Rhone Flashcards
Why was the first region in France affected by phylloxera?
The southern Rhône in 1863
What is the climate of the northern Rhône?
Continental
What is the climate of the southern Rhône?
Mediterranean
What is the northern rhones appellations from north to south?
5 in total Cote rotie Condrieu St Joseph Crozes herimtage Hermitage Cornas
What is the name of the famous wind of the Rhône valley?
The Mistral wind
What are the major soils of the northern Rhône?
Heat retaining granitic and schistous soils define the steep slopes while fine sand and loess topsoil are throughout the valley but are prone to erosion. Countered by the terracing. The north (Condrieu) is defined by mica and the southern is heavier with clay
What is the definition of a classic northern Rhône red?
Syrah based
Full bodied, firm and savoury
Aromas of smoke, meat, olive, lavender and peppercorn.
Wines are normally aged in large oak foudre but some experimentation is being done with barriques
What are the grape make up laws of each of the northern Rhône appellation red wines?
Cote rotie (upto 20% viognier)
Saint Joseph (upto 10% Marsanne and Roussanne)
Crozes hermitage and herimtage(15% combined total of Marsanne and roussanne)
Cornas(100% Syrah)
What is co fermenting?
Co fermenting is the act of fermenting multiple different grape varietals in one ferment. This helps to stabilises red wine colour and moderates tannin extraction.
What is Guigal and what kind of wine does it produce?
Guigal is one of the most famous producers of the Rhône valley. As a winery and negociant they are known especially for their work under Marcel Guigal work to increase the reputation of cote rotie. Marcel Guigal was named decanter man of the year for 2006.
Most famous cuvees
La Mouline
La Landonne
La turque
Known as the lala wines
What is René Rostaing and what kind of wine do they produce?
Rene Rostaing is one of the most famous producers of the northern Rhône and is largely held responsible for increasing the international reputation of the Cote rotie
What is the central commune of cote rotie and what are it’s 2 main areas?
The commune of Ampuis
The Cote Brune - stronger and more assertive
The Cote Blonde - softer and more alluring
What is Cote Rotie and what kind of wine does it produce?
Cote Rotie is the most northern appellation of the northern Rhône and is considered one of the top 3 of the whole Rhône along with hermitage and chateauneuf-du-pape.
The wines are neither too heavy or light, dark fruit with deep nuances of smoked game, cooked meat, tobacco, coffee and florality. The best wines challenge that of hermitage.
What’s is the village of hermitage?
Tain-l’Herimtage
What are the 4 major producers of Hermitage?
The singular:
Jean-Louis Chave
Negociants Delas M, Chapoutier Jaboulet(ja-boy-Le) Cav de tain(collective)
What is hermitage named after?
Gaspard de Sterimberg - crusader turned Hermit
What are the important sub climats of hermitage
L’Hermite
Le Meal Les Bessards Greffieux Beaume Peleat
What is Croze herimtage and what kind of wines does it produce?
Crozes Hermitage is the larger appellation behind the hill of hermitage. These wines are generally lighter and less age worthy although the finest examples can approach herimtage quality
What is Cornas and what kind of wines does it produce?
Cornas is the most southern region of the northern Rhône valley. The wines are 100% Syrah and traditionally rustic and impenetrable in youth. The suns warmth is magnified by by the naked granite (gore) and the shelter from the minstrel wind.
4 Lieux-dits •Les Reynards •La Cote •Les Chaillot •Les Mazard
Auguste Clape is a legendary producer of the region
What is Clape and what kind of wine does it produce?
Clape is a legendary considered the standard bearer of Cornas in the northern Rhône. He creates traditional wines of the region whole cluster fermentation and fermenting in old demi-muid barrels (600L)
What is St-Joseph and what kind of wines does it produce?
St Joseph is the large northern Rhône appellation that extends from Cornas to Condrieu. The wines here are basic level northern Rhône.
Upto 10% Marsanne and 10% Roussanne in Syrahs.
What appellations of the northern Rhône only produce red wine?
Cornas and Cote Rotie
What is Saint-Péray and what kind of wine does it produce?
Saint péray is the most southern appellation of the northern Rhône that makes exclusively Marsanne and Roussanne wines. These may be made method traditionelle mousseux style. Marsanne is the broader, oily textured, marzipan grape with Roussanne bringing acidity and waxy minerality