C20 - The Southern Rhone /checked

Question 1

What is the first town north of the Southern Rhone?

Answer 1

Valence

Question 2

Describe the terrain in the Southern Rhone

Answer 2

FLAT

Much flatter than that of the Northern Rhone

Question 3

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

Answer 3

STONY SOILS

They have very stony soils

Question 4

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

Answer 4

HEAT RE-RADIATION

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

Question 5

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

Answer 5

GALETS

The stones/galets completely cover the soil surface

Question 6

Describe the climate of the Southern Rhone

Answer 6

MEDITERRANEAN

It is mediterranean
Mild winters and warm, dry summers

Question 7

What are the 2 major climatic hazards of the Southern Rhone?

Answer 7

1. Drought

2. High winds (from the Mistral)

Question 8

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

Answer 8

FLAT

Winds gain more speed here
There is less shielding from the wind by slopes

Question 9

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

Answer 9

By building WIND BREAKS

Question 10

Describe how Grenache and Syrah respectively are protected from the Mistral

Answer 10

Grenache is trained low (benefiting from warm soil)

Syrah benefits from the support offered by trellising systems

Question 11

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

Answer 11

Southern Rhone wines are often complex blends

Northern Rhone wines are single variety or simple blends

Question 12

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

Answer 12

More than a dozen

Question 13

Which variety is by far the most widely planted in the Southern Rhone and dominates its wines?

Answer 13

Grenache

Question 14

Why is Grenache successful in the Southern Rhone?

Answer 14

The warm summers allow it to ripen fully

Question 15

What flavours does Grenache produce in the Southern Rhone?

Answer 15

Concentrated, spiced red fruit flavours

Question 16

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

Answer 16

BAKED AND JAMMY

Their flavours can become baked and jammy

Question 17

What does Syrah offer to blends in the Southern Rhone? (2)

Answer 17

1. Colour

2. Tannin

Question 18

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

Answer 18

Syrah

Question 19

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

Answer 19

Mourvedre

Question 20

Describe Mourvèdre in Southern Rhône

colour, tannin, flavours

Answer 20

1. Deeply coloured
2. Very high tannins
3. Dense, black fruit flavours and gamey/meaty aromas when fully ripe

Question 21

In what appellation of the Southern Rhone are Mourvedre’s ripe aromas most prized.

Answer 21

Chateauneuf-du-Pape

Question 22

Name the fourth most important grape in the Southern Rhone (after GSM) and describe its role in blends.

Answer 22

Cinsault

It provides red fruit flavours (rather than structure)

Question 23

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

Answer 23

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

Question 24

Name some ways in which Southern Rhone producers may battle potentially high tannins and high alcohol levels (4)

Answer 24

1. Cold pre-fermentation maceration
2. Storage in stainless steel
3. Warm, extractive fermentations in traditional open fermenters
4. Maturation in large old oak vessels

Question 25

What is the range of styles within the Southern Rhone? body, tannin, flavours (2 ends of spectrum)

Answer 25

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

Question 26

What are the 3 notable white grape additions to those of the Northern Rhone in the Southern Rhone? (aside Viognier, Rousanne, Marsanne)

Answer 26

1. Clairette 2. Grenache Blanc 3. Bourboulenc

Question 27

Describe the best whites of the Southern Rhône body, alcohol, acidity, aromas

Answer 27

Usually richly textured and full-bodied High alcohol Low to medium acidity Subtle fruity aromas - Rarely made with new oak

Question 28

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

Answer 28

Relatively VERY SMALL

Question 29

What are the 2 generic appellations of the Southern Rhone?

Answer 29

1. Cotes du Rhone | 2. Cotes du Rhone Villages

Question 30

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

Answer 30

More than 50%

Question 31

Describe most Cotes du Rhone wines body, flavour

Answer 31

Medium-bodied | Fruity but simple

Question 32

What colour of wine is Cotes du Rhone made into?

Answer 32

White, red and rose

Question 33

What kind of rules must a producer adhere to if it is to call its wine 'Cotes du Rhone VILLAGES' versus 'Cotes du Rhone'? (4)

Answer 33

1. Minimum alcohol levels 2. Maximum yields 3. A greater percentage of the blend must be made from Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre 4. 100% of the wine must come from the village on the label

Question 34

Give an example of a village-labelled Cotes du Rhone

Answer 34

Cotes du Rhone Villages CAIRANNE

Question 35

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

Answer 35

VILLAGE-named Cotes du Rhone Villages wines

Question 36

What sets the wine flavour/structure of a Cotes du Rhone Village apart from generic Cotes du Rhone? in terms of body, structure, flavour

Answer 36

- More body, - More structure - More spiced red fruit flavours

Question 37

Legally what option do village-named Cotes du Rhone Village have?

Answer 37

To apply for cru status

Question 38

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

Answer 38

Chateauneuf-du-Pape

Question 39

What was the first area in France to have AOC status?

Answer 39

Chateauneuf-du-Pape

Question 40

What is the general topography of Chateauneuf-du-Pape?

Answer 40

It is notably flat

Question 41

What has the biggest impact on how Syrah and Mourvedre perform in Chateauneuf-du-Pape? vineyard character

Answer 41

Small variations in aspect

Question 42

What are the factors accounting for Chateauneuf-du-Pape diversity in styles? (4)

Answer 42

1. SIZE - Appellation size 2. SOIL - Wide range of soil types 3. ASPECT - Wide range of aspects 4. VARIETY - Large number of grape varieties (13)

Question 43

Which grape dominates the wines of Chateauneuf-du-Pape?

Answer 43

Grenache Some are 100% Grenache

Question 44

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

Answer 44

Its gamey, meaty quality

Question 45

Describe the best wines of Chateauneuf-du Pape body, alcohol, flavours

Answer 45

Full bodied and richly textured High alcohol Concentrated spiced red fruit flavours

Question 46

What are the characteristic problems of lesser-quality Chateauneuf-du Pape? (2)

Answer 46

1. DILUTE | 2. HIGH IN ALCOHOL

Question 47

What colours of Chateauneuf-du Pape are produced?

Answer 47

Red and some white

Question 48

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

Answer 48

2 | Tavel and Lirac

Question 49

What are Tavel and Lirac most famous for?

Answer 49

Rosés

Question 50

Describe the Roses of Lirac and Tavel variety, body, flavour, ageing potential

Answer 50

- Made mainly from Grenache and Cinsault - Full-bodied - Intensely flavoured - Capable of further complexity when bottle-aged

Question 51

What styles (colours) can be made in Tavel and Lirac respectively?

Answer 51

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

Question 52

What are the 2 most longstanding crus in Southern Rhone besides Chateauneuf-du Pape?

Answer 52

1. Gigondas | 2. Vacqueyras

Question 53

Describe the cru wines of Southern Rhone besides Chateauneuf-du Pape colour, blend, body

Answer 53

- Red wines - Usually Grenache-led blends - Full-bodied and spicy (similar to Chateauneuf-du Pape)

Question 54

What is the quality of the cru wines outside of Chateauneuf-du Pape?

Answer 54

Many are as good as Chateauneuf-du Pape

Question 55

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

Answer 55

Mainly red | Some permit white and rose production

Question 56

What is the fortified wine of the Southern Rhone called?

Answer 56

Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise