Northern Rhône Flashcards
Where does the Mistral wind come from?
It blows down from the Massif Central in the winter and spring
What is the predominant soil found in the Northern Rhône?
Granite and Schist
What is arzelle and where is it found?
Powdery, decomposed mica
Found in Condrieu
List the appellations of the Northern Rhône from North to South
Côte-Rôtie
Condrieu
Château-Grillet
Saint Joseph
Crozes-Hermitage
Hermitage
Cornas
Saint-Péray
Clairette de Die
Châtillon-en-Diois
Coteaux de Die
Crémant de Die
Which appellations must be 100% Syrah?
Cornas
Which appellation may blend up to 20% Viognier into their Syrah?
Côte-Rôtie
Where may Marsanne and Rousanne be blended with Syrah?
Crozes-Hermitage (max 15%)
Hermitage (max 15%)
Saint-Joseph (max 10%)
Where is E. Guigal based?
Ampuis in Côte-Rôtie
What cooling wind effects Côte-Rôtie?
The bise
When did Gentaz-Dervieux retire?
Who works his vines today?
1993
Rostaing
What vineyards in Côte-Rotie mark the divide between schist and granite soils?
The Côte Brune (schist) and the Côte Blonde (granite)
What is the tributary the runs between the Côte Brune and Côte Blonde?
The Reynard
Which Guigal vineyards are on the Côte Brune?
La Turque
Which of Guigal’s vineyards is in the Côte Blonde?
La Mouline
List 3 other important vineyards around Ampuis
Chavaroche - borders cote brune with more pure schist and sw exposure
La Landonne - upstream from the côte brune. Schist and iron ore, facing se
Cote Rozier - se exposure. Extremely steep.
Name 2 important vineyards around Verenay
Grandes Places- rocky and windy, se facing.
Vialliere- very steep! A little less finesse then Grandes Places
Name 5 top producers of Côte-Rôtie
Jamet
Clusel-Roch
René Rostaing
Jean-Michel Stephan
Georges Vernay
To whom is the chapel at the top of the hill of Hermitage devoted to?
Saint Christopher
How many hectares of vines does Hermitage have?
137 hectares
Describe the soil of Hermitage
Primarily granite, the closer to the Rhône river, so the further West, there is more granite
Was Hermitage always on the West side of the River?
No! It used to be on the east side, but the river changed course at some point
List the 4 most famous vineyard sites of Hermitage
Bessards: South facing granite slab. Ultra-Hermitage
Le Meal: To the east of Bessards and more South facing. Riper, fruitier wines.
L’Hermite: Sits at the top of the hill. Fresh, high acid.
Greffeux: Below Meal, but a portion of it sticks up between Meal and Bessards to touch L’Hermite. Granite, clay, limestone.
List 3 important producers of Hermitage
Chave
Jaboulet “La Chapelle” (in decline in the 90s)
Chapoutier - single vineyard designations
Where in the Northern Rhône does Syrah ripen the earliest?
Cornas
