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Wines of France > WSET3 Southern Rhone (Chapter 20) > Flashcards

WSET3 Southern Rhone (Chapter 20) Flashcards

Learn wines of France Southern Rhone region to the "WSET-3 award" level, an advanced level qualification for professionals working in the wine industry. Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) is generally regarded as the world's leading provider of wine education.

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French flashcards
1
Q

What is the first town north of the Southern Rhone?

A

Valence

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2
Q

Describe the terrain in the Southern Rhone

A

Much flatter than that of the Northern Rhone

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3
Q

Describe the soils of many of the best vineyard sites in the Southern Rhône

A

They have very stony soils

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4
Q

What is the effect of the very stony soils in the Southern Rhone?

A

They absorb the sun’s heat and warm the vineyard, aiding ripening

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5
Q

What are the soils in some areas of Chateauneuf-du-Pape like?

A

The stones/galets completely cover the soil surface

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6
Q

Describe the climate of the Southern Rhone

A

It is mediterranean

Mild winters and warm, dry summers

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7
Q

What are the two major climatic hazards of the Southern Rhone?

A

Drought

High winds (from the Mistral)

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8
Q

Why is the Mistral more of a problem in the Southern Rhone than the Northern Rhone?

A

Winds gain more speed here

There is less shielding from the wind by slopes

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9
Q

How are the effects of the Mistral protected against in the Southern Rhone?

A

By building wind-breaks

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10
Q

Describe how Grenache and Syrah respectively are protected from the Mistral

A

Grenache is trained low

Syrah benefits from the support offered by trellising systems

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11
Q

What is particularly different about grape content in Southern Rhone wines (particularly relating to the North)

A

The wines are often complex blends

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12
Q

How many grape varieties can a Southern Rhone wine be made from?

A

More than a dozen

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13
Q

Which variety is by far the most widely planted in the Southern Rhone?

A

Grenache

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14
Q

Which variety dominates the wines of the Southern Rhone?

A

Grenache

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15
Q

Why is Grenache successful in the Southern Rhone?

A

The warm summers allow it to ripen fully

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16
Q

What flavours does Grenache produce in the Southern Rhone?

A

Concentrated, spiced red fruit flavours

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17
Q

What can happen to Grenache-based wines in the Southern Rhone?

A

Their flavours can become baked and jammy

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18
Q

What does Syrah offer to blends in the Southern Rhone?

A

Extra colour and tannin

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19
Q

Which grape variety of the Southern Rhone can struggle in the hottest sites?

A

Syrah

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20
Q

Which grape is at its northernmost limit in the Southern Rhone?

A

Mourvedre

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21
Q

Describe Mourvèdre in Southern Rhône

A

Deeply coloured

Very high tannins

Dense, black fruit flavours and gamey/meaty aromas when fully ripe

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22
Q

Where are Mourvedre’s ripe aromas most prized in the Southern Rhone?

A

Chateauneuf-du-Pape

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23
Q

Name the fourth most important grape in the Southern Rhone and describe its role(s)

A

Cinsault

It provides red fruit flavours (rather than structure)

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24
Q

What is the best known role of Cinsault in the Southern Rhone?

A

As a blending partner to Grenache in the production of fresh, fruity Roses

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25
Q

What is notable about winemaking in the Southern Rhone

A

It is incredibly varied

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26
Q

What is a consistent challenge for winemakers in the Southern Rhone?

A

They must all find a way of managing potentially high tannins and high alcohol levels to produce a balanced wine

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27
Q

Name some ways in which Southern Rhone producers may battle high tannins and high alcohol levels

A

Cold pre-fermentation maceration and storage in stainless steel

Warm, extractive fermentations in traditional open fermenters and maturation in large old oak vessels

28
Q

How will Southern Rhone producers usually make up their blends?

A

With wines that have been fermented using different techniques

29
Q

What is the role of oak in the Southern Rhone?

A

New oak is used by some producers

Some producers believe that new oak overwhelms the flavours of Grenache

30
Q

What is the range of styles within the Southern Rhone?

A

From light-to-medium bodied fresh, fruity wines with low tannins to highly tannic, full-bodied reds with flavours of spice, meat and/or earth

31
Q

What are the notable white grape additions to those of the Northern Rhone in the Southern Rhone?

A

Clairette

Grenache Blanc

Bourboulenc

32
Q

Describe the best whites of the Southern Rhône

A

Usually richly textured and full-bodied

High alcohol

Low to medium acidity

Subtle fruity aromas

Rarely made with new oak

33
Q

What is the role of white wine in the Southern Rhone?

A

Relatively very small

34
Q

What are the generic appellations of the Southern Rhone?

A

Cotes du Rhone Cotes du Rhone Villages

35
Q

What fraction of appellation wine production in the Southern Rhone does Cotes du Rhone account for?

A

More than half

36
Q

Describe most Cotes du Rhone wines

A

Medium-bodied Fruity but simple

37
Q

What colour of wine is Cotes du Rhone made into?

A

White, red and rose

38
Q

What kind of rules must a producer adhere to if it is to call its wine ‘Cotes du Rhone Villages’?

A

More stringent minimum alcohol levels and maximum yields must be observed

A greater percentage of the blend must be made from Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre

39
Q

What additional rule must a producer adhere to if they are to add a village name to Cotes du Rhône Villages?

A

100% of the wine must come from the village on the label

40
Q

Give an example of a village-labelled Cotes du Rhone

A

Cotes du Rhone Villages Cairanne

41
Q

What are the best Southern Rhone wines outside of the crus?

A

Village-named Cotes du Rhone Villages wines

42
Q

What sets the wine flavour/structure of a village CDR apart from generic CDR?

A

They have more body, structure and spiced red fruit flavours

43
Q

Legally what option do village-named CDRs have?

A

To apply for cru status

44
Q

Where is Chateauneuf-du-Pape?

A

On the east bank of the Rhone

45
Q

What is the largest of all of the crus in the Rhone valley?

A

Chateauneuf-du-Pape

46
Q

What was the first area in France to have Appellation Controlee status?

A

Chateauneuf-du-Pape

47
Q

What is the general topography of CNdP?

A

It is notably flat

48
Q

What has the biggest impact on how Syrah and Mourvedre perform in CNdP?

A

Small variations in aspect

49
Q

What are the factors accounting for CNdP’s diversity in styles?

A

Appellation size

Wide range of soil types

Wide range of aspects

Large number of grape varieties (13)

50
Q

Which grape dominates the wines of CNdP?

A

Grenache

51
Q

Some CNdPs are 100%…

A

Grenache

52
Q

What do producers hope to bring to a wine by adding Mourvedre?

A

Its gamey, meaty quality

53
Q

Describe the best wines of Chateauneuf-du Pape

A

Full bodied and richly textured

High alcohol

Concentrated spiced red fruit flavours

54
Q

What are the characteristic problems of lesser-quality CNdPs?

A

It can be dilute and high in alcohol

55
Q

What colours of CNdP are produced?

A

Red and some white

56
Q

How many Southern crus are on the west bank of the Rhone? What are they?

A

2 Tavel and Lirac

57
Q

What are Tavel and Lirac most famous for?

A

Rosés

58
Q

Describe the Roses of Lirac and Tavel

A

Made mainly from Grenache and Cinsault

Full-bodied

Intensely flavoured

Capable of further complexity when bottle-aged

59
Q

What styles can be made in Tavel and Lirac respectively?

A

Tavel: Rosé only

Lirac: Rosé, red and white (reds and whites in the style of CNdP)

60
Q

Where else in the Southern Rhone has been promoted to cru status?

A

Some other Southern Rhone villages that lie in and around the hills to the east of Chateauneuf

61
Q

What are the two most longstanding crus in Southern Rhone besides CNdP?

A

Gigondas and Vacqueyras

62
Q

Describe the cru wines of Southern Rhone besides CNdP

A

Red wines

Usually Grenache-led blends

Full-bodied and spicy (similar to CNdP)

63
Q

What is the quality of the cru wines outside of CNdP?

A

Many are as good as the better CNdP

64
Q

What colours are the cru wines of Southern Rhone made into?

A

Mainly red, but some permit white and rose production

65
Q

What is the fortified wine of the Southern Rhone called?

A

Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise

Wines of France (18 decks)

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