Rhone Valley Flashcards
What properties are owned by the Reynaud family?
Chateau Rayas (CdP)
Chateau de Fonsalette (CdR)
Chateau des Tours (Vacqueyras)
What AOCs in the Rhone can produce sweet wines?
Muscat Beaumes de Venise VDN
Rasteau VDN
Hermitage VDP
Condrieu
Is Muscat allowed in Beaumes de Venise AOP?
No
What are the AOPs of the Southern Rhone that allow the production of white, red, and rose?
Vacqueyras
Ventoux
Luberon
Lirac
Where does the Rhone river begin?
Switzerland in the Alps
The Northern Rhone runs between what two towns?
Vienne to Valence
What are alternative names for the Northern and Southern Rhone?
Northern: Rhone Septentrionale
Southern: Rhone Meridionale
What pope moved his court from Rome to the Rhone?
Where was it, who was it, when was it?
Avignon
Pope Clement V
1309-1378
Who constructed the actual Chateaunuf-du-Pape papal residence?
Pope John XXII
It remained the property of the papacy until 1791
When did Phylloxera appear in the Southern Rhone?
1863
What was the first AOC in France?
Chateaunuf-du-Pape
1936
What is the general climate of the Northern Rhone?
What soils?
Continental
Heat-retaining granite and schist
More clay in portions of St. Joseph, Crozes-Hermitage, and St. Peray
What special soil is found in Condrieu?
Arzelle
Powdery, decomposed mica-schist
What are the Syrah appellations of the Northern Rhone?
What are the blending allowances?
Cote-Rotie: up to 20% Viognier
Crozes-Hermitage: up to 15% Marsanne and Roussane
Hermitage: up to 15% Marsanne and Roussane
St. Joseph: up to 10% Marsanne and Roussane
Cornas: 100% Syrah
What is the benefit of co-fermenting red and white grapes in the Northern Rhone?
Color stabilization and moderating tannin extraction
What producers make a La Landonne bottling?
E. Guigal Rene Rostaing Domaine Jamet Delas Freres Jean-Michel Gerin
Who produces “La Chapelle?”
What climat is it sourced from?
Who was the knight who retired here?
Jaboulet
L’Hermite
Gaspard de Sterimberg
What are some of the most important climats of Hermitage?
le Meal, les Bessards, Greffieux, Beaume, and Peleat
What is the naked granite soil of Cornas called?
Gore
What are the lieux-dits of Cornas?
Les Reynards, La Cote, Les Chaillot, Les Mazards
What is the smallest appellation in France?
La Romanee in Burgundy
Who owns Chateau Grillet?
Francois Pinault
What types of wines are produced in Chatillon-en-Diois AOP?
Blanc: Chardonnay and Aligote
Rouge/Rose: min. 75% Gamay with Pinot Noir and Syrah
What types of wines are produced in Clairette de Die AOP?
Mousseux Blanc: 100% Clairette, 9 months of lees
Methode Ancestrale Blanc/Rose: min. 75% Muscat a Petits Grains with Clairette (and Gamay for Rose), min. 35 g/l RS.
What types of wines are produced in Coteaux de Die AOP?
Whites from 100% Clairette
What are the varietal requirements for Cremant de Die AOP?
What other requirements exist?
min. 55% Clairette, min. 10% Aligote, max. 10% Muscat a Petits Grains
9 months on lees, max 15 g/l RS
What tributary river runs along the four minor appellations (Die, etc.) of the Northern Rhone?
What tributary river forms the Southern Border of Crozes-Hermitage AOP?
Drome
Isere
Who are some notable producers of classic Cornas?
What are some special bottlings they make?
August Clape
-Cornas, $200
Thierry Allemand
-Cornas, $800 (also at 300-400$ Reynard and Chaillots)
Franck Balthazar
-Cornas Chaillot, $110
Who are some notable producers of modern Cornas?
Alain Voge
-Les Vielles Fontaines, $150
Jean-Luc Colombo
-Les Ruchets $120
Who are some pioneering Northern Rhone producers who have retired in the past 20 years?
Where were they based?
Noel Verset - Cornas
Marius Gentaz - Cote Rotie
Ernest Trollat - St. Joseph
Who are some notable producers of St. Joseph?
Jean-Louis Chave
-Clos Forentin, $300ish
Pierre Gonon
-St. Joseph, $220
Domaine Faury
-Vielles Vignes, $45
Who are some notable producers of Hermitage?
Jean-Louis Chave
-Hermitage, $450
Jaboulet
-“La Chapelle,” $213
Chapoutier
-“L’Ermite,” $380
Who are some notable producers of Cote-Rotie?
Domaine Jamet
-Cote Brune, $600
Rene Rostaing
-Cote Blonde, $200
Ogier
- “La Belle Helene,” $350
- (Ogier is a very modern producer)
What is the longest continuously operating negociant/winery in the Rhone Valley?
When was it founded, who owns it now, and what is their flagshipwine?
Vidal-Fleury
1781
Etienne Guigal now owns it
La Chatillone Cote-Rotie from Cote Blonde
What are the “La La’s” of E. Guigal?
What are their varietal makeups?
La Landonne: 100% Syrah
La Turque: 93% Syrah, 7% Viognier
La Mouline: 89% Syrah, 11% Viognier
What is the landmark cuvee of Chave?
When was it first bottled?
What other years has it been made in?
Cuvee Cathelin
First in 1990
1991, 1995, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2009, 2010, 2015
Who is a notable producer of Saint Peray?
Bernard Gripa
August Clape, Alain Voge, and Domaine du Tunnel also make wine there
How much wine does the Southern Rhone contribute to production in the whole valley?
95%
What Chateaunuf-du-Pape bottling famously includes all the allowable varieties?
Chateau de Beuacastel
It is also Mourvedre dominant
What is the minimum required ABV for Chateaunuf-du-Pape?
12.5%
For both Rouge and Blanc
What is “le rape?”
The discarding of 2% of harvested grapes as a quality safeguard.
Who released the first estate bottled Chateaunuf-du-Pape?
When?
Chateau la Nerthe
1785
Under what conditions may a papal crest be embossed on a bottle of Chateaunuf-du-Pape?
When it is estate bottled
What are the grapes of Chateaunuf-du-Pape?
Grenache (Noir/Blanc/Gris), Syrah, Mourvedre, Cinsault, Counoise, Picpoul (Noir/Blanc/Gris), Terret Noir, Bourboulenc, Clairette (Blanc/Rose), Roussanne, Vaccarese, Picardin, Muscardin
What are the styles and varietal requirements for Cotes du Rhone-Villages wines?
Blanc: min. 50% Bourboulenc, Marsanne, Roussanne, Viognier, Clairette, Grenache Blanc
Rouge: min. 66% combined Grenache and Syrah/Mourvedre
Name 5 Villages of the Cotes du Rhone-Villages AOP
Sablet Seguret Plan de Dieu Suze-la-Rousse Laudun Roaix Nyons
What are the styles and assemblage requirements for Gigondas AOC?
When was it granted AOC status?
Rose/Rouge: Min. 50% Grenache plus at least one of Syrah or Mourvedre
1971
What geological feature rises in the Gigondas, Vacqueyras, and Beaumes de Venise appellations?
The Dentelles de Montmirail
What are the styles and assemblage requirements for Vacqueyras AOC?
When was it granted AOC status?
Blanc: Vineyards must be composed of Clairette, Grenache Blanc, Marsanne, Roussanne, Viognier (no grape more than 80%)
Rose/Rouge: min. 50% Grenache and Syrah/Mourvedre
1990
What are the allowed styles of Muscat de Beaumes de Venise?
What is the minimum RS and ABV?
What is the strength of the spirit used for mutage?
VDN Blanc/Rouge/Rose
100 g/l and 15% ABV
96 proof and in 5-10% proportion to the wine
What are the varietal requirements for Cotes du Rhone AOC?
What is the minimum ABV?
North of what town do they change?
Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvedre must together account for 60% of the blend.
11%
Vineyards North of Montelimar are excused, but must have one principal and complimentary grape. They may also produce wine with 10.5% ABV.
What is the most recent Village elevated to AOC status?
When was it?
Cairanne
2016
Producers farming less than how many hectares may ignore Syrah and Mourvedre requirements?
1.5ha
What are the styles and varietal requirements for Cairanne AOC?
Blanc: min. 2 grapes at min 20% each. Clairette Blanc, Grenache Blanc, Viognier, Roussanne, Marsanne, Bourboulenc.
Rouge: min. 40% Grenache
What age are Vielles Vignes vines in Cairanne?
How old must a vine be to be included in wine?
30 years (20 for Syrah and Viognier)
5 years minimum
What are the styles and varietal requirements for Lirac AOC?
When was it granted AOC status? What are the soils like?
Blanc: Min. 90% combined Grenache Blanc, Roussanne, Clairette
Rouge: Min. 90% combined Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault, Mourvedre
Rose: Min. 80% combined Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault, Mourvedre
1947, Sandier soils
What are the styles and varietal requirements for Tavel AOC?
When was it granted AOC Status?
What special soil does it have?
Grenache Noir must be present in the blend
1936
“Lauses” or white calcareous stones
What VDN appellations exist in the Rhone Valley?
Rasteau AOP
Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise AOP
What communes may contribute to the production of Rasteau AOP VDN?
What are the allowed styles and their varietal requirements?
Cairanne, Sablet, Rasteau
VDN Blanc/Rose/Ambre/Grenat/Tuile: Grenache, Grenache Blanc, Grenache Gris
What is the minimum RS and ABV for Rasteau VDN?
min. 45 g/l RS
min. 15% ABV
How many years of aging do the following styles of Rasteau VDN require?
Ambre
Tuile
Hors d’Age
Rancio
March 1st after 3 years
March 1st after 3 years
September 1st after 5 years
Must show oxidative character
When was Rasteau AOP created?
When was dry red wine allowed?
1944
2010
What was Grignan-les-Adhemar formerly known as?
Cotes du Tricastin
What is the second wine from Chateau Rayas?
What is the Cotes du Rhone that Chateau Rayas produces?
Pignan: 100% Grenache produced from younger vines
Pialade: 80% Grenache, 15% Cinsault, 5% Syrah
What is the landmark Cuvee from Chateau de Beaucastel?
What was the innaugural vintage?
In what recent vintages has it not been made?
Hommage a Jacques Perrin
1998
$400
2008, 2006, 2002, 1997, 1996
What family owns Vieux Telegraphe?
When were they established? What was their first vintage?
What Lebanese winery do they partner with?
The Brunier family
1898 and 1900
Massaya
How did Domaine du Pegau get it’s name?
It was originally named Domaine Feraud, and dates back to the 17th century.
It was renamed Domaine du Pegau by Paul Feraud and his daughter Laurence in 1987.
What is the top Cuvee from Domaine du Pegau?
What is it’s innaugural vintage?
In what vintages has it been made?
Cuvee da Capo
1998
1998, 2000, 2003, 2007, 2010, 2015, 2016, 2019
What bottling was released only once by Domaine du Pegau?
When was it, how was it bottled?
Cuvee Inspiration
2010 and in Magnums only
Name the special cuvee for each of the following producers:
Henri Bonneau
Clos des Papes
Cheateau La Nerthe
Reserve des Celestins
No special reserve wines
Cuvee des Cadettes
Who produces “Chimere?”
A Chateaunuf-de-Pape collaboration between Sine Qua Non and Clos Saint-Jean.
What is the to wine of Clos Saint-Jean?
In what years did it receive 100 point scores from Robert Parker?
Sanctus Sanctorum
2010, 2009, 2007
Who are some modern producers of Chateaunuf-de-Pape?
Clos Saint-Jean
Chateau la Nerthe
Domaine de la Solitude
Who bottles the most expensive release of Tavel?
Eric Pfifferling at Domaine l’Angore at $100
Domaine de la Mordoree also makes La Damme Rousse at $35 and is a known producer.
Name 3 producers of Condrieu
Georges Vernay
E. Guigal
Yves Cuilleron
Who produces “Luminescence?”
How is it made? In what vintages has it been made?
E. Guigal, Condrieu
It is made from late-harvested, over-ripened grapes
1999, 2003, 2015
Who produces Ampodium?
Who produces Chateau d’Ampuis?
Rene Rostaing
E. Guigal
