France - Rhône Valley Flashcards
What is the climate in Northern and Southern Rhône?
- Northern: Continental
- Southern: Mediterranean
What are the red grape varieties in Northern and Southern Rhône?
Northern: Syrah
Southern: Grenache Noir, Syrah, Cinsaut and Mourvèdre
What are the white grape varieties in Northern and Southern Rhône?
- Northern: Viognier, Marsanne and Roussanne
- Southern: Blends based on Grenache Blanc
What is the area under vine in Northern and Southern Rhône?
- Northern: 4,000 ha
- Southern: 66,000 ha
What is the difference in appellations between Northern and Southern Rhône?
- Northern: mainly clearly defined AOCs (known as cru)
- Southern: individual AOCs AND large volumes of basic Côtes du Rhône AOC and IGP wine
How much wine is produced by Côtes du Rhône AOC and Côtes du Rhône Villages AOC?
60%
How much of the wine is red, white, rosé?
- Red: 74%
- White: 10%
- Rosé: 16%
How much of the vineyards are organic?
8%
Syrah
Is it a vigorous variety?
Yes
Syrah
How is it trained and why?
- Plants are tied to 1 or 2 poles (trellising not possible)
- To protect it from Mistral wind
Syrah
Describe the typical style (color, intensity, aromas, acidity, tannin)
- Deep ruby
- Medium to pronounced intensity
- Violet, plum (red plum in cooler years and sites, black plum in warmer years and sites), blackberry with black pepper and herbal notes
- Medium to high acidity
- Medium to high tannins
Syrah
What does it add to Southern Rhône blends?
- Structure
- Fruit
- Color
Grenache Noir
Does it produce high or low yields?
High yields
Grenache Noir
Early or late ripening?
Late -> needs warm climate
Grenache Noir
How is it trained?
- Bush vine, pruned short to contain its vigor
Grenache Noir
What soil is most suitable?
Dry, low fertility soil
Grenache Noir
What are its characteristics regarding sugar accumulation?
- Accumulate sugar quickly
- Good for Vin Doux Naturel
Grenache Noir
What does it contribute to the Southern Rhône blend? (color, aromas, alcohol, tannins, acidity)
- Pale ruby
- Ripe red fruit (strawberry, red plum, red cherry), spicy and herbal notes
- High alcohol
- Low to medium tannins
- Low acidity
Mourvèdre
What is the budding/ripening time?
- Late budding
- Late ripening
Mourvèdre
What type of climate does it need?
- Warm to hot
- Otherwise will not ripen fully
Mourvèdre
How is it trained?
Cordon system or bush vines
Mourvèdre
Does it produce high or low yields?
Low yields
Mourvèdre
What is it prone to in the winery and where is it aged?
- Prone to reduction -> adequate access to oxygen
- Typically aged in old oak
Mourvèdre
How is it reacting to drought?
- Not drought resistant
- Needs small but regular amounts of water (chalky soils are good)
Mourvèdre
How is it used?
Almost always as part of a blend
Mourvèdre
What does it contribute to the blend? (color, aromas, alcohol, tannins)
- Deep ruby colour
- Blackberries, blueberries and violets
- High alcohol
- High, firm tannins
Cinsault
Does it produce high or low yields?
High yields
Cinsault
What is the budding time?
Late-budding
Cinsault
How does it react to heat and drought?
Drought and heat resistant
Cinsault
How is it typically used?
As a small part of Southern Rhône blends