Southern Rhône Valley Flashcards
List the key appellations of Southern Rhone
Cotes du Rhone / Cotes du Rhone Villages
Chateauneuf du Pape
Gigondas / Vacqueras
Tavel / Lirac
What is the climate of Southern Rhone?
What are summers/winters like?
What are 2 risks of the climate?
What is the terrain like?
Mediterranean
Hot, dry summers tempered by wide diurnal swings.
Mild winters with heavy autumnal rains.
Risks - drought and vine damage from Mistral winds.
Terrain: Rugged garrigue scrubland that turns into a valley.
How is Grenache usually trained and why?
Bush trained (Gobelet)
Gives protection from Mistral and increases warmth from stony soils
What are the best soils in Southern Rhone?
Sand, gravel and clay, along with large stones called Galets
What are the 5 key black grapes of the Southern Rhone?
Mostly Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre plus some Cinsault and Carignan
What are the main differences in style between Northern and Southern Rhone wines?
Southern Rhone wines are typically richer, riper and higher in alcohol.
What does Syrah bring to Southern Rhone blends?
Extra colour and tannin but struggles in hotter sites
What does Mourvèdre bring to Southern Rhone blends?
Very high tannin, dense black fruit and meaty aromas Thrives in the heat
What does Cinsault bring to Southern Rhone blends and what is it often used for?
Low tannin, red fruit flavours Often blended with Grenache to make fruity Rosé
What 4 key factors are responsible for the broad differences in style of CNdP wines?
- Soil Types: Vastly varied over the appellation’s 3000 acres.
- Use of oak: Some age for a long time in old oak foudres, others in new barrique.
- Assemblage: Producers vary greatly in style when selecting from the 13 varieties allowed.
- Use of Carbonic Maceraton / New vinification techniques.
How can Southern Rhone reds style vary?
From light / medium body, low tannin fresh fruity wines to high tannin, full body, spicy, meaty, earthy
What white grapes are used in Southern Rhone?
White is minority production but Bourboulenc, Clairette and Grenache Blanc plus Northern Rhone trio; Viognier, Marsanne and Rousanne
Whilst a minority interest what is the style of the best Southern Rhone white wines?
Rich texture, full body,
high alcohol, low acidity
subtle fruit, usually no oak
How does Cotes du Rhone Villages differ from simple Cotes du Rhone?
Higher minimum alc
Lower Max yield limits
Higher % GSM
Generally more body, structure and spiced fruit
Other than the wine what is Chateauneuf-du-Pape’s claim to fame?
The first region in France to be granted Appellation Controlee
Which is the largest Cru in the Rhone?
Chateauneuf-du-Pape
What is the terrain of Chateauneuf-du-Pape?
Very flat with a wide range of soils and aspects.
Many areas have Galets (big stones) on the surface.
What does Tavel produce and what is it made from? What is its style?
Rosé only from mostly Grenache with some Cinsault Dry, Full body with intense flavour
What is produced in Lirac?
Rosé from Grenache and Cinsault, similar to Tavel
Full bodied red and white in a similar style to Cotes du Rhone Villages wines.
What is produced in Gigondas and Vacqueras?
What style are these wines similar to?
What is significant about these appellations?
Grenache led, full body, spicy reds
Chateauneuf-du-Pape
They were the first 2 Cotes-du-Rhone Villages to be promoted to AOC status.
What are the 2 appellations for sweet, fortified wines in the Southern Rhone?
What are they classified as?
Muscat de-Beaumes-de-Venise and Rasteau.
“Vin Doux Naturel”
How many grapes can be used to make Chateauneuf-du-Pape?
13 (or 18, depending on how you count them.)
Why is Grenache well-suited for the Southern Rhone?
Able to tolerate droughts and strong winds.
Needs lots of heat to ripen fully, N. Rhone is too cool.
Which Pope was responsible for moving the Papal court from Rome to Avignon?
Which Pope was responsible for planting the vineyards around Chateauneuf-du-Pape?
Pope Clement V
Pope John XXII
Before it was referred to as Chateauneuf-du-Pape, what was wine from this area called?
Vin d’Avignon
The Southern Rhone Valley accounts for __% of all wine production in the Rhone Valley.
95%
What is the name of the “pudding stones” found in Chateauneuf-du-Pape?
What are they made from?
Why are they useful for viticulture?
“Galets”
Quartzite.
They store heat and release it to the vines at night.
What are the 13 permitted varietals for Chateauneuf-du-Pape?
- Grenache (noir/gris/blanc).
- Syrah.
- Mouvedre.
- Terret Noir.
- Cinsault.
- Counoise.
- Picpoul (noir/gris/blanc).
- Bourboulenc.
- Clairette/Clairette Rosé.
- Roussanne.
- Vacarese.
- Picardin.
- Muscardin.
How many villages may append their name to Cotes-du-Rhone Villages wines?
20
What is “Le Râpé” in Chateauneuf-du-Pape law?
What is its purpose?
An AOC mandate that producers must discard/declassify at least 2% of harvested grapes.
Its purpose is to safeguard against underripness.
Grenache was imported to France from what country?
Spain
Where does the Chateau de Beaucastel estate primarily produce wine?
What is noteworthy about their wine?
Chateauneuf-du-Pape
The red is based on Mouvedre and includes every permitted varietal in CNdP.
Where does the Chateau Rayas estate primarily produce wine?
What is noteworthy about their wine?
Chateauneuf-du-Pape
Their CNdP red is 100% Grenache.
What is the minimum abv allowed for
Chateauneuf-du-Pape AOP?
12.5%