Grape Varieties Flashcards
Syrah:
This vigorous variety needs careful training and tying in to protect it from the ____ ____ that blows through both the northern and southern Rhône.
On the steep slopes of the top northern Rhône appellations individual plants are often tied to ___ or ___ as trellising is not possible, adding to cost.
Mistral wind
one or two poles
Syrah:
It is susceptible to ____ and ____ ____ __ In addition to common diseases, there is also a disease called ____ ____ or ____ in which the leaves ____ ____ and the ____ ____ ____ __ and the ___ ____
mites and to botrytis bunch rot.
Syrah decline or disorder
turn red and the graft point breaks up and the vine dies.
TASTING NOTE:
Syrah, Northern Rhone
+ what Syrah contributes to southern Rhone blend
Syrah is the only black grape variety used in the northern Rhône crus, whose wines are
- typically deep ruby in colour,
- medium to pronounced intensity aromas and
- medium to pronounced flavours of
violet, plum, blackberry with black pepper and herbal notes.
(red plum in cooler years and sites)
(black plum in warmer years and sites) - Acidity is medium to high
- tannins range from medium to high.
Syrah adds structure, fruit and colour to Southern Rhône blends.
Grenache Noir:
This high yielding variety needs a ___ climate to ripen.
It ripens late and therefore can be affected by ___ ____ ____
Its upright growth makes it very suitable to be trained as
a ____ ____, pruned short to contain its ____, and it does well on dry, low fertility soils.
The grapes can accumulate ____ ____ levels quickly, which can be an issue in dry wines but makes it very suitable for producing ___ ____ ____.
warm
early autumn rains.
bush vine
vigour
high sugar
Vin Doux Naturel
Grenache Noir:
It has good drought resistance but is prone to ____ (leading to reduced yields) and to the fungal diseases ____ _____ and ___ ___ ____.
It is also prone to bacterial necrosis or bacterial blight, a disease that ___ ____ and eventually the ____ The disease is combatted by ____ ____ ____ ____ and _____ ____ from pruning tools.
coulure
downy mildew, phomopsis and botrytis bunch rot.
kills leaves and shoots and eventually the plant.
planting disease-free stock and avoiding contamination
TASTING NOTE:
Grenache Noir in Southern Rhone Blends
It typically forms the major component in southern Rhône blends that may also include Syrah, Mourvèdre and other local varieties.
It contributes - pale ruby colour, ripe red fruit (strawberry, red plum, red cherry), spicy and herbal notes, - high alcohol, - low to medium tannins - low acidity
Mourvèdre
This is a late budding and late ripening variety that only thrives in ____ to ___climates. It needs high temperatures at the end of the season to ripen fully and therefore can be ____ ____ if the late summer is not hot.
It is not drought resistant but requires small but regular
amounts of water, for example from ____ ____soils that ____ ____
It is best pruned short and can be grown either with a cordon system or on bush vines. It only produces ___ ____
warm to hot
under ripe
deep calcareous
stores water.
low yields.
Mourvedre:
It is prone to ____ ____ and ____ ___ (a disease that affects ripening bunches due to insect or bird damage to grapes, which then become prone to bacteria and fungi).
In the winery, it is strongly prone to ____ and therefore care has to be taken to make sure the must has adequate access to ____.
It is typically aged in ___ ___. which adds a small amount of cost.
It is the principal variety in the red and rosé wines
of _____ AOC in _____.
mites, leafhoppers and sour rot
reduction
oxygen.
old oak,
Provence
TASTING NOTE:
Mourvedre
The wines are almost always used as parts of a blend in the Rhône where Mourvèdre contributes:
- deep ruby colour,
- intense aromas of blackberries, blueberries and violets,
- high alcohol
- high, firm tannins.
Cinsaut
Also spelled _____ this is a late-budding and high-yielding variety with ___ ____ and ____ _____
To produce the highest quality wine, yields must be ____
If grown on soils with excessive lime it is can suffer from ____.
It is prone to ___ and ____, and to ____ and ______
Cinsault,
good drought and heat resistance.
restricted.
chlorosis.
esca and eutypa
mites and grape moths.
Cinsault:
In the southern Rhône Cinsaut is typically used as a small part of the red blend. It is typically made in a way that preserves its fruit flavours (___-____ fermentation temperature, aged briefly in ____ _____).
The lifted aromas of the variety are most prominent in the first year after the wine is made, making it highly suitable for _____ ____ ___ and ____
mid-range
Stainless steel
early drinking reds and rosés.
TASTING NOTE:
Cinsault:
It contributes light ruby colour,
medium to medium (+) intense aromas of fresh red fruit (raspberry, red cherry),
- high alcohol
- low to medium tannins.
Viognier:
This is an early budding white variety and therefore prone to ___ ____. It is normally grown on a ____ or on ____ to prevent wind damage.
Yields tend to be ___ and ______ due to ____ leading to poor flowering and fruit set and reducing yields.
Picking must be judged very accurately as the fruit needs to be fully ripe to have its typical _____ _____.
spring frost
trellis or on poles
low and unpredictable,
coulure
pronounced aromas
Viognier:
If the grapes are left too long, they lose ____ and ____, and rapidly gain sugar, resulting in unbalanced wines that ____ _____
Up to __% of Viognier is allowed in some ____ _____ red wines that are otherwise made with ____
flavour and acidity
lack flavour
20 per cent
northern Rhône
Syrah.
TASTING NOTE:
Viognier
The wines are
- medium lemon in colour
- pronounced aromas and flavours of honeysuckle, apricot and peach,
- medium to high alcohol
- low acidity.
