Northern Rhône

Question 1

What is topography of the Northern Rhône Valley?

Answer 1

Narrow and steep valley. Best sides are on the steep south-facing slopes.

Question 2

What are the winds that come through the valley?

Answer 2

The Mistral winds (from the Alps and Massif Centrale)

Question 3

What are the pros and cons of the Mistral winds?

Answer 3

Pro: help inhibit fungal disease, help inhibit pests and creatures

Con: Can be strong enough to damage vines/harvest

Question 4

What is a common VTS type in the N. Rhône?

Answer 4

Individual Stake or tepee stakes

Question 5

What are the grape varietals of the N. Rhône?

Answer 5

Syrah

Viognier, Marsanne, Roussanne

Question 6

What are common characteristics of Syrah from the N. Rhone?

Answer 6

deep color; ripe, soft tannins; concentrated black fruit; some black pepper. Carbonic maceration used for less expensive wines.

Question 7

Describe Viognier from N. Rhône.

Answer 7

Exotic apricot, spice, floral, rich mouthfeel/viscosity
low acid, high alcohol
late-ripening

Question 8

What makes Marsanne and Roussanne a good match?

Answer 8

Marsanne: Richness/Oily texture, Weight, and Marzipan
Roussanne: Acidity and Perfumed fruit/Waxy mineralogy (susceptible to rot/wind damage)
They can age well

Question 9

List the appellations of Northern Rhône from North to South.

Answer 9

Côte-Rôtie
Condrieu
Château Grillet
Saint-Joseph
Crozes-Hermitage
Hermitage
Cornas
St-Péray
Clairette de Die
Chatillon-en-Diois

Question 10

What does Côte-Rôtie translate to?

Answer 10

Roasted Slopes

Question 11

What is the permitted percentage of Viognier in Côte-Rôtie?

Answer 11

20%

Question 12

What type of wine is made in Condrieu?

Answer 12

White only; Viognier

Question 13

What kind of viticulture is used in Condrieu?

Answer 13

Steep, well-exposed, terraced vineyards

Question 14

Where is Château Grillet AC located?

Answer 14

Within the AC of Condrieu.

Question 15

Which side of the Rhône River is St-Joseph located?

Answer 15

West bank

Question 16

What is the percentage permitted for Viognier/Marsanne/Roussanne in the ACs of Côte-Rôtie, Crozes-Hermitage, Hermitage, and St-Joseph

Answer 16

Côte-Rôtie - 20% Viognier
Crozes-Herm/Hermitage - 15% Mars/Rouss
St-Joseph - 10% Mars/Rouss
* often co-fermented with Syrah.

Question 17

What are the potential benefits of co-fermentation?

Answer 17

Stabilizes the color

Moderates tannin extraction

Question 18

Near what town do the best wines in St-Joesph come from?

Answer 18

Tournon

Question 19

On which bank is Tournon located?

Answer 19

West/Right Bank

Question 20

Here is Hermitage located?

Answer 20

A single Contained Hillside vineyard coming out of the village of Tain-l’Hermitage.

Question 21

List the climats of Hermitage.

Answer 21

l'Hermite
le Méal
les Bessards
Gréffieux
Beaume
Péléate

Question 22

List the 4 lieu-dits of Cornas.

Answer 22

Les Reynards
La Côte
Les Chaillot
Les Mazards

Question 23

How did Hermitage get its name?

Answer 23

From the hillside Chapelle (which is the namesake of Jaboulets most premium wine) which commemorates Gaspard de Stérimberg, the legendary crusader-turned-hermit who lived a life of asceticism on top of the hill.

Question 24

What is the granite soil called in Cornas?

Answer 24

Gore

Question 25

Which AC is the smallest in Northern Rhône?

Answer 25

Cornas, with just over 100 ha of planted land

Question 26

What are some important viticultural differences Cornas utilizes that separate it from the rest of N. Rhône?

Answer 26

Whole-Cluster Ferm instead of destemming

Old demi-muids rather than new oak barriques

Question 27

What kind of wine is permitted in St-Péray?

Answer 27

White only with Marsanne and Roussanne.