Southern Rhone

Question 1

Describe typical terroir of S.Rhone

Answer 1

Many (not all) sites have very stoney soils to absorb solar radiation.
Some, like ChNdP have large galets.

Question 2

Southern Rhône
Climate?
Wind?

Answer 2

Mediterranean

Fewer slopes expose vines to high speed damaging Mistral winds from the North.

Question 3

How protect Syrah and Grenache from Mistral?

Answer 3

S.facing slopes where possible.
Windbreaks when not.
Grenache trained to low bushes
Syrah supported by trellising

Question 4

S.Rhone Grenache… fruits?

Answer 4

Being a sun worshipping grape it ripens easily
Concentrated spiced red fruit flavours
Jammy if over-ripened

Question 5

Main S.Rhône grape?

Answer 5

Grenache

Question 6

Supporting varietals in S.Rhône?

Answer 6

Think GSM
Syrah
Mourvèdre
(and… Cinsault)

Question 7

S. Rhône production is in two camps…?

Answer 7

The Cru’s

The regional and village appellations.

Question 8

Côtes du Rhône wines….

Red, White or Rosé, or all of the above?

Answer 8

All of the above

Question 9

Typical style of a Côtes du Rhône (any colour)?

Answer 9

Medium bodied
Fruity
Simple

Question 10

How does a region become a CduR Village?

Answer 10

1. Observing minimum alcohol levels
2. Observing maximum yields
3. Higher %ag of GSM

Note: not all the grapes have to come from a specific area

Question 11

A wine labelled Côtes du Rhône Village Cairanne suggests what than if it had no village name? (2)

Answer 11

1. That all the grapes came from the area of Cairanne

2. Decent wine with more body, structure and fruit flavours

Question 12

Name five S.Rhone crus

Answer 12

Lilac Travel for Gig Vacations to the Chateaus

Liran
Tavel
Gigondas
Vacquerais
Ch Neauf du P

Question 13

What does Mourvèdre bring to a S. Rhône blend?

Answer 13

Dense black fruit
Gamey, meaty quality
Deep colour and very high tannins

Question 14

The best ChNduP’s body and texture is…

Answer 14

Full
Textured
With concentrated spiced red fruit

Question 15

S. Rhône

Lirac and Tavel produce mostly what?

Answer 15

Rosé

Being on the West Bank of the Rhone

Question 16

S.Rhône rosé comes mainly from:

And made from:

Answer 16

Lirac and Tavel

Grenache and Cinsault

Question 17

Which S.Rhone cru can ONLY do rosé?

How so these compare to Provence rosés

Answer 17

Tavel

Intensely flavoured and capable of bottle age

Question 18

S. Rhône

Does Lirac produce any other wines other than Rosé?

Answer 18

Yup.

ChNduP style white and red.

Question 19

What does Syrah add to a S. Rhône blend?

Answer 19

Extra colour and tannin

Question 20

S.Rhône rosé wine production methods?

Answer 20

Crushed Fruit - Direct Pressing and Whole Bunch - Carbonic

Crushed fruit may skip the crushing and go direct to pressing. After a short post-fermentation maceration it gets blended.

Whole bunches with ripe berries and ripe stems are variously carbonicaly macerated. Intracellular activity splitting the berries and 2% ABV kills it off.