Northern Rhone Flashcards
The Northern Rhone, AKA:
Rhone septentrionale
The Northern Rhone runs from the town of _________ to _________.
Vienne
Valence
The Southern Rhone, AKA:
Rhone meridionale
The Northern Rhone’s picturesque, hallmark terraces were first constructed by:
Roman workers in the first century CE
What is vinum picatum?
Roman “pitched wine” exported from Vienne to Rome in the first century CE
How was vinum picatum transported?
In amphorae lined with resin
In the __th century, traders carried Rhone wines to the Loire Valley and by the __th century they were being exported via the Loire to England.
17th; 18th.
These “manly” wines were among the most famous in France in the 18th & 19th centuries.
Hermitage
In the 18th and 19th centuries, many merchants from _______________ blended the wines of Hermitage into their own reds to strengthen them.
Bordeaux
Why do many trees of the Rhone grow leaning southward?
Bent by the Mistral
Name a benefit of the Mistral
Dries the vineyards, preventing mold and mildew
Name the two main bedrock soils of the Northern Rhone
Granite
Schist
Name the two main topsoils of the Northern Rhone
Fine sand
Loess
T/F: The fine sand and loess topsoils of the Northern Rhone are extremely prone to erosion, hence the terracing of the steep vineyards of Cote-Rotie, Condrieu, and Hermitage.
True
Name the unique topsoil of Condrieu
Arzelle; a thin powdery, decomposed mica topsoil of Condrieu
What is Arzelle?
Thin, powdery, decomposed mica topsoil of Condrieu
In the southern section of Saint-Joseph, Crozes-Hermitage, and Saint-Peray the soils become heavier with ______.
Clay
Name three AOCs of the Northern Rhone with heavy clay soils
Saint-Joseph
Crozes-Hermitage
Saint-Peray
Name the five appellations of the Northern Rhone for Syrah
Cote-Rotie
Saint-Joseph
Crozes-Hermitage
Hermitage
Cornas
Which appellation of the Northern Rhone is 100% Syrah
Cornas
What may be blended (and how much) with Syrah in Cote-Rotie?
Viognier (20%)
What may be blended (and how much) with Syrah in Crozes-Hermitage and Hermitage?
Marsanne & Roussanne (15%)
What may be blended (and how much) with Syrah in Saint-Joseph?
Marsanne & Roussane (10%)
Name two benefits of co-fermenting whites with Syrah in the Northern Rhone
- Stabilizes color
- Moderates tannin extraction
The town associated with Cote-Rotie
Ampuis
The northernmost appellation of the Northern Rhone
Cote-Rotie
Slopes of the Cote-Rotie can be in excess of __ degrees.
55
The two main slopes of Cote-Rotie
Cote Brune
Cote Blonde
This cru (bottled by Guigal, Rene Rostaing, and others) fetches prices that can equal those commanded by the first growths of Bordeaux.
La Landonne
Village associated with Hermitage
Tain-l’Hermitage
Four major producers of Hermitage
Jean-Louis Chave
Delas
Chapoutier
Jaboulet
Jaboulet’s premier wine
La Chapelle
Jaboulet’s La Chapelle is named for a small hillside chapel that stands within the climat of ___________ in commemoration of ________________.
L’Hermite
Gaspard de Sterimberg
Six top climats of Hermitage
L’Hermite
Le Meal
Les Bessards
Greffieux
Beaume
Peleat
The warmest of the Northern Rhone appellations
Cornas
Name for the naked granite soil of Cornas
Gore
Four noteworthy lieux-dits of Cornas
Les Reynards
La Cote
Les Chaillot
Les Mazards
The smallest red wine region of the Northern Rhone
Cornas
This appellation is shielded from the winds of Mistral
Cornas
Top producer of Cornas
Auguste Clape
What is a demi-muid?
A 600-liter oak barrel, traditional of the Rhone Valley
Main town associated with Saint-Joseph
Tournon-sur-Rhone
The two ‘basic-level’ appellations of the Northern Rhone
Crozes-Hermitage
Saint-Joseph
The two red-wine-only regions of Northern Rhone
Cote-Rotie
Cornas
Three white and red wine regions of Northern Rhone
Saint-Joseph
Crozes-Hermitage
Hermitage
T/F: Saint-Peray blends of Marsanne & Roussanne may be made in methode traditionelle mousseux style.
True
Two white-wine-only regions of Northern Rhone
Condrieu (Viognier)
Saint-Peray (Marsanne & Roussanne)
What does Roussanne bring to a blend?
Delicate
High acid
Waxy minerality
What does Marsanne bring to a blend?
Broad
Oily
Marzipan
What is Ermitage-Paille?
Traditional dessert wine made from Marsanne/Roussanne in Hermitage (dried on straw mats a la Jura/Alsace).
Who is credited with the revival of ‘Ermitage-paille’ in the 1970’s? 1990?
Gerard Chave (1970’s)
Chapoutier (1990)
Minimum potential alcohol for Ermitage-paille
14%
(18% for vin de paille elsewhere)
Three top producers of Condrieu
Georges Vernay
Yves Cuilleron
Andre Perret
Monopole of Condrieu
Chateau Grillet
T/F: Chateau Grillet is the smallest appellation of France
False; La Romanee in Burgundy
Tributary of the Rhone River in the southern end of the Northern Rhone
Drome
Name the four minor appellations southeast of Valence in the Northern Rhone
Coteaux de Die
Cremant de Die
Clairette de Die
Chatillon-en-Diois
What grape varieties are permitted in Coteaux de Die?
Clairette
Name the two styles of wine produced under Clairette de Die
Methode Traditionelle
Methode Dioise Ancestrale
Name the main grape variety of Methode Dioise Ancestrale
Min. 75% Muscat a Petit Grains
Min g/L for Methode Ancestrale
Min. 35 g/L (demi-sec)
Grapes of Chatillon-en-Diois
GAMAY
Syrah
Pinot Noir
Chard
Aligote
In June of 2017 the directors of Rhone merchant ________ ________ were arrested on criminal charges for fraudulent labelling of Cotes-du-Rhone wines.
Raphael Michel
Best Rhone vintages of late
2009
2010
2015
2016
2018
Best Rhone vintages of the past
1959
1961
1978
1989
1990
1995
1998
1999
2001
2005
Three regions of the Northern Rhone for sparkling wine
Saint-Peray
Cremant-de-Die
Chatillon-en-Diois
How many Cotes du Rhone villages may append their names to the appellation?
20
Which village is permitted to put its name before ‘Cotes du Rhone’?
Brezeme
Who is the Grandfather of Brezeme?
M. Pouchoulin
Top producer of Brezeme
Eric Texier
Who is the owner of Chateau Grillet?
Francois Pinault (also Clos de Tart in MSD)
Second wine of Chateau Grillet
Pontcin (Cotes du Rhone appellated)
What famous town is between Macon & Valence?
Lyon
Red grape varieties permitted in Chatillon-en-Diois
Gamay
plus 25% max
Syrah
Pinot Noir
White varieties of Chatillon-en-Diois
Aligote or
Chardonnay
How much Clairette is permitted in Clairette-de-Die?
25% (mostly Muscat)
What style of wine is Clairette-de-Die?
Methode Ancestrale sparkling
When bottled, how many g/L of sugar is required at min for methode ancestrale?
55 g/L when bottled
35 g/L min when disgorged
Transvasage meaning
Filtered into a new bottle, as in methode ancestrale production
Cepage permitted for Cote-Rotie
Syrah plus up to 20% Viognier
What style of wine (and grape variety) is Coteaux-de-Die?
White only;
Clairette
(the still-wine version of Clairette-de-Die)
What did Clairette-de-Die Mousseux turn into?
Cremant-de-Die (introduced in 1993 to phase out Mousseux by 1999)
What grapes are permitted in Cremant-de-Die?
Clairette 100%
(up to 25% Muscat was permitted in Clairette-de-Die Mousseux)
What co-op is responsible for 40% of Crozes-Hermitage wine?
Cave de Tain
Red wine cepage for Crozes-Hermitage
Syrah
plus up to 15%
Marsanne
Roussanne
Red wine cepage for Hermitage
Syrah
plus up to 15%
Marsanne
Roussanne
Name three top producers of Hermitage
Jean-Louis Chave
Paul Jaboulet Aine
Chapoutier
Saint-Joseph cepage
Syrah
plus up to 10%
Marsanne
Roussane
The Rhone River travels from the _______ border to the ___________.
Swiss border to the Mediterranean
The (Northern/Southern) Rhone is wetter & cooler.
Northern
The Rhone and the Saone meet at _______.
Lyon
Valence gets ___ in of rain per year, while Avignon gets ___ in.
Valence: 36 in
Avignon: 26 in
The break between Northern and Southern Rhone comes at _________.
Montmeliar
Top three producers of Cornas
Thierry Allemand
Auguste Clape
Yves Cuilleron
Principal viticultural hazards for Northern Rhone
Poor weather at flowering
Fungal disease
Hail
How many communes in the Northern Rhone are included in Cotes-du-Rhone?
47
Up until the 20th century, Cote-Rotie wines were sold in measures of double-amphorae, or ______ liters.
76 liters
What is the road that winds down alongside the Rhone River in the Northern Rhone?
D386
Soil of the Cote Blonde
Granite
Sandy/Slate topsoil
Soil of the Cote Brune
Schist & Clay darkened by Iron
La-La vineyards:
La Landonne
La Mouline
La Turque
How long does Guigal age his La-Las in new oak?
42 mos
Name another producer (other than Guigal) who produces a ‘Cote Blonde’
Rostaing
Jamet
Which of the La-Las is longest-lived?
La Landonne
Which of the La-Las is the only one to be officially recognized?
La Landonne
Which two La-Las are brand names created by Guigal?
La Mouline
La Turque
Who owns Chateau d’Ampuis?
Guigal
Name three top producers of Cote-Rotie other than Guigal
Chapoutier
Jaboulet
Vidal-Fleury (owned by Guigal)
Condrieu vineyards south of what town may be labeled as Saint-Joseph if red?
Chavanay
Top producer of Condrieu
Georges Vernay
Tain l’Hermitage was once known as ________ during Roman times.
Tegna
Topsoil of Hermitage
Decomposed flint & limestone
T/F: Hermitage, like vintage Port, often throws heavy sediment and needs decanting.
True
This local co-op owns more than 69 acres of Hermitage’s vineyard land.
Cave de Tain
In 1816 Andre Jullien named this vineyard as the best for Hermitage blanc:
Raucoule
Who wrote ‘Topographie de Tous les Vignobles Connus’ and in what year?
Andre Jullien; 1816
What other two fruits is much of Crozes-Hermitage planted to?
Cherries & apricots
Paul Jaboulet Aine’s Crozes-Hermitage property
Domaine de Thalabert
Name three top producers of Crozes-Hermitage
Belle
Fayolle
Alain Graillot
What are cheys?
The terraces of Cote-Rotie
The terraces of the Cote-Rotie are AKA:
Cheys
Guigal’s single-vineyard Condrieu:
La Doriane
Thierry Allemand’s top bottling
Cornas ‘Reynard’ - blend of parcels with avg vine age over 40 yrs
