Rhone Valley Flashcards
Northern Rhone location
From Vienne to Valence
Northern Rhone climate
Continental
Mistral = cold dry wind (not as much as in souther Rhone)
Only black grape variety in Northern Rhone
Syrah (sometimes blended with Viognier/roussane/marsanne
Smoke/black olives, grilled meat/lavender/peppercorn
Cote Rôtie
“Roasted slope”
Most northerly appellation in N rhone
Some of steepest slopes in France
Famous slopes near Ampuis in Cote rotie
Cote blonde: granite with higher limestone percentage = softer wines
Cote brune: higher clay content rich in ironstone = stronger wines
Grapes allowed in cote rotie
Syrah + 20% Viognier
Leading producer in Northern Rhone
Guigal:
- la mouline
- la turque
- la landonne
- blonde et brune
Condrieu AOP:
100% Viognier
Apricot / peach/ golden colour / dry / spicy
Single vineyard appellation within Condrieu
Chateau Grillet
Saint Joseph AOP
Syrah + 10% roussane/marsanne
Lighter than cote rotie / hermitage
Hermitage AOP
South facing slope overlooking Tain
Syrah + 15% roussane/marsanne
Best producers: chapoutier / jaboulet / Jean Louis Chaves / Delas
Crozes-Hermitage AOP
Land surrounding Hermitage
Syrah + 15% roussane/ marsanne
Cornas AOP
100% Syrah
Among the warmest sites in NortherRhone / shielded from Mistral
Granite soils ( GORE)
St Peray AOP
Most southerly
Roussane / marsanne
Still / sparkling (moussex)
Coteaux de Die AOP
Cremant de die = 100% clairette
Clairette de Die = 75% muscat 25% Clairette (sweet sparkling = methode Dioise Ancestrale)
Methode Dioise Ancestrale
Sweet sparkling
Partially fermented must with at least 55g/L fermented down to 35g/L
Southern Rhone climate
Mediterranean climate
Mistral influence = cold dry wind , reduce humidity and fungal disease pressure , moulds, troublesome insects / dries soils quick after rain / can break established shoots during spring reducing yeald but increasing quality / dry the grapes during ripening reducing yea Lsd but increasing concentration of the juice
Main varieties southern rhone
Grenache
Syrah
Mourvèdre
Grenache blanc
Clairette
Marsanne
Roussane
Bourboulenc
Viognier
Beumes de venise
AOP since 2005 / red table wine (Syrah, Grenache + cote du rhone varieties)
Muscat de beaumus de venise
VIn Doux Naturels = muscat blanc a petit grain / naturally sweet
Grape spirit ( brandy) is added to stop fermentation = 100g/L residual sugar / min 15%abv
Cairanne
Red = Grenache + Syrah, Mourvèdre
White = clairette, Grenache blanc, roussane + local V
Typical Chateanouf du pape soils
Galets = big round white smooth stones
Help drain the ground / stores heat / prevent soils from drying out
Grape varieties in CdP
Syrah
Mourvèdre
Cinsault
Counoise
Bourboulenc
Clairette Blanche.
Clairette rose
Picardin
Picpoul blanc/noir/rose
Muscardin
Grenache blanc/gris
Roussane
Vaccarese
Terret noir
Best producers in CdP
Chateau de boucastel
Chateau Rayas (100% Grenache)
Vieux Telegraph
Domaine du Pegau
Clos des Papes
Largest appellation in southern Rhone
Cote du rhone (2/3 of total rhone valley production )
Costieres de Nimes
Next to Languedoc
Mainly red: min 60% Grenache, Mourvèdre, cinsault , Syrah , Carignan
Gigondas
Similar to CdP in style and alcohol strength
Max 80% Grenache
AOP since 1971
Vacqueyras AOP
AOP since 1990
Rustic wines , usually red / small amount white e rose
Vinsobres aop
Rhone valley
Since 2006
Red: Grenache , Syrah, Mourvèdre
Rose under cote du rhone village aoc
Lirac AOP
Sand + pebbles / clay + large pebbles over limestone
Rose’ similar to Tavel
Deep coloured reds
4 communes
Tavel AOP
Only French AOC specifically for Rose only
Deep colour, strong flavour rose / can age for years / Grenache based
Rasteau AOP
VDN = naturally sweet fortified wine
90% Grenache
Rose and amber coloured wines = Saignee method
Minimum of 252g/L residual sugar / 15% abv
Mature up to 10 years / as they maderize they become RANCIO
Chatillon en dios AOP
Next to Die / Aligote + Chardonnay / Gamay + Pinot noir + Syrah
