Rhone Flashcards

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1
Q

Why was the first region in France affected by phylloxera?

A

The southern Rhône in 1863

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2
Q

What is the climate of the northern Rhône?

A

Continental

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3
Q

What is the climate of the southern Rhône?

A

Mediterranean

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4
Q

What is the northern rhones appellations from north to south?

A
5 in total
Cote rotie
Condrieu
St Joseph
Crozes herimtage 
Hermitage 
Cornas
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5
Q

What is the name of the famous wind of the Rhône valley?

A

The Mistral wind

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6
Q

What are the major soils of the northern Rhône?

A

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

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7
Q

What is the definition of a classic northern Rhône red?

A

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

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8
Q

What are the grape make up laws of each of the northern Rhône appellation red wines?

A

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)

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9
Q

What is co fermenting?

A

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.

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10
Q

What is Guigal and what kind of wine does it produce?

A

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

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11
Q

What is René Rostaing and what kind of wine do they produce?

A

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

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12
Q

What is the central commune of cote rotie and what are it’s 2 main areas?

A

The commune of Ampuis

The Cote Brune - stronger and more assertive

The Cote Blonde - softer and more alluring

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13
Q

What is Cote Rotie and what kind of wine does it produce?

A

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.

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14
Q

What’s is the village of hermitage?

A

Tain-l’Herimtage

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15
Q

What are the 4 major producers of Hermitage?

A

The singular:
Jean-Louis Chave

Negociants 
Delas 
M, Chapoutier
Jaboulet(ja-boy-Le)
Cav de tain(collective)
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16
Q

What is hermitage named after?

A

Gaspard de Sterimberg - crusader turned Hermit

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17
Q

What are the important sub climats of hermitage

A

L’Hermite

Le Meal
Les Bessards
Greffieux
Beaume 
Peleat
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18
Q

What is Croze herimtage and what kind of wines does it produce?

A

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

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19
Q

What is Cornas and what kind of wines does it produce?

A

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

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20
Q

What is Clape and what kind of wine does it produce?

A

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)

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21
Q

What is St-Joseph and what kind of wines does it produce?

A

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.

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22
Q

What appellations of the northern Rhône only produce red wine?

A

Cornas and Cote Rotie

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23
Q

What is Saint-Péray and what kind of wine does it produce?

A

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

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24
Q

What is the sweet wine style of the northern Rhône and where does it come from?

A

Vin de Paille or straw wine is a rare style from Hermitage made from Marsanne/Roussanne.

It is a very old style of wine making bought back famously by

Gérard Chave in 1970s
Chapoutier in 1990s

25
Q

What is the chemical that gives Syrah it’s Black pepper and olive aroma?

A

Rotundone

26
Q

What is Condrieu and what ki d of wine does it produce?

A

Condrieu is a the Viognier only appellation at the northern end of the northern Rhône just south of cote rotie. In the 1960s the grape almost went extinct due to a lack of interest but top producers have revived it to a degree.

Description- honeyed lushness, floral aroma, rich texture but malolactic fermentation and use of oak vary from producer to producer.

Chateau Grillet is the tiny monopole inside of condrieu

Top producers:
Georges Vernay
Yves Cuilleron
Andre Perret

27
Q

What is chateau Grillet and what kind of wine does it produce?

A

Chateau Grillet(Gri-e) is the monopole appellation in Condrieu at the northern end of the northern Rhône just south of Cote Rotie. Wines here are 100% Viognier. The wines are more valued for scarcity and interest that value of flavour.

28
Q

What is Clairette and what kind of wine does it produce?

A

Clairette is a light coloured grape variety that grows through out southern France but has its main strongholds in the Rhône and Languedoc. The wines are often made into light simple refreshing sparkling wines as a solo grape or as a blend with 75% muscat blanc a petits grains as the Ancestral method. The name Clairette means the light one in French.

The wine is most commonly used in sparkling, tablewine or vermouth as its nature to oxidise quickly, low acidity and high alcohol are all negatives. The wine when early harvested can be made well into light and fresh wines with apple, citrus, stonefruit. Typical blending partners include ugni Blanc, terret Blanc and Grenache Blanc

Main regions:
Coteaux de die (Central Rhône)
Cremant de die (sparkling)
Clairette de die (100% Clairette) 
Methode Ancestrale(sparkling blend with Muscat Blanc a petit grains)
Clairette de Languedoc(from Languedoc)
29
Q

What is Coteaux de Die and what kind of wine does it produce? The

A

Coteaux de die is a minor appellation from the very bottom of the northern Rhône Valley that makes wines based on the Clairette grape.

30
Q

What is Clairette de die and what kind of wine does it produce?

A

Clairette de die is a sparkling wine appellation based at the southern tip of the northern Rhône. The wines are made as either

Méthode traditionnelle
•100% Clairette
•basically brut in style (max 15g residual after dosage)

Dioise Ancestrale
•far older method
•min 75% Muscat à Petit Grains
•bottles without dosage before fermentation is complete
•disgorged into pressurised tanks then reboot led without liqueur d’expédition
•min 35g residual remains (demi sec)

31
Q

What is Chatillon en Diois and what kind of wine does it produce?

A

Chatillion en Diois (cha-to-on en do-wa) is a minor appellation at the very far south of the northern Rhône that produces light gamay reds/roses and Chardonnay and Aligote based whites

32
Q

What percent of the total production of the Rhône Valley does the southern Rhône account for?

A

95%

33
Q

What are the major red grapes of the southern Rhône and what are their roles in the region?

A

Grenache - richness of body, sweet fruit and warmth

Syrah and Mourvèdre- depth, structure and colour

Cinsault - finesse and freshness (often used for roses)

Carignan - currently in decline of popularity

34
Q

What is the climate of the Southern Rhône?

A

Mediterranean.

35
Q

What is the landscape and climactic features of the southern and northern Rhône?

A

Northern Rhône- step cliff sides with pockets that hide vineyards from the mistral winds

Southern Rhône- rugged garrigue (short grown tough) scrubland. Rolling hills with no sheltering cliffs force winemakers to plant vines on angles to eventually be righted by the wind or grow wind breaks. Hot summers with significant diurnal swings. Mild winters and heavy autumn rains. Alluvial soils (fertile soils deposited by rivers) sand, gravel and clay over a limestone sub soil.

36
Q

What are galets?

A

Galets is the local term for “pudding stones” in chateauneuf de Pape. Large quartzite rocks smoother by the river store the days heat and slowly release it over the cool nights.

37
Q

Name 2 famous Chateauneuf de pape producers that embody both ends of the blending spectrum?

A

Chateau de Beaucastel -Rouge- Mourvèdre dominated blend but is a blend from all 13 accepted varietals.

Chateau Rayas often releases their Chateauneuf de pape as 100% Grenache.

38
Q

What is Le Râpé?

A

Le Râpé is the AOP mandate in the Chateauneuf de pape that producers must de classify or discard at least 2% of harvest. This is done as a safe guard against underripeness

39
Q

What is Chateauneuf de Pape and what kind of wine does it produce?

A

Chateauneuf de Pape is the premier appellation of the southern Rhône. With 13 accepted varietals the wines are typically Grenache heavy blends but no rules exist. 12.5% minimum potential alcohol makes the wines the highest of dry wines in France. Some top cuvees of producers reach as high as 15+ %. Due to vast variations in soil type, producer choice and over 3000ha of land the knowledge of producer style is crucial. Traditional producers tend towards old oak foudre for extended aging.

Descriptions
Red: show more richness, ripeness and alcohol than the northern Rhône.

40
Q

How many grapes are there in Chateauneuf de pape and what are they?

A

13/18

Grenache (Noir, Blanc, Gris)
Mourvèdre 
Syrah
Cinsault
Counoise
Picpoul(Noir/Blanc/Gris)
Terret Noir
Bourboulenc 
Clairette/Clairette rose
Roussanne
Valccarése
Picardan
Muscardin
41
Q

How many communes may append their name to the Cotes du Rhône village AOP?

A

21

42
Q

What is the general designation for the Rhône Valley?

A

Cotes du Rhône. While the northern Rhône May release wines under this designation, the association is majority with the south. This category accounts for 2/3rds of the Rhones wines. Wines may be red, white or rose.

43
Q

What is Cote du Rhône Villages and what kind of wine does it produce?

A

Cote du Rhône villages is the superior designation to cote du Rhône AOP as it is associated with villages that have been approved at a level of quality and consistency. 21 communes may append their name to the appellation.

44
Q

What year was Chateauneuf de pape given aoc status?

A

1933

45
Q

How many former cote du Rhône villages have achieved full AOP status?

A
5
Gigondas(1971)
Vacqueyras(1990)
Beaumes-de-Venise(2005)
Vinsobres(2006)
Cairanne(2016)

All appellations share Chateauneuf de pape’s minimum potential alcohol of 12.5%

46
Q

What is Gigondas and what kind of wine does it produce?

A

Gigondas was the first southern Rhône village AOP to achieve full AOP status in 1971. The region is known for red clay alluvial soils. Wines are minimum 50% Grenache and is typically blended with Syrah and Mourvèdre. Other Rhône grapes excluding Carignan are permitted but must be less than 50% of blend. Stylistically similar to Chateauneuf de pape and represent great value.

47
Q

What is Vacqueyras and what kind of wine does it produce?

A

Vacqueyras (va-ker-as) is the second Cote du Rhône village to achieve AOP status in 1990. The rustic style of red wine must be a minimum 50% Grenache. Some white and rose is produced as well.

48
Q

What is Beaumes-De-Venise and what kind of wine does it produce?

A

Beaume-De-Venice is a Cote du Rhine village that achieved full AOP status in 2005. Red wine producing region where Grenache must make up 50% of the blend.

The region also produces a vin doux naturel(a sweet fortified wine) Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise. 90% of production is made by the local co operative the vignerons of Beaumes-de-Venis. The wines are red, white or rose wines that retain their natural sugar through mutage (the process of adding a pure grape spirit to stop fermentation in a proportion of 5-10%) these wine are fresher and more aromatic than their Rasteau counter parts

49
Q

What is Alain Graillot and what kind of wine does it produce?

A

Alain Graillot is the most famous producer in Crozes Hermitage. Now run by his sons Maxime and Antoine. The winery is the highest rated in the region in Frances top wine guide and is famous for 100% whole cluster crushing every vintage

50
Q

What is Vinsobres and what kind of wine does it produce?

A

Vinsobres(van-so) is a Cote du Rhône village that achieved full AOP status in 2006 and produces red wines that must have a minimum 50% Grenache in the blend.

51
Q

What is Cairanne and what kind of wine does it produce?

A

Cairanne is a Cote du Rhône village to achieve AOP status in 2016. It produces both dry white and red wines

52
Q

What was the appellation to have been suspected to be the entry of phylloxera into France?

A

Lirac in the southern Rhône in 1863

53
Q

What is Lirac and what kind of wine does it produce?

A

Lirac is a southern Rhône AOP in the western side of the Rhône river across from Chateauneuf de pape. The wines can be very similar to Cotes du Rhône villages and can come in red, white and rose. Grenache noir and Blanc are the 2 main varietals although white wines are significant portions of Clairette and Bourboulenc.

54
Q

What is Tavel and what kind of wine does it produce?

A

Tavel is a southern Rhône appellation just south of Lirac, which is west across the Rhone river from Chateauneuf de pape. Tavel is one of the few rose only appellations in France and is known as a premier site. The wines are dry based on Grenache.

55
Q

What is Vin doux naturel and what kind of wines does it produce?

A

Vin doux naturel is a sweet fortified wine mostly found in the Languedoc-Roussillon but it also has a home in 2 southern Rhône appellations. Rasteau and Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise

56
Q

What is Rasteau and what kind of wines does it produce?

A

Rasteau is a southern Rhône appellation that can make dry red and white wines but is most famous for its Vin doux naturel(sweet fortified wines). These wines may be red white or rose based on Grenache noir, blanc or Gris respectively. The wines show more tawny style flavours than other styles of VDN.

In 2011 the region adopted the naming conventions of Riversaltes in Roussillon.
•Ambre and Tuile- white and red VDN respectively that more oxidative character and at least 3 years of aging prior to release.
•Blanc and Grenat - white and red in a fresher style.
•Hors d’age - a term that may be attached to any VDN that have aged for at least 5 years
•Rancio - deliberate oxidative and maderized style where barrels are left open to the sunshine and temperatures

57
Q

What is Grignan-les-Adhémar and what kind of wine does it produce?

A

Grignan-les-Adhémar is the most northern appellation of the southern Rhône. It has recently rebranded itself from Cote de Tricastin due to the Tricastin nuclear power plant.

58
Q

Free card

List the minor appellations of the southern Rhône?

A
Grignan-les-Adhémar
Luberon
Ventoux
Cote du Vivarais
Costieres de Nîmes(formally appellation of Lauguedoc)

All area produce red, white and rose from a large complement of Rhône varietals.

Clairette de Bellegarde(single commune appellation in costieres de Nîmes that produces white wines from the Clairette grape)

59
Q

What are the 3 most famous sites of the Cote rotie and what wines does Guigal make at each.

A

The 3 la la wines
•all 4 week’s steel ferment followed by 100% new oak for up to 42 months
- La Mouline - 89% Syrah 11% Viognier, Cote blonde - exotic and erotic, intoxicating perfume of floral, spice, bacon fat, pepper, Earth, truffle, minerality

  • La Landonne - 100% Syrah, Cote Brune - largest most tannic, structured, sturdiest. Requires age to open
  • La Turque - 93% Syrah 7% Viognier, Cote Brune - half way point of the both