Rhone Valley & So. France - Certified Sommelier Exam Flashcards

1
Q

What is the climate &* grapes of Northern Rhone?

A

More continental - schist and granite soil

Syrah is dominant, with Viognier, Marsanne, and Roussane

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2
Q

What are the appellations of the Northern Rhone?

A
Côte-Rôtie               
St-Joseph                 
Hermitage                
Crozes-Hermitage   
Cornas
Condrieu
Château Grillet
St-Péray
Crémant de Die
Clairette de Die
Coteaux de Die
Châtillon-en-Diois
Côtes du Rhône
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3
Q

What helps the climate of the Northern Rhone?

A

Mistral winds dry the vineyards and prevent mold and mildew

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4
Q

What is the soil structure of the Northern Rhone?

A

Heat-Retaining granitic & schistous soil.
Fine sand & loess topsoil prone to erosion
Near Condrieu, thin powdery topsoil, decomposed mica, called arzelle
heavier clay in South by St-Joseph, Crozes-Hermtage and St-Peray

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5
Q

What is the style of wine in the Northern Rhone?

A

full bodied, firm, savory, secondary of aroma like smoke, grilled meat, olive, lavendar, peppercorn.
Fermented in large oak foudres

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6
Q

What are the 5 appellations of N. Rhone for Syrah?

A

Hermitage AOP - Up to 15% Mars/Rouss
Crozes-Hermitage AOP - Up to 15% Mars/Rouss
Cornas AOP - 100% Syrah
Cote-Rotie AOP - up to 20% Viognier
St-Joseph AOP - up to 10% Marsanne/Roussane

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7
Q

Name a Cote-Rotie cru vineyard

A

La Landonne, a cru bottled as a vineyard designate by Guigal, René Rostaing and others, fetches prices that can equal those commanded by the first growths of Bordeaux.

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8
Q

Major producers of the South facing hill of Hermitage

A

Singular Jean-Louis Chave
Negociant: Delas, M Chapoutier, Jaboulet

La Chapelle, Jaboulet 1er

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9
Q

Name a venerable producer of Cornas

A

Auguste Clape has long been considered the standard-bearer for the traditional wines of the appellation, eschewing destemming for whole cluster fermentation and new oak barriques for the old demi-muids of the region

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10
Q

What quality do St-Joseph and Crozes-Hermitage produce?

A

a basic level

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11
Q

What wines can Cornas & Cote-Rotie make?

A

Only Red

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12
Q

What wines can St-Joseph, Crozes-Hermitage & Hermitage make?

A

Red with a small amount of white marsanne & roussane

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13
Q

What wines does St-Pernay AOP in N Rhone make?

A

Exclusive white - Marsanne & Roussane can be made into methode tradtl moussex

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14
Q

What is the dessert wine of N Rhone?

A

In Hermitage, can dry Marsanne & Roussanne for rare dessert wine: Vin De Paille

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15
Q

What is the monopole of Condrieu?

A

Chateau Grillet AOP - Viognier

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16
Q

What are the appellations of the Southern Rhone

A

Côtes du Rhone - Côtes du Rhone-Villages
Gigondas - Vacqueyras
Vinsobres - Beaumes-de-Venise
Rasteau - Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Lirac - Tavel
Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise - Grignan-les-Adhémar
Côtes du Vivarais - Luberon
Ventoux - Pierrevert
Costières de Nîmes - Clairette de Bellegarde
Duché d’Uzès (added in 2013)

17
Q

What are the grapes of CHateauneuf-du-Pape

A

Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre
Cinsault, Counois, Picpul (Noir/Blanc)Gris)
Terret Noir, Bourboulanc, Clairette, Roussane
Picardan, Muscardin

18
Q

What do each of the grapes of S Rhone bring to the blend?

A

Grenache - Body, sweet fruit, warmth

Mourvedre & Syrah - structure & depth of Color

Cinsault - finesse & freshness

19
Q

What is the soil of Chateauneuf-du-Pape?

A

deposited “pudding stones” are called galets. Made of quartzite and smoothed by the river, the galets serve to store heat, releasing it to warm the vines at night.

20
Q

What are some notable producers of Chateauneuf-du-Pape?

A

Ch de Beaucastel - dominated by Mourvèdre & is famously produced from a blend of every auth variety

Château Rayas often releases as a 100% varietal Grenache

Ch Le Nerthe - 1st Estate Bottle in 1785

21
Q

What is the largest appellation in Southern Rhone?

A

Cotes du Rhone AOP

22
Q

Describe wines of Gigondas AOP

Similar to Vacqueyras, Beaumes-deVenise, Vinsobres

A

Min 50% Grenache, blended w Syrah & Mourvedre
other grapes - excl carignan - max 10% in vinyard
12.5% abv min

23
Q

What are the wines of Southern Rhones Tavel AOP?

A

Dedicated exclusively to Rose, based on Grenache, Dry style

24
Q

What does Cotes de Provence AOP produce?

A
75% of Appellation output is Rose, must be a blend of grapes:
Cinsault
Grenache
Mourvedre 
Syrah
Tibouren
25
Q

What are the wines of Bandol AOP in Provence?

A

Focus is on Mourvedre, 50% blended w Grenache & Cinsault, lesser amnts of Syrah & Carignan

full body, plummy, dense, animal character
18 months in oak, years in the bottle til potential

26
Q

Name producers of note in Bandol AOP

A
  • Domaine Tempier
  • Ch de Pibarnon
  • Ch Pradeaux
27
Q

What are the appellations of Provence?

A
  • Cotes de Provence
  • Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence
  • Les Baux de Provence
  • Coteaux Varois en Provence
  • Bandol
  • Bellet
  • Cassis
  • Palette
28
Q

What are the wines of Fitou AOP of Languedoc-Roussillon?

A

Carignan dominated red blends

29
Q

What are the AOPs of Languedoc-Roussellon

A
  • Corbieres
  • Minervois
  • Fitou
  • Cabardes
  • Malepere
  • St-Chinian
  • Faugeres
  • Languedoc AOP
  • Banyuls
  • Limoux - Blanquette de Limoux meth trad spark w 90% Mauzac grape
30
Q

What are the fortified wines of the Langeudoc?

A

Vin doux naturel or Vin de Liqueur

Muscat de Mireval AOP,
Muscat de Lunel AOP,
Muscat de St-Jean-de-Minervois AOP, and
Muscat de Frontignan AOP.

Muscat de Frontignan wines are the most common, and may be either vin doux naturel or vin de liqueur.

31
Q

Why is Roussillon important?

A

90% of Frances fortified wines of Vin Doux Naturel come from mostly the Rivesaltes AOP in Roussillon.
Ambret, Grenat, Tuile, Rose or amber, red, tawny, or pink

32
Q

What are the requirements to lable a wine as Banyuls Grand Cru AOP?

A

wine made of grenache noir of 75% and 30 months in barrel