Rhone Flashcards
1
Q
Northern Rhone climate
A
continental
2
Q
Southern Rhone climate
A
Mediterranean
3
Q
Distance between north and south rhone? what grows there?
A
50km
very few grapes grown
4
Q
Land under vine in Northern Rhone?
A
under 4,000ha
vs. 66,000ha in South
5
Q
Land under vine in Southern Rhone
A
66,000ha
4,000ha in North
6
Q
Cote du Rhone and Cote du Rhone Villages AOCs producer what % of all Rhone wine
A
60%
7
Q
AOC wine in Rhone: Breakdown of red, white and rose (2018)
A
Red: 74%
Rosé: 16%
White: 10%
8
Q
What % of Rhone vineyard certified organic
A
8%
9
Q
Rhone: volume of AOC vs IGP?
A
AOC: 70% (2.5m hl)
IGP: 30% (1.1m hl)
10
Q
Syrah protected from Mistal how?
A
Careful training and tying in
11
Q
Why does Syrah have individual plants tied to one or two poles in Northern Rhone?
A
Steep slopes, trellising not poss
12
Q
Syrah susceptible to what pests and diseases?
A
Mites
BBR
Syrah decline
13
Q
What is Syrah decline?
A
Disease where the leaves turn red, the graft point breaks up and the vine dies
14
Q
Typical style for Northern Rhone cru?
A
Deep ruby
Medium-pronounced violet, plum (red in cool years/sites, black in warm), blackberry, black pepper, herbal
Medium-high acid and tannin
15
Q
Grenache yields high or low?
A
High
16
Q
Syrah adds what to Southern Rhone blends?
A
Structure, fruit, colour
17
Q
Grenache ripens early or late?
A
Late
Autumn rains
18
Q
Grenache does well on what soils?
A
Dry, low fertility soils (it’s vigorous)
19
Q
Grenache susceptible to what?
A
Coulure Downy Phomopsis BBR Bacerial necrosis/bacterial blight
20
Q
How is bacterial necrosis/bacterial blight combatted?
A
Planting only disease free stock
Avoiding contaminated pruning tools
21
Q
Grenache accumulates high sugar levels. So what?
A
Can be an issue in dry wines (high alcohol) but suitable for VDN
22
Q
Grenache contributes what to Southern Rhone blend?
A
Pale ruby colour Ripe red fruit (strawb, red plu, red cherry) Spicy and herbal High alcohol Low to medium tannin Low acidity
23
Q
Mourvedere buds early or late
A
Buds late
Good vs spring frost
24
Q
Mourvedre ripens early or late
A
Late
Only thrives in warm to hot climates
Needs high temperature at end fo season to ripen fully - can be undderipe
25
Mourvedre produces high or low yields?
Only low yields
26
What does Mourvedre add to a Southern Rhone blend?
Deep ruby colour
Intense blackberry, blueberry, violet
High alcohol
High, firm tannin
27
Mourvedre is prinicpal variety in which AOC in France?
```
Bandol AOC (Provence)
Red and rosé
```
28
Cinsault buds early or late?
Late budding (like Mourvedre)
29
Cinsault produces high or low yields?
High yields (vs. Mourvedre which has low yields only)
30
Cinsault prome to what?
```
Esca
eutypa
chlorosis (on limey soils)
Mites
grap emoths
```
31
Why is Cinsault suitable for early drinking styles?
Lifted aromas (fresh red raspberry, cherry) are most prominent in first year after rwine is made
32
Viognier buds early or late?
Early
| Spring frost
33
Why is Viognier usually grown on trellis or poles?
Prevent wind damage (Mistral)
34
Rhone: Viognier yields tend to be what?
Low and unpredictable (due to poor flowering and fruit set)
35
Why is timing important for picking Viognier?
Needs to be fully ripe for typical pronounced aromas
| But if left too long = lose flavour and acidity, gain too much sugar = lose balance
36
Rhone: Viognier style
Medium lemon
Pronounced honeysuckle, apricot, peach
Medium to high alcohol
Low acid
37
Marsanne buds early or late?
Buds late
| Avoid frost
38
Marsanne is productive and vigorous. So what?
For high quality win,e yields need to be kept low
Best on stony and low tertile soils
Good on slopes of Northern Rhone
39
What is harder to grow, Marsanne or Roussane?
Roussanne is more difficult to grow successfully (variable yields because of coulure, suspceitle to powdery, BBR and mites)
40
Rhone: Roussanne style
Medium lemon (or gold)
Medium to medium (+) intensity pear, herbal
Medium to medium (+) acidity
Medium to high alcohol
Similar in colour and structure toMarsanne, but ages quicker
41
Grenache Blanc buds early or late
Buds early
| Only occasionally a frost problem = south of France and Spain
42
What does Grenache Blanc add to a blend
Low intensity ripe green fruit
Floral
High alcohol
Low acid
43
Clairette has high or low vigour?
High vigour
| Best in low fertility dry soils (eg Southern Rhone)
44
Contain Clairette's high vigour how/
Pruned short, excessive buds removed
45
Why does Clairette need careful handling in the winery?
It oxidises easily
46
Clairette mostly used for what in Rhone?
```
White blends in Southern Rhone
Freshness and fruit
White flower, fennel, apple and grapefruit
High alcohol
Low to medium (-) acid
```
47
Bourboulenc ripens early or late
Late ripening
48
Why is Bourboulenc resistant to botrytis bunch rot (BBR)?
loose bunches and thick skins
49
What is Bourboulenc used for?
White southern Rhone blends
Lemon flavour
Medium (+) acid
Medium alc
50
Grenache Noir prone to oxidation, so how is it handled in Rhone?
Oxidation and premature loss of colour
Ferment and age in concrete or stainless steel
(vs. Syrah, prone to reduction)
51
Syrah prone to reduction, how is it handled in Rhone?
Pumped over often
| Aged in oak = gentle oxidation
52
Why are red cru level wines sometimes made with whole bunches in Rhone?
More intense aromatiacs
53
Extraction temp for red cru level Rhone?
Generally warm: enchance extraction of colour, flavour and tannin
54
How to maximise extraction in red cru level Rhone?
Cold soak 1-3 days before ferment
Warm ferment
maceration on skins 20-30 days (w/ punch down, pump over, racka dn return)
55
Typical maturation for red cru level Rhone?
12-24 months in large oak (Grenache) and small barrels (Syrah, Mourvedre) with 20-30% new oak
56
Red cru level Rhone: hand or machine harvest?
Hand
| Small crates, whole unbroken berries
57
Inexpensive red Rhone: hand or machine harvest?
Machine
| Some crushing = process quickly to avoid bacterial infection
58
Inexpensive red Rhone: why would you do carbonic maceration?
Enhance colour and fruit intensity
Low tannins, suitable for early drinking
Need to harvest by hand though
59
Achieve a low-tannin easy drinking style of inexpensive red Rhone how?
Carbonic maceration
Flash detente
Thermovinification
60
Saignée rose method aka
Short maceration
61
Tavel rosé made how?
Short maceration
Grapes pressed after cold maceration on skins (12-48hrs)
Ferment completed for a white wine
62
Making Tavel rosé: how to control depth of colour, flavour intensity and tannin?
Length of cold maceration (12-48 hours)
63
High-end Rhone rosé might be aged in what?
Old small oak, for texture
| more usually: large oak, concrete
64
Is Tavel rosé a byproduct of red winemaking?
No, it's the main event
65
Is malo common in Rhone whites?
Sometimes avoided to retain natural acid
66
Why might lees stirring be avoided in Rhone whites?
Natural full body of the varieties
67
Example of a very full-bodied Rhone white. how is it achieved?
Chapoutier Hermitage Blanc
| Naturally full body of varieties + lees stirring
68
Northern Rhone climate
Moderate continental
| Cold winters, warm summers and adequate rainfall
69
Wind in Northern Rhone?
Cold Mistral wind, from north
Reduces fungal risk
Decreases vine vigour, lower yields and higher concentration (and lower production)
70
Northern Rhone: distance from most northerly to most southerly vineyard?
65 km
| Better ripening in southern part
71
One good and one bad point about steep northern Rhone vineyards?
(+) increase sunlight interception; better drainage
| (-) work by hand, increasing cost
72
Most northerly Northern Rhone AOC?
Cote-Rotie AOC
73
Cote-Rotie which wine colours?
Red only
74
Exposition in Cote-Rotie
east and south-east
(terraced vineayrds on steep slopes)
high sun interception
shelter from winds from north
75
Challegnes of steepness of Cote-Rotie vineyard
Terracing required, repairs needed from time to time
Work by hand only
Eroison a big problem
76
Account for good ripening in Cote-Rotie?
High sunlight
High heat
Rapid drainage
Poor, stony soils
77
Individual poles for vines in Cote-Rotie are caleld what?
échalas
78
Rhone: what are échalas?
Individual poles for vines
79
Typical vine training in Cote-Rotie?
Individual vines are single or double-Guyot trained, tied to échalas poles
80
Northern Rhone AOCs, north to south
```
Cote Rotie
Condrieu (+ Ch. Grillet)
St Joseph
Crozes-Hermitage
Hermitage
Cornas
St-Peray
```
81
Who revived Cote Rotie?
Etienne and Marcel Guigal
| single vineayrd La Las, high scores
82
Cote Rotie land under vine
250ha
| was 70ha in early 1970s
83
Cote Rotie grape(s)
Syrah and up to 20% Viognier
Red wines only
In practice, Viognier often 0% and rarely more than 8%
84
Preferred rootstock in Cote-Rotie?
3309
| Relatively productive, good depth of colour
85
Max yield in Cote-Rotie
40hl/ha
86
Are stems used in Cote-Rotie?
Most destem and cold soak the fruit
| Some use a % of stems, more and more common
87
Ferment and extraction temp in Cote-Rotie?
Warm temperatures for full extraction
88
Oak maturation in Cote-Rotie? Inspired by who/what?
225l barrique, based on Guigal La Las
or
large wooden vessels, eg demi-muids 500-600L (less overt oak)
89
Cote Rotie style differs from Hermitage and Cornas how?
Cote-Rotie is less full-bodied, typically softer
90
Condrieu 100% Viognier, T/F?
True
91
Best Condrieu vineyards what aspect
South-facing, enhancing fruit ripening
Steep rocky slopes
Low fertility
Terraced vineyards (erosion)
92
Size of Condrieu AOC vs Ch Grillet AOC
197ha (Condrieu) vs 3.5ha (Ch. Grillet)
93
Ch. Grillet domaine bottled since when?
Some of it dating back to 1830s
94
Malo in Condrieu?
Normally yes
95
Lees ageing for Condrieu?
Yes, 10-12 months with lees stirring
96
Fermentation options for Condrieu?
Most: stainless steel, large wood
Somepremium: small barrels, enhanced texture and flavour
Malo optional
97
Historical heart of St Joseph AOC?
Lieu-dit of St Joseph, opposite Tain l'Hermitage
98
When, why was St Joseph AOC extended?
Extended in 1994
Including non hillside sites (lower quality wine)
Currently a debate on whether to reduce size
99
Prestige producers in St Joseph
Jean-Louis Chave
| Domaine Gonon
100
% of red wine production in St Joseph?
90% red
101
Are white grapes used in red St Joseph?
Marsanne and Roussanne are permitted
| Only rarely used
102
Who was Gaspard de Stérimberg?
the hermit of Hermitage
103
Hermitage; land under vine
137ha
104
Red/white split in Hermitage
2/3s red
1/3 white
(plantings)
105
Slope of Hermitage faces which direction
South-facing
Catches sun, protection from wind
On left bank of river as it flows south
106
Account for pronounced intensity in Hermitage...
Hot, dry vineyards
Thin, stony soils
= intense flavour, hgih tannin, longevity
107
Wine production in Hermitage dates back to when
Greco-Roman era
108
Example of climat in Hermitage
Le Méal
109
Le Méal is a climat in what AOC?
Hermitage
110
Viti challenges in Hermitage
Steep slopes, erosion a cosntant problem, terraces need maintaining, work by hand
111
Yields in Hermitage
Red: 40hl/ha
White: 45hl/ha
Rarely achieved - often old vines, much lower yields
112
Oak ageing in Hermitage
Lengthy
Typically 12-18 months
A % of new oak is common
Small oak and some larger vessels
113
White hermitage grapes
Marsanne mostly
| Some Roussanne too, or pure Marsanne
114
When is Vin de Paille made in Hermitage?
Rarely
Very ripe years
Sweet wine from grapes dried off the vine
115
Two big negociant houses in Hermitage?
Chapoutier
| Paul Jaboulet Aine
116
Big co-op in Hermitage
Cave de Tain (owns 15% of AOC)
117
Hermitage: a producer that champions single-site parcels, and one that champions blending across the region
Chapoutier: individual parcels
| Jean-Louis Chave: blending across the appellation
118
Land under vine in Crozes-Hermitage
1,700ha
119
Largest AOC in Northern Rhone?
Crozes-Hermitage (1,700ha)
120
Climate(s) in Crozes-Hermitage?
Continental in the north, with Alpine influence (cold winter, strong Mistral influence)
More temperature in south, with heavy rain in late autumn into winter
121
Crozes-Hermitage was made an AOC when? And expanded when?
Created in 1937
| Expanded (like St Joseph - shittier land) in 1956
122
Best vineyards in Crozes-Hermitage are what, and where?
Relatively steep slopes, north of Tain l'Hermitage
123
Why is Crozes-Hermitage producing wines of lower concentration that Hermitage?
Vineyards planted on more fertile soil, deeper soils that used to be orchards etc
124
Example of a high-quality Crozes-Hermitage
Domaine de Thalabert from Paul Jaboulet Aine
125
White Crozes-Hermitage: grapes and % of production?
Marsanne and Roussanne
| 9% of production
126
Cornas AOC: land under vine
145ha
127
Most southerly Northern Rhone AOC for red wine?
Cornas
128
Is there white Cornas?
No, red wine only
129
Can white grapes be used in Cornas?
No, Syrah only
130
Key producers in Cornas
Domaine Alain Voge
Domaine Vincent Paris
Domaine Auguste Clape
131
Most southerly of Northern Rhone AOCs?
St Peray
132
Soils and wine types in St Peray?
Limestone and grantic (good water holding and drainage)
White wines
Some traditional method sparkling wine
133
IGP for Northern Rhone?
Collines Rhodaniennes IGP
Red, white and rose
80hl/ha yields
134
Cliamte of southern Rhone?
Warm mediterannean
| very warm, dry summers
135
Is there enough rainfall in southern rhone?
overall adequate for grape growing
| drought sometimes a problem though
136
Explain why southern rhone is less protected from mistral? So what?
Land is flatter
= low, bush trained vines are common especially for Grenache
Syrah tied to wires on trellises
137
Southern Rhone AOCs generally required red wines to be Grenache Noir dominant. One key exception?
Chateauneuf-du-Pape
138
What is France's second biggest AOC? (And what is its biggest AOC)?
Cotes du Rhone is second biggest
Bordeaux AOC is biggest
139
Cotes-du-Rhone AOC yields
51hl/ha red white and rose
140
Cotes-du-Rhone Villages AOC: what colour(s)
red wine only
141
Elevation for Gigondas
| Elevation for Vacqueyras
Gigondas 600m
| Vacqueyras 440m
142
Gigondas partly shaped by what mountains?
Dentelles de Montmirail
| Reduces temperature in morning - extend maturation period
143
Minimum % for Grenache Noir for Vacqueyras and Gigondas?
50% (both)
144
Most northerly cru of the Southern Rhone?
Vinsobres
145
Vinsobres elevation
200-500m
Good sunlight interception
Good drainage
Protection from Mistral
146
Rasteau AOC makes VDN and what other wine style?
Dry red wine
| GSM
147
When did Cairanne become its own AOC?
2015
148
Beaumes-de-Venise makes VDN and what other style?
Dry red wine
149
Chateauneuf du Pape: what was Baron Le Roy's chateau?
Chateau Fortia
150
Chateauneuf du Pape become France's first AOC when?
1936
151
Breakdown of red vs white wine in Chateauneuf du Pape?
90% red
| 10% white
152
key grapes for white Chateauneuf du Pape
Grenache Blanc
Clairette
Bourboulenc
Roussanne
NB. NO MARSANNE OR VIOGNIER
153
Chateauneuf-du-Pape land under vine
Over 3,000ha
154
Average yield in Chateauneuf-du-Pape
just under 30hl/ha
155
Red Chateauneuf-du-Pape style
```
Medium ruby
Medium (+) to pronounced ripe red plum, blackberry, spice, new oak
Medium acidity
High alcohol
Tannins medium (-) to high
```
156
Lirac AOC located across the river from what AOC?
Chateauneuf-du-Pape
157
Lirac AOC makes what wine style(s)
Red, rose and whtie
158
Only AOC in Rhone Valley solely dedicated to rosé?
Tavel AOC
159
What are the rules around irrigating in Rhone?
Producers can seek permission in strict conditions:
proof of water stress
no irrigation after veraison
irrigation can never be used to exceed max yield of individual AOCs
160
Cave de Tain makes what % of Crozes-Hermitage AOC wines
40%
161
What % of Rhone wines are exported?
33%
