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Master Sommelier Theory 2025 > FR: Northern Rhone > Flashcards

FR: Northern Rhone Flashcards

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Introductory Sommelier Exam (CMS) flashcards
1
Q

List the 4 La La bottlings

A

La Mouline
La Landonne
La Turque
La Reynarde (est 2026)

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2
Q

Name 5 Producers in Côte Rotie

A

Yves Cuilleron
Joel Champet
Faury
Guigal
Rene Rostaing
Georges Vernay
Jamet

Negoce: Chapoutier, Delas, Jaboulet, Vidal-Fleury, Guigal

Gentaz Dervieux (last vintage 93- vineyards inherited by Rostaing’s wife)

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3
Q

Important vineyards Côte Rotie

A

La Landonne
La Reynarde
La Viallière
Côte Blonde (incl La Mouline plot)
Côte Brune (incl La Turque plot)
La Turque
Côte Rozier

Les Grandes Places
Les Rochains
But de Mont
Maison Rouge
Montmain

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4
Q

Hermitage important vineyards

A

L’Hermite (lighter- at top of hill) - this is where the Chapel is
Les Bessards (most tannic)
La Croix
Le Méal
Les Gréffieux
Les Baumes (lighter- at top of hill)
Péléat

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5
Q

Crozes Hermitage important vineyards

A

La Guiraude

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6
Q

Hermitage important producers

A

top 5:
Jean Louis Chave
Paul Jaboulet
Chapoutier (negociant)
Delas Frères (negociant)
Cave de Tain

Alain Graillot
E. Guigal (Ex Voto)

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7
Q

Crozes Hermitage important producers

A

Alain Graillot
Paul Jaboulet
Domaine du Colombier
Domaine des Lises
Domaine Entrefaux
E. Guigal
Domaine Giles Robin
Pierre Gaillard
Laurent Combier

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8
Q

Cornas producers

A

Thierry Allemand
Auguste Clape
Alain Voge
Nöel Verset
Alain Verset
Franck Balthazar
Marcel Juge
Pierre Gaillard
Vincent Paris

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9
Q

What is Cave de Tain?

A

co-op winery in Hermitage

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10
Q

Hermitage - grapes and styles?

A

white - Marsanne, Roussanne, min 11% abv
red- Syrah with max 15% Marsanne, Roussanne, min 10.5% abv

vin de paille- Marsanne, Roussanne

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11
Q

Saint-Peray- grapes and styles?

A

Dry white and sparkling from Marsanne and Rousanne

sparkling: traditional method, 12 months total aging, no lees requirement.

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12
Q

Crémant de Die
grapes
aging
RS
river

A

Sparkling Blanc: majority Clairette, with Aligoté, max 10% Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains

9 months lees, 12 months total aging
max 15 g/l RS

River Drôme

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13
Q

Côteaux de Die grapes and styles?

A

dry white, 100% Clairette

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14
Q

Châtillon en Diois - grapes and styles

A

(Northern Rhone)

Blanc: Chardonnay and Aligoté
Rouge, Rosé: min. 60% Gamay, plus Pinot Noir and Syrah

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15
Q

Jean-Louis Chave - where are they based? top wines?

A

Based in Mauves- just west of Hermitage

Hermitage Blanc: 80-85% Marsanne, 15-20% Roussanne.
Hermitage Rouge: Les Bessards forms the core of this blend of seven climats.
Hermitage Rouge “Ermitage Cuvée Cathelin: produced only in top years (1990, 1991, 1995, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2009, 2010, and 2015 to date) and only if the quality of the regular cuvée is not compromised. Inaugural vintage 1990.

Hermitage Vin de Paille

Saint Joseph Rouge Clos Florentin: 80-year-old vines in Mauves

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16
Q

Domaine Jamet - where are they based? Top wines?

A

Ampuis

Côte-Rôtie: a blend of all Jamet-owned parcels. Inaugural vintage 1976.
Côte-Rôtie “Fructus Voluptas”: Entry-level Côte-Rôtie. Aged 16 months in neutral oak barrels. Inaugural vintage 2008.
Côte-Rôtie “La Landonne”: from .26ha of vines planted in 1987. Inaugural vintage 2018.
Côte-Rôtie “Côte Brune”: a limited cuvée from this 0.48-ha parcel, produced every year
Condrieu “Vernillon”: Sourced from the “Côte Chatillon” parcel. Aged in 50% barrels, 50% stainless steel. Inaugural vintage 2015.

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17
Q

Yves Gangloff- where are they based? Top wines?

A

Condrieu

Condrieu: a blend from both Coteau de Chéry and Côte Bonnette. Inaugural vintage 1988.

Côte-Rôtie “La Barbarine”: 90% Syrah, 10% Viognier from Coteaux de Tupin, plus the younger vines at Combard-Mollard. Inaugural vintage 1997.

Côte-Rôtie “la Sereine Noire”: 100% Syrah from the old vines at Combard-Mollard and Côte Rozier

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18
Q

Top producers in St Joseph?

A

Pierre Gonon
Chapoutier
Gangloff
Georges Vernay
Delas Freres

Courbis
Coursodon
Gripa
Monier-Perréol
Stéphane Montez
André Perret

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19
Q

Clairette de Die AOP- styles made?

A

Mousseux Blanc (Méthode Traditionnelle): Clairette. Max 15 g/l RS

Mousseux Blanc Méthode Ancestrale: min. 75% Muscat à Petits Grains plus Clairette. Rosé allows gamay as well. MIN 35 g/l RS

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20
Q

Clairette de Die AOP- aging?

A

Mousseaux Blanc: 9 months lees
Méthode Ancestrale: 4 months lees

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21
Q

Under which IGPs can producers in the Northern Rhône bottle?

A

Collines Rhodaniennes (Northern Rhône)

Comtés Rhodaniennes (N. Rhone + Savoie)
Méditerranée IGP (Rhone, Provence, Corsica)

Ardèche IGP
Drôme IGP

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22
Q

What are the communes of production for Côte Rotie?

A

Ampuis, Saint-Cyr-sur-Rhône, Tupin-Semon

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23
Q

Which Rhône appellation is known for Gore soil? What is it?

A

Cornas - it is poor, sandy granitic soil. Also some in Beaujolais, St Joseph

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24
Q

What is the unique soil type found in Condrieu called? What is it?

A

Arzelles

Composed of powdery decomposed mica

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25
Q

Important vineyards in Cornas?

A

Les Reynards
Les Chaillots
La Côte
Les Mazards

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26
Q

top Rostaing bottlings?

A

Côte-Rôtie “Classique” (now called “Cuvée Ampodium” in the US): 100% Syrah from all of the lieux-dits except for La Landonne and Côte Blonde

Côte-Rôtie “La Landonne”: 100% Syrah from the old vines on La Landonne

Côte-Rôtie “Côte Blonde”: 95% Syrah, 5% Viognier from Côte Blonde

Condrieu “La Bonnette”: from Cote Bonnette and Sainte-Agathe

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27
Q

What are the differences in Guigal’s La La bottlings?

A

Côte-Rôtie “La Landonne”: 100% Syrah; average vine age is 20 years. This is the only one that is an officially recognized vineyard. 1978

Côte-Rôtie “La Turque”: 93% Syrah, 7% Viognier; sourced from an extremely steep plot on Côte Brune, planted in 1980, first vintage 1985

Côte-Rôtie “La Mouline”: 89% Syrah, 11% Viognier; sourced from a plot of the same name on the Côte Blonde, average vine age is 60 years. 1966

Côte-Rôtie La Reynard 100% Syrah- named for stream that runs between the Côte Brune and Blonde

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28
Q

Who bottles the Côte Rotie La Guiraude?

A

Alain Graillot. Barrel selection only made in best vintages

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29
Q

What are Yves Gangloff’s Côte Rotie bottlings?

A

La Barbarine (90/10)
Sereine Noir - older vines (100% Syrah)

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30
Q

What are Syrah’s parent grapes?

A

Mondeuse Blanche, Dureza

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31
Q

Which soil types are in the best vineyards of Condrieu, Côte Rotie, and Hermitage?

A

heat retaining granitic and schistous soils

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32
Q

Explain the differences in Cuilleron’s Condrieu bottlings

A

Condrieu “Chaillets”: an old vine blend from Izéras and the old vines on La Côte

Condrieu “Vertige”: from Vernon, this Condrieu sees longer aging in barrel (18 months). Inaugural vintage 2001.

Condrieu “Ayguets”: sweet Condrieu from La Côte and Eyguets, from both overripe and botrytised grapes, depending on vintage conditions

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33
Q

What classification is Clape’s Le Vin des Amis? Where are the grapes from?

A

Vin de France! declassified Côtes du Rhone, young vine syrah from Cornas. Around $50 retail

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34
Q

Name 2 producers of Vin de Paille in Hermitage

A

JL Chave, Chapoutier

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35
Q

What is René Rostaing’s top bottling called in the U.S. that was formerly called “Classique”? This wine is sourced form all of Rostaing’s lieux dits except which two?

A

Cuvée Ampodium

All but Côte Blonde and La Landonne

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36
Q

Which Rhône producer bottles Renaissance? Where and what is it?

A

August Clape, Cornas. Made from 20-25 year old vines from the domaine’s best slopes as well as older vines from the lower slopes

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37
Q

Which of René Rostaing’s top bottlings are 100% Syrah? Which is cofermented with 5% Viognier?

A

La Landonne and Classique (Cuvée Ampodium) are 100% Syrah

Côte Blonde has 5% Viognier blended in

38
Q

What type of soil is found in higher proportions in the southern section of St-Joseph, Crozes-Hermitage, and St-Péray?

A

more clay based soils

39
Q

What is the grape of Cuilleron’s “Le Lombard” wine? What is the grape of his “Saint-Pierre” bottling? These wines are produced from vines in what AOP?

A

Le Lombard - 100% Marsanne
Saint Pierre - Roussane

Produced from vines in Saint Joseph AOP

40
Q

Why do grapes in Cornas ripen earlier compared to the rest of the N Rhône?

A

The sun’s warmth is magnified by the naked granite soil

grapes planted on steep slopes that maximize sun exposure and shield vines from the Mistral

41
Q

Who makes Ermitage Cuvée Cathelin? What is it?

A

Jean-Louis Chave, Hermitage Rouge. A barrel selection done just before bottling, produced only in top years (1990 first). Named for french painter Bernard Cathelin

42
Q

Thierry Allemand top bottlings?

A

*Cornas “Reynard”: a blend of parcels with average vine age over 40 years
*Cornas “Chaillot”: a blend of parcels with average vine age under 40 years
Cornas “Sans Souffre”: a bottling with no added sulfur; usually from old vines in Reynards

43
Q

Which direction to the vineyards of Côte Rotie face? Hermitage?

A

Côte Rotie - southeast

Hermitage- south. Rhône River flows east-west here

44
Q

What style of vine training is used in Côte Rotie?

A

Vines are staked to single poles (echalas trellising) - helps protect from the wind and soil erosion on the steep slopes - up to 60 degrees!

45
Q

Wineries based in the town of Ampuis?

A

Jamet, Rostaing, Guigal

46
Q

What is the Serine grape?

A

An older clone of Syrah, more oval shaped berries, less intense pigmentation

47
Q

Hermitage Vin de Paille - drying time? must weight?

A

Vin de Paille grapes must be subject to drying for a minimum 45 days, after which they must have a minimum must weight of 350 g/l.

grapes: Marsanne and/or Roussanne

48
Q

What river runs through the southern end of Crozes Hermitage?

A

Isere

49
Q

Which tributary to the Rhone runs through the southern end of St. Joseph?

A

Daronne, near Tournon sur Rhône

50
Q

Which Rhône tributary runs through Clairette de Die?

A

Drôme

51
Q

Who bottles Hermitage La Chappelle?

A

Jaboulet - named for the chapel on the top of the hill of Hermitage.

Around 20% new oak for 12-15 months, completely destemmed. $200 retail

52
Q

Describe the geography of Hermitage

A

Vineyards are all on a single hill, facing south. The Rhône runs west-east here. Western part of the hill is steeper than the east, and warmer. Topsoil is thin, with sandy gravel in the west, to rockier areas higher up and limestone in the center

extension of the Massif Central

53
Q

Côte Brune bottlings?

A

M. Chapoutier ‘Neve’
Yves Cuilleron ‘Bonnivières’
Dom Rostaing ‘La Landonne’
Guigal ‘La Turque’

54
Q

Côte Blonde bottlings?

A

E Guigal La Mouline
Rostaing Cote Blonde
Stéphane Ogier ‘But de Mont’
Maison Manchès ‘Les Pimotins’

55
Q

Who introduced winemaking to France?

A

The Greeks brought the vine to Massalia- modern day Marseille around 600 BCE.

56
Q

northern Rhône climate

A

continental
average 32 inches rainfall/ year
2,071 hours annually

162-305 meters elevation

Mistral wind- cold and dry. strong enough to bend trees and vines, but staves off rot and fungal problems

57
Q

northern Rhône soils

A

Heat-retaining granitic and schistous soils define much of the north: the steeply sloped vineyards of Côte-Rôtie, Condrieu, and Hermitage are carved out of this bedrock.

Condrieu: thin topsoil is rich with powdery, decomposed mica, known locally as arzelle.

Fine sand and loess topsoil throughout the Northern Rhône are prone to erosion, a threat partially mitigated by terrace construction.

The soils become heavier with clay in the southern section of Saint-Joseph, Crozes-Hermitage, and Saint-Péray.

58
Q

Syrah AOPs Northern Rhône by plantings

A

Cornas 115 ha
Hermitage 135 ha
Côte Rotie 255 ha
St Joseph 1160 ha
Crozes Hermitage 1495 ha

59
Q

August Clape

A

traditional winemaking. whole cluster/ no destemming. no new oak.

Cornas: from 12 parcels (average vine age 30-60 years)
Cornas “Renaissance”: assemblage from 12 parcels (average vine age 12-20 years): Inaugural vintage 1998.
Côtes du Rhône: 100% Syrah from vineyards outside the Cornas appellation
Le Vin des Amis (Vin de France): declassified Côtes du Rhône; young vines from Cornas plus occasional Cornas press wine

60
Q

Condrieu producers

A

Georges Vernay
Yves Cuilleron
André Perret
Yves Gangloff
Guigal “La Doraine”

61
Q

Chateau Grillet AOP

A

monopole AOP of François Pinault/ Artemis Group (purchased from Neyret-Gachet in 2011). 3.5 ha under vine. within Condrieu AOP

100% Viognier

manual harvesting required
18 months in barrel

granite soils

3.5ha

62
Q

What are the French names for Northern and Southern Rhône?

A

northern: Rhône septentrionale

southern: Rhône méridionale

63
Q

Côtes du Rhone AOP

A

Rosé/Rouge: Grenache and either Syrah or Mourvèdre must be present. Principal and complementary varieties must account for at least 60% of the blend.

**Vineyards north of Montélimar are excused from these requirements, but must contain at least one of the principal and complementary varieties (G, S, M)

Blanc: Marsanne, Roussanne, Bourboulenc, Grenache Blanc, Clairette, and Viognier- must be majority of blend

64
Q

Northern Rhone Sparkling

A

Clairette de Die
Crémant de Die
Saint Peray

65
Q

Cote Blonde vs Cote Brune

A

Brune is slightly farther north, and is south facing. More varied soils, schist and heavier clay are darkened by iron. wines are traditionally tighter, sometimes smokey.

Blonde is SW facing. Part of the Massif Central, more granite, notably soft topsoils, sandly/slate soils with limesotne. these yield softer, more charming, earlier wines

split by Reynaud river

66
Q

Important vineyards Condrieu

A

Chéry
Chanson
Côte Bonnette
Les Eyguets

67
Q

Andre Julien original ranking of Hermitage vineyards

A

Méal
Gréfieux
Beaume
Raucoule
Muret
Guoignière
Bessas
Burges
Lauds

best for white: Raucoule

68
Q

La Landonne bottlings

A

Guigal,
Rostaing,
Delas,
Jamet
Jean Michel Gerin,
Xavier Gerard

69
Q

Thierry Allemand

A

Cornas. Learned from Noel Verset and Joseph Michel. Bought his first vineyards in 1983- did not come from a wine family. The land he bought was essentially forest and had to be cleared and planted. He purchased Reynard vines from the Versets a few years later.

He occasionally makes a sans-souffre Cornas bottling. Known for not de-stemming, and avoiding new oak.

70
Q

Gonon

A

St. Joseph. Located at the granitic heart of the appellation.

They work their vines organically, plowing by horse on the steep slopes, with all new plantings a sélection massale from their old vines, and yields are kept low through ruthless pruning.

71
Q

Jean-Louis Chave

A

Hermitage. Est 1481, in Mauves (across the Rhône).

Chave has never released a cru Hermitage despite how impressive some of the individual cuvées are. Syrah from Bessards is the backbone

In vintages where the Chaves feel that the surreal harmony of the rouge won’t be compromised, the heroic Cuvée Cathelin is bottled separately. It contains the same lieux-dits, made in the same way, but their percentages are different;

72
Q

Jules Barge

A

became the first in Côte Rôtie to sell domaine-bottled wines in 1929.

73
Q

What is the name of the project started by Francois Villard, Yves Cuilleron, and Pierre Gaillard in 1996? Where is it based?

A

Vins de Vienne, a Seyssuel (vineyard above Vienne - South-facing schist slopes - river jinks west ironically similar to Seyssel in Savoie)

Cuvees are all IGP Collines Rhodaniennes -
Sotanum (syrah),
Taburnum (viognier),
Heluicum (selection made in best years)

74
Q

Les Grandes Places bottlings

A

Clusel-Roch,
JM Gerin,
Pichat,
Stephane Montez

75
Q

important vineyards St Joseph

A

Les Oliviers
St. Epine
Chalais
St. Joseph
Bachasson

76
Q

Who revived the style of Vin de Paille in Hermitage?

A

Gerard Chave in the 1970s

77
Q

arrange the following styles, most to least whole cluster:
Graillot,
Clape,
Chave

A

Clape 100%, Graillot 20-30%, Chave full de-stem

78
Q

Westernmost vineyard in Hermitage? Easternmost?

A

La Varogne
l’Homme

79
Q

3 Northern communes of crozes-hermitage with granite soils covered by loess, most similar to the wines of hermitage

A

Gervans
Serves sur Rhone
Tain l’Hermitage

80
Q

Crussol ridge

A

in Northern Rhone- it is a limstone spur in Cornas and St Peray

81
Q

Commune which can produce St. Jo and/or Condrieu (4)

A

Limony,
Chavanay,
Malleval,
Saint-Pierre de Boeuf

all added to Condrieu in 1967

82
Q

Cote Rotie wines with new oak

A

Guigal
JM Gerin
Laurent Tardieu
Stephane Ogier

83
Q

Highest elevation in Cote Rotie

A

1150 feet/ 300 m

84
Q

Name for Mistral in the North

A

La Bise

85
Q

What are les chaillets?

A

narrow granite terraces

86
Q

3 OG communes of Condrieu

A

Condrieu
Verin
Saint Michel sur Rhone

87
Q

Vins de Mauve

A

old name for Saint Joseph

88
Q

Hermitage monopioles

A

Paul Jaboulet’s La Chappelle

Chave’s Peleat

89
Q

Northern Rhone reds min abv

A

min 10.5%

90
Q

Northern Rhone white abvs - which is highest?

A

Condrieu, Grillet - 11.5%

Hermitage - 11%

Others - 10.5%

91
Q

La Chappelle from Jaboulet is made from which climats?

A

Bessards, Meal, Greffieux, Raucoules

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