Northern Rhone Flashcards
where are many of the vineyards situated in Northern Rhone
on steep slopes next to the River Rhone between Vienne in the north and Valence in the south.
Where is the home to many premium wines in Rhone?
in the north despite them being very low in production
where are the vineyards planted in N. Rhone?
mainly planted close to the river where the best site occupy steep slopes with a south facing aspect. often lie in lateral valleys that feed into the Rhone. which protect them from the cold north winds
what is mistral?
cold north wind in Rhone which can easily damage vines.
how are vines supported in Rhone
either by stakes or tepee like arrangement of stakes.
describe the climate of Rhone
similar to Beaujolais, moderate and continental, temperatures noticeably cooler in southern Rhone
what red varietal is Rhone known for?
Syrah - only black one permitted in N. Rhone
what white wine varietal is Rhone known for?q
Viognier
Describe sites for Syrah in Rhone
prized sites have southerly exposures and are on very steep slopes.
what makes Syrah hard to grow in Rhone
its at the northern most limit of where it can ripen successfully and at the latitude with the cooling effect of the mistral
Describe characteristics of Syrah in Rhone
deeply colored, med to high levels of tannin, black fruit and sometimes black pepper or floral aromas.
describe the use of oak in N. Rhone
some use high proportion of new oak for their best wines where others use older oak or larger barrels.
Is Syrah blended with white wines?
traditionally it was esp in a number of crus, which would help stabilize the color. Viognier can add extra aromatics to the wine. However, this is rarely done now.
what characteristics of a wine does Voigner make
full bodied white with perfumed aromas of blossom and apricot and flavors of stone fruit. tend to be low in acidity and high in alcohol as they don’t develop their signature flavors until late in the season when they have reached high level of sugar ripeness.
what happens to Voigner grapes if they not carefully handled?
they will develop an overly oily character that can overwhelm the varietal aromas.
what type of oak is used for Voigner grapes
new oak is increasingly being used but has to be handled carefully not to overwhelm primary aromas.
What are two other white varietals that are often blended in N. Rhone besides Voigner?
Marsanne and Roussanne
describe the differences between Marsanne and Roussane?
Marsanne has richness and weight where Roussanne offers acidity and a perfumed fruit characteristic - both can age well and develop aromas such as hazelnut
where do most of the wines in the N. Rhone region come from?
one of the cru appellations
what are the most northerly appellations in Rhone Valley?
Cote Rotie (around the town of Ampuis)
what does Cote Rotie translate into?
Roasted Slope
what type of wines are produced in Cote Rotie
only red wines are produced however up to 20% of Voignier can be added.
Describe the characteristic of a Cote Rotie wine
deeply colored, full bodied, spicy, and the best ones have an aromatic floral freshness textural elegance that distinguishes it from Hermitage.
What is Condrieu?
white wine made solely of Voignier.
what type of vines do best Condrieu wines come from?
low yielding old vines, grown on steep well exposed terraced vineyards
Where is Saint Joseph located in Rhone?
it runs along the western bank of the Rhone from Condrieu in the north to Tournon in the south.
what type of wine is the vast majority made in Saint Joseph
reds made from Syrah. although some whites are made of Marsanne and Roussanne
within Saint Joseph where are the best wines made?
the terraced vineyards near Tournon
describe characteristics of best red wines from Tournon
flavor intensity and structure similar to Hermitage
Besides Tournon where else in Saint Joseph are excellent wines made?
just south of COndrieu - large volume of relatively light bodied varieties, which use carbonic maceration, come from more fertile flatter sites on the valley floor and the plateau above the slopes.
Where is Heritage located in Rhone?
on a steep south-facing slope behind the town of Tain-l’Hermitage.
What is Hermitage divided into?
a number of “lieux-dits” (named sites) which are not part of the appellation system.
Describe the best wines from Hermitage
typically a blend of wine from different sites, but some producers have begun producing from one site.
Describe red Hermitage wines
generally the fullest bodied of the N Rhone and ages well. up to 15% of Marsanne and Roussane may be fermented with Syrah, however this is rarely done
What % do MArsanne and Roussane make up of Hermitage wine production?
1/5
what is the most important appellation in Rhone in terms of volume
Croze-Hermitage
where do the vineyards of Croze Herimtage lie>
on mixed terrain around the hill of Hermitage
Where are the vineyards located North of Hermitage?
slopes
Where are the vineyards located South of Hermitage?
flat plains
what are the red wines of Croze Hermitage made of?
Syrah with the option to add up to 15% of Roussane or Marsanne
Describe characteristics of Croze Hermitage wines?
quality depends on location of vineyard. lighter wines are from the high yielding flatter vineyards to teh south. More concentrated, complex, and tannic wines are from vines growing on steeper slopes to the north. some of the more expensive wines might be aged in oak.
where is Cornas located?
most southerly of the red wine crus and by far the warmest. lies on sheltered well exposed sun baked south facing slope of many lateral valleys.
what wine is made in Cornas
must be made from 100% Syrah
describe wines from Cornas
deeply colored full bodied style and quality similar to Hermitage.
