Northern Rhône Valley

Question 1

What is arzelle and where would you find it?

Answer 1

Arzelle is decomposed mica found in Condrieu.

Question 2

What percentage of Roussanne / Marsanne is allowed in Hermitage?

Answer 2

Up to 15% of Roussanne + Marsanne is allowed in Hermitage Rouge.

Question 3

What percentage of Roussanne / Marsanne is allowed in St. Joseph?

Answer 3

Up to 10% of Roussanne + Marsanne is allowed in St. Joseph Rouge.

Question 4

What are the 2 main slopes of Côte Rôtie?

Answer 4

Côte Blonde: predominantly gneiss soil & softer wines

Côte Brune: predominantlu mica/schistous soils & more assertive wines.

Question 5

Name 3 producers that make a ‘La Landonne’ vineyard designate.

Answer 5

La Landonne lies within Côte Brune. Guigal, René Rostaing, & Delas all make vineyard designates of this.

Question 6

Name 4 Hermitage producers.

Answer 6

JL Chave, Delas, M. Chapoutier, Jaboulet all produce Hermitage wine.

Question 7

Name at least 3 important Hermitage climats.

Answer 7

l’Hermite, le Méal, les Bressards, Gréffieux, Beaume, & Péléat are all important climats in Hermitage.

Question 8

Name 4 lieux-dits of Cornas.

Answer 8

Les Reynards, La Côte, Les Chaillot, & Les Mazards are major lieux-dits within Cornas.

Question 9

Name at least 3 Cornas producers.

Answer 9

August Clape (traditional), JL Colombo, Frank Balthazar, Guillaume Gilles, & Thierry Allemand are all notable Cornas producers.

Question 10

When was St. Joseph expanded?

Answer 10

Est. in 1956 and expansion began with a decree in 1969. It has gone from 6 original communes (~90ha) to 26 communes (~1200ha) now.

Question 11

When was Crozes-Hermitage expanded?

Answer 11

Est in 1937 and expansion began in 1952. 1 original commune, now 11 which cover almost 1500ha.

Question 12

What styles are permitted for Saint-Péray?

Answer 12

Saint-Péray permitted styles are Blanc & Blanc Mousseux (made in the traditional method) comprised of Roussane & Marsanne.

Question 13

Where would you find vin de paille in the Rhône valley?

Answer 13

Hermitage is permitted to produce vin de paille. The style was revived by Gérard Chave in the 1970s and by Chapoutier in the 1990s.

Question 14

Who owns Château Grillet?

Answer 14

François Pinault (Artemis Group) purchased Château Grillet (monopole) in 2011.

Question 15

What is the second label of Château Grillet?

Answer 15

Pontcin is the second label of Château Grillet and labels as a basic Côtes du Rhône. 2011 was the first vintage.

Question 16

What are the permitted grapes & percentages for Coteaux de Die?

Answer 16

Coteaux de Die is produced from 100% Clairette.

Question 17

What are the 2 styles permitted for Clairette de Die and their encépagements?

Answer 17

Blanc Mousseux (trad'l method): 100% Clairette & 9mo sur lie. Max RS 15g/L
Méthode Dioise Ancéstrale: min 75% Muscat Blancs à Petits Grains & 4mo sur lie. Min 35 g/L RS.

Question 18

What are the grapes & styles allowed for Chatillon-en-Diois?

Answer 18

Blanc, Rosé, & Rouge are permitted.
Blanc: Chard + Aligoté
R/Rosé: min 60% Gamay + PN & Syrah.

Question 19

Name 4 communes that overlap between St. Joseph & Condrieu.

Answer 19

Condrieu & St. Joseph overlap in the communes of Limony, Chavanay, Malleval, & St. Pierre de Boeuf, which may produce wine under either AOP.

Question 20

Who produces the “La Las”? Describe each one.

Answer 20

Guigal produces a set of wines referred to as the La Las.
La Mouline (1966): 90% Syrah + Viognier from 1ha on the Côte Blonde. 'La Mouline' might be a Guigal trademark, not official climat.
La Turque (1985): 93% Syrah from the Côte Brune.
La Landonne (1978): 100% Syrah from the Côte Brune. Biggest of the 3.

Question 21

What are the original 6 communes of st. Joseph?

Answer 21

Tournon, St. Jean de Muzols, Glun, Lemps, Vion, Mauves