France - Roussillon Flashcards
Geographic boundaries of the Languedoc Rousillon?
- Nimes to the NE
- Carcassonne to the W
- Montagne Noire and Cevennes Mtns to the N
- Pyreenees Mtns to the S
Languedoc (Mediterranean climate) acocunts for 90% of the Production, Rousillon (Pyranees provide more microclimates) is only 10%.
This is the largest area in France for organic and biodynamic wines
Rousillon is always windy - 8 different winds affect the region
What are the winds of Roussillon?
8 winds in total
Tramontane
Marin
Cers
Scirocco
Autan
(the other 3 are minor and incosequential)
Describe the Tramontane Wind.
- *Tramontane = Trans Mountains**
- (comes down from the Pyrenees)*
- North-westerly wind
- Has a cooling and drying affect on the region.
- Very similar to the Mistral. It just follows a different path, and is the local, gentler version
- It is a dry, and pretty violent wind that is cold, almost bitter in winter but very welcome in the summer.
Describe the Marin Wind.
- South-Easterly warm wind that blows in from the Mediterranean.
- It tends to raise the general ambiant temperature, but brings with it banks of low humid clouds.
- Causes heavy rain in coastal areas in the winter and in summer tends to dissipate.
- Leaves the area smelling of the sea and your skin tasting of salt.
Describe the Autan Wind.
- South-Easterly wind.
- Called “The Devil’s Wind”, and “Wind of Death” locally.
- Often brings in bad weather that can settle in for 3-9 days at a time.
(Autan is spelled like Satan)
Describe the Scirocco Wind.
- Southerly wind from Africa.
- This wind blows rarely, and then only for a few hours,
- Leaves everything covered in a fine film of sand carried over the Mediterranean Sea from the Sahara Desert.
Describe the Cers Wind.
- Westerly or South-Westerly wind.
- A dry wind which is generally cold in winter, and warm in summer.
- Often heralds sunny warm weather, by blowing the clouds away and bringing bright blue skies and sunshine, even though temperatures are cooler.
(Cers clears bad weather)
AOP of
Roussillon
- *Rivesaltes AOP**
- (VdN Only!)*
- *Muscat de Rivesaltes AOP**
- (VdN Blanc Only!)*
- *Maury AOP**
- (Rd, VdN)*
- *Colliure AOP**
- (Rd, W, Rs)*
- *Banyuls AOP**
- (VdN Only!)*
- *Banyuls Grand Cru AOP**
- (VdN Only!)*
Cotes de Roussillon AOP
(Rd, W, Rs)
(has 1 Sub-Zone: Les Apres)
Cotes de Roussillon Villages AOP
(Red Only!)
(4 Sub-Zones)
- *Grand Roussillon AOP**
- (VdN Only!)*
Sub-Zone(s) of
Cotes de Roussillon-Villages AOP
[west-east]
LC-LT
Lesquerde
Caramany
Latour-de-France
Tautavel
Sub-zone(s) of
Cotes de Roussillon?
- *Les Aspres**
- Red Only!*
Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, Carignan
(must be 3; no 2 can equal >90%)
~45 hl/ha~
~12.5% min ABV~
*released 10/1 year after harvest
became an AOP in 2003
Rivesaltes AOP
(VdN!)
Means “High Rivers”
Vin doux Naturel Only!!
Grenat - Rose - Ambre - Tuile
Hors d’Age - Rancio
~30 hl/ha~
~21.5% min ABV~
{15% actual}
252 g/l min Must Weight
45 g/l min RS
Grenat
100% Grenache Noir
*aged in a “reductive environment”
until at least 5/1
**3 months min in bottle
**Must be bottled by 6/30 on 2nd year after harvest
Rose
80% min combined:
Grenache (all), Tourbat, Macabeu
*Must be bottled by 12/1 year after harvest
Ambre
Same varietals as Rose
*aged in a “reductive environment”
until at least 3/1
on 3rd year after harvest
Tuile
Same varietals as Rose & Ambre
Grenache Noir MUST be a part
*same aging as Ambre
Rancio
-Must be Tuile or Ambre-
*(???)
Hors d’Age
-Must be Tuile or Ambre-
*aged until 9/1 on 5th year after harvest
Style(s) of
Rivesaltes AOP
- *Grenat**
- 100% Grenache Noir*
Rose
80% min combined:
Grenache (all), Tourbat, Macabeu
Ambre
(same varietals as Rose)
can be Rancio or Hors d’Age
- *Tuile**
- can be Rancio or Hors d’Age*
- *Rancio**
- must be Ambre or Tuile*
- *Hors d’Age**
- must be Ambre or Tuile*
What are the aging requirements of
Rivesaltes-Grenat AOP?
*aged in a “reductive environment”
until at least 5/1
*3 months min in bottle
*Must be bottled by 6/30 on 2nd year after harvest
What are the aging requirements of
Rivesaltes-Ambre AOP?
2 years min aging from 3/1 after harvest
*must be aged in a “reductive environment”
What are the aging requirements of
Rivesaltes-Hors d’Age AOP?
*5 years min aging from 9/1 on year of harvest
-Must be Tuile or Ambre-
Muscat de Rivesaltes AOP
(VDN!)
Vin Doux Naturel Only
White Only!!
Muscat Blancs a Petite Grains &
Muscat d’Alexandrie - used exclusively in the Rousillon
~30 hl/ha~
~21.5% min ABV~
~{15% actual}
252 g/l min Must Weight
100 g/l min RS
-
*Muscat de Noel - must be bottled by 12/1 on year if harvest
- A nouveau style of Muscat VDN produced in Muscat de Lunel AOP and Muscat de Rivesaltes AOP.
(*also make a Muscat de Noel)
Grand Roussillon AOP
(VDN!)
- *Vin Doux Naturel Only!!**
- Blanc - Rose - Rouge - Rancio*
80% min combined:
Grenache (all), Tourbat, Macabeu
~30 hl/ha~
~21.5% min ABV~
~{15% actual}~
*released 9/1 on 3rd year after harvest
252 g/l min Must Weight
45 g/l min RS
Maury AOP
(Rd, VDN)
Black Schist Soil
Dry Red - Vin Doux Naturel
Dry Red
60-80% Grenache
plus+
Syrah, Mourvedre, Carignan
~40 hl/ha~
~12.5% min ABV~
*released 3/1
Vin Doux Naturel
Blanc - Ambre - Grenat - Tuile
Rancio - Hors d’Age
~30 hl/ha~
~21.5% min ABV~
{15% actual}
252 g/l min Must Weight
45 g/l min RS
Blanc
80% min combined:
Grenache Blanc, Grenache Gris,
Tourbot, Macabeu
*released 5/1
*must be bottled by 6/30 on 2nd year after harvest
*must be vintage dated
Ambre
Same varietals as Blanc
*aged in glass or sealed containers
*released 3/1 on 3rd year after harvest
Grenat
75-100% min Grenache
*released 5/1
*bottled by 6/30 on 2nd year after harvest
**must be vintage dated
Tuile
Same varietals as Grenat
*aged in glass or sealed containers
**released 3/1 on 3rd year after harvest
Rancio
(???)
Hors d’Age
*aged in glass or sealed containers
**released 9/1 on 5th year after harvest
Cotes de Roussillon AOP
(Rd, W, Rs)
Red - White - Rose
“Les Aspres“
Dry
White
50% min combined:
Grenache Blanc, Macabeu, Tourbot
(none more than 80%)
~50 hl/ha~
~11% min ABV~
(can be Priemeur)
Red - Rose
80% min combined:
Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre,
Carignan
(none more than 80%)
~50 hl/ha~
~12% min ABV~
(can be Primeur)
Les Aspres (sub-zone)
Red Only!!
Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre
plus+ Carignan
(must be 3; no 2 can equal >90%)
~45 hl/ha~
~12.5% min ABV~
*released 10/1 year after harvest
Cotes de Roussillon Villages AOP
(Rd!)
- *Dry Red Only!!**
- All wines must be blends*
80% min combined:
Grenache (70% Max)
Carignan (60% Max)
Syrah + Mourvedre
(70% Max each; 30% min combined)
~45 hl/ha (42 with sub)~
~12.5% min ABV~
*released 2/15
4 villages can append:
- Caramany
- Latour-de-France
- Lesquerde
- Tautavel
Collioure AOP
(Rd, W, Rs)
- *Red - White - Rose**
- Dry*
~40 hl/ha~
White
Grenache Blanc, Grenache Gris,
Marsanne, Roussanne, Vermentino
Macabeu, Tourbat
(can be single varietal)
~12% min ABV~
Rose
Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre,
Carignan, Grenache Gris
plus+
Cinsault, Counoise
(must be min 2 varietals)
~11.5% min ABV~
Red
Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre,
Carignan
plus+
Cinsault, Counoise
(must be min 2 varietals)
~12% min ABV~
*released 6/1
Banyuls AOP
(VDN!)
Grey Schist Soil
- *Vin Doux Naturel Only!!**
- Blanc - Ambre - Rose*
- Rimage - Traditionnel - Hors d’Age*
~30 hl/ha~
~21.5% min ABV~
~{15% actual}~
252 g/l min Must Weight
45 g/l min RS
Blanc
80% min combined:
Grenache Blanc, Grenache Gris,
Macabeu, Tourbat
*released 5/1
Ambre
Same varietals as Blanc
*released 3/1 on 3rd year after harvest
Rose
80% min combined:
Grenache (all), Macabeu, Tourbat
Rimage
Vintage dated Red
90% min Grenache
*released 5/1
Traditionnel
Red
90% min combined:
Grenache (50% min) + Grenache Gris
*released 3/1 on 3rd year after harvest
Hors d’Age
released 9/1 on 5th year after harvest
Banyuls Grand Cru AOP
(VDN!)
- *Red Vin doux Naturel Only!!**
- AOP - Rancio - Hors d’Age*
75% min Grenache
~30 hl/ha~
~21.5% min ABV~
~{15% actual}~
252 g/l min Must Weight
45 g/l min RS
(can be Sec - 54 g/l Max RS)
AOP
*released 6/1 on 3rd year after harvest
**30 months min in barrel
Rancio
(???)
Hors d’Age
*released 9/1 on 5th year after harvest
*30 months min in barrel
