FR: Southern Rhône Valley Flashcards
Mistral
Cold violent dry north wind
*high pressure in the Bay of Biscay meets low pressure in the Gulf of Genoa, when the flow of air from high to low pressure zones brings cold air from the north
Rhône move from polyculture to monoculture
The 1956 frost. Olives were a very important crop at the time - the day before the sudden drop in temperatures was very warm, causing sap to rise in the trees which froze the following day and destroyed the Rhone’s olive tree population.
Where was the first viticultural co-op established in France? When?
1891, established in Damery in Champagne
France’s 2 most planted grapes?
Merlot #1
Grenache #2
Marselan
Grenache Noir x Cabernet Sauvignon
(developed by Paul Truel at Montpellier, 1961)
*accessory grape in CDR AC
*one of the “climate change varieties” allowed in BDX/BDX Superier AC
Caladoc
Grenache Noir x Malbec
*developedin 1958. Meant to be more like Grenache but couloure resistant… acts more like Malbec
*one of the recent additions to CDR AC
Vaccarese
Brun Argente
Only 12ha planted, but half are in Chateauneuf.
*Chateau des Fines Roches makes a varietal bottling called “Forget Me Not”
Couston
Grenache x Aubun, a local grape. Only allowed for Cotes-du-Rhone wines, added to the list in 2019
Most planted white grape in the Rhone?
Grenache Blanc
Why is there so much Muscat Blanc a Petits Grains in the Rhone?
1617ha, the vast majority going to Clairette de Die’s methode ancestrale sparkling wine where it makes up a min. 75% of the blend.
Of course, it is also the star of Muscat de Beames des Venise, which requires 100% participation.
2 Southern Rhone appellations wholly devoted to Clairette?
Clairette de Bellegarde
Coteaux de Die
Only Southern Rhone AC to feature monovarietal white?
Clairette Blanche, the star of Clairette de Bellegarde
Coteaux de Die
What Rhone appellation allows a high percentage of Ugni Blanc?
Luberon, up to 50%
What appellation allows Vermentino in high proportions?
Luberon
The Rhone area covers what 6 departments?
Loire
Ardeche
Drome
Gard
Vaucluse
Isere
Principal red varieties for Cotes-du-Rhone AOP?
Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre
Principal white varieties for Cotes-du-Rhone AOP? (6)
Marsanne
Roussanne
Viognier
Bourbelenc
Grenache Blanc
Clairette
What 3 modern crossings are allowed in a bottle of Cotes-du-Rhone AC wine?
Couston
Marselan
Caladoc
What is the term for a local group of winegrowers that work together to promote their region?
Syndicat
What 2 regional IGPs cover the Rhone?
IGP Méditerranée
IGP Comtés Rhodaniens
Chene Bleu is located within what AOP but instead chooses to label their wines as ________?
Located in Ventoux, labels as Vaucluse IGP
What 4 departmental IGPs are in play for the Rhone Valley?
- IGP Gard
- IGP Drome
- IGP Vaucluse
- IGP Ardeche
What was Chateauneuf-du-Pape’s (the village) official name prior to 1893?
Chateauneuf Calcernier, references the lime kilns and productions that was once important to the town’s economy
What are the communes of production in the Chateauneuf-du-Pape AC?
Bedarrides
Chateauneuf-du-Pape
Orange
Sorgues
Courthezon
What is Chateauneuf-du-Pape’s rendemant de base?
35 hl/ha
(42 hl/ha including rapé)
What is the râpé?
In Chateauneuf-du-Pape, a mandatory amount of grapes (2%) that’s required to be discarded or used for table wine
Who was the key figure in the development of the INAO and French AC’s?
Baron Pierre Le Roy de Boiseaumarie
Who were the six in the 1st wave of French AC’s to debut? In what year (officially)?
Chateauneuf-du-Pape (decreed on 14 May 1936, one day before the rest)
Arbois, Monbazillac, Cassis, Tavel, Cognac
What are the 4 most planted red grapes in Chateauneuf-du-Pape?
Grenache (77%)
Syrah (12%)
Mourvedre (7%)
Cinsault (3%)
*all others amount to less than 1%
What are the 4 most planted white grapes in Chateauneuf-du-Pape?
Grenache Blanc (35%)
Clairette (32%)
Roussanne (16%)
Bourbelenc (15%)
All others 2%
Hommage a Jacques Perrin
- producer
- vineyard
- varieties
- vintages
Beaucastel
* Courrieux vineyard
*Mourvedre-dominant + Grenache, Syrah, Counoise
*1st vintage 1989. Only made in great years.
Destemmed, natural yeast, old foudre.
The Perrins own what property in Gigondas?
Domaine du Clos des Tourelles
Pignan: what is it, who makes it?
Chateau Rayas’ “other” Chateauneuf-du-Pape. Comes from a 2ha Grenache plot in the lieu-dit Pignan.
La Pialade: who makes it, what is it?
Chateau Rayas’ Cotes-du-Rhone, made from barrels that didn’t make it into the main Rayas or Fonsalette bottlings. Usually around 80% Grenache, 15% Cinsault, 5% Syrah.
Chateau Rayas’ Reserve Blanc is comprised of what varieties?
Clairette
Grenache Blanc
What lieux-dit would you find on the main bottlings of Domaine du Vieux Telegraphe?
Le Crau
*the stony plateau is the high point between CDP and Bedarrides
*65ha for rouge, 5ha for blanc
What is the name of Vieux Telegraphe’s outpost in Gigondas?
Domaine Les Pallieres
What is the name of Vieux Telegraphe’s outpost in the Beqaa Valley?
Massaya
What properties has Guigal purchased in Chateauneuf-du-Pape?
Domaine du Nalys (2017)
Domaine les Clefs d’Or (2020)
What is the name of Chapoutier’s negotiant bottling in Chateauneuf-du-Pape?
La Bernadine
Ogier’s Chateauenuf-du-Pape is bottled under what label?
Clos de l’Oratoire du Papes
Approximately how many hectares of vineyard does Chateauneuf-du-Pape contain?
3200ha
What was the first Rhone wine to be offered on the Place de Bordeaux?
Beaucastel’s 2009 Hommage à Jacques Perrin (in 2011)
*this was the first non-Bordeaux French wine to be offered on the Place
What controversial method does Beaucastel use for grapes prior to fermentation?
Flash heating grapes for 2 minutes, then cooling them down. They don’t do this in every vintage or for every lot.
PURPOSE: reduces oxidation enzymes, speeds extraction of color and flavor from skins
* useful in challenging vintages: faster extraction reduces presence of undesirable compounds
What is the top bottling of Domaine du Pegau?
Cuvée Da Capo
- a parcel selection of 100yr old vines planted in a sandy parts of La Crau as well as Montpertuis and Escondudes
- whole cluster, ferments in concrete
- not made every vintage
- 1998 (1st)……. 2003, 2007, 2010, 2015, 2016, 2020
2020 retailing for $460 (wine.com 2023)
What is the top bottling of Henri Bonneau?
Réserve des Célestins
- sourced from La Crau
- 90% Grenache
Retails for about $550 on release
(Cuvee Speciale is seldom made but not necessarily the top - more of a one-off style)
What are Clos Saint Jean’s top 3 bottlings?
Le Combe des Fous
Sanctus Sanctorum
Deux Ex Machina