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Master Sommelier Theory 2025 > France: Southern Rhone > Flashcards

France: Southern Rhone Flashcards

1
Q

Châteauneuf du Pape important Lieu Dits

A

La Crau
Bois de la Ville
Les Escondudes
Montpertuis
Chapouin
Beaucastel
Saumade
Font du Loup
Mont Redon
Montolivet

134 total

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2
Q

Appellations for vin doux naturel southern Rhone

A

Rasteau

Muscat de Beaumes de Vinise

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3
Q

Rasteau AOP
communes of production
grapes

A

communes:
VDN: Cairanne, Rasteau, Sablet
Unfortified Reds: Rasteau only

Grenache blanc, gris, noir + accessory varieties

dry red wines from min 50% grenache, min 20% Mourvedre and Syrah, + accessory

dry reds authorized since 2010, and is vast majority of production.

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4
Q

Rasteau AOP
aging

A

Blanc & Grenat: released May 1st yr following harvest, must be bottled by June 2nd yr following harvest at latest

Rose: bottled by Dec 31 yr following harvest

Ambre & Tuile: min 3 years aging
Hors d’Age: min 5 years aging
rancio: deliberately oxidative

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5
Q

Rasteau AOP
RS
ABV

A

vdn - all min 45 g/l RS
15% (21.5% potential)

Rouge max 3g/l
12.5%

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6
Q

Rasteau - where is it? Communes of production?

A

NE of CdP, next to Ouveze river

VDN: Cairanne, Rasteau, Sablet
Unfortified Reds: Rasteau only

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7
Q

Muscat de Beaumes de Venise-
grapes and styles
RS
abv
soil

A

Muscat VDN in white, rose, and red styles. Encépagement: Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains and Muscat Rouge à Petits Grains (rose can have both)

min 100 g/l RS

Min 15% actual, 21.5% potential

miocene sand, clay, limestone soils

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8
Q

Chateauneuf du Pape communes of Production

A

Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Orange, Bédarrides, Courthézon, Sorgues

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9
Q

Gigondas AOC
grapes
styles

A

whites - min 70% clairette

rose and red: min 50% grenache, with at least one of Syrah, Mourbedre

Ouveze River

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10
Q

Gigondas soils

A

Stony red clay alluvium/limestone

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11
Q

river in Gigondas

A

Ouveze

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12
Q

Tavel
grapes
RS
soil

A

Rosé only AOC! communes: Tavel, Roquemaure

Grenache Noir must be present.
Also: Grenache Gris, Grenache Blanc, Bourboulenc, Clairette, Clairette Rosé, Cinsault, Mourvèdre, Piquepoul Blanc, Piquepoul Gris, Piquepoul Noir, and Syrah

max 4g/l

soils: Lausses- white calcareous + galets

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13
Q

What grapes is Chateau Rayas Blanc made from?

A

50/50 grenache blanc, clairette

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14
Q

red wine only AOCs of the southern Rhone

A

Beaumes de Venise (grenache, syrah)
Vinsobres (min 50% grenache + another)

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15
Q

What styles of wine are made in Côtes du Rhône Villages?

A

Blanc
Rosé
Rouge

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16
Q

Côtes du Rhône blanc- grapes allowed?

A

min 50% principal varieties: Bourboulenc, Marsanne, Roussanne, Viognier, Clairette, Grenache Blanc

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17
Q

Côtes du Rhône rouge- grapes allowed?

A

Rosé/Rouge: Grenache and either Syrah or Mourvèdre must be present. Principal (GSM) 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.

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18
Q

best recent vintages southern Rhone

A

2016
2015
2010
2009
2007
2005
2001 - great, hot and dry
2000

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19
Q

worst recent vintages southern Rhone

A

2021- frost, low yields, mixed quality
2014: difficult. rain, humidity, disease
2013 - cold, wet spring
2008 - cool, wet, humid
2002 - real bad, rain

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20
Q

white only appellations in southern Rhone

A

Clairette de Bellegarde- 100% Clairette

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21
Q

CDP soil types

A

limestone base + red clay (argillaceous), sand (siliceous), and marl (molasse).

In the north and northwest, galets roulés are common. large round stones comprised of quartzite and silica are the remnants of retreating Alpine glaciers from thousands of years ago, polished smooth by the Rhône River. They help retain daytime heat and moderate temperatures in the vineyard.

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22
Q

Dentelles de Montmirail

A

ridge of Jurassic limestone in the southern Rhone

Beaumes de Venise- lies to the south

Gigondas- at the base and on the slopes on the western side

Vacqueyras- lies to the SW of the hills

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23
Q

Vacqueyras AOP

A

white, rose, red

white blends: Bourbelenc, Clairette, Grenache Blanc, Marsanne, Roussanne, Viognier (no single variety may account for more than 80%)

red blends: min 50% grenache, must have at least one of Syrah / Mourvedre

rose: Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah, and Mourvèdre (no single variety may account for more than 80%)

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24
Q

Cairanne AOP
styles
river
soil

A

southern Rhone. was previously a village of Côtes du Rhône villages, promoted to AOC in 2016 (most recent)

red, white

Aigues river passes right through Cairanne on its course to meet the Rhône river just west of Orange.

limestone and alluvial soil

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25
CdP max yields
Rendement de Base: 35 hl/ha Maximum Yield including Râpé: 42 hl/ha
26
what is le râpé?
in CdP, producers must declassify 2% of harvest to table wine
27
CdP minimum planting density
depends how vines are planted "En Ligne" (line): 3,000 vines per hectare "Au Carré" (square): although not explicitly stated, the vine spacing corresponds to 2,500 vines per hectare
28
Where is CdP? Size?
southern Rhone- Orange to north, Avignon to south river to west 3,231 hectares planted, 1700 in the commune of CdP itself
29
first AOC in France
Roquefort Cheese was awarded the first-ever AOC in 1925 wine- all on the same day in 1936: Arbois Cassis Chateauneuf du Pape Cognac Monbazillac Tavel
30
Chateau Rayas
based in CdP top wines: Pignan (Châteauneuf-du-Pape): Pignan means "pine tree" in French, and references the surrounding trees at the estate. Produced from younger vines, 100% Grenache. Réservé Rouge (Châteauneuf-du-Pape): 100% Grenache. Réservé Blanc (Châteauneuf-du-Pape): Clairette and Grenache Blanc. Pialade (Côtes du Rhône): 80% Grenache, 15% Cinsault, 5% Syrah. holdings include: Château Rayas, Château des Tours and Château de Fonsalette
31
Chateau de Beaucastel
based in Courthézon top wines Châteauneuf-du-Pape (Blanc and Rouge) Hommage à Jacques Perrin: prestige cuvée, only produced in the best years; made from low-yielding vines. Inaugural vintage 1989. Roussanne Vieilles Vignes: from a 3-ha plot of vines over 75 years old. Inaugural vintage 1986.
32
Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe where? bottlings other property
based in Bédarrides ALL holdings are in the lieu dit La Crau top wines: Châteauneuf-du-Pape (Blanc and Rouge) Télégramme (Blanc and Rouge): from young vines (less than 25-30 years) Domaine les Palliers- in Gigondas
33
Domaine du Vieux Telegraphe - Lebanon property
Massaya
34
Domaine de Pegau
based in CdP top wines: Cuvée Réservée (Blanc and Rouge): Inaugural vintage 1985. Cuvée Laurence: rouge. Rouge. Inaugural vintage 1983. Cuvée a Tempo: 1/3 each Clairette, Grenache Blanc & Roussanne fermented in a combination of oak and steel. Aged in barrique. No Malo. First vintage 2014 Cuvée Da Capo: Old vine selection from 3 terroirs - La Crau, Les Escondudes and Montpertuis. Produced in just seven vintages to date. Inaugural vintage 1998. Cuvée Inspiration: Utilizes 13 varieties from 2 terroirs - La Crau and Les Escondudes. Only bottled in magnum. First and only released vintage is 2010
35
Chateau la Nerthe
based in Sorgues, CdP top wines: Châteauneuf du Pape (Blanc and Rouge) Cuvée des Cadettes: Sourced from old vines. Inaugural vintage 1970. Clos de la Granière: A second wine prouduced from younger vines. Clos de Beauvenir: A blend of Roussanne and Clairette, aged in new, French barriques.
36
Bois de la Ville
oldest CdP lieu dit- first mentioned in 1344
37
Brun Argente synonym
Vaccarese, Camarèse accessory grape allowed in Côtes du Rhône
38
Côtes du Rhône principal red grapes
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.
39
modern crossings allowed in Côtes du Rhone?
Couston (Grenache x Aubun) Marselan (Grenache x CS) Caladoc (Grenache x Malbec)
40
Côtes du Rhone principal white grapes
Min. 80% combined Marsanne, Roussanne, Bourboulenc, Grenache Blanc, Clairette, and Viognier
41
Côtes du Rhone principal rose grapes
same as for 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.
42
Marselan
grenache x CS recently allowed in Bordeaux- climate change. also in China also in CdR rouge
43
Caladoc
grenache x malbec allowed in CdR rouge
44
AOCs for Clairette
Clairette de Bellegarde (southern rhone) Coteaux de Die (northern rhone)
45
Rhone IGPs
Regional IGP Mediteranée IGP Comtes Rhodaniens Department IGP Gard IGP Drome IGP Vaucluse IGP Ardeche
46
CdP- most planted red
Grenache Syrah Mourvedre Cinsault
47
CdP- most planted white
Grenache Blanc (35%) Clairette (32%) Roussanne (16%) Bourbelenc (15%)
48
Henri Bonneau
based in CdP top wines: Réserve des Celestins Cuvée Marie Beurrier Cuvée Spéciale: Inaugural vintage 1990.
49
Chapoutier - southern Rhône bottlings
All labeled CdP: La Bernadine Blanc- mostly grenache blanc (negoce) La Bernadine Rouge- blend, spends time in barrel (negoce) Barbe Rac- 100% grenache, very old vines Croix du Bois - 100% grenache, very old vines
50
CdP bottles without papal crest
La Nerthe Beaucastel - has their own Rayas - nothing
51
Galets roulets
Large round quartzite/silica stones left by retreating Alpine glaciers. In the north/northwest part of CdP
52
mutage
adding alcohol to stop fermentation. 96 proof is used
53
Gigondas producers
Chateau de Saint Cosme Famille Perrin Domaine Santa Duc Moulin de la Gardette Domaine Des Bosquets
54
Côtes du Rhone villages upgraded to AOC
Gigondas (1971) Vacqueyras (1990) Beaumes-des-Venise (2005) Vinsobres (2006) Cairanne (2016)
55
garrigue
low scrubland in the mediterranean, esp southern france, on limestone soils. It is often composed of kermes oak, lavender, thyme, rosemary, and white cistus.
56
notable lieu dits of CdP
Bois de la Ville L Crau Les Escondudes Montpertuis Chapouin Beaucastel Font du Loup Mont Redon Montolivet
57
Côtes du Rhône bottlings - $100 or more
Ch de Fonsalette Rayas la Pialade Rayas Ch des Tours Domaine Gramenan, Cuvée Pascal Ch Grillet J. Vidal Fleury
58
CdR Villages- notable villages
22 in total Saint Maurice Sablet Valreas Plan de Dieu Seguret
59
southern rhone AOCs making white, red, rose
Costieres de Nimes CdR Villages Cotes du Vivarais Duché d'Uzès Gigondas Grignan les Adhémar Lirac Luberon Vacqueyras Ventoux
60
rhone appellation allowing high % Ugni Blanc
Luberon - up to 50%
61
rhone appellation allowing high % Vermentino
Luberon - it is a principal variety
62
Cotes du Vivarais AOP
southern rhone Blanc: blend of grenache blanc, marsanne, clairette Rouge: Min. 40% Syrah, min. 30% Grenache Rosé: 60-80% Grenache
63
Viognier in the southern rhone
Duché d'Uzès - min 40% in white blends Grignan les Adhémar- min 30% encepagement
64
Largest producers in CdP
Negociant / Co-ops: Brotte, Guigal Estates: Mont Redon (100 ha), La Nerthe (90 ha)
65
Cuvée Inspiration
Domaine de Pegau CdP bottling Utilizes 13 varieties from 2 terroirs - La Crau and Les Escondudes. Only bottled in magnum. First and only released vintage is 2010 $1000 retail average
66
Cuvée da Capo
Domaine de Pegau CdP bottling Old vine selection from 3 terroirs - La Crau, Les Escondudes and Montpertuis. Produced in just seven vintages to date. Inaugural vintage 1998. $400 retail
67
Hommage a Jacque Perrin
Beaucastel CdP prestige cuvée, only produced in the best years; made from low-yielding vines. Inaugural vintage 1989. $380 retail
68
Cuvée XXL
Dom de la Janasse CdP bottling Grenache with Mourvedre (whole cluster and aged in demi-muid) from the lieu dits of Beaucastel, La Crau, and Saumade. Produced in (2007, 2016, and 2019). $340 retail
69
Sanctus Sanctorum
Clos St Jean CdP bottling 100-year-old Grenache vines; sold exclusively to the US market $291 retail
70
Deux ex Machina
Clos St Jean CdP bottling 60% Grenache (aged in tank) with 40% Mourvèdre (aged in new oak barrels); all from 100-year-old vines with yields that average 20 hl/ha $130 retail
71
Châteauneuf du Pape important Vineyards
La Crau
72
Appellations for vin doux naturel southern Rhone
Rasteau Muscat de Beaumes de Vinise
73
Rasteau AOP - grapes and styles
dry red wines from min 50% grenache, 20% Syrah and Mourvedre Grenache blanc, gris, noir- for all VDN vdn - all min 45 g/l RS Ambre & Tuile: min 3 years aging Hors d'Age: min 5 years aging rancio: deliberately oxidative
74
Muscat de Beaumes de Venise- grapes and styles
Muscat VDN in white, rose, and red styles min 100 g/l RS
75
Chateauneuf du Pape communes of Production
Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Orange, Bédarrides, Courthézon, Sorgues
76
Gigondas AOC- grapes and styles?
whites - mostly clairette rose and red: grenache based: min 90% combined GSM grenache - min 50% syrah & mourvedre- min 15% combined
77
Tavel - grapes and styles
Rosé only! required 30 to 60% combined Grenache Gris, Grenache Blanc, and Grenache Noir up to 60% Bourboulenc, Clairette, Clairette Rosé, Cinsault, Mourvèdre, Piquepoul Blanc, Piquepoul Gris, Piquepoul Noir, and Syrah up to 10% each Calitor and Carignan (blanc and noir)
78
What grapes is Chateau Rayas Blanc made from?
50/50 grenache blanc, clairette
79
Duche d'Uzes AOP where? grapes
southern Rhone Blanc: Min. 40% Viognier, min. 30% Grenache Blanc, plus Clairette, Ugni Blanc, and a max. 20% combined Roussanne, Marsanne, and Vermentino Rosé: Min. 50% Grenache Noir, min. 20% Syrah, plus Carignan, Cinsault, and Mourvèdre Rouge: Min. 40% Syrah, min. 20% Grenache Noir, plus Carignan, Cinsault, and Mourvèdre
80
Muscat de Beaumes de Venise mutage
Min. 96% neutral alcohol in 5-10% proportion to wine
81
Rasteau mutage
Min. 96% neutral alcohol in 5-10% proportion to wine
82
Vinsobres AOC where grapes
southern rhone. rose and red Min. 50% Grenache, and at least one complementary variety must be present in the blend.
83
Ventoux AOC where grapes
southern rhone white, rose, red - all rhone blends
84
what causes the Mistral?
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 blows from north
85
Chene Bleu - what is it?
Located in Ventoux, labels as Vaucluse IGP, because they believe their higher altitude and unique geology doesn't fit the AOPs
86
most planted red in CdP
Grenache (77%) Syrah (12%) Mourvedre (7%) Cinsault (3%)
87
most planted white in CdP
Grenache Blanc (35%) Clairette (32%) Roussanne (16%) Bourbelenc (15%) All others 2%
88
first rhone wine in 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
89
Beaucastel - describe winemaking style
Beaucastel is considered a traditional producer: wines are de-stemmed and fermented in either cement or steel tank. **Prior to fermentation, the red grapes are flash-heated for two minutes and then cooled—a process they have employed since the 1960s. The wines are aged in old foudres for about 12 months and are bottled without filtering.
90
en vrac
"in bulk," wine that is ready to drink but not yet bottled
91
when can CdP producers irrigate?
not officially allowed- producers can petition in extreme drought, but can't irrigate after Aug 15 allowed for young vines not yet in production
92
Cairanne AOC vielles vignes
vines min. 30 years 20 years for Syrah/Viognier
93
purpose of cover crop in southern rhone
due to concerns about climate change, cover crops help regulate soil temperature, combat drought, and improve soil health, especially in the face of increasingly hot summers in the region;
94
safres
compacted stone like sand soil, found in CdP, Gigondas, Vacqueyras
95
top producers CdP
Ch Rayas Ch Beaucastel Dom du Vieux Telegraphe Dom du Pegau Henri Bonneau Clos des Papes Chateau la Nerthe Domaine Charvin Pierre Usseglio Dom de la Janasse Le Vieux Donjon

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