Southern Rhone Flashcards
Rhone: Climate and Grape Growing
- warm, mediterranean climate, mild winter s and warm dry summers
- drought is an increasing problem in summer
- Land is flatter and there is little protection from the Mistral wine
- low bush trained for Grenache
- Syrah tied to wires on trellises for protection from the wind
Rhone: Hierarchy of the Appellations
Cotes du Rhone AOC
Cotes du Rhone Villages AOC
Cotes du Rhone Villages AOC +named village ( 22 villages )
Individual Appellations for the top villages of the Southern Rhone / Cru’s eg. Chateauneuf du Pape AOC , Gigondas AOC etc
With the exception of CNDP the AOC regulations require that red wines are Grenache Noir dominant blended with Syrah and Mouvedre ( GSM )
Rhone: Regulations for Red, Rose and White
- Distiniguish between principal, complementary and the other permitted varieties
- state the total min. proportion of principal ( and where applicable, complementary ) varieties which must be used
**some producers can plant 70% of the principal varieties in the vineyard but use only 60% in the final blend - for study purposed the % quoted are for the final blend of the wine
Rhone: Cotes du Rhone AOC
- Vast appellation that covers all vineyard land suitable for growig grapes in the Southern Rhone , and in principle the North as well
- Vast majority comes from the South as the North is sold under more valualbe appellations
- Second largest planted AOC by hectares in France , after Bordeaux
Rhone : Rose and Reds
**Principal varieties : GSM - these must make up 60%of the blend
If grapes are from the South, Grenache must be 30%, and the combo of M and S 20% min **
Many local varieties such as Cinsaut and Carignan are permitted
**MAX YIELD 51hl/hc **
Rhone: White Wines
**Bourboulenc, Clairette, Grenache Blanc , Marsanne, Roussanne and Viognier must make up 80% of the blend together **
Other local varieties are Piquepol Blanc
**MAX YIELD 51hl/hc **
Rhone: Cotes du Rhone Village AOC and named village
Village AOC -Final blend must be min 66% of at least one of the GSM blends and must include Grenache Noir
**MAX YIELD IS 44hl/hc
**
+named village AOC
**MAX YIELD IS 41hl/hc **
**CRU eg. CNDP is onyl 35hl/hc
**some are 36-38 hl.hc
The wines are medium intensity ruby, medium intensity red plum and blackberry , no oak flavours , medium acid and medium tannin or low if made by carb mac
med abv ???
Good and inexpensive
Rhone : Gigondas AOC
Red wines at 600m ABS (and now Clairette)
Part shade from the Dentelles de Montmirail Mnts. reducing morning temps
Extends the period of maturation
**Cooling Mistral wind helps reduce the high abv in the recent vintages **
Final blend is 50% Grenach ad at least one of the S or M
From 2023, Clairette has been allowed with a min 70% in the blend of white
Rhone: Vacqueyras AOC
alitude of 400 m gives some diurnal variation without affecting ripeness
Small amounts of white and rose are made
Final blend is based on Grenach Noir ( min 50% ) at least one of the S or M
Good to very good and mid to prem $$
Rhone: Vinsobres
- Dominated by Grenache Noir and Syrah.
- ONLY RED WINES
- Final blend must be min 50% Grenache noir and one of the S or M
- S and SE facing slopes at 200-00M
- good sunlight intercetion and drainage as well as protection from the Mistral
- Some old plots of Carignan and Cinsaut
- Wines are good to very good and mid to prem priced $$
Rhone: Rasteau AOC
- RED Wine and a small amount of Vins Doux Naturel
- Final blend must be 50% Grenache Noir and at least one of the S or M
- Vines are planted on S slopes at 100m in a warm enclave, protected from the Mistral wind
- Wines are ripe and full bodied
- Irrigation is allowed when needed
- Wine is fermented in large vats , concrete and matured in large oak vessels
- Prem Syrah gets smaller barriques
- Wines are good to very good and mid-prem priced $$
Rhone: Cairanne AOC
new AOC from 2015, moderate climate on flatter land
Red wines that are approachable and fruity in style
Final blend must be **40% Grenache Noir **
and at least one of the S or M
Some small amounts of high quality whites are also made
Rhone: Beaumes de Venise AOC
**Vin Doux Naturel
**also some RED wines **
Mostly on slopes shaded by the Dentelles Montmirail Mnts
Final blend must be 50% Grenache and Syrah together
Rhone: Chateauneuf-du-
Pape AOC
- Historic village named after the summer residence of the Pope from the 14th century -
- Also Baron du Roy of Chateau Fortia set up rules in 1923 which would be used as the first prototype of the AOC used in France -
- Approved in 1936
- The rules delimited the region where the grapes had to be grown and stipulated the used of 13 varieties and a min abv of 12.5% without chaptalisation
- The AOC allows red and whites but 90% is red
- Reds are GSM and the whites are Bourboulenc, Clairette, Grenache NOTE : Marsanne and Viognier are not permitted
- Mouvedre is also used for intense black fruit
- Grapes must be picked by hand No min % - so wines can be single varietal
- SOIL - limestone, clay, sandy,
- Large pebbles called Galets Roules are used to radiate heat back (not needed with climate change )
- Low fertile and free draining soils add to ripeness but lower yield
- Avg yields are usally around 30hl/hc
- Producers blend lieux dits and soil types for complexity and to create volumes for commercial production
- Sandy soils = lighter finer wines
- The wines are medium ruby, Med + to pronounced aromas of ripe red plum, blackberry and spice notes from new oak
- Med acid, HIGH abv and Tannins vary from Med - to high depending on winemaking style
- Good to outstanding and Mid to Super Prem prices $-$$$$
White wines are made from Bourbelenc, Clairette , Grenache Blanc and Roussane - some in oak barrels , some preserve freshness in ss tanks and concrete
TREND is lighter, floral and fresher
Rhone : Lirac AOC
**mainly reds and roses
across from CNDP
Reds are GSM and Cinsaut which together must be 90% of the blend
High sinlight hours and good drainage
Domaine de la Mordoree is a significant producer **
