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WSET 3 - Geoff > C20 - The Southern Rhone (reviewed) > Flashcards

C20 - The Southern Rhone (reviewed) Flashcards

1
Q

Discrined Southern Rhone broadly

A
  • Streches from Valence (north) to Avignon (south)
  • Terrain is much flatter than that of the Northern Rhone
  • Best vineyards have very stony soils, which helps absorb the sun’s heat and warms the vineyard, aiding ripening
    • Ex: CDP stones/galets completely cover the soil surface
  • Climate: mediterranean (mild winters and warm, dry summers)
    • Hazards: Drought and High winds (from the Mistral)
  • Winemaking is incredibly varied
  • Winemakers must all find a way of managing potentially high tannins and high alcohol levels to produce a balanced wine
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2
Q

Discuss Mistral in Southern Rhone.

A
  • Mistral Winds gain more speed here, and there is less shielding from the wind by slopes vs. Norther Rhone
  • Wind-breaks have to be planted
  • Grenache bush trained and low to the ground
  • Syrah is more easily damanged and benefits from the support offered by trellising systems
  • Crus from West to East
    • Tavel
    • Lirac
    • CDP
    • Vacqueyras
    • Gigondas
    • Muscat des Beaumes de Venise
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3
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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4
Q

Discuss at a high level the grape varieties in Southern Rhone

A

More than a dozen allowed

Red:

  1. Grenache - by far the most widely planted
  2. Syrah - supporting role to Grenache
  3. Mourvedre - supporting role to Grenache
  4. Cinsault - supporting role to Grenache

White:

  1. Clairette
  2. Grenache Blanc
  3. Bourboulenc
  4. Condrieu
  5. Marsanne
  6. Roussanne
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5
Q

Discuss Grenache in the Southern Rhone?

A
  • Grenache is by far the most widely planted in the Southern Rhone
  • The warm summers allow it to ripen fully
  • Concentrated, spiced red fruit flavours
  • Flavours can become baked and jammy
  • Syrah adds Extra colour and tannin
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6
Q

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

A

Syrah

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7
Q

Discuss Mourvedre in the Southern Rhone

A

Mourvedre is at its northernmost limit in the Southern Rhone

Wines are:

  • Deeply coloured
  • Very high tannins
  • Dense, black fruit flavours and gamey/meaty aromas when fully ripe

Its ripe aromas as most prized in Chateauneuf-du-Pape

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8
Q

Discuss Consault in Souther Rhone

A
  • Fourth most important grape in Souther Rhone
  • Provides red fruit flavours (rather than structure)
  • Known as a blending partner to Grenache in the production of fresh, fruity Roses
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9
Q

Discuss Winemaking in Southern Rhone

A
  • Winemakers must all find a way of managing potentially high tannins and high alcohol levels to produce a balanced wine
  • Techniques vary from:
    • Cold pre-fermentation maceration
    • storage in stainless steel
    • Warm, extractive fermentations in traditional open fermenters
    • Maturation in large old oak vessels
  • Blends - usually with wines that have been fermented using different techniques
  • Oak
    • New oak is used by some producers
    • Some producers believe that new oak overwhelms the flavours of Grenache
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10
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

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11
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
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12
Q

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

A

Relatively very small

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13
Q

What are the generic appellations of the Southern Rhone? Describe

A

Cotes du Rhone and Cotes du Rhone Villages

  • More than half of appellation wine production in the Southern Rhone come from Cotes du Rhone
  • Medium-bodied Fruity but simple
  • White, red and rose

Cotes du Rhone Villages

  • More stringent min alcohol levels and max yields
  • A greater % of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre
  • Wines have more body, structure and spiced red fruit flavours
  • 100% of the wine must come from the village if they are to add a village name to Cotes du Rhône Villages
  • Village-named Cotes du Rhone Villages wines represent the best wines from Sothern RHone besides the crus
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14
Q

Give an example of a village-labelled Cotes du Rhone

A

Cotes du Rhone Villages Cairanne

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15
Q

Legally what option do village-named CDRs have?

A

To apply for cru status

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16
Q

Discsus Chateauneuf-du-Pape

A
  • Located on the east bank of the Rhone
  • Largest of all of the crus in the Rhone valley
  • First area in France to have Appellation Controlee status
  • CDP is notably flat
  • Biggest impact on how Syrah and Mourvedre perform are the small variations in aspect
  • Factors accounting for CNdP’s diversity in styles?
    • Appellation size
    • Wide range of soil types
    • Wide range of aspects
    • Large number of grape varieties (13) -
  • Grape varities:
    • Grenache mostly, some CNdPs are 100% Grenache
    • Mourvedre - bring gamey, meaty quality
17
Q

Describe the best wines of Chateauneuf-du Pape

A
  • Full bodied and richly textured
  • High alcohol
  • Concentrated spiced red fruit flavours
18
Q

What are the characteristic problems of lesser-quality CNdPs?

A

It can be dilute and high in alcohol

19
Q

What colours of CNdP are produced?

A

Red and some white

20
Q

What are the Southern crus on the west bank of the Rhone?

A
  • Tavel and Lirac
    • Tavel: Rosé only
    • Lirac: Rosé, red and white (reds and whites in the style of CNdP)
  • Famous for their Rosés
    • Made mainly from Grenache and Cinsault
    • Full-bodied
    • Intensely flavoured
    • Capable of further complexity when bottle-aged
21
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

22
Q

Descibe the crus in Southern Rhone besides CNdP

A

Two most longstanding ones: Gigondas and Vacqueyras

Mainly red, but some permit white and rose production

  • Usually Grenache-led blends
  • Full-bodied and spicy (similar to CNdP)

Many are as good as the better CNdP

23
Q

What is the fortified wine of the Southern Rhone called?

A

Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise

WSET 3 - Geoff (45 decks)

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