Rhone Valley Region Flashcards
Location/Climate
Located in Southeastern France just south of Lyon and north of the Languedoc
Follows along the Rhône river
Rainfall is less than in the north and the famous Mistral Wind plays a role
Northern - continental climate cold winters, hot summers
Southern - Mediterranean climate, mild winters and hot dry summers
Grapes
Southern Rhône Blend (34%), Shiraz and Syrah (32%), Grenache-Syrah (5%), Grenache (4%), Marsanne (3%), Grenache-Mourvèdre-Syrah (4%)
Terroir
clay-limestone, pebbles, sand in the south
North is more granite in terms of soil
Wine Characteristics
Reds are rounded with warm red fruit flavors with elevated alcohol, aromas of black cherry, chocolate, charred wood
Usually medium to full bodied
Whites can have honeysuckle, stone fruits, and melon aromas and flavors
Syrah
Northern Rhône - Cote Rotie, Hermitage, Saint Joseph, Cornas
Bold with high tannin and savory flavors
Marsanne and Roussane white Blends
These blends tend to be rich and fruity and an oily texture similar to an oaked Chardonnay
GSM Blend (Grenache-Syrah-Mourvèdre)
Can have other varietals in the blend including cinsault, terret noir, muscardin, marselan)
(Grilled plum, tobacco, raspberry, dried herbs, vanilla)
Famous southern region is Chateauneuf du Pape known for GSM (rich full bodied characterized by a mix of rounded stones and diverse soils giving off earthy, gamey, hints of tar and leather flavors)
Viognier grape
Noticeable sweetness with peach tangerine, honeysuckle, rose, almond
Two tiny regions - Chateau-Gillet, Condrieu
Classifications
Crus (17)
Northern - 8 crus mostly Syrah and 2 others Viognier
Southern - 9 crus of Montelimar producing sweet wines
Côtes du Rhône Villages
Southern - 50% Grenache - 95 districts
There will be some name villages on the wine - (Seguret, Cairanne are well known)
Appellations - basic regional, Cotes-du-Rhône and others
171 districts
Some include Ventoux, Luberon, Costieres de Nimes, Cotes du Vivarais, Bellegarde
Cote Rotie Appellation - Northern Rhône
Steep Slope - Northern most appellation that is near Lyon
Lots of sun exposure - “roasted” all day long
Very mineral/dry soils - Granite/Stone Material
