The Southern Rhone(France) Flashcards
The Rhone valley opens out south of Valence and the vineyards and planted on _______1________than those of the Northern Rhone.
1= much flatter terrain
The best sites have very _____1_______ that absorb the sun’s heat and warm the vineyard, aiding ripening. In some sites, particularly in areas of Chateuneuf-du-Pape, these stones or _____2____ completely cover the soil surface.
1= stony soils 2= galets
What is the climate of the Southern Rhone?
drought can be a problem.
It is Mediterranean, with mild winters and warm dry summers.
In the Southern Rhone the north winds known as the ______1_____ gain speed and cause extensive damage to the vineyards. There are fewer slopes to protect the vines from the wind, meaning ______2_____ have to be planted.
1= mistral
2=windbreaks
In this part of the Rhone the north winds known as the mistral gain speed and can cause extensive damage to vineyards. Grenache is ______1_____ to the ground to offer protection from the wind and to benefit from the warmth of the soil. Syrah is more easily damaged in the wind and it benefits from the support offered by _____2_____.
1= bush-trained low 2= trellising systems
_____1_____dominates most of the red wines of the Southern Rhone and is by far the most widely planted variety. The warm summers mean that the variety can ripen fully here, producing wines with concentrated spiced red fruit flavours. However, in hot years the fruit flavours can become baked and jammy.
1= Grenache
_____1_____ and ____2____ play a supporting role to Grenache. 1 provides blends with extra colour and tannin but it struggle in the hottest sites. 2, on the other hand, is at the Northern limit of where it can ripen successfully and thrives in these locations. It is deeply coloured and very high in tannins.
1= Syrah 2= Mourvèdre
When Mourevere is fully ripe it can develop ______1_______ flavours as well as _____2_____ and ____3____ aromas that are highly prized by many top producers, especially in Chateuneuf-du-Pape.
1= dense black fruits 2= gamay 3= meaty
_____1_____ can also perform a supporting role in red wine blends providing red fruit flavours rather than tannin or colour, but it is best known as a blending partner to Grenache in the production of fresh, fruity roses.
1= Cinsaultサンソー
______1______ accounts for more than half of the entire production of appellation wines in the Southern Rhone, most of which is red wine. Most are medium- bodied, fruity but simple wines. Fruity roses and white wines are made under this appellation too.
Côtes du Rhone
Within the Côtes du Rhone, a number of villages are entitled to call their red and, in some cases, white and rose wines __________1__________. To qualify, more stringent minimum alcohol levels and maximum yields must be observed and a greater percentage of the blend must be made from Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre.
Côtes du Rhone Villages
コートデュローヌヴィラージュ
Situated on the east bank of the Rhone, __________1________ is by far the largest of all the crus in the Rhone valley. It has a particular place in French wine history, because it was the first area to have Appellation contrôlée status.
Chateauneuf-du-Pape.
Some very successful Chateuneufs are 100 per cent _____1_____, while others make far greater use of gamay, meaty quality of ____2______. The best wines are all full-bodied and richter textured with concentrated spiced red fruit flavours that balance the characteristic high alcohol.
1= Grenache
2=Mourvèdre
(Tavel and Lirac)
These are the only two Southern crus that are on the West Bank of the Rhone. They are most famous for the production of ____1____, made mainly from ____2____ and ____3_____, are full-bodied compared with Provence ____1___s, intensely flavoured and capable of developing greater complexity when aged in bottle.
1= rose
2=Grenache
3= Cinsault
Only roses can be made in Tavelタヴェル. ____1____also produces top quality red and white wines in the style of Chateauneuf-du-Pape.
1= Lirac