Rhône Flashcards
Explain the geography of the Rhône
Named for the Rhône river - begins in Swiss Alps; flows into France through Jura Mtns and flows south into Mediterranean.
Divided into Northern (smaller, more prestigious) and Southern (larger, better known). They are an hour away from each other and connected by the river.
Describe the best vineyards in the Northern Rhône.
The best cling to narrow rocky terraces on steep slopes above the river. Erosion is a major concern. Terraces and hand built stone walls keep vineyards in place.
Southern orientation of vines is critical to receive enough sunlight and heat.
Describe soil in the Northern Rhône.
Poor, ancient, weathered and crumbly. Slate and granite. Well draining and retains heat well.
Describe climate/weather in the Northern Rhône.
Continental (vs. Mediterranean in Southern Rhône). Hard, cold, wet winters; hot summers; late spring and early fall fog. Le Mistral.
What is Le Mistral?
A violent wind that comes from the Alps, traveling 100s of miles south and picking up speed as it goes. Affects the Rhône, especially in the South.
What are the effects of Le Mistral on vines - positive and negative?
Good
- cools vines during growing, helps retain acidity
- acts as a blowdryer during harvest time, preventing humidity and mold
- evaporation - concentrates sugar and acid in grapes
Bad
Can rip apart vines. The most successful sites are sheltered and or trained low to the ground.
What is the parentage of syrah?
Mondeuse blanche x rueza (red, descendant of Pinot noir
Thought to have occurred naturally in the Rhône-Alps region in eastern France
What are the red wine appellations of the Northern Rhône? What grapes?
Côte-Rôtie St. Joseph Hermitage Crozes-Hermitage Cornas
Syrah only
Which appellations in the Northern Rhône make both white and red?
St. Joseph
Hermitage
Crozes-Hermitage
What appellations produce white wine in the Northern Rhône? Which grapes?
Viognier -
Condrieu and Château-Grillet
Roussane/Marsanne blend -
St. Joseph, Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage
Where is rosé made in the Northern Rhône?
Trick question - it is not permitted anywhere
Describe viognier.
Rich, oily, heavily perfumed. High glycerine, low acid, often has noticeable sweetness, creamy texture.
Notes of peach, tangerine, rose, honeysuckle, raw almond, lichee, gardenia, white melon
Notoriously fickle. Hard to grow, site sensitive.
Describe marsanne/roussanne blends.
Tend to be rich and fruity with bold peach flavors and oily texture. Notes of apple, mandarin, beeswax, acacia.
Marsanne is heart of blend. Roussanne adds finesse, aromas and flavors.
Who is winemaking done by in the Northern Rhône?
- Tiny family owned estates
- Larger, well known family firms ex M. Chapoutier, E. Guigal
- Negociants, who buy blend and bottle under their own name
- Cooperatives, who make the least interesting wine
What are some major winemaking techniques in the Northern Rhône?
Whole cluster fermentation
- keeping stems adds notes of sandalwood, briar, and spice
- increases tannin, adds more edge and grip
Blending from multiple vineyards
- adds complexity
- in many cases adding a small amount of white wine is permitted (though not often done)
Compare the 2 types of vineyards in Côte-Rôtie.
Côtes
Best. On steep granite slopes with grades up to 60 degrees. South facing.
“Non-Côtes”
On plateaus above slopes. Newer, est. when Côte-Rôtie expanded in 1970s and 80s. Some producers acknowledge inferiority and declassify as Côte du Rhône.
Name and briefly describe the 2 famous slopes in Côte-Rôtie.
Côte Brune
More tannic and powerful
Côte Blonde
More elegant and racy
According to legend, named after the blonde and brunette daughters of a feudal lord
Name some notable single vineyards in the Northern Rhône.
La Chantillone
La Garde
La Chrvalière
The La La vineyards- Guigal
La Mouline
La Landonne
La Turque
How much viognier is permitted in Côte-Rôtie? Why?
20% but most include <5%
Largely practical - viognier vines are scattered among Syrah in many sites
Historically thought to soften Syrah, also used for its exotic aroma
Name the 4 most well-known firms in Côte-Rôtie.
E. Guigal
M. Chapoutier
Paul Jaboulet-Aîné
Delas Frères (owned by Roderer)
Name some other notable producers in Côte-Rôtie.
René Rostaing Jamet Robert Jasmin Henri Gallet Michel Ogier J. M. Gerin Benjamin et David Duclaux Château de St. Cosme
Describe Château-Grillet.
Both a single producer and an appellation. 8.6 acres. An enclave inside Condrieu. Owned by Artemis Group, coparent of Château Latour.
Viognier only.
Describe and name some of the best producers in Condrieu.
270 acres (100 HA). Sits at a curve in the Rhône river. Means “coin de russeau” - “corner of the river.”
Georges Vernay, E. Guigal, Philippe Faury, René Rostaing, Yves Cuilleron, André Perret, Dumazet, Robert Niero
Describe the region of Saint Joseph and the wines that come from it.
Est. 1956 as a small, hilly appellation across the river from Hermitage.
Has expanded to a long, 2,500-acre stretch from Condrieu to bottom tip of Northern Rhône. As a result the once reputable region has introduced some thin & coarse wines (less than ideal sun exposure)
Describe vinification in St. Joseph.
Syrah with up to 10% marsanne/roussanne
10% of production is white - St. Joseph blanc. Majority marsanne with some roussanne. Best = Roger Blachon
Name a few producers in St. Joseph.
M. Chapoutier J.L. Chave Alain Graillot Yves Cuilleron J.L. Grippat André Perret
Dard et Ribo
Laurent Habrard
What is the historical significance of Hermitage?
Frances costliest red in 18th and 19th centuries. Was even secretly blended into 1st Growth Bordeaux
Maybe named for medieval crusader Gaspard de Sterimberg who est. a sanctuary on top of hill - small ancient stone chapel. (Jaboulet’s La Chapelle named for)
Describe the terroir and soil of Hermitage.
A single 1000-ft high southern-facing hill with 300 acres
Mostly granite with gravel, flint, and limestone
Describe vinification in Hermitage.
Red
Syrah; up to 15% marsanne/roussanne but not often used. Usually aged in large casks up to 3 yrs or in small oak barrels, some new
White (Hermitage Blanc)
Rare; marsanne roussanne.
Describe Hermitage blanc and name 2 of the best.
Full bodied, bold and rich. Oily and resiny texture. Roussanne lifts to add peach, quince, almonds, honeysuckle and lime
J.L. Chave
M. Chapoutier Ermitage l’Ermite blanc
Name the top Hermitage producers.
E. Guigal J. L. Chave Marc Sorrel M. Chapoutier Paul Jaboulet Aîné
Describe the geography, viticulture, and notable producers of Crozes-Hermitage.
Red-syrah; white- marsanne/roussanne (sm. amt)
Mostly on flatlands that spread S and E of Hermitage. Area is 10x larger and biggest in N. Rhône. Less distinguished, higher-yielding vineyards - usually less concentrated
Notable: Alain Graillot
Other: Albert Belle, M. Chapoutier, Dom. Combier
Describe the geography and best vineyard sites in Cornas.
Tiny, at end of N. Rhône
Best vineyards are on dangerously steep hillsides held in by ancient terraces. Facing due south: intense light and heat.
Describe vinification and name best producers in Cornas.
Only red, only Syrah. Best are dense, edgy, and masculine.
Aging is critical: 7-10yrs. Adds leather and earth notes.
Producers: Auguste Clape, Jean-Luc Colombo, Thierry Allemand, Franck Balthazar
Describe the geography, climate, and soil of the Southern Rhône.
Close to walled city of Avignon. An hour drive south of N. Rhône
Vineyard sites are spread out 20-30 mi away from the Rhône River on flatter, gentler hills
Climate: Mediterranean. Warm and sunny. Le Mistral tempers hot days.
Soil: some vines planted among large riverbed rocks. Variation of clay, sandy limestone, gravel
Describe vinification in the Southern Rhône.
Grenache is leading red grape but blending is almost always used to create more complex wines
Almost 60 cooperatives that bottle under many diff brand names. Also sell to dozens of negociants
What are the Châteneuf Thirteen?
Grapes permitted in Châteneuf-du-Pape blends. 14 if you count Grenache blanc.
Reds
Grenache, syrah, Mourvèdre, cinsault, muscardin, counoise, vaccarèse, terret noir
Whites
Grenache blanc, clairette, bourboulenc, roussanne, picpoul, picardin
List the 7 appellations of the Southern Rhône and indicate what styles of wine are made there.
Châteneuf-du-Pape - red and white
Gigondas - red and rosé
Vacqueras - red white and rosé
Rasteau - red
Tavel - rosé
Côtes-du- Rhône (-Villages) - red white and tosé
Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise - fortified sweet
Describe the geography and topography of Châteneuf-du-Pape.
15 min drive from Avignon (name means “new castle of the pope” as of 14th century when Pope Clement V resided there)
Encompasses plateaus and slopes around the town of Châteneuf-du-Pape plus 4 adjacent villages
Large for Rhône stds. >8,000 acres (3,200 HA)
Describe soil in Châteneuf-du-Pape.
Smooth, rolled stone. Many vineyards have no visible dirt at all. These quartzite “galets” are remnants of ancient Alpine glaciers. They retain heat and hasten ripening. They also protect vines from dryness by retaining soil and therefore moisture.
Describe vinification in Châteneuf-du-Pape.
95% red - the Châteneuf 13. Majority are GSM: Grenache based (sweet, ripe, jammy) with Syrah (deepens color, adds spice) and Mourvèdre (adds structure). Some white and rosé.
Low yields required (lowest in France): 35 hectoliters per hectare
New oak rare. Grenache is vilified in large cement ranks. Others in large oak barrels - foudres.
What is the significance of Châteneuf-du-Pape wine laws?
After phylloxera and WWI, regulations in the 1920s in Châteneuf-du-Pape became the basis of French AOC wine laws
1954: fun fact banned UFOs from flying over vineyards (“les cigares volant”)
Name some notable Châteneuf-du-Pape producers.
Château Beaucastel Château Rayas Clos de Papes Domaine de Vieux Telegraphe Domaine du Pegau Ch. la Nerthe Ch. de la Gardine
Describe the geography of Gigondas.
A series of hills just below the jagged spurs of rock - the Dentelles de Montmirail
Most northern if important Southern Rhône appellations
Describe vinification and name top producers of Gigondas.
99% red, 1% rosé. Reds must be no more than 80% Grenache, no less than 15% Syrah and/or Mourvèdre. The rest often cinsault, no carrignan allowed. Wines tend to be strong, muscular, and firm.
Producers: Dom. du Cayron, St. Cosme, Dom de les Pallières, Dom la Garrigue, Dom Santa Duc, Les Hautes de Montmirail
Describe Vacqueras and the wines that come from it.
Became appellation in 1990. Just south of Gigondas.
Sturdy, bold reds - more rustic versions of Gigondas. Grenache, syrah (highest %), Mourvèdre, cinsault dominate blends.
Tiny amounts of white and rosés made
Describe Tavel and the wines that come from it.
A tiny village less than 10 miles and across the river from Châteneuf-du-Pape.
Rosé! Rugged with robust, spicy berry flavors. 9 red and white grapes can be used, Grenache leads. Whole cluster fermentation with red and white at same time. Bone dry. Drink young and chilled.
What are Côtes-du-Rhône and Côtes-du-Rhône-Villages?
70% of all Rhône wines. Quality varies. Best are large reputable firms like Guigal and Chapoutier
Do not come from a single place - non contiguous, less prestigious vineyards
Villages is generally a step up in quality. 95 producers, the 20 “superior” may append their name to the appellation.
