the Southern Rhone?
Relatively very small
33
What is the appellation Hierarchy in S. Rhone and how does it compare to N. Rhone?
* 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
What are the generic appellations of the Southern Rhone?
Cotes du Rhone & Cotes du Rhone Villages
35
What fraction of appellation wine production in the Southern Rhone does Cotes du Rhone account for?
More than half
36
Describe most Cotes du Rhone wines * Body * Flavor
Medium-bodied Fruity but simple
37
What colour of wine is Cotes du Rhone made into? What about Cotes du Rhone Villages?
Cote du Rhone - White, red and rose Cote du Rhone Villages - red & in some cases white and rose as well (not all though)
38
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
39
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
40
Give an example of a village-labelled Cotes du Rhone
Cotes du Rhone Villages Séguret
41
What are the best Southern Rhone wines outside of the crus?
Village-named Cotes du Rhone Villages wines
42
What sets the wine flavour/structure of a CDR village wine apart from generic CDR wine?
They have more body, structure and spiced red fruit flavours
43
Legally what option do village-named CDRs have?
To apply for cru status
44
What is the largest Cru in the Rhone valley?
Chateauneuf-du-Pape - it is by far the largest
45
Where is Chateauneuf-du-Pape located?
On the east bank of the Rhone
46
What is the historical significance of Chateauneuf-du-pape?
It was the first area in France to have Appellation Controlee status
47
What is the general topography of CNdP?
It is notably flat
48
What has the biggest impact on how Syrah and Mourvedre perform in CNdP?
Small variations in aspect
49
What are the factors accounting for CNdP's diversity in styles?
The vast size of the Appellation: * Wide range of soil types * Wide range of aspects * Large number of grape varieties (13)
50
Are the wines of CNdP blends or single varietals? What grape variety is used?
Blends (grenache dominated), but also some really great single varietal Grenache wines made.
51
What do producers hope to bring to a wine by adding Mourvedre?
Its gamey, meaty quality
52
Describe the best wines of Chateauneuf-du Pape * Body * Texture * Alcohol * Flavors
Full bodied and richly textured High alcohol Concentrated spiced red fruit flavours
53
What are the characteristic problems of lesser-quality CNdPs?
It can be rather dilute and unbalanced by the high alcohol
54
What colours of CNdP are produced?
Red and small quantity of white
55
How many Southern crus are on the west bank of the Rhone? What are they?
2 - Tavel and Lirac
56
What type(s) of wine (white, red, rose) is permitted in Tavel AOC and Lirac AOC?
Tavel - Rosé only Lirac - permitted to make white, red and rose
57
What type of wine is Lirac most well known for?
Best known for red and white wines in the style of Chateauneuf-du-Pape, but they also produce roses as well.
58
Describe the Roses of Tavel: * Varietal(s) * Body * Flavor * Age Potential
* Made mainly from Grenache and Cinsault * Full-bodied when compared with Provence roses * Intensely flavoured * Capable of developing further complexity when bottle-aged
59
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
60
What are the two most longstanding crus in Southern Rhone besides CNdP?
Gigondas and Vacqueyras
61
Describe the cru wines of Southern Rhone besides CNdP * Red, white, rose * Varietal(s) * Body * Flavor * Quality
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
What is name of the AOC that produces fortified wine (in the Southern Rhone)? Which varietal is used?
Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise is seperate AOC from Beaumes-de-Venise AOC and dedicated to fortified Muscat.

WSET 3 (2nd Edition) (39 decks)

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