The Southern Rhône

Question 1

List the key appellations of the Southern Rhône (aim for 6, one of which makes only rosé).

Answer 1

Cotes du Rhône / Cotes du Rhône Villages
Chateauneuf du Pape
Gigondas / Vacqueras
Tavel / Lirac

Question 2

What is the climate of Southern Rhône and what are the associated risks.

Answer 2

Mediterranean - Mild winters, warm dry Summers
Risks - drought and vine damage from Mistral winds.
Grenache can be overripe with unattractive baked fruit aromas.

Question 3

How is Grenache usually trained?

Answer 3

Bush trained to protect from Mistral and to get warmth from stony soils

Question 4

The Mistral can easily damage Syrah so what do vine growers do?

Answer 4

Give support by trellising

Question 5

What are the best soils in Southern Rhône?

Answer 5

Stony soils to absorb heat, some with large stones called Galets

Question 6

What are the 4 key black grapes of the Southern Rhône?

Answer 6

Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre plus some Cinsault

Question 7

What is the style of Southern Rhône Grenache? What is it like in hot vintages?

Answer 7

At best concentrated spiced red fruit
But in hot years can become baked and jammy.

Question 8

What does Syrah bring to Southern Rhône blends?

Answer 8

Extra colour and tannin but struggles in hotter sites (can stop ripening)

Question 9

What does Mourvèdre bring to Southern Rhône blends?

Answer 9

High tannin, dense black fruit and meaty aromas
Thrives in the heat.

Question 10

What does Cinsault bring to Southern Rhône blends and what is it often used for?

Answer 10

Low tannin, red fruit flavours
Often blended with Grenache to make fruity Rosé

Question 11

How do fermentation styles vary in Southern Rhône?

Answer 11

From cold pre-fermentation maceration and storage in stainless steel to warm extractive fermentation in open top fermenters with maturation in oak vessels

Question 12

What white grapes are used in the Southern Rhône?

Answer 12

Bourboulenc, Clairette and Grenache Blanc plus
the Northern Rhône trio of Viognier, Marsanne and Rousanne. (Reds dominate in the Southern Rhône)

Question 13

How does Cotes du Rhône Villages differ from simple Cotes du Rhône?

Answer 13

Higher minimum alc
Lower yield limits
Higher percentage of key 3 grapes (GSM)
Generally more body, structure and spiced fruit

Question 14

Which is the largest Cru in the Rhône?

Answer 14

Chateauneuf-du-Pape

Question 15

What is the terrain of Châteauneuf-du-Pape?

Answer 15

Very flat with a wide range of soils and aspects = varying styles of wines. Many areas have Galets (big stones) on the surface.

Question 16

What is the style of the best red Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines?

Answer 16

Full body, rich texture, concentrated spiced red fruit with high alcohol.

Question 17

What does Tavel produce and what is it’s style?

Answer 17

Rosé only from Grenache and Cinsault
Relative to other rosés it is fuller bodies with more intense flavour/aromas.

Question 18

What is produced in Lirac?

Answer 18

Rosé from Grenache and Cinsault, similar to Tavel
Full bodied red and white in a similar style to Chateauneuf-du-Pape

Question 19

What is produced in Gigondas and Vacqueras?

Answer 19

Grenache led, full body, spicy reds

Question 20

Whilst a minority interest what is the style of the best Southern Rhône white wines?

Answer 20

Best have rich texture, full body, high alcohol, low to medium acidity and subtle fruit, usually no oak

Question 21

What village is sited as an example of a named Côtes du Rhône?

Answer 21

Séguret