France - Rhône Flashcards
What is the climate in Northern Rhône?
moderate continental climate - warm summers - cold winters - adequate rainfall mainly in autumn and winter
What is the climate in Southern Rhône?
Mediterranean
What is the area under vine for North and South Rhône?
4,000 ha and 66,000 ha
What is the percentage of production by volume of AOC wines in the Rhône valley?
46% Côte du Rhône 11% Côte du Rhône Village 8% S Rhône crus 6% N Rhône crus 24% Other Rhône AOCs
What is the split of red white and rose AOC in the the Rhône valley?
74% red 16% rosé 10% white
What is Syrah susceptible to?
vigorous mites botrytis bunch rot Syrah decline - leaves turn red, graft point breaks up and vine dies
What affects grape growing in N and S Rhône?
Mistral wind (Syrah needs protection and tying)
What is the only black variety used in N Rhône crus?
Syrah
How and why is Syrah trained in N Rhône?
Individual plants tied to one or two poles as trellising is not possible due to steep slopes
What are typical characteristics of red wines from N Rhône?
deep ruby intensity: M/P violet, plum (red cooler years/sites, black - warmer years/sites), blackberry, pepper, herbal notes acidity: M/H tannins M/H
What does Syrah add to S Rhône blends?
structure, fruit and colour
What are the characteristics of Grenache Noir?
high yielding late ripening upright growth makes suitable for bush vines, trained short to contain vigour
What soils does Grenach Noir grow best on?
dry, low fertility soils
What is Grenache Noir susceptible to?
coulure downy mildew phomompsis botrytis bunch rot bacterial necrosis /blight - kills leaves, shoots then plant (plant diseases free stock and avoid contamination from pruning tools)
Why is Grenache Noir suited to S Rhône?
good drought resistance
What happens to sugar in Grenache Noir?
accumulate high sugar levels quickly
What does Grenache Noir contribute to blends?
pale ruby ripe red fruit (strawberry, red plum, red cherry), spicy and herbal notes acidity: L alcohol: H tannins: L/M
When does Mourvèdre bud and ripen?
late budding late ripening
What climate does Mourvèdre require?
warm to hot climate, with high temperatures at end of season to ripen fully
What does Mourvèdre require with regards to water?
Requires small but regular amounts of water, e.g calcareous soils that store water Not drought resistant
What are the relative yields of Mourvèdre?
low
What is Mourvèdre prone to?
mites leafhoppers sour rot (disease affecting ripening bunches due to insect or bird damage)
What is Mourvèdre prone to in the. vineyard?
reduction - must requires adequate oxygen
What does Mourvèdre contribute to Rhône blends?
deep ruby intense blackberries, blueberries, violets alcohol: H tannins: H - firm
When does Cinsaut bud?
late budding
What are the relative yields of Cinsaut?
high, requires restricting for highest quality
What to Cinsaut prone to?
esca eutypa mites grape moths chlorosis if grown on lime
What does Cinsaut contribute to Rhône blends?
light ruby intensity: M/M+ fresh red fruit (raspberry, red cherry) alcohol: H tannins: L/M
When does Viognier bud?
early budding
What are the relative yields of Viognier?
low and unpredictable due to poor flowering and fruit set (coulure)
Why is harvest time of Viognier particularly important?
fruit needs to be fully ripe to have its typical pronounced aromas, but if left. too long lose flavour, acidity and rapidly gain sugar resulting in unbalanced wines lacking flavour
What are the characteristics of Viognier?
medium lemon pronounced intensity honeysuckle, apricot, peach alcohol: H acidity: L
When does Marsanne bud?
late budding
What is the relative yield of Marsanne?
high, very vigorous, needs to be controlled
What is Marsanne prone to?
powdery mildew mites botrytis bunch rot
Where does Marsanne grow best? Why?
slopes of northern Rhône, less fertile help reduce yields
What are the characteristics of Marsanne?
medium lemon, sometimes gold low intensity honeysuckle, lemon, apricot oily texture acidity: M body: full alcohol: M/H
When does Roussanne bud?
late budding
What considerations are required when growing Roussanne?
low-fertile, well drained soils poor resistance to wind
What is Roussanne susceptible to?
mites coulure powdery mildew botrytis bunch rot
What are the characteristics of Roussanne?
medium lemon/gold Intensity: M/M+ pear, herbal notes acid: M/M+ ABV: M/H
When does Grenache Blanc bud?
early budding, not not an issue in S Rhône
What are the characteristics of Grenache Blanc?
intensity: L ripe green fruit, some floral notes acid: L ABV: H
Where does Clairette grow well? Why?
S Rhône (low rainfall) vigorous, requires low fertile soils and dry soils
How is the vigorous Clairette controlled?
pruned short, excessive buds removed
Wen does Clairette ripen?
late ripening
What make Clairette easy to grow?
Grows upright and is relatively wind resistant without staking
What is Clairette prone to?
oxidation
What are the characteristics of Clairette?
typically used in blends, adding freshness, fruit white flower, fennel, apple, grapefruit acid: L/M- ABV: H
When does Bourboulenc ripen?
late ripening
What are the benefits of Bourboulenc?
loose bunches, thick skins so resistant to botrytis, giving disease resistance for late ripening
What are the characteristics of Bourboulenc?
blends lemon flavour acid: M+ ABV: M
What is the general winemaking approach in the Rhône Valley?
fermentation: traditional, preference concrete vats (stainless steel and large wooden vessels also used) maturation: small and large wooden vessels little new oak used
What is Grenache Noir prone to in the winery?
oxidation and premature colour loss if exposed to too much oxygen typically fermented and aged in concrete vats or steel