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40 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Where are the last of the Northern Rhone Vineyards located? |
Valence |
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What percentage of the total Rhone wine is grown in the Southern Rhone |
95% |
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What is the quality of wines produced in the Southern Rhone? |
Highly variable. |
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Can Cote du Rhone AC be produced in the Northern Rhone? |
Yes, but it would be fiscally stupid to do so since wines made in the N. Rhone commands a much higher price. |
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What is the AC hierarchy for the S. Rhone? (4) |
Best: 7 individual crus Upper:18 Villages Mid: Cotes du Rhone Villages Bottom: Cote du Rhone AC
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What is the climate in S. Rhone? |
Mediterranean. Mild winters and long hot summers. |
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What are two big weather problems for the S. Rhone? |
1. Summer drought 2. Mistral Winds. |
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What are the methods for combating the Mistral Winds? |
No slopes: Windbreaks are planted Syrah: Supported by Guyot pruning and VSP training. Grenache: Bush trained low to the ground. |
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Pertaining to blends, how does S. Rhone differ from the North? |
Southern Rhone uses many different grapes. In some cases 10 or 20 types of grapes are used. |
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Grenache (6) |
By far the most widely planted variety in the S. Rhone. Can tolerate drought conditions and strong winds. Requires plenty of heat to ripen fully. Can reach high levels of sugar ripeness and therefor alcohol levels above 14.5% are common. Does not do well in high yields. |
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Describe the flavour profile of wines made from Grenache |
Best years can develop concentrated red fruit and spice flavours. In very hot years the fruit can become baked or jammy. High yields tends to really thin out the flavours. |
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Syrah (3) |
Can struggle in the S. Rhone heat. Provides blends with colour and tannin. The best producers plant it in the coldest sites. |
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Mourvédre (5) |
At the northern limit of where it can successfully ripen. Has to be planted in the hottest sites. Deeply coloured and very high in tannins. When it is fully ripe it can develop noticeable gamey savoury aromas. |
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Cinsault (3) |
Plays a supporting role to red blends. Provides fresh fruit flavours instead of tannins and colour. Best known as a classic blending partner with Grenache for the production of fresh, fruity rosés. |
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Describe the focus on white wine in the S. Rhone (2)
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A minority concern in the S. Rhone. Does not enjoy the same acclaim that Viognier and Condrieus experience in the north.
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What are the principle white varieties of the S. Rhone (3) |
Clairette, Grenache Blanc, Bourboulenc |
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Describe the soils of the S. Rhone (3) |
Varied. Most of the best sites have very stony soils that absorb the sunlight. In Chateneuf, galets (stones) completely cover the surface of the vineyards. |
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Describe the terrain of the S. Rhone |
Much flatter than the N. Rhone. However there are still many slopes and steep terraces, as well as many open fields. |
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Carignan (4) |
A high yielding black grape. Adds colour, acidity and tannin to blends. Blends well with Grenache. Frequently appears in jug wines. |
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How are red wines made in S. Rhone? (4) |
There is no standard. Techniques vary from total carbonic maceration to open vat warm extractive fermentations. Usually blends will be made with wines that have been fermented using different techniques. New oak is being used more and more often. |
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How do the styles of red wines vary in the S. Rhone? (2)
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They will vary from med bodied fresh and fruity wines with low tannins to highly tannic full bodied and savoury reds.
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Describe the white wines of the S. Rhone |
The quality has greatly improved with modern winemaking techniques. Richly textured and full bodied, high in alcohol, med to low acidity with subtle aromatics. New oak is rarely used. |
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Cote Du Rhone AC |
Accounts for more than half of the entire production of the Rhone Valley. Most are medium bodied, fruity, and simple wines. Their softness usually comes from carbonic maceration. Rosés and whites are made here too. |
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Cotes du Rhone Villages |
Best wines outside of the crus. Usually has more spiced red fruit flavours, body, structure than generic Cotes du Rhone AC. |
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What are the requirements for Cotes du Rhone villages? (4)
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More stringent minimum alcohol levels. Maximum yields are enforced. A greater percentage of the blend must be made from Grenache, Syrah and Mourvédre, Can add their name on the label if 100% of the wine comes from said village.
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Why will Chateauneuf-du-Pape always be a significant part of French wine history? |
First place in French wine history to have the Appellation Contrôlée status. |
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Chateauneuf-du-Pape AC (red) (1-3) |
1. Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, Cinsault and others. 2. Warm mediterranean climate. Risk of drought. Mistral winds are a hazard. 3. Almost all arable land is planted with vines. Wide range of soils, but the surface is usually covered with round pudding stones. Notably flat. |
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Chateauneuf-du-Pape AC (red) (4-6) |
4. Subtle variations in aspect determines how well Mourvedre and Syrah ripen. Grenache are bush trained, Syrah is usually trellised. 5. Blending allowed with 13 grapes. Grenache is the main grape. Some wines are just Grenache while others make use of Mouvedre's gamey savourey quality. 6. Traditional style does not use oak because they believe it mutes the grenache. |
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Describe the flavour profile of Chateauneuf-du-Pape reds? (6) |
Can vary. The best wines are richly textured wines with concentrated spiced fruit red fruit that balance the high alcohol. Unfortunately the wide range of producers means that there is lots of mediocre CDP with dilute flavours. |
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Chateauneuf-du-Pape (White) (7) |
Made from Clairette, Roussanne, Bourboulenc and Grenache Blanc. Wide variations. Modern techniques are allowing the production of high quality. Accounts for 5% |
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Describe the rosé wine made in Chateauneuf-du-Pape |
Rosé wine is not permitted in CDP. |
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Tavel AC (5) |
Most famous for the production of good rosés made from Grenache and Cinsault. These rosés are intensely flavoured, full bodied, and capable of aging in the bottle. |
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Lirac AC (6)
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-Most famous for the production of good rosés made from Grenache and Cinsault.
-These rosés are intensely flavoured, full bodied, and capable of aging in the bottle. - Also produces top quality reds and whites in the style of CDP. |
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What are names of some of the other CDR crus? (5) |
Gigondas AC, Vacqueyras AC, Beaumes du Venise AC, Rasteau AC, |
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How would you describe the cru wines of the CDR? (3) |
They all make red blends similar in style to CDP. Many of these wines are as good as the wines that come from CDP. Some also produce rosés and whites. |
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CDR satellites (4) |
Outer regions that make wines similar in style the wines that are made in the CDR. Most of the regions are situated north of the CDR, so they will be lighter in body and they might contain more Syrah. |
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Which CDR satellites are further south, how will this affect the wine? (3) |
Ventoux and Luberon lie to the south east, however they lie on the cool slopes of Mount Ventoux. Only Costieres de Nimes is warmer. |
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Costieres Des Nimes (3) |
The only Satellite appellation that is warmer than CDR. Syrah and Mourvédre will ripen here. The wines are full body and can be on par with the the best in CDR. |
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How are the generic Cotes Du Rhone/villages and rhone sattelite wines priced? (3) |
CDR AC (Red, rosé and White): Low to Med priced CDR Villages (Red, rosé and White): Med priced Rhone Satellites(Just red): Low to Med priced |
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How are the Southern Rhone Crus priced? (2) |
CDP (Red and White): High to Premium + priced Lirac AC (Red and Rosé): Med priced Tavel AC(Red only): Mid Priced Other Crus: Mid pirced |
