Southern Rhône Valley COPY 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%
In which region is the Cote du Vivarais AOP located?
Southern Rhone
Most Cotes du Rhone AOP red wines must have 30% Grenache. When is an exception allowed?
The rule does not apply to vineyards north of Montélimar.
Put these Southern Rhone appellations in order from North to South:
Gigondas
Luberon
Tavel
Vacqueyras
Grignan-les-Adhémar
Lirac
- Grignan-les-Adhémar.
- Gigondas.
- Vacqueyras.
- Lirac
- Tavel
- Luberon
Chateau Rayas owns 2 other properties.
What are they and where are they located?
Chateau des Tours: Vacqueyras
Chateau de Fonsalette: Cotes-du-Rhone
What is the minimum % of Grenache required for Vacqueyras AOP wine?
50%
Is Chateauneuf-du-Pape East or West of the Rhone?
East
Describe the
Body
Acidity
Alcohol
of Chateauneuf-du-Pape red wine.
Full body.
Medium Acidity.
High alcohol.
What types of wines are produced in St.-Peray?
From which grapes?
Still white and traditional method sparkling (mousseux) from Marsanne and Roussanne.
What is “Vin de Paille”?
Where is it commonly found?
“Straw wine”, sweet wine made from grapes that have been dried on straw mats.
Made in Hermitage
What grape is used for Chateau de Beaucastel Vieilles Vigne Blanc?
Roussanne
What AOP unknowingly served as the entry for phylloxera into France in the 1860s?
Lirac
Vieux Telegraphe is associated with which wine/vineyard area?
Rhone South/Chateauneuf de Pape
Where is the producer Chateau la Nerthe located?
What is the name of their prestige cuvée?
Chateauneuf-du-Pape
Cuvée des Cadettes
What is the prestige cuvée of Chateau de Beaucastel?
Hommage a Jacques Perrin
Domaine du Pegau is a producer located in:
Their winemaking style is considered:
Their top cuvée made from old-vine selections is:
Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Southern Rhone Valley
Very traditional style, wines made for long-term aging, no de-stemming or filtration, aging in old foudres for 18 months.
“Cuvée da Capo”
What kind of wine is produced in Beaumes-de-Venise and from which grape?
Red wine from at least 50% Grenache.
Clairette de Bellegarde is a single commune appellation within which larger appellation?
Costiere de Nimes
Which appellation accounts for 48% of production in the Rhone.
Cotes-du-Rhone
Climate of southern Rhone?
- Hot Mediterranean climate: hot, dry summers & most of the rain in the winter (23°C avg July temp)
- 2,750hours of sunshine
- 700mm rainfall;
- Northerly Mistral wind generally chases away diseases
Soils and topograhy of southern Rhone
Flat with rolling hills – but with higher hills to the east, in Gigondas, Seguret, Vacqueyras
Some vineyards covered in stones which retain heat.
Mainly clay, limestone & alluvial soils.
Grenache varietal
key red varietal in southern Rhone
early budding and late ripening
needs a warm to hot climate to ripen fully
tendency to high alcohol and hi sugar
typically low tannins, pale to medium ruby colour, sweet red fruits
Mourvedre
needs a long ripening season - hot climate to fully ripen
gives structure, intense fruit and ageability to the wine
ripe and earthy when young, meaty and smoky with age
Viticulture in the southern Rhone
- Wind breaks key to protect vines from Mistral (no natural barrier)
- Low pruning increases ripening from reflected heat
- Bush spur-pruned for Grenache and others except Syrah
- Syrah is tied to wires on trellises instead
- 4000 vines/ha (lack of water – means lower density possible)
- Irrigation allowable in severe drought conditions
- Mechanisation is possible due to flatter topography
Vinsobres
Vinsobres 580 ha (●)
- New AOC – 2006 (previously a named village within Cote du Rhone Villages AOC)
- South/South East facing slopes 200-500 metres
- Some protection from Mistral
- Only red wines
- Dominant Grenache Noir but more Syrah being planted
- Must be 50% Grenache Noir with at least one Syrah or Mourvèdre
Two winemaking approaches used in the Southern Rhone?
- Carbonic maceration used for early drinking styles
- Traditional fermentation (after crushing/destemming) with long oak aging
Hierarchy of Rhone AOCs?
The hierarchy is:
- Cotes du Rhone AOC
- Cotes du Rhone Villages AOC
- Cotes du Rhone Villages AOC + named village – i.e. Seguret
- Individual AOCs for top villages – known as cru – Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Gigondas AOC
Cote du Rhone - the largest AOC in the Rhone - all the details including what do the red wines look like?
Côte du Rhône – 33,510ha – 48% of overall Rhône production (●●●)
min 60% is GSM, min 30% Grenache, and min 20% is Syrah & Mourvedre
max yield is 51 hL/Ha.
- Can be produced in Northern & Southern Rhône but vast majority produced in Southern Rhône
- Covers all vineyard land suitable for grapegrowing in the Rhone – excluding the ‘other Rhone appellations’
- SECOND LARGEST AOC after Bordeaux AOC – over 33,000 Ha.
- Requirements: see below
- Most wines from flat, wind-swept vineyards with light & fruity style (some carbonic maceration)
- Only 4% white wine & 7% rosé.
- ¾ of production made by cooperatives.
- Red Cote du Rhone
- Medium intensity ruby colour
- Medium intensity red plum, blackberry fruit
- No oak flavours
- Medium acidity
- Medium tannin (to low if carbonic maceration)
- Medium alcohol
- Good quality and inexpensive in price
Cote du Rhone villages AOC?
Côte du Rhône villages – 11% of total production (●●)
- Step up in quality with villages able to be promoted to full AOCs afterwards (e.g. Vinsobres)
- Similar rules to Cote du Rhone from above but:
- Max 45hl/ha yield
- Min 66% of the three principal varieties (Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah)
- Must have Grenache in it
- Min 12.5% abv
Vinsobres promoted to AOC in 2006 as well as Beaumes de Venise, Cairanne, Rasteau.
Cote du Rhone Villages + named village - how is it different to Cote du Rhone Villages?
lower max. yield of 42 hL/Ha.
the southern Rhone crus? how much are they of production and what is max yield allowed
12% of total production
30 hL/Ha. - pretty low
Gigondas?
Gigondas – 1,200ha (●●)
- Dry, hot climate w 2,800h of sunshine; mostly on limestone & clay slopes up to 600m high.
- The lower temperature from elevation has been invaluable in hot growing seasons
- Up against the Dentelles de Montmirail
- Requirements:
- Must be over 50% Grenache
- Syrah & Mourvèdre are popular blending partners
- Similar style as Châteauneuf du Pape but less structure. Mature around 10yrs.
- 99% red; 1% rosé
- Good to very good quality – mid-priced
Vacqueyras
Vacqueyras – 1,400ha (●●●)
- Next to Gigondas, but not as high, up to 440 metres
- On the slopes up against Dentelles de Montmirail
- Similar soils to Gigondas
- Promoted to cru in 1990
- Requirements:
- minimum 50% Grenache
- at least one of Syrah or Mourvedre
- max. yield of 36 hL/Ha.
- Wines are concentrated and a bit more rustic than Gigondas. Mature around 3-6 yrs.
- 95% red 4% white 1% rosé
- Good to very good quality – mid priced
Rasteau AOC?
Rasteau 950 ha (●)
- Made a red wine AOC in 2010 (known for VDN wines)
- Low south facing slopes (100mRL), sheltered from mistral
- Warm growing enclave
- Irrigation allowed within limits
- Grenache at least 50% plus at least one of Syrah or Mourvèdre
- Wine style is ripe full bodied wines
Cairanne AOC?
Cairanne AOC
· Newly created in 2015
· Not as steep as Gigondas or as warm as Rasteau
· Wines
o Mainly red wines
o Fruity and approachable style
o Principal variety Grenache Noir (40% min) plus at least one of Syrah or Mourvedre
Beaumes de Venise AOC
Beaumes de Venise 635 ha (●●)
- AOC allowed unfortified still red wine in 2005
- Slightly shaded by the Dentelles de Montmirail
- Wines
- Grenache Noir principal variety with Syrah – together must be 50% of blend
- Yield max. 38 hL/Ha
AOC rules for Chateauneuf du Pape?
- AOC rules
- 13 varieties allowed - mainly Grenache, Cinsaut, Mourvèdre, Syrah, Muscardin, Counoise, Clairette, Bourboulenc (plus 5 colour variants of these)
- Note – Viognier and Marsanne not allowed
- NO RESTRICTION ON VARIETAL PERCENTAGES
- Single varietal wines such as Rayas Chateauneuf (100% Grenache) are allowed
- Min alc. 12.5% (no chaptalisation allowed)
- Allows reds and whites to be made
- Grapes must be picked by hand
- No Rose is allowed!
the vineyards of Chateauneuf soil types?
-
Vineyards
- Many soils but galets roules (large pebbles) famous for retaining the day’s heat and redistributing it at night
- Soils are low fertility and generally free draining which gives small crops of ripe grapes
- The area is generally flat
- In truth there is a large variety of soil types
- ‘La Crau’ – famous plateau with galets roules (rounded stones) on top with moist clay underneath – the galets roules reflecting the sun and helping to ripen the fruit
What are the typical varietals and wines made from the Chateauneuf du Pape?
- Most wines are:
- Red – Grenache Noir with Syrah and Mourvèdre
- White – Grenache Blanc, Clairette, Bourboulenc and Roussanne
- It is a large appellation so many variations
- Typically the red wines have:
- Medium acidity, high alcohol, tannins – med(-) to high
- Notes of ripe red plums, blackberry and spice
- Some new oak is used
- Quality – good to outstanding and Price – mid priced to super premium
- Typically the white wines have:
- Bourboulenc, Clairette, Grenache Blanc, Roussanne mainly
- Variation in winemaking techniques:
- some oak fermentation with ageing in either tanks or oak barrels – some new oak
- OR preserve freshness and primary fruit character
- Current trend is to make wines fresher and more aromatic and floral
In CNDP what difference does the soil make to the wines?
Lighter, more elegant wines from sandy soils versus more structured wines from stony soils
blending across CNDP is done because?
- Cross blending across ‘lieux-dits’ is needed to create complexity and commercial blend sizes
What is the helicopter view of CNDP winemaking styles by three
-
Négociant style:
- carbonic maceration
- more fruity with soft tannins
- -> wines ready to drink earlier
-
Modern:
- shorter maceration & time in wood
- -> approachable early but can age
- e.g. Chateau de Beaucastel, Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe
-
Traditional:
- late harvesting, high proportions of Grenache, higher alcohol, more extraction, time needed to be approachable
- 4yrs élevage (2 cement / 2 old oak)
- e.g. Bosquet des Papes
The wine % of CNDP ? and are cooperatives important?
- Wine Business
- 93% reds;
- 7% of whites made from Clairette, Grenache blanc, Bourboulenc, Roussanne, Picpoul, Picardan.
- Cooperatives are still important here but independent domaines have raised the bar of quality and the reputation of the region
Lirac AOC?
Lirac – 771ha (●●●)
- 85% red 10% white 3% rosé
- West bank of the Rhône at similar level to Châteauneuf du Pape
- Grapegrowing
- Soils are infertile and well drained
- High sunlight hours
- Winemaking
- Grenache Noir, Syrah, Mourvèdre – and Cinsaut
- Together the principal varieties must make up 90% of the final blend
- Robust & meaty reds; heady rosés.
- The red wines are noticeably softer and earlier maturing than Chateauneuf du Pape
- But some high quality focussed producers are making very good examples
- Wine business
- Domaine de la Mordoree is a noted producer
- Most producers have links to Chateauneuf du Pape which is just across the river
- Quality has increased in recent years
Tavel AOC
Tavel – 780 ha (●)
- Western side of the Rhone river
- At the same latitude as Chateauneuf du Pape
- Flat to gently sloping vineyards
- Wines
- Makes solely Rose wines
- full bodied, intensely fruity rosés mainly from Grenache & Cinsaut.
- Final blend must include Grenache Noir
- Noticeably deeper in colour – pink/salmon rather than the orange Provence Rose
- Quality is good to very good and price - mid-priced to premium
- AOC Laws
- 12 principal varieties – but final blend must include Grenache Noir
- Max. yield is 46 hL/Ha.
- None of the principal varieties can be more than 60% - i.e. must be a blend
Ventoux AOC
A. Ventoux – 5,700ha (●●)
- 2/3rd Red and 1/3rd Rose – very small amount of white wine made
- Growing environment
- Vineyards situated on west & south slopes of Mont Ventoux up to 450m high
- cooler w hi diurnal range
- Wines
- Grenache Noir, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Carignan and Cinsaut – 2 must be included and be 50% of the final wine
- The wines, mainly reds, are fresh and fruity with a marked acidity.
- The relatively high yield allowed makes lighter styles of wine
- 60 hL/Ha maximum yield
- Good to very good quality, with pricing inexpensive to mid priced
Luberon AOC
B. Luberon – 3,300ha (●●)
- 35% red 19% white 46% rosé
- High amount of Rose made here
- Gentle slopes or flat land
- South east of the Rhone valley – bordering Provence
- Vineyards
- on the slopes of Lubéron hills w slightly cooler climate
- Wines
- for light, fruity reds and round & fruity whites
- Max. yield of 55 hL/Ha.
- Good to very good quality – with pricing inexpensive to mid priced
Costieres de Nimes?
C. Costières de Nîmes – 4000Ha. (●●●)
- 2/3rd red 1/3rd rosé and a small amount of white wine
- The south western margin of the Rhone region (borders Languedoc)
-
One of the hottest climate in France
- South west slopes so good sunlight interception
- Some cooling breezes from Mediterranean
- Soils covered with stones (similar to Châteauneuf du Pape)
- Wines
- 50% most be either Grenache Noir, Syrah or Mourvedre, singly or together
- Good to very good quality – inexpensive to mid-priced
- Max 60 hL/Ha. Yield
Grignan les Adhemar?
-
Grignan-les-Adhemar
- Northern appellation of the Southern Rhone
- Name change in 2010
- Wines
- Mainly red blends – minimum of 50% Syrah and Grenache Noir
- Lighter style than the more southerly Rhone appellations
- Higher acidity compared to southern Rhone appellations
Who are the large Negociants who operate across north and south Rhone?
- many large Negociants operate across north and south Rhone
- E. Guigal
- Jaboulet
- Chapoutier
- The above are all examples of this
Are cooperatives important in the Rhone?
- Cooperatives are more important in the south than the north
- Cellier des Princes – large cooperative in Chateauneuf du Pape
- Cave de Tain (in Tain l’Hermitage) an important Northern Rhone cooperative makes 40% of all Crozes-Hermitage AOC wines
Sales domestically and export?
- Sales
- 35% export
- Domestic
- 33% supermarkets
- 25% specialist wine retail
- 7% discounters
