NORTHERN RHONE

Question 1

Where are vineyards?

Answer 1

Close to river, where best sites occupy steep slopes with a south facing aspect

Question 2

What are vine supported by?

Answer 2

Individual stake or by tepee like arrangement of stakes

Question 3

Climate?S

Answer 3

Similar to Beaujolais, moderate/continental, cooler than Southern Rhone

Question 4

Only black variety permitted in Northern Rhone?

Answer 4

Syrah

*It is at the very Northern limit of where it can ripen successfully

Question 5

Most prized sites for Syrah?

Answer 5

Southern exposures on very steep slopes

Question 6

Syrah characteristics?

Answer 6

Deep color
med-high levels of tannin
Black fruit
Black pepper
Floral
Some use new oak, some use older oak or large barrels

Question 7

What was a traditional practice of Syrah?

Answer 7

Fermenting it with white varieties- Helps stabilize color extraction from black grapes and that Viognier in particular can add extra aromatic intensity

Question 8

Viognier characteristics?

Answer 8

-Full bodied
-Perfumed aromas of blossom and apricots
-Flavors of stone fruits
-Low acid, high alcohol
-Grapes don’t develop signature aromas until late in season when they have reached a high level of sugar ripeness

-Small amount in off dry style from late harvest grapes

Question 9

2 other white grapes grown in Northern Rhone and blended together?

Answer 9

Marsanne and Roussanne

M=Richness/weight
R=Acid/perfumed fruit character

Age well, can develop complex hazelnut aromas

Question 10

Most Northerly appellation of Rhone Valley?

Answer 10

Cote Rotie

Question 11

What does Cote Rotie mean?

Answer 11

Roasted slope

Question 12

What is produced in Cote Rotie?

Answer 12

Only reds, but up to 20% Viognier can be added

Deep colored, full body, spicy, best have aromatic floral freshness and textural elegance that distinguishes from Hermitage

Question 13

Condrieu?

Answer 13

-White made solely from
Viognier
-Bets come from low yielding old vines grown on steep well exposed terraced vineyards

Question 14

Saint Joseph?

Answer 14

-Vast majority of wines are reds from Syrah
-Some whites from Marsanne and Roussanne
-Best come from terraced vineyards near Tournon, can have flavor/structure like Hermitage

Question 15

What is Hermitage divided into?

Answer 15

Lieux-Dits, named sites which are NOT part of the appellation system

Question 16

Where is Hermitage located?

Answer 16

Steep south facing slope

Question 17

Red Hermitage?

Answer 17

-Fullest bodied of Northern Rhone reds, ages well
-Up to 15% Marsanne or Roussanne may be fermented with Syrah, now rarely done

Question 18

Most important appellation in terms of voulme?

Answer 18

Crozes Hermitage

Question 19

Where are Vineyards in Crozes Hermitage?

Answer 19

North-Slopes
South- Flat plains

Question 20

Reds of Crozes Hermitage?

Answer 20

-Syrah with option of up to 15% Marsanne or Roussanne

-Lighter wines from higher yielding flatter sites in south

-More concentrated complex tannic wines come from vines grown on steeper slopes to the north

-More expensive wines may be oak aged

-Do not enjoy the same reputation as the wines of Hermitage and Cote Rotie

-Some whites also produced

Question 21

Most southerly of the red wine crus and the warmest?

Answer 21

Cornas

Question 22

What are wines made up of in Cornas?

Answer 22

100% Syrah
Deep color, full body, in a style similar to Hermitage