The Northern Rhone Flashcards
Describe the location of many of the premium vineyards in the Northern Rhone.
Situated on steep slopes next to the River Rhone between Vienne in the north and Valence in the south.
Where are the best vineyards in the Northern Rhone situated?
Close to the river on steep slopes with a south facing aspect.
What is the name of the cold north wind and how do growers protect themselves from it?
Mistrial. Vineyards are planted in lateral valleys that feed into the Rhone.
How are the vines on the steep slopes supported?
Individual stake or teepee-like arrangement of steaks.
What is the climate of the Northern Rhone?
Moderated Continental, but noticeably cooler than the Southern Rhone.
What type of wine is most closely associated with the Northern Rhone?
Powerful reds made from Syrah.
What white wine is associated with the Northern Rhone?
Viognier.
How many black varieties are permitted in the Northern Rhone?
Only Syrah. Where it is at the northern limit of where it can ripen successfully.
What do the best Syrah sites have in common?
Steep slopes and southern exposure.
What are the characteristics of Syrah?
Deeply colored, medium to high levels of tannin, and sometimes black pepper or floral aromas.
Why would Viognier be added to Syrah?
Staballize the color extraction; add aromatic intensity. it is done less frequently today.
How is oak used in fermenting Syrah?
Winemakers discretion. Some use new oak for their best wines; others use older oak or larger barrels.
What are the characteristics of Viognier?
Full-bodied white with perfumed aromas of blossom and apricots; flavors of stone fruits. Low acidity and high alcohol.
When does Viognier develop its signature aromas?
Very late in the season when they have reached a very high level of sugar ripeness.
What can happen to Viognier if the grapes are not handled carefully in the winery?
They can develop an overtly oily character that can overwhelm the varietal aromas (as can the use of too much new oak).
Name two other whites grown in the Northern Rhone?
Marsanne and Roussanne.
Marsanne and Roussanne are usually blended together. Why?
Marsanne has richness and weight while Roussanne offers acidity and perfumed fruit. They do not have the aromatic intensity of Viognier but can develop hazelnut aromas when aged.
What are the two largest wine regions in the Northern Rhone?
Saint Joseph and Crozes-Hermitage.
What is the most northern appellation of the Rhone Valley?
Cote Rotie. Centered around the town of Ampuis.
What is the translation of Cote Rotie?
roasted slope
Describe a Cote Rotie wine?
Deeply-colored, full bodied, spicy; the best have an aromatic, floral freshness and textural elegance that distinguishes them from Hermitage.
Can red and whites be produced in Cote Rotie?
No. Only reds. Although up to 20% Viognier can be added.
Condrieu makes wines from what grape?
Viognier.
What is Chateau-Grillet?
A single property appellation within Condrieu that produces wines similar in style.
Where is the appellation of Saint-Joseph located?
Western bank of the Rhone from Condrieu in the north to Tournon in the south.
What grape varieties are used in the wines from Saint-Joseph?
The vast majority are reds from Syrah, with some whites from Marsanne and Roussanne.
Where do the best wines from Saint-Joseph come from?
Terraced vineyards near Tournon, with a flavor intensity and structure similar to Hermitage
Describe the wines made from the more fertile, flatter sites on the valley floor and the plateau above the slopes?
Relatively light bodied wines often using carbonic maceration expressing a pepper aroma.
What appellation has the reputation of being the fullest bodied of the Northern Rhone reds?
Hermitage.
What is the name given the sites in Hermitage that are not part of the appellation system?
lieux-dits. They add a subtly different style and body.
As in Cote Rotie, may white wines be blended with a red in Hermitage?
Yes, although it it rarely done today, up to 15% of Roussanne and Marsanne may be added to the fermentation.
Marsanne and Roussanne account for what % of Hermitages total production?
20%
What Northern Rhone appellation has the highest volume of production?
Crozes-Hermitage.
The vineyards of Crozes-Hermitage lie both north and south of Hermitage. What is the difference in the vineyards and the style of wines produced from each?
North of Hermitage the vineyards are on slopes producing concentrated, complex and tannic wines. Vineyards to the south lie on a flat plane and make lighter wines from the higher yielding sites.
Cote Rotie allows up to 15% of Roussanne or Marsanne to be blended with their reds? Does Corzes-Hermitage allow a white wine to be added to its reds?
Yes. Up to 15% of Roussanne or Marsanne.
Of the following appellations, name the two with the best reputation for their wines? Crozes-Hermitage, Hermitage, and Cote Rotie.
Hermitage and Cote Rotie.
Name the most southernly red wine crus in the Northern Rhone.
Cornas. Warmest cru. Vineyards on the sheltered, well exposed sun-baked south facing slopes of the many lateral valleys.
Does Cornas allow a white wine to be blended with their red?
No. 100% Syrah.
Describe the style of a Cornas Syrah.
Deeply colored, full bodied, in a style and quality similar to Hermitage,
