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WSET 4 Unit 3 > Rhône > Flashcards

Rhône Flashcards

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1
Q

What are the prestigious appellations in Northern Rhône?

A

Hermitage
Côte Rôtie
Condrieu

These rival the great names of Bordeaux and Burgundy in terms of quality and longevity of their wines

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2
Q

How much of total production does Northern Rhône represent of total Rhône production?

A

Only 5%

But commands a high reputation and prices to match

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3
Q

What is topography of Northern Rhône?

A

Narrow and steep.

Most vines planted on the western slopes of the Rhône

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4
Q

What is the soil in Northern Rhône?

A

Granitic soils prone to soil erosion

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5
Q

What appellation represents over half of wine produced in Northern Rhône?

A

Crozes-Hermitage

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6
Q

What is the climate of Northern Rhône?

A

Continental climate

Hard winters and hot summers

Dominant feature is the Mistral, a strong, cold north wind that cools the climate but inhibits disease

Rain is usually in early spring and late autumn

Risk of frost in early spring and late ripening

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7
Q

How are vines trained in Northern Rhône?

A

Individually staled to combat the affect of the Mistral and due to gradient of slopes

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8
Q

Why is there little mechanisation in Northern Rhône?

A

Due to slopes, production costs are high

Eroded soils often needs to be put back on the slopes by a pulley system

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9
Q

What vinificación technique is used for cheaper wines in Northern Rhône?

A

Semi carbonic maceration

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10
Q

What is the vinification process for most red wines in Northern Rhône?

A

Mostly traditional, length maceration and barrel aging for up to 3 years

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11
Q

What white Northern Rhône wines may see some oak ageing?

A

Fine Condrieu and white Hermitage

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12
Q

How is white wine vinified in Northern Rhône?

A

Generally cool fermented in stainless steel and bottled within 6 months

Fine Condrieu and white Hermitage May see some oak ageing

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13
Q

What is the dominant grape variety in Northern Rhône?

A

Syrah

Viognier, Roussanne and Marsanne also planted

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14
Q

What is profile of Syrah in Northern Rhône?

A

Deep colour

High tannin and ageing potential

Aromas and flavours of blackberries, blueberries and pepper

Takes on gamey character when aged

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15
Q

What is the only red grape allowed for AC wines in Northern Rhône?

A

Syrah

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16
Q

What character does Northern Rhône Syrah develop with age?

A

Gamey character

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17
Q

Why are plantings of Roussanne declining in Northern Rhône?

A

Poor resistant to disease and Mistral wind

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18
Q

What does Roussanne add to a Northern Rhône blend?

A

Fruit and acidity

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19
Q

Which Northern Rhône grape is similar to Roussanne but less aromatic?

A

Marsanne

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20
Q

Which two Northern Rhône white grapes are often blended?

A

Roussanne and Marsanne

Viognier the other main white grape in Northern Rhône is never blended with other white varietals

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21
Q

Which white grape in Northern Rhône is increasing its plantings and why?

A

Viognier

Low yield, opulent wine with exotic fruit character

Roussanne & Marsanne plantings are decreasing as they have poor resistant to disease and Mistral wind

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22
Q

How much Viognier can be added to Côte-Rôtie AC red wine?

A

Up to 20%

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23
Q

What is the only wine that can be made in Côte-Rôtie AC?

A

Red wine only but 20% of Viognier can be added

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24
Q

What is the most northerly vineyard area in Northern Rhône?

A

Côte-Rôtie AC

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25
Q

How are vines trained in Côte-Rôtie AC and why?

A

Individually staked and trained to a teepee to stabilise against the Mistral wind

26
Q

Why is mechanisation impossible in Côte-Rôtie AC?

A

Steep narrow terraced make mechanisation impossible

27
Q

What does Côte-Rôtie literally translate as?

A

Roasted slope

28
Q

What is the profile of Côte-Rôtie AC wines?

A

Deep coloured reds, full bodied, spicy and complex

29
Q

What is the only grape permitted in Condrieu AC?

A

Viognier

30
Q

What is the style of Château Grillet AC wines?

A

A single vineyard in Condrieu producing oak aged Viognier

31
Q

What pushes up prices in Condrieu AC?

A

Steep vineyards and tiny production

32
Q

What are the best wines made from in Condrieu AC?

A

Low yielding old vines

The AC is Viognier only

33
Q

What is the profile of Condrieu AC wines?

A

Unique floral perfume

Best drunk young

34
Q

Where is Saint-Joseph AC?

A

West Bank of the Rhône river in Northern Rhône

35
Q

Which Northern Rhône AC does the lightest bodied red wines come from?

A

Saint-Joseph AC

The Syrah there has raspberry and pepper characters and is the lightest bodied Northern Rhône red

36
Q

What grape dominates Saint-Joseph AC?

A

Syrah

Small quantities of Marsanne and Roussanne

37
Q

Where do the best wines come from in Saint-Joseph AC, Northern Rhône?

A

Terraced vineyards near Tournon produce the best quality

Large volume production from flatter sites

38
Q

Where is Crozes-Hermitage AC?

A

Northern Rhône around the town of Hermitage

Over 50% of Northern Rhône production

39
Q

Why is wine from Crozes-Hermitage AC medium priced?

A

Due to large volume and less prestigious reputation

Highest production lighter bodied wines made from high yielding flatter sites. Concentrated, complex wines from steeper slopes

40
Q

What grape is white wine made from in Crozes-Hermitage AC?

A

Marsanne, fruity with medium body, designed to be drunk young

41
Q

What is the most famous Northern Rhône appellation of all?

A

Hermitage AC

42
Q

Where is Hermitage AC?

A

Northern Rhône

Located on a steep, south facing hull on the east bank of the Rhône behind the town of Tain-l’Hermitage

43
Q

Why is Hermitage AC so damn expensive?

A

Very small area 132ha

High reputation since Roman times

Complex, very long lived wines can age 50 years

44
Q

How much white grapes can be fermented in a Hermitage AC blend?

A

Legally up to 15% of white grapes can be fermented but in reality unlike Côte-Rôtie white grapes are rarely added to the blend

45
Q

How much of Hermitage AC production is white?

A

Around 20%

The blend is dominated by Marsanne, full bodied and long ageing capacity developing honey and hazelnut flavours with age

46
Q

Which Northern Rhône AC must be 100% Syrah?

A

Cornas AC

Unlike other Northern Rhône appellations where a small percentage of white can be added

47
Q

What is an undervalued Northern Rhône appellation with deep, full bodied wines to rival Hermitage?

A

Cornas AC

48
Q

Why are the wines of Cornas AC deep and full bodied?

A

Sun-baked sheltered location gives deep, full bodied wines to rival Hermitage AC

49
Q

What encourages ripening in Northern Rhône?

A

Heat retaining granite soils and reasonably steep southern exposition

50
Q

What is the topography of Southern Rhône?

A

The Rhône Valley flattens our as it heads closer to the sea, rolling hills with scrubs (carriage) interspersed with vineyards

Covered in large round pudding shines which store heat during the daytime hours and release it to the vineyard at night

51
Q

What helps ripening in Southern Rhône?

A

Mediterranean climate and plenty of sunshine

Also large round pudding stones which store heat during daytime hours and release it to the vineyard at night

52
Q

What is the climate in Southern Rhône?

A

Mediterranean

Mild winters
Hot summers
Low rainfall
Plenty of sunshine

Mistral particularly strong as no protection from slopes

53
Q

Why is the Mistral particularly strong in Rhône Valley?

A

There is no protection from slopes as Rhône Valley flattens out as it heads closer to the sea

54
Q

What is essential to protect vines from the Mistral in Southern Rhône?

A

Wind breaks

55
Q

Why is low pruning common in Southern Rhône?

A

To increase ripening from reflected heat of large pudding stones

56
Q

How are vines trained in Southern Rhône?

A

Syrah is wire trained

Other varieties are spur pruned into a bush

57
Q

What is seldom seen in Southern Rhône wines?

A

Single varietal wines

Chateauneuf permits 100% Grenache but most other AC wines in Southern Rhône are found as a blend

58
Q

What are the key Northern Rhône ACs?

A

Côte-Rôtie AC - Syrah with up to 20% Viognier added

Condrieu AC - Viognier only

Saint-Joseph AC - lightest bodied reds with Syrah with raspberry and pepper

Crozes-Hermitage AC - highest production

Hermitage AC - most famous and long lived red and whites 50year +

Cornas AC - undervalued 100% Syrah

59
Q

What is the dominant grape variety in Southern Rhône?

A

Grenache but it mostly appears as a blend

60
Q

What do the Southern Rhône varietals add to a blend?

A

Grenache - Low tannin and colour, flavours of spiced red berries

Syrah - provides colour and tannin

Cinsault - low in tannin, provides fruit and acidity

Mourvèdre - deep in colour and tannins

Viognier, Marsanne, Roussanne, Clairette, Grenache Blanc and Bouboulenc - produce fat full bodied wines with low acidity

WSET 4 Unit 3 (42 decks)

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