Southern Rhone - Appelations Flashcards
Organise these appellations into their correct hierarchy of quality.
Start from the top.
Côtes du Rhône Villages AOC + named village,
Côtes du Rhône Villages AOC
Individual appellations for the top villages of the southern Rhône, known as cru:
Côtes du Rhône AOC
Côtes du Rhône AOC
Côtes du Rhône Villages AOC
Côtes du Rhône Villages AOC + named village,
Individual appellations for the top villages of the southern Rhône, known as cru:
Côtes du Rhône AOC
Red and rosé wines:
Maximum yield
Principal varieties + Regulations
Other local varieties
Red and rosé wines
Maximum yield: 51 hL/ha
Principal Varieties: Grenache Noir, Mourvèdre, Syrah. Together these must make a minimum of 60 per cent of the volume of the final blend.
Further, if the grapes come from the southern Rhône (as they mostly do), Grenache Noir must be a minimum of 30 per cent and the combination of Mourvèdre and Syrah a minimum of 20 per cent.
Many local minor varieties are permitted including
Carignan and Cinsaut
Cotes de Rhone AOC
White wines:
Max yields
Permitted varieites
Other varieites
White wines
Maximum yield: 51 hL/ha
Principal varieties: Bourboulenc, Clairette, Grenache Blanc, Marsanne, Roussanne, Viognier together must make up 80 per cent of the final blend.
Many local minor varieties are permitted including
Piquepoul Blanc.
Cotes du Rhone VIllages AOC
Max yields:
Principal varieties and minimum % used
Maximum yields are 44 hL/ha
red wines has similar rules to Cotes du Rhone but requires the final blend to have a minimum of 66 per cent of at least two of the three principal varieties and
must include Grenache Noir.
Cotes du Rhone Villages AOC + named Village
Max Yields
Rules around principle varieties
41 hL/ha
red wines has similar rules to Cotes du Rhone AOC but requires the final blend to have a minimum of 66 per cent of at least two of the three principal varieties and must include Grenache Noir.
Southern Rhone Crus:
Max yields of Chateauneuf du Pape + other villages
Rules surrounding principle varieties
35 hL/ha in Châteauneuf-du-Pape
36–38 hL/ha in the red wines of the other villages
red wines has similar rules to Cotes du Rhone AOC but requires the final blend to have a minimum of 66 per cent of at least two of the three principal varieties and must include Grenache Noir.
TASTING NOTE:
Cotes du Rhone AOC
Côtes du Rhône AOC wines are typically
- medium intensity ruby,
- medium intensity red plum and blackberry fruit, no oak flavours,
- medium acidity,
- medium tannin (or low tannin if made by carbonic maceration),
- medium alcohol.
The wines are typically good quality and inexpensive in price
Southern Rhone Cru’s
Gigondas AOC
- granted AOC in 1971,
- vineyards up to 600 m above sea level.
- It is in part shaded by the Dentelles de Montmirail mountains, reducing the temperature in the mornings. This extends the period of maturation and increases the flavour in the resulting wines.
- The slightly lower temperatures and the cooling effects of the Mistral have become increasingly valued, as Grenache Noir in the warmer temperatures of recent decades has resulted in high alcohol wines.
The final blend here is based on the principal variety Grenache Noir (at least 50 per cent) and at least one of Syrah or Mourvèdre.
typically good to very good in quality and mid to premium priced
Southern Rhone Cru’s
Vacqueyras AOC
- granted AOC 1990,
- not quite as high as Gigondas, rising to 440 m, giving diurnal variation but not threatening ripeness in cooler years.
-Small amounts of white and rosé wine
are made within the AOC.
The final blend here is based on principal variety Grenache Noir (at least 50 per cent) and at least one of Syrah or Mourvèdre.
typically good to very good in quality and mid to premium priced
Southern Rhone Cru’s
Vinsobres AOC
- the most northerly of the southern Rhône crus,
- AOC since 2006
- dominated by plantings of Grenache Noir, though more Syrah has been planted and grown, contributing flavour intensity, structure
and colour. - The wines are exclusively red.
- The vineyards are on south and south-east facing slopes of 200–500 m,
- some older plots of Carignan and Cinsaut are increasingly valued for their high quality fruit.
The final blend here is based on principal variety Grenache Noir (at least 50 per cent) and at least one of Syrah or Mourvèdre.
typically good to very good in quality and mid- to premium priced, though with more mid-priced than
premium priced wines. (same for all new cru’s)
Southern Rhone Cru’s
Rasteau AOC
- AOC since 2010 for its red wine,
- produces red wine and a small amount of VDN
- The final blend here is based on principal variety Grenache Noir (at least 50 per cent) and at least one of Syrah or Mourvèdre.
- Vines are planted on low south-facing slopes (100 m) in a warm enclave, sheltered from the Mistral, resulting in ripe, full bodied wines.
- irrigation is allowed here within the limits set.
Most of the wine is fermented in large vats, especially concrete, and matured in large oak vessels.
Some higher quality Syrah is aged in small barrels, at additional cost.
The wines are typically good to very good in quality and mid- to premium priced.
Southern Rhone Cru’s
Cairanne AOC
- AOC since 2015
- not as steep as Gigondas or as warm as neighbouring Rasteau.
- It produces mainly red wines in a fruity and approachable style.
The final blend here is based on principal variety Grenache Noir (at least 40 per cent) and at least one of Syrah or Mourvèdre.
The small amount of white wine produced has a reputation for high quality
Southern Rhone Cru’s
Beaumes-de-Venise AOC
- Best known for its Vin Doux Naturel, this AOC has also included unfortified still red wine since 2005.
- Most of the vineyards are on slopes, some slightly shaded by the Dentelles de Montmirail.
The final red blend here is based on principal variety Grenache Noir which with Syrah must together must make up 50 per cent of the blend.
Southern Rhone Cru’s
Lirac AOC
This long-established AOC lies across the river from Châteauneuf-du-Pape and makes mainly red wines, some rosés (like neighbouring Tavel to the south) and white wines.
- For red wines, the principal varieties are Grenache Noir, Mourvèdre, Syrah and Cinsaut which together must make up a minimum of 90 per cent of the final blend.
- High sunlight hours and well-drained, infertile soils make for good conditions for growing and ripening grapes.
Significant producers included Domaine de la Mordorée,
Southern Rhone Cru’s
Tavel AOC
- This appellation is dedicated solely to rosé wines.
- The AOC lists 12 principal grape varieties (black and white), but the final blend must include Grenache Noir.
- None of the principal varieties may contribute more than 60 per cent of the final blend with the rest being
made up from the allowed 12 varieties. - The maximum yield is 46 hL/ha.
