D3.C7. The Rhone Valley Flashcards
What is the difference between northern and southern Rhone in terms of climate and the grapes that are produced?
- Northern Rhône being continental in
climate and predominantly planted with Syrah - Southern Rhône has a Mediterranean
climate and is planted with several significant varieties, especially Grenache Noir, Syrah,
Cinsaut and Mourvèdre
What is the difference between northern and southern Rhone in terms of area under vine?
- Northern Rhone: 4.000 ha
- Southern Rhone: 66.000 ha
What is the difference between northern and southern Rhone in terms of location of the vineyards in relation with the Rhone river?
- Northern appellations are close to the river, with vines planted on slopes above the river itself, creating a range of aspects depending on the course of the river
- Southern vineyards are at considerable distances from the river
What is the difference between northern and southern Rhone in terms of appellations?
- The north is mainly made up of several clearly defined AOCs (known as cru)
- South has bothindividual AOCs, for example, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, while also providing large volumes of basic Côtes du Rhône AOC and IGP wine
The appellations Côtes du Rhône AOC and Côtes du Rhône Villages AOC together produce around how many per cent of all wine produced in the Rhône as a whole?
60%
What are the percentages of red, rosé and white AOC wines produced in Rhone?
Red: 74%
Rosé: 16%
White: 10%
Why does Syrah need careful training and tying?
To protect it from the Mistral wind.
On the steep slopes of the top northern Rhône appellations, how is Syrah tied?
Individual plants are often tied to one or two poles as trellising is not possible, adding to cost
Syrah is susceptible to which diseases?
- Mites
- Botrytis bunch rot
- Syrah decline which the leaves turn red and the graft point breaks up and the vine dies
Tasting notes for a Northern Rhone Yyrah.
- Deep ruby in colour
- Medium to pronounced intensity aromas and flavours of violet, plum (red plum in cooler years and sites, black plum in warmer years and sites), blackberrywith black pepper and herbal notes
- Acidity and tannins range from medium to high
What does Syrah add to Southern Rhone blends?
Structure, fruit and color
Why is Grenache Noir is very suitable to be trained as a bush vine?
Because of its upright growth
What are the viticultural properties of Grenache Noir?
- It ripens late and therefore can be affected by early autumn rains
- It does well on dry, low fertility soils
- It has good drought resistance
- It is prone to coulure, fungal diseases downy mildew, phomopsis and botrytis bunch rot, also prone to bacterial necrosis or bacterial blight
- It can accumulate high sugar levels quickly, which can be an issue in dry wines but makes it very suitable for producing Vin Doux Naturel
What does Grenache Noir add to Southern Rhone Blends?
- Pale ruby colour
- Ripe red fruit (strawberry, red plum, red cherry), spicy and herbal notes
- High alcohol
- Low to medium tannins
- Low acidity
and low acidity.
What are the viticultural properties of Mourvèdre?
- It is a late budding and late ripening variety that only thrives in warm to hot climates
- It is not drought resistant but requires small but regular amounts of water
- Best pruned short and can be grown either with a cordon system or on bush vines
- It produces low yields
- It is prone to mites, leafhoppers and sour rot
What is the important measure that has to be taken during the vinification process of Mourvèdre?
It is strongly prone to reduction and therefore care has to be taken to make sure the must has adequate access to oxygen
What does Mourvèdre contribute to Southern Rhone blends?
- Deep ruby colour
- Intense aromas of blackberries, blueberries and violets
- High alcohol
- High, firm tannins
What are the viticultural properties of Cinsault?
- It is a late-budding and high-yielding variety
- It has good drought and heat resistance
- To produce the highest quality wine, yields must be restricted
- If grown on soils with excessive lime it is can suffer from chlorosis
- Prone to esca, eutypa, mites and grape moths
What does Cinsault contribute to Southern Rhone blends?
- Light ruby colour
- Medium to medium (+) intense aromas of fresh red fruit (raspberry, red cherry)
- High alcohol
- Low to medium tannins
What are the viticultural properties of Viognier?
- It is an early budding white variety and therefore prone to spring frost
- Normally grown on a trellis or on poles to prevent wind damage
- Yields tend to be low and unpredictable due to poor flowering and fruit set (coulure) reducing returns
- Picking must be judged very accurately as the fruit needs to be fully ripe to have its typical pronounced aromas
- Fruit needs to be fully ripe to have its typical pronounced aromas
- if the grapes are left too long, they lose flavour and acidity, and rapidly gain sugar, resulting in
unbalanced wines that lack flavour
Tasting notes for a Northern Rhone Viognier
- Medium lemon in colour
- Pronounced aromas and flavours of
honeysuckle, apricot and peach, - Medium to high alcohol
- Low acidity
What are the viticultural properties of Marsanne?
- Late-budding white variety (helping it to avoid spring frosts)
- Vigorous and productive
- Yields must be kept low to reduce the amount of fruit being ripened
- Performs best on stony and low fertility soils so does well on the slopes of the northern Rhône Valley
- Prone to powdery mildew, mites and botrytis bunch rot
Tasting notes for Marsanne
- Medium lemon in colour, sometimes gold
- Low intensity honeysuckle, lemon and apricot fruit, an oily texture
- Medium acidity
- Full bodied
- Medium to high alcohol
What are the viticultural properties of Roussanne?
- Late budding white variety that grows best on low fertility, well-drained soils
- Poor resistance to wind and therefore sites must be chosen carefully
- Susceptible to coulure and very susceptible to powdery mildew, botrytis bunch rot and mites
- It is more difficult to grow successfully than Marsanne and therefore less commonly grown in the Rhône Valley