Northern Rhône Flashcards
1
Q
The Northern Rhône stretches between which 2 communes?
A
From Vienne (N) to Valence (S)
2
Q
How does the Northern Rhône’s climate differs from that of the Southern Rhône?
A
While the Southern Rhône’s climate is firmly Mediterranean, the Northern Rhône is more continental. It benefits from its southerly position but experiences greater seasonal temperature shifts, more rainfall, and fewer annual hours of sunshine than the southern appellations.
3
Q
The cold, dry Mistral wind blows down from the where and affects the Northern Rhône during which seasons?
A
The Massif Central and it affects the Northern Rhône in winter and spring.
4
Q
Why is it that many trees in the Northern Rhône valley grow leaning southward?
A
Because they are bent by the Mistral wind
5
Q
What is one of the advantage of the Mistral when it comes to viticulture?
A
it dries the vineyards, preventing mold and mildew from taking hold.
6
Q
The steeply sloped vineyards of which 3 Northern Rhône AOPs are carved out of this heat-retaining granitic and schistous bedrock?
A
Côte-Rôtie
Condrieu
Hermitage
7
Q
What is the topsoil like throughout the Northern Rhône and what threat does it poses?
A
Fine sand and loess topsoil is found throughout the Northern Rhône and is prone to erosion (a threat partially mitigated by terrace construction).
8
Q
Near the commune of Condrieu, what is the local name of the thin topsoil that is rich with powdery, decomposed mica?
A
Arzelle
9
Q
How are the soils in the more southern sectors of Saint-Joseph, Crozes-Hermitage, and Saint-Péray, compared to those from the steep vineyards of Côte-Rôtie, Condrieu, and Hermitage which are generally directly carved out from the heat-retaining granitic and schistous bedrock?
A
The soils become heavier with clay in the southern section of Saint-Joseph, Crozes-Hermitage, and Saint-Péray.
10
Q
Syrah-based wines from the Northern Rhône are typically fermented and aged in what type of vessel?
A
The wines are typically fermented and aged in large oak foudres, although some producers are now experimenting with new barriques.
11
Q
What are the 5 appellations for Syrah in the Northern Rhône?
A
Hermitage AOP
Crozes-Hermitage AOP
Cornas AOP
Côte-Rôtie AOP
Saint-Joseph AOP
12
Q
Which of the 5 appellations for Syrah in the Northern Rhône is always bottled as 100% Syrah?
A
Cornas
13
Q
Côte-Rôtie wines may add up to which percentage of Viognier in their blend?
A
20%
14
Q
Crozes-Hermitage and Hermitage producers have the option of adding a combined total of up to which percentage of Marsanne and Roussanne into their blend?
A
15%
15
Q
Saint-Joseph producers have the option of adding a combined total of up to which percentage of Marsanne and Roussanne into their blend?
A
10%
16
Q
What are 2 of the perceived advantages of co-fermenting white and red grapes?
A
Co-fermentation offers the almost counterintuitive advantage of stabilizing red wine color and moderating tannin extraction.
17
Q
Côte-Rôtie, the “roasted slope,” rises up a southeasterly aspect behind the riverside town of…?
A
Ampuis
18
Q
Ampuis, home to which producer, which is also the largest producer in the Côte-Rôtie appellation?
A
E. Guigal
19
Q
Simply put, how do the wines from Côte Blonde differ from those of Côte Brune?
A
Côte Blonde yields softer, alluring wines, whereas the wines of Côte Brune are stronger and more assertive.
20
Q
Which 4 major producers dominate the terraced hill of Hermitage?
A
Jean-Louis Chave
Delas (négociant)
M. Chapoutier (négociant)
Jaboulet (négociant)
21
Q
“La Chapelle,” Jaboulet’s premier wine, is named for a small hillside chapel that stands in commemoration of which legendary Crusader-turned-hermit who lived a life of asceticism atop the hill?
A
Gaspard de Stérimberg
22
Q
The small hillside chapel of Hermitage is located within which climat?
A
L’Hermite
23
Q
Name 5 important climates of Hermitage except L’Hermite.
A
Méal
Les Bessards
Gréffieux
Beaume
Péléat
24
Q
The sun’s warmth is magnified in Cornas by the naked granite soil in the vineyards, referred to as…?
A
Gore
25
Does the Mistral wind affects the vineyards of Cornas?
No, the appellation is shielded from the Mistral wind.
26
Which is the smallest of the smallest red wine appellation of the Northern Rhône?
At just over 100 hectares of planted land, Cornas is physically the smallest red wine appellation of the Northern Rhône, although Hermitage is not far behind.
27
Which producer has long been considered the standard-bearer for the traditional wines of the Cornas appellation, eschewing destemming for whole-cluster fermentation and new oak barriques for the old demi-muids of the region?
Auguste Clape
28
The Saint-Joseph's appellation borders have been greatly enlarged from the original delimited area. Where is the original delimited area of Saint-Joseph?
Near the commune of Tournon-sur-Rhône, opposite the hill of Hermitage.
29
What wines are produced in the Saint-Péray AOP?
It exclusively produces Marsanne and Roussanne wines, which may be made in méthode traditionelle mousseux style.
30
What does Marsanne and Roussanne each contribute to the typical blend of the 2 varieties in white Northern Rhône blends?
Often but not always blended, the more delicate Roussanne adds acidity and waxy minerality to Marsanne’s broader, oily texture and marzipan character.
31
In Hermitage, which 2 producers revived the traditional and rare style of dessert wine vin de paille (drying either grape) first in the 70s and then in the 90s?
Gérard Chave in the 1970s and again by Chapoutier in 1990.
32
Viognier wines of Condrieu tend toward honeyed lushness, intriguing floral aromas, and rich texture; however, regarding winemaking, is it typical for producers to put their wines through malolactic conversion and into new oak?
Important stylistic decisions, such as the use of oak and the desirability of malolactic fermentation, vary widely by producer.
33
What is so special about Château Grillet AOP?
It is a monopole within Condrieu.
34
Southeast of Valence, which 4 minor appellations of the Northern Rhône lie on the Drôme River, a tributary of the Rhône?
Coteaux de Die AOP
Crémant de Die AOP
Clairette de Die AOP
Châtillon-en-Diois AOP
35
What type of wines are produced in Coteaux de Die AOP?
Still white wines made entirely from the Clairette grape
36
What type of wines are produced in Crémant de Die AOP?
Dry (max 15 g/L RS) traditional method sparkling white wines made from:
min. of 55% Clairette
min. 10% Aligoté
5-10% (max) Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains
37
What typeS of wines are produced in Clairette de Die AOP?
2 styles of sparkling wines:
1. Traditional method based solely on Clairette (essentially brut w/ max. 15 g/L RS)
2. rustic Méthode Dioise ancestrale containing a min. of 75% Muscat à Petit Grains with min. 35 g/L RS (implying demi-sec)
38
Describe the Méthode Dioise ancestrale.
The méthode ancestrale is an old technique of sparkling wine production in which the wine is bottled without dosage before fermentation has concluded. The wines are disgorged into pressurized tanks and rebottled without liqueur d’expédition.
Summary:
Ancestrale (left to continue alcoholic fermentation in bottle)
Disgorged in pressurized tanks
No dosage/liqueur d'expédition
39
What typeS of wines are produced in Châtillon-en-Diois AOP?
Gamay-based reds (+ add. PN & Syrah allowed)
Gamay-based rosés (+ add. PN & Syrah allowed)
Aligoté- and Chardonnay-based whites
40
Av. annual rainfall in the Northern Rhône VS in the Southern Rhône?
Northern Rhône: 915mm (Valence)
Southern Rhône 660mm (Avignon)
41
Name 7 famous Cornas producers.
Thiérry Allemand
Auguste Clape
Domaine Courbis
Domaine Durand
Guillaume Gilles
Vincent Paris
Domaine du Tunnel
Alain Voge
42
Where have new vineyards been planted in Cornas beyond the original east-facing amphitheatre of terraces?
On old pastures above the original east-facing amphitheatre on colder sites where grapes may take an extra fortnight to ripen.
43
Which city marks the break between the Northern Rhône and the Southern Rhône?
Montélimar
44
Wine production percentage split between the Northern Rhône and the Southern Rhône?
Northern Rhône: 5%
Southern Rhône: 95%
45
Which are the 6 naturally favoured communes that once made up the St-Joseph appellation before its famous expansion?
From N to S:
1. Lemps
2. Vion
3. St-Jean-de-Muzols
4. Tournon-sur-Rhône
5. Mauves
6. Glun
46
St-Joseph has expanded from 6 to how many communes?
26 communes
47
Wines labeled as IGP Collines Rhodaniennes tend to come from which area?
On the promising mica-schist slopes opposite Côte-Rôtie and Condrieu, on the left bank of the river to the north around Seyssuel between Lyon and Vienne.
48
Where is the village of Brézème found (sometimes seen together with Côtes-du-Rhône on labels)?
In between Valence and Montélimar, just north of Livron-sur-Drôme in the Drôme department.
49
Name one Burgundy producer that found potential on the non-appellation schists of Flaviac, near St-Julien-en-St-Alban, on the right bank of the Rhône between Valence and Montélimar.
Mark Haisma
50
Name 11 St-Joseph producers
Chapoutier
Jean-Louis Chave
Pierre Gonon
Guigal
Domaine Courbis
Domaine Coursodon
Delas
Domaine Bernard Gripa
Domaine Monier-Pérréol
Domaine du Monteillet - Stéphane Montez
Domaine André Perret
51
How large was the vineyard area of Côte-Rôtie in 2017?
308 ha
52
How steep can the slopes of Côte-Rôtie get?
60%
53
Which part of the Côte-Rôtie appellation has arguably diluted its reputation?
The plateau above the original slopes that is home to newer plantings (more difficult to ripening in cool summers).
54
Where are the Côte Blonde and Côte Brune vineyards located relative to the town of Ampuis?
Just above (north) of Ampuis
55
Côte Blonde's orientation and soil characteristics influencing the general wine style
South-facing
Part of the greater Massif Central
More granite with soft topsoils comprising many different plots of sandy/slate soil with a pale limestone element
Softer, more charming, earlier-developing wines than more varied Côte Brune
56
Côte Brune's orientation and soil characteristics influencing the general wine style
Southwest-facing
Schist and heavier clay are darkened by iron and the wines are traditionally tighter, sometimes smoky
57
Who broke the long-standing tradition of blending the wines from Côte Blonde and Côte Brune vineyards by merchants in the 1980s?
Guigal, by starting a trend for vineyard-designated bottlings.
58
What are the 3 famous "La Las" bottlings of Guigal?
La Landonne
La Mouline
La Turque
59
Do the "La Las" bottlings fall into the modern, powerful and pungent camp of Côte-Rôtie or into the more traditional, classic and gentle camp?
The former. Modern, powerful and pungent. 42 months in new oak!
60
List 6 traditional style Côte-Rôtie producers
Barge (Gilles, now his son Julien)
Domaine Gangloff
Domaine Jamet
Domaine Jasmin
Vignobles Levet
Domaine Rostaing
61
Which of the 3 "La Las" vineyards is the longest-lived, the only one that is officially recognized, and also bottled by not only Guigal but also Jean-Michel Gérin and René Rostaing?
La Landonne
62
When was the La Mouline brand named by Guigal and from which vineyard site is it made?
1966. Made from holdings in the Côte Blonde.
63
When was the La Turque brand created by Guigal and where are the relevant vineyards located?
1985. Made from vines high above the centre of Ampuis, sort of in between the Côte Blonde and the Côte Brune.
64
Where is La Landonne vineyard located?
Just east of Ampuis, right up from the main road along the Rhône (seems to be a steep southeast-facing slope)
65
More traditional Côte-Rôtie bottling of Guigal under which label and is a blend of how many vineyards from which famous slopes?
Château d'Ampuis
Blend from 7 quite different vineyards from both Côtes Brune and Blonde
66
Who owns Vidal-Fleury?
Guigal
67
Name the 5 most significant Côte-Rôtie merchants
1. Guigal
2. Chapoutier
3. Delas
4. Vidal-Fleury
5. Jaboulet
68
Which of the 3 "La La" bottling is often enlivened by more than 10% Viognier?
La Mouline
69
Which 2 increasingly famous and increasingly mentioned vineyards are found towards the eastern end of the Côte-Rôtie AOP just north of the commune of Vérenay? How do they differ?
Les Grandes Places (more muscular)
La Vallière (more fragrantly floral)
70
L'appellation Saint-Joseph s'étend sur le territoire de 2 départements. Lesquels?
Les départements de l'Ardèche et de la Loire
71
L'appellation Saint-Joseph s'étale sur environ combien de kilomètres entre Cornas et Côte-Rôtie sur la rive droite du Rhône?
60 km
72
Superficie de l'appellation Saint-Joseph
1400 ha
73
Bénéfice supplémentaire que confèrent les terrasses à Saint-Joseph (et ailleurs) autre que la prévention de l'érosion?
Elles freinent l’écoulement des eaux lors des épisodes de fortes précipitations et favorisent l’infiltration dans les sols pour permettre à la vigne de conserver des réserves hydriques.
74
Which year did Saint-Joseph officially gain AOC status?
1956
75
When did the Saint-Joseph AOC expand beyond the original 6 communes to encapsulate 26 communes?
1969
76
What is the general aspect of the famous slopes of Château-Grillet?
Southeast
77
Château Grillet was owned and run by which family from 1827 to 2011 before it was purchased by who?
It was once owned and run by the Neyret-Gachet family and since 2011 is now owned by François Pinault's Artémis Domaines.
78
List the 3 wines produced by Château-Grillet.
1. Château Grillet
2. Côtes-du-Rhône
3. Condrieu La Carthery
79
When did Château Grillet first released their Côtes-du-Rhône and what grapes are used in this cuvée?
In 2011, after the acquisition of the property by François Pinault's Artémis Domaine. 100% Viognier
80
What was the first vintage of Château Grillet's Condrieu La Carthery and is a blend of how many vineyards?
It is a blend of 2 plots covering 0.25 ha (12 dry-stone terraces) that are adjacent to the historical boundaries of Château Grillet and that come under the Condrieu appellation. The largest one is situated in La Carthery, hence the name of the wine.
81
South of which village are the Viognier vineyards Condrieu AOC and the Syrah, Roussanne, Marsanne ones St-Joseph (where both AOCs overlap)?
Chavanay
82
How do the soils shift in nature and composition from Côte-Rôtie extending south into Condrieu?
The schist and mica from Côte-Rôtie give way to crumbled, sanded granite in Condrieu.
83
Why had the Condrieu vineyard shrunk to a mere 12 ha by the 1960s?
It was an obscure white more commonly encountered as sweet made with an unreliable and disease-prone, low-yielding vine known as Viognier grown on steep slopes that compared unfavourably with other much easier - and at the time more lucrative - crops.
84
Who makes the longest-lived Condrieu wine and which cuvée is it?
Georges Vernay's Coteau du Vernon
85
What is Guigal's deluxe Condrieu bottling called? Name 2 vineyards from which it sources its grapes?
La Doriane
blended from grapes grown in the Côte Châtillon and Colombier vineyards
86
Condrieu has grown to approximately how many hectares by 2017?
197 ha
87
Condrieu stretches between which 2 villages?
Chavanay to the south (said that higher granite content in the soils here imbue some minerality and Condrieu to the north (yielding particularly rich Viognier)
88
What is the name of the topsoil found on the most favoured vineyards in Condrieu (one that are sheltered from the cool north winds) that tend to be powdery and mica-rich?
Arzelle
89
List 4 favoured Condrieu vineyards with regards to their sheltered situation from cool northern winds.
They include:
Chéry
Chanson
Côte Bonnette
Les Eyguets
90
When has Château Grillet received its very own AOC status and how large is the AOC?
In 1936 and it covers 3,5ha of vines.
91
How large is the Hermitage AOC?
136 ha of vines (not that much more extensive than, say, Château Lafite)
92
The records of Bordeaux producers shipping in Hermitage to beef up their own wines date back to what time?
The mid-18th century
93
In which celebrated survey or publication did André Julien listed Hermitage's individual climats or small plots alongside Château Lafite, Romanée-Conti as among the best red wines of the world? (Same with the whites)
Topographie de Tous les Vignobles Connus (published in 1816)
94
What was the name given to the town of Tain l'Hermitage back in Roman times?
Tegna
95
What is the general aspect of the Hermitage hill?
It faces from west to due south (well protected from the cold north winds).
96
The hill of Hermitage is a granite outcrop that was once and extension of which geological formation before the river burrowed a course around its western flank?
The Massif Central
97
How high is the escarpment that is the hill of Hermitage?
350m
98
What is the top soil of Hermitage, that slides down the hill after heavy storms, largely made up of?
Decomposed flint and limestone
99
What is the eastern end of the Hermitage hill made of?
Glacial deposits from the Alps
100
In general, the lightest Hermitage wines come from which 2 climats?
The higher climats Beaume and L'Hermite
101
What is Jaboulet's famous flagship Hermitage wine and from which climat is it made?
La Chapelle from L'Hermite climat
102
Chapoutier has the largest holding of which climat of Hermitage and how are wines from this climat stylistically speaking?
Les Gréffieux. It makes elegant, aromatic and silky wines.
103
Which climat of Hermitage stands above Les Gréffieux and makes extremely dense and powerful wines?
Le Méal
104
Which particularly granitic climat of Hermitage is found at the western end and is turned south-southwest, making some of the most tannic and longest-lived wines that can provide structure to a blend?
Bessards
105
Is there still room for new plantings or new producers in Hermitage?
No. Virtually all available land has been planted. There is no more room left for vines - or for new producers.
106
List the 5 producers that dominate the Hermitage appellation (1 domaine, 3 larger merchant houses and 1 coop).
Domaine Jean-Louis Chave
Chapoutier
Paul Jaboulet Aîné
Delas
Cave de Tain
107
Which white grape is the main one planted on the Hermitage hill?
Marsanne
108
André Julien name which climat of Hermitage as the best for white wines?
Rocoule
109
Chapoutier makes single vineyard whites from which 2 climats of Hermitage?
L'Ermite
Le Méal
110
What is the name of Guigal's famous white Hermitage?
Ex-Voto (only produced in exceptional vintages and also available in red)
111
What is the name of Ferraton's famous white Hermitage?
Le Reverdy
112
What is the name of Marc Sorrel's famous white Hermitage?
Les Rocoules
113
Who famously resurrected Hermitage Vin de Paille (grapes traditionally shrivelled on straw), a possibly Roman specialty, in the 1970s?
Gérard Chave
114
Which 3 climats on the southwestern flank of the granite mound of Hermitage are the 3 key elements in a top-quality blend?
Le Méal, Bessards, l'Hermite
115
Cave de Tain coop is responsible for which % of Crozes-Hermitage's production?
40%
116
How do Crozes-Hermitage wines generally tend to differ coming from the north of the appellation Vs from the south?
North: lively red-fruited wines
South: softer black-fruited reds
117
What is the name of Paul Jaboulet Aîné's domaine found in one of Crozes-Hermitage's most successful areas just north of Beaumont-Monteux?
Domaine de Thalabert
118
Who is behind Domaine des Lises in Crozes-Hermitage?
Maxime Graillot (Alain Graillot's son)
