Rousillon

Question 1

What department contains Rousillon? What is the VDP?

Answer 1

Pyrénées Orientales.

Côtes Catalanes VDP

Question 2

Who created mutage?

Answer 2

Arnaud de Villeneuve, a 13th century physician in Rivesaltes.

Question 3

What styles are authorized for Rivesaltes AOP?

Answer 3

All VDN:
Grenat
Ambré
Tuilé
Rosé
Hors d'Age (Tuilé or Ambré)
Rancio (Tuilé or Ambré)

All Grenache (Noir/Blanc/Gris), Tourbat, and/or Macabeu, plus. 
Grenat is the exception: 100% Grenache

Question 4

What does Hors d’Age indicate on a bottle of Rivesaltes or Maury?

Answer 4

Minimum 5 years of aging

Question 5

What are the aging requirements for Grenat Rivesaltes?

Answer 5

Aged reductively until May 1st of the year following the harvest, bottled no later than June 30th of the second year after harvest.

Question 6

What are the aging requirements for Ambré and Tuilé Rivesaltes?

Answer 6

Aged oxidatively for 3 years.

Question 7

What are bonbonnes?

Answer 7

Large glass jugs used for aging Rancio Rivesaltes in the sun.

Question 8

What is Malvoisie de Rousillon?

Answer 8

Tourbat

Question 9

What is the minimum must weight, RS, and potential alcohol of Rivesaltes?

Answer 9

Must Weight: 252g/L
RS: 45g/L
Alcohol: 21.5% (15% acquired)

Question 10

What is Muscat de Rivesaltes?

Answer 10

VDN made from Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains and Muscat d’Alexandrie.
Must Weight: 252g/L
RS: 100g/L
Alcohol: 21.5% (15% acquired)

Question 11

May Muscat de Rivesaltes produce Muscat de Noël?

Answer 11

YES

Question 12

What are the authorized styles of Maury?

Answer 12

Rouge: 60-80% Grenache, plus Carignan, Mourvèdre, Syrah
VDN Blanc and Ambré: Grenache Blanc, Grenache Gris, Macabeu, and/or Tourbat
VDN Grenat and Tuilé: Grenache, plus (may be 100%)
VDN Rancio
VDN Hors d’Age

Question 13

T/F: Maury, Rivesaltes, Banyuls, and Rasteau follow the same must weight, RS, and potential alcohol requirements.

Answer 13

TRUE. (Therefore?)

Question 14

T/F: Vintage dating is required for all Maury wines

Answer 14

FALSE. It is optional for Ambré and Tuilé

Question 15

What are the aging requirements for Maury VDN Blanc and Grénat?

Answer 15

Must be bottled no later than June 30 of the 2nd year following the harvest; may be released as early as May 1st of the year following the harvest.

Question 16

What are the aging requirements for Maury VDN Ambré and Tuilé?

Answer 16

Aged in glass or other sealed containers, released no earlier than March 1st of the 3rd year after harvest.

Question 17

What is France’s most consistently high-quality VDN appellation?

Answer 17

Banyuls

Question 18

What are the styles of Banyuls?

Answer 18

Blanc, Rosé and Ambré: Grenache Blanc, Grenache Gris, Macabeu, and/or Tourbat, plus
Traditionnel: min. 50% Grenache, plus Grenache Gris, plus
Hors d’Age

Question 19

What is Rimage?

Answer 19

Vintage dated Banyuls, released May 1st of the year following the harvest. Generally aged reductively (think vintage port v. tawny port).

Question 20

What are the requirements for Banyuls Grand Cru AOP?

Answer 20

Rouge only, plus Hors d’Age and Rancio
min. 75% Grenache, plus Grenache Blanc, Grenache Gris, Macabeu, Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains, Muscat d’Alexandrie, and/or Tourbat
Aging: min 30mos in barrel, not released before June 1st of the the third year after harvest.

Question 21

What does Brut/Dry/Sec indicate on a bottle of Banyuls Grand Cru?

Answer 21

Max. 45-54 g/L of Residual Sugar.

Question 22

What is Grand Rousillon AOP?

Answer 22

An AOP for VDN Blanc, Rosé, Rouge, and Rancio wines with a min. must weight of 252 g/L, RS of 45 g/L, and minimum potential alcohol of 21.5% (15% acquired).
Basically, generic Rousillon VDN that either falls outside of, or fails to meet the other requirements of, the other VDN appellations.

Question 23

When did Maury Rouge gain AOP status?

Answer 23

2011

Question 24

What are the styles and assemblages for Collioure?

Answer 24

Blanc: Grenache Blanc, Grenache Gris, Macabeu, Marsanne, Roussanne, Tourbat, and/or Vermentino
Rouge: Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah, and/or Carignan
Rosé: Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah, Carignan, and/or Grenache Gris

Whites may be 100% varietal

Question 25

Where is the Vallée d’Agly, and what is the major soil type?

Answer 25

The Vallée d’Agly runs through Maury in the northwest of Côtes du Rousillon-Villages, and consists of black schistous rock.

Question 26

What are the styles and assemblages of Côtes du Rousillon?

Answer 26

Blanc: min. 50% combined Grenache, Tourbat, and Macabeu, plus
Rouge/Rosé: min. 80% combined Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah, and Carignan

Question 27

What is the subzone of Côtes du Rousillon? How does its assemblage differ?

Answer 27

Les Aspres

Red only. Must be a blend of at least 3 varieties rather than 2.

Question 28

Are Nouveau wines permitted in Côtes du Rousillon?

Answer 28

Yes, in all three colors.

Not permitted for Les Aspres.

Question 29

What styles are permitted for Côtes du Rousillon-Villages? What is the assemblage?

Answer 29

Red only: min. 80% combined Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah, and Carignan, plus Lladoner Pelut

Question 30

What are the four geographic designations of Côtes du Rousillon-Villages?

Answer 30

Caramany, Latour-de-France, Lesquerde, Tautavel

Question 31

Which two geographic designations of Côtes du Rousillon-Villages require carbonic maceration for Carignan?

Answer 31

Caramany and Lesquerde

Question 32

Which geographic designation has a longer aging requirement (Oct 1st rather than Feb 15th)?

Answer 32

Tautavel

Question 33

Which mountain chain in the Pyrénées separates Banyuls from Emporda?

Answer 33

Chaîne des Albères