The Rhone Valley overview Flashcards
1
Q
Difference in climate between northern and southern Rhone
A
- north is continental (cold winters, warm summers, adequate rain mainly autumn and winter)
- steep valley, vineyards on banks near River
- some protection from Mistral
- south Mediterranean (mild winters, very warm summers, dry, enough rain for grape-growing - drought an increasing issue)
- much flatter, vineyards spread out, less protection from Mistral, more bush vines
2
Q
what volume and percentage of wines produced in the Rhone Valley are IGP and what AOC?
A
- total volume (2017) 3.6m hL
- 2.5m AOC (70%)
- 1.1m IGP (30%
3
Q
- within the 2.5m hL of AOC Rhones produced, what percentage are
- CDR
- CDR Villages
- southern Rhone Crus
- northern Rhone Crus
- and other Rhone AOCs?
A
- CDR 47%
- CDR Villages 12%
- southern Rhone Crus 11%
- northern Rhone Crus 6%
- and other Rhone AOCs 24%
4
Q
how much wine in the Rhone is Cotes du Rhone AOC or Cotes du Rhone Villages AOC?
A
60%
5
Q
red, white and rosé percentages of wine produced in the Rhone
A
- red 80%
- white 7%
- rosé 13%
6
Q
flavour profile of Syrah in Rhone
A
- deep ruby
- med/pronounced violets, red/black plums (depending on temperature of vintage/site), blackberry, black pepper, herbs (cooked meats)
- med/high acids
- med/high tannins
- adds structure, fruit and colour to southern Rhone blends
7
Q
flavour profile of Mourvedre (in Rhone)
A
- almost always part of blend, contributes
- deep ruby
- intense aromas of blackberries, blueberries and violets, herbs (thyme) black pepper, meat
- high alcohol
- high, firm tannins (nicknamed Etrangle-Chien, “the dog strangler” - as small thick-skinned black berries make v high tannins)
8
Q
viticulture of Mourvedre in Rhone
A
- late budding, late ripening - needs high temps at end of season to fully ripen (so unripe in cool years)
- requires small, regular water (eg deep calcareous soils)
- best pruned short, either cordon or bush vine
- low yields
- prone to mites, leafhoppers, sour rot (after bird/insect eat/ damage ripe grapes so fungus)
- in winery prone to reduction - must have access to O2, so aged in old oak (adds a bit to cost)
9
Q
vitculture of Syrah in Rhone
A
- vigorous so 10000 vines p ha to reduce yields, create competition, max yield 40hL/ha
- propagation by mass selection, rootstock 3309 preferred (good depth of colour)
- doesn’t like wind: often tied to 1 or 2 poles to protect from Mistral if steepness prevents trellising
- mites, botrytis bunch rot, “Syrah decline/ disorder” (leaves turn red, graft point breaks, vine dies)
- late-budding, mid-ripening
10
Q
viticulture of Grenache Noir (in Rhone)
A
- high yielding, so best on dry, poor soils, pruned short to contain vigour, often as bush vine, as it grows upright
- ripens late (autumn rains), needs warm climate to ripen
- good drought resistance, but coulure (reduces yields)
- fungal: downy mildew, phomopsis, botyrtis bunch rot
- bacterial necrosis/blight kills leaves, shoots then vine
- plant only disease-free stock, clean pruning tools
- grapes can accumulate sugar quickly (can be issue in dry wines, but good for Vin Doux Naturel).
11
Q
viticulture of Cinsault
A
- late-budding, high yielding, good drought/heat resist
- to get quality must restrict yields
- if soils limey, gets chlorosis,
- esca, eutypa, mites and grape moths
12
Q
flavour profile of Cinsault (southern Rhone)
A
- usually made in way to preserve its fruit flavours (mid-range fermentation, brief age in stainless steel) and typically small part of blend in southern Rhone
- contributes light ruby, med-med(+) intensity frsh red fruits (raspberry, red cherry), high alcohol, low to med tannins
- the lifted aromas most prominent in first year, so v good in rosés and early drinking reds
13
Q
Flavour profile of Viognier
A
- A rich, oily white, originated in the Northern Rhône, (up to 20% in red Cote Rotie) also California, Australia
- Medium lemon colour
- Pronounced honeysuckle (rose), apricot, peach (mango)
- Med to high alcohol (13.5-15%)
- Low acidity
- Can be in oak to deliver Chardonnay-like richness
14
Q
Viticulture of Viognier in northern Rhone
A
- Early budding (spring frost)
- Poor flowering/ coulure reduces crop (yields low/unpredictable)
- Judging picking crucial
- fruit must be fully ripe for pronounced aromas
- if too ripe, lose flavour/ acidity, rapid sugar gain (so wines unbalanced and lack flavour)
- In N Rhone grown on trellis/poles to prevent wind damage
15
Q
flavour profile of Marsanne in Rhone
A
- A primary blending grape in white Rhône blends that incl Roussanne, Grenache Blanc, Viognier.
- N Rhone single varietal or blend with Roussanne
- S Rhone, blended.
- colour: medium lemon, sometimes gold
- Light intensity honeysuckle, acacia, lemon, apricot, mandarin, beeswax,
- Oily texture, full bodied
- Medium acidity
- Med to high alcohol
16
Q
viticulture of Marsanne in Rhone
A
- Late budding white (avoids spring frosts)
- Vigorous/productive: to get quality need low yields
- best stony, low fertility soils (N Rhone slopes)
- Prone to:
- powdery mildew
- mites
- botyritis bunch rot
17
Q
one slide on Bourboulenc (in southern Rhone)
A
- late ripening white grape with loose bunches and thick skins, so disease resistant (esp to bunch rot) enabling late ripening
- grows well in warm, dry locations (ideal southern Rhone)
- contributes lemon flavour, medium(+) acidity and medium alcohol in white blends
18
Q
flavour profile of Roussanne
A
- Full-bodied white mostly in South France, blended with Grenache Blanc, Marsanne (and Viognier)
- With Marsanne & Viognier only white allowed in N Rhone
- Med lemon, sometimes gold
- med/med+ intensity pear, herbal notes, chamomile/floral tea (cool climate), honey, Meyer (sweet) lemon, apricot (warm climate)
- Also found in US, Aust, S Africa
