Rhone Pt 3 -Northern Rhone General Flashcards
Where is the Northern Rhone sub-region located?
It begins 20 miles south of Lyon and stretches for 45 miles between Vienne and Valence.
How large is the planting in the N.Rhone?
Around 10,000 acres/ 4000 ha. It represents 4% of the total production area of the entire Rhone Valley.
What is the climate of the N.Rhone?
It is continental with some Mediterranean influences. It receives approximately 2350 hours of sunshine per annum.
What are the climate hazards of the N.Rhone?
Fog and frost in spring, hail in autumn and snow in winter.
Most years, autumn is good. What does this allow in N.Rhone?
In most years autumn is warm, dry and sunny. This allows for a rain-free harvest with no disease pressure.
Why is the window of ripening conditions smaller in the Northern as against the Southern Rhone?
Temperatures drop earlier in the North as fall advances. Early ripening varieties such as Syrah and Viognier are therefore favoured.
How was the Rhone Valley formed?
It is part of the rift system formed when the Alps rose. It was widened and deepened by the Rhone glacier. It created a steep gorge with some gradients of 60 deg.
Why did the Romans cultivate the Northern Rhone first?
Hillsides were prized. They excavated the slopes and terraced them to retain soil and mitigate erosion.
What are the main soils of the N.Rhone?
Granite subsoils with a fine topsoil of decomposed crystalline mica schist and granite sands. There are some pockets of limestone.
What additional soils do Crozes-Hermitage and Hermitage have?
CH - Pockets of GALETS, clay and loess/molasse.
H - Some clay and sand.
What are Galets? Molasse?
Galets - large, round stones;
Molasse - windblown sediment.
Which varieties are planted to stony soils? Clay and sandy soils?
Stony - Syrah;
Clay, sand - White varieties.
What benefit for the vine do stony soils have?
They trap heat during the day and radiate this back to the vine at night prolonging the photosynthesis and boosting ripening.
What are the main white grapes of the N.Rhone?
Viognier, Marsanne and Roussanne.
What are the main red grapes of the N.Rhone?
Syrah is the sole red grape of N.Rhone.
Which varieties are sometimes co-fermented and grown together in N.Rhone?
Syrah can be grown and co-fermented with the white grapes in specified amounts and some AOCs.
What does Viognier contribute to wines made from Syrah in N.Rhone?
It adds lift and perfume to the finished wine. It also helps set colour. It has compounds which can hold pigments in suspension and boost colour intensity.
What does Marsanne contribute to wines made from Syrah in N.Rhone?
It can add aromatic complexity and soften tannins.
What does Roussane contribute to wines made from Syrah in N.Rhone?
It adds perfume to both white and red wines.
How is Marsanne used in the N.Rhone?
It is usually blended with reds and with Roussanne to make the white blends. It is regarded as better quality as it has good extract levels.
How are Syrah and Viognier trained in N. Rhone?
Guyot and supported by echalas structures. Modern trellising uses posts and wires to support and protect the canopy.
Why must unterraced vineyards in N.Rhone be reset after harvest?
They can suffer erosion and the soil has to be transported back up the slopes.
How is harvesting done in the N.Rhone?
Mostly by hand because of the steep slopes and terraces.
What is the style of white wine from N.Rhone?
Most are still and dry. Some sparkling is made in Saint-Peray.
How are N.Rhone white wines fermented and matured?
Typically fermented in neutral vessels. Some are aged in oak but this is usually old. Hermitage in particular see some wood.
How is Hermitage Vin de Paille made?
Marsanne and/or Roussanne grapes are dried on straw mats for at least 45 days to dessicate the grapes and gain concentration.
How common is late-harvest sweet wine from Condrieu?
Rare.
What is the style of red wines from N.Rhone?
They are still red, with vivacious acidity. Tannin levels vary with AOC. All except the simplest are built to age.
Which are regarded as the more structured wines of N.Rhone?
Cornas and Hermitage.
Which are regarded as the elegantly structured wines of N.Rhone?
Cote-Rotie and St Joseph. (generally)
In which vessels are wines aged in N.Rhone?
Beton, Inox, Demi-Muids or Foudres.
What is Beton?
A concrete vessel.
What is Inox?
A stainless steel tank.
What is a Demi-muid?
A large oak cask holding 600 litres.
What is a Foudre?
A very large, old oak cask which has been used often and imparts no flavours to wine.
Is new oak used in the N.Rhone?
It is neither typical nor traditional to age the wines in new oak barrels however in Hermitage and Cote Rotie it is practiced now.
What are the production numbers for N.Rhone?
Crozes-Hermitage - 41%;
St. Joseph - 35%;
Cote Rotie - 9%;
Condrieu - 5%;
Cornas - 4%;
Hermitage - 3%
St.Peray - 3%.
