Rhone Flashcards
Rhone Valley General
Nothern Rhone
- Syrah
- Continental climate
- 4,000 ha
Southern Rhone
- Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault, Mourvedre
- Mediterranean climate
- 66,000 ha
Mainly red (80%) and rose
Viognier, Marsanne, Roussane, Grenache Blanc
Black grape varieties
Syrah Grenache Noir Mourvedre Cinsault Carignan
White grape varieties
Viognier Marsanne Roussanne Grenache Blanc Clairette Bourboulenc
Syrah
Vigorous, needs careful training and tying in to protect from Mistral (trellising is not possible)
Susceptible to mites and botrytis bunch rot
Disease ‘Syrah decline’ or disorder - leaves turn red and graft points break, vine dies
The only black grape used in Northern Rhone crus
Deep ruby colour, med to pronounced intensity (violet, plum, blackberry, black pepper, herbal notes)
Acidity and tannin medium to high.
Adds structure, fruit and colour to Southern blends
Grenache Noir
High yielding
Needs warm climate to ripen
Ripens late (can be affected by autumn rains)
Upright growth makes it suitable for bush vine, pruned low to contian vigour
Does well on dry, low fertile soils (drought resistant)
Prone to coulure and fungal diseases (downy mildew, phomopsis and botrytis. Prone to bacterial necrosis or bacterial blight (kills shoots, leaves, and plant eventually)
Prone to oxidation and premature colour loss (if exposed to too much oxygen)
Can accumulate high levels of sugar quickly (suitable for Vin Doux Naturel)
Blends - contribute to pale ruby colour, ripe red fruit (strawberry, red plum, red cherry) spicy, herbal notes, high alcohol, low to med tannins and low acidity
Mourvedre
Late budding and late ripening
Thrives in warm to hot climates
Can be under ripe if late summer is not hot
Not drought resistant (small but regular supply of water)
Best pruned short (cordon or bush vine)
Low yields
Prone to mites, leafhoppers,sour rot (affects ripening bunches)
Strongly prone to reduction (adequate access to oxygen is very important)
Typically aged in old oak.
Almost always used as part of blend in Rhone - deep colour, intense aroma of blackberries, blueberries, violets, high alcohol and firm tannins
Cinsault
Late budding, high yielding
Good drought resistance and heat resistance
Yield must be managed
If grown on excessive lime in soil - suffers from chlorosis
Prone to esca and eutypa, mites and grape moths
Typically small part of blend (made in style to preserve fruityness) light ruby colour, med (+) aroma (fresh red fruit - raspberry, red cherry) high alcohol and low to med tannins
Aroma most prominent in the first year after wine is made (early drinking styles and rose)
Viognier
Early budding (prone to spring frost)
Low and unpredictable yields (poor flowering and fruit set - coulure)
Picking time is very important - fruit must be absolutely ripe to get pronounced aromas
- if left too long - loosing flavour and acidity -unbalanced
Lemon in colour, pronounced aroma of honeysuckle, apricot, peach. Medium to high alcohol and low acidity.
Up to 20% allowed in norther Rhone red wines
Marsanne
Late budding
Vigorous and productive (yileds must be kept low)
Best on stony and low fertility soils
Prone to powdery mildew, mites, botrytis
Medium lemon colour (sometimes gold) light intensity honeysuckle, lemon, apricot, oily texture, medium acidity, full body, med to high alcohol
Northern Rhone can be varietal (south usually blend)
Roussanne
Late budding
Best on low fertility, well drained soils
Poor resistance to wind
Unpredictable yields due to coloure.
Very susceptible to powdery mildew, botrytis and mites
More difficult than Marsanne (therefore less common)
Medium lemon colour (sometimes gold) medium+ intensity (pear, herbal notes) medium (+) acidity, med (high) alcohol.
Tend to age quicker than Marsanne
Grenache Blanc
relatively early budding
Good wind resistance
Almost exclusively in souther part of Rhone
Also Vin Doux Naturel (high potential alcohol)
Low intensity, ripe green fruit and floral notes, high alcohol and low acidity
Clairette
Does well on low fertility dry soils
Vigourious (usually pruned short and excessive buds are removed)
Grows very upright (wind resistant)
Ripens late (prone to autumn rains)
Oxidises easily
Blends - adding freshness, fruit, white flower, fennel, apple and grapefruit notes. High alcohol and low to med - acidity
Bourboulenc
Late ripening and late ripening
Loose bunches and thick skins (resistant to botrytis)
Good in warm dry locations
Blends - lemon flavour, medium+ acidit, medium alcohol
General winemaking in Rhone
and winemaking for Grenache and Syrah
very traditional
Preference for concrete for ferment (also stainless, large wood)
Small and large wooden vessels for maturation
Grenache prone to colour loss and oxidation if exposed to too much oxygen (so usually fermented and aged in concrete)
Syrah (prone to reduction) must be pumped over more often, often aged in oak (gentle oxidation)
Production procedure for cru level red wine
Harvested by hand (small crates)
May be destemmed, cold soaked
May be left whole bunches or partially destemmed
Ferment in steel, concrete or open top wooden ferment
Cultured or ambient yeast
Warm temperature ferment (extract colour, flavour, tannin)
Post-ferment maceration on skins for full extraction with punch-down, pump-over or rack and return
Maturation of 12-24 months in large oak (Grenache) small barrels (Syrah, Mourvedre) 20-30% new
Production of high volume inexpensive red wine
Harvested by machine (quick to avoid spoilage)
Hand picking for carbonic maceration is option
Large producers - flash detente or termovinification (enhance colour, fruit intensity, low tannin)
Cultured yeast (quick, reliable)
Mid-range temperatures ferment (retain fruit)
Short period of maceration on skins
Agein 4-6 mths in stainless (early release)
Rose winemaking
Typically short maceration (12-48 hours)
Pressed and finished as white wine
Typically aged in oak or concrete large vats or steel
(some producers use old small oak for texture)
Saignee method (but whole batch used for rose and not as concentrating method for red wine with by-product of rose)
White winemaking
Mostly mid-range temperatures to retain fruit
Malo sometimes avoided
Mostly aged in large old oak or stainless
Lees stirring sometimes avoided (due to natural full body of Rhone varieties) some do it (Hermitage Chapoutier)
Sometimes aged in oak (ocasionally also fermented for better oak integration)
Northern Rhone environment and grape growing
Moderate continental climate
(cold winters, warm summers and adequate rainfall mainly in autumn and winter)
Cold Mistral winds from north
(reduced fungal disease, decreases vigour - lower yields and gives concentration)
Better vineyards are on steep slopes
(increased interception of sunlight, better drainage)
Most work has to be done by hand
Appellations of Northern Rhone
Côte-Rôtie AOC Condrieu AOC - Ch. Grillet AOC Saint Joseph AOC Hermitage AOC Crozes-Hermitage AOC Cornas AOC Saint-Péray AOC Collines Rhodaniennes IGP
Côte-Rôtie AOC
Only red wines (Syrah + up to 20% Viognier)
Steep often terraced slopes (east and south-east exposure - high sunlight interception)
- most work done by hand
- erosion
- terrace maintanance
Sheltered from winds
Rapid drainage, poor, stony soils - fully ripe grapes
Double or single-Guyot, tight to one or two poles (locally known as Échalas)
Typical density 10,000 vines/ha (competition, low yields)
Lack of commercial interest before Guigal (La Mouline, La Landronne) from 70 ha to 250 ha (now premium prices)
Syrah (usually massale selection with 3309 rootstock)
Max yield 40 hl/ha
If it is blend - must be co-fermented
- destem, cold soak, warm ferment, malo in cask, maturation in small oak or large vats
Typically softer and less full-bodied than rest of the N Rhone
Échalas
Poles to tie vines to in Rhone
local expression
Guigal single vineyards in Cote Rotie
La Mouline
La Landronne
Max yield in Cote Rotie
40 hl/ha
Condrieu AOC
Must be 100% Viognier
max. 41 hl/ha
South facing vineyards (river turns here)
- steep, terraced, rocky, low fertility
- soil erosion
- strong winds
Single-estate appellation - Ch. Grillet AOC (3.5 ha)
Most ferment in steel or large wood (some small barrels)
Malo may or may not be allowed (normally yes)
Typically aged on lees 10-12 months often with lees stirring
Very good to outstanding
Single-estate appellation in Condrieu
Ch. Grillet AOC
Saint-Joseph AOC
Both white and red (90%)
max yield 40 hl/ha
Marsanne, Roussanne both allowed in red wine (rare)
Stainless, large wood to ferment, matured in larger wood, occasionally barriques
Wide range of quality
Saint-Joseph AOC producers
Jean-Louis Chave
Domaine Gonon
Hermitage AOC
1/3 white. 2/3 reds
Best south facing slopes (protected from wind)
- pronounced intensity, high tannins, longevity
Most famous - western end of hill - Le Méal
Erosion
Old vines
Max yield 40 hl/ha (red) 45 hl/ha (white)
Traditional winemaking
Proportion of stems often included
Long oak ageing 12-18 months
(proportion of new oak common)
Whites: Any fermenting vessel Maturation in oak or steel Typically aged on lees 10-12 months Rich, creamy, nutty
Rare Vin de Paille
Dominated by Chapoutier and Jaboulet (negoc)
Co-op Cave de Tain
Jean-Louis Chave
Producers, co-ops and negociants in Hermitage
Negociants: Chapoutier and Jaboulet
Co-op Cave de Tain
Producer: Jean-Louis Chave
Winemaking in Hermintage
Reds: Traditional winemaking Proportion of stems often included Long oak ageing 12-18 months (proportion of new oak common)
Whites: Any fermenting vessel Maturation in oak or steel Typically aged on lees 10-12 months Rich, creamy, nutty
Crozes-Hermitage AOC
North - continental with alpine influences (extremely cold in winter and influence of Mistral)
Long growing season, high diurnal range
South - more temperate with more rainfall
- flatter
- deeper, more fertile soils
Machine harvesting possible
Appellation expanded rapidly (using less favourable sites)
Carbonic maceration can be used, destemming widely used
Wines for early drinking with med tannins
Cornas AOC
Must be 100% Syrah (first AOC to be picked)
Max yield 40 hl/ha
Natural south and east facing amphitheatre with steep slopes
Warm mediterranean climate, good protection from Mistral
Tannic wines (small barrels to soften tannins)
Producers: Alain Voge, Domaine Vincent Paris, Domaine Auguste Clape
Very good to outstanding
Producers from Cornas AOC
Alain Voge
Domaine Vincent Paris
Domaine Auguste Clape
Saint-Péray AOC
slightly cooler climate
White wines (from limestone and granitic soils)
Mainly Marsanne (then Roussanne)
Max yield 45 hl/ha
Fermented in stainless or oak and aged in same or large old oak
Typically aged for 10-12 months
Some producers stir lees to add body
Traditional method sparkling is also made
Collines Rhodaniennes IGP
Red, white and rose from grapes outside of AOCs in the northern Rhone
Higher yields allowed - 80 hl/ha
Also allows more grape varieties than AOCs
Southern Rhone growing environment and grape growing
Warm mediterranean climate
(mild winters, very warm, dry summers, adequate rainfall)
- drought is increasing problem
- Irrigation permitted if drought is severe within rules
Flatter land than Northern Rhone
- less protection from Mistral
- low bush vines are very common (Grenache)
- Syrah is tied to wires on trellises
Appellation hierarchy
Côtes du Rhône AOC
Côtes du Rhône Village AOC
Côtes du Rhône Village AOC + Village name (20)
Cru (such as Gigondas AOC)
Outside of this, there are other appellations such as Ventoux
AOC general requirements and regulations in Southern Rhone
Red wines are Grenache dominated blends with Mourvedre and Syrah (along other permitted grapes)
Regulations:
- distinguish between principal, complementary and other permitted grapes
- State the total minimum proportion of principal (sometimes also complementary) varieties
- Some AOC distinguish between min % of variety in the vineyard and in final blend
Appellations in Southern Rhone
Côtes du Rhône AOC Côtes du Rhône Village AOC Côtes du Rhône Village AOC + named village Gigondas AOC Vacqueyras AOC Vinsobres AOC Rasteau AOC Cairanne AOC Beaumes -de-Venise AOC Châteauneuf-du-Pape AOC Lirac AOC Tavel AOC
Côtes du Rhône AOC
+ requirements of varieties, yield
Covers all vineyard land suitable for grape growing in Southern Rhone (and in principle Northern Rhone too)
- producers in North usually sell their wines under more valuable appellations
Second largest appellation of France (after Bordeaux)
Red and rose
max yield 51 hl/ha
min 60% of: Grenache (min 30%), Mourvedre and Syrah (together min 20%)
(permitted: Carignan, Cinsaut)
White wine
max yield 51 hl/ha
min. 80% of: Bourboulenc, Clairette, Grenache Blanc, Marsanne, Roussanne, Viognier
(permitted: Piquepoul Blanc)
Reds of Côtes du Rhône AOC Village
- must have min 66% of 3 principal varieties
- max yield 45 hl/ha
Côtes du Rhône Village AOC + named village
- max yield 42 hl/ha
Med ruby, med intensity (red plum, blackberry) no oak aroma, med acidity, med tannin (or low if carbonic) good quality
Max yield in Côtes du Rhône AOC
Village and named village
Côtes du Rhône AOC Red and rose - max yield 51 hl/ha White wine max yield 51 hl/ha
Côtes du Rhône AOC Village
- max yield 45 hl/ha
Côtes du Rhône Village AOC + named village
- max yield 42 hl/ha
Gigondas AOC
up to 600m
Shaded by Denteles de Montmirail mountains
- reducing temperature in the morning
- longer growing season, increased flavour
- cooling effect of Mistral
Principal: Grenache (min 50%) and at least one of: Syrah or Mourvedre
Max yield 36 hl/ha (as Vacqueyras)
Vacqueyras AOC
up to 440m
- diurnal variation
Small amounts of white and
Principal: Grenache (min 50%) and at least one of: Syrah or Mourvedre
Max yield 36 hl/ha (as Gigondas)
Vinsobres AOC
Far north of Southern Rhone
200-500m, good drainage, some protection from Mistral
Older plots of Carignan and Cinsaut
Red only
Principal: Grenache (min 50%) and at least one of: Syrah or Mourvedre
Rasteau AOC
AOC for red wine (and small amount of Vin Doux Naturel)
low slopes 100m sheltered from Mistral - ripe, full bodied
- irrigation is allowed to within limits
Principal: Grenache (min 50%) and at least one of: Syrah or Mourvedre
Cairanne AOC
not as steep as Gigondas, not as warm as Rasteau
Mainly red - fruity, approachable
High reputation for the small amount of white produced
Principal: Grenache (min 40%) and at least one of: Syrah or Mourvedre
Beaumes-de-Venise AOC
Known for Vin Doux Naturel
(AOC also for still red)
On slopes, slightly shaded by mountains
Principal: Grenache and Syrah (together min 50%)
Max yield 38 hl/ha
Châteauneuf-du-Pape AOC
Originally summer residence of Pope
1923 first prototype of AOC in France (approved 1936)
13 varieties allowed (18 in colour variations)
min alcohol 12.5% without chaptalization
Must be picked by hand
No requirements for principal grapes and %
(possible to make single varietal wine)
Limestone, sand, sandstone, clay (water-holding), low fertility,
Large pebbles (Galets roulés)
- radiate heat at night
Usually:
Red: Granache, Syrah, Mourvedre
White: Grenache, Clairette, Bourboulenc, Roussanne (Marsanne and Viognier NOT permitted)
Requirements for Châteauneuf-du-Pape AOC
13 varieties allowed (18 in colour variations)
min alcohol 12.5% without chaptalization
Must be picked by hand
No requirements for principal grapes and %
(possible to make single varietal wine)
Usual blends for Châteauneuf-du-Pape AOC
Red: Granache, Syrah, Mourvedre
White: Grenache, Clairette, Bourboulenc, Roussanne (Marsanne and Viognier NOT permitted)
French expression for round pebbles
Galets roulés
Expression of Châteauneuf-du-Pape AOC
Red: Med ruby colour Med+ intensity (ripe red plum, blackberry, spice, sometimes new oak) Med acidity Tannin from med- to high Range of quality
White:
Some fermented in oak some in steel
Occasionally aged in new oak proportion.
Lirac AOC
Mainly red (85%) and some rose and white
High sunlight hours, well-drained infertile soils
Red wine: Principal: Grenache, Mourvedre, Syrah, Cinsaut (together min 90% of blend)
Producer: Domaine de la Mordoree
Tavel AOC
Rose only
12 principal grape varieties, final blend must include Grenache Noir and none of the varieties may exceed 60%
Max yield 46 hl/ha
Med intensity pink/orange, med (+)intensity (strawberry, raspberry, med+ (full) body and med alcohol
Other Rhone appellations (satellites)
7 in total
Ventoux AOC
Costières de Nîmes AOC
Luberon AOC
Grignan-les-Adhémar AOC
Ventoux AOC
below mount Ventoux
- cooling influence from altitude (up to 450m) and cold air from mountain
Cooperatives are very important (large export)
(new producers: Domaine de Foudreche)
Mostly reds, third rose and little bit of white
Principal: Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, Carignan, Cinsaut (together min 50% and at least 2 varieties used)
max 60 hl/ha
Costières de Nîmes AOC
Between Rhone and Languedoc
Souh-west facing slopes
- good light interception and breezes from Mediterranean
Mostly reds, third rose and little bit of white
Principal: Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre (together or singly min 50%)
max 60 hl/ha
Luberon AOC
borders into Provence
Gentle slopes or flat land
Principal: Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre (together or singly min 50% and at least 2 varieties used)
max yield 55 hl/ha
Grignan-les-Adhémar AOC
Mainly red blends (some white and rose)
Principal: Grenache, Syrah (min 50%)
IGP wines
Southern Rhone
Rhone or international varieties
Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon quite successful
Irrigation regulations and rules
AOC can apply for permission to irrigate under strict conditions
Proof of water stress is required
No irrigation allowed after veraison and in no circumstances to exceed maximum yield allowed
Wine business
Negociants usually operate across both regions
(Guigal, Jaboulet, Chapoutier)
Cooperatives more important in southern part
(Cellier des Princes, Cave de Tain)
Supermarket sales 33%
Export 35% - UK Belgium, USA
Small En Primeur and investment market
