D5 - VDN

Question 1

Which VDNs have to have min. 75% Grenache?

Answer 1

1. Banyuls Grand Cru AOC
2. Maury AOC

Question 2

Which VDNs produced only in unaged style?

Answer 2

1. Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise AOC
2. Muscat de Frontignan AOC
3. Muscat de St-Jean-de-Minervois AOC

Question 3

List the range of VDN styles in Roussillon! + Describe the nature of their styles.

Answer 3

1. Grenat/Rimage: unaged reds / Maury: Grenat - Banyuls: Rimage
2. Blanc: unaged white
3. Tuilé/Traditionnel: oxidative reds / Maury & Rivesaltes: Tuilé - Banyuls: Traditionnel
4. Ambré: oxidative white
5. Hors d’âge: oxidative red or white (aged longer than Tuilé or Ambré)
6. Rancio: red or white wines with ‘rancio’ character

Question 4

Describe the main differences between Banyuls AOC and Maury AOC!

Answer 4

Banyuls: Eastern end of the Pyrenees
reds: min. 50% Grenache Noir

Maury: North of Roussillon
red: min. 75% Grenache Noir

Question 5

Describe the main differences between Muscat de Rivesaltes AOC and Rivesaltes AOC!

Answer 5

Muscat de Rivesaltes AOC: only unaged white
often a blend of the 2 Muscat varieties

RIvesaltes: reds and white in all 5 styles
whites: max. 20% Muscat

Question 6

Describe the main differences between Banyuls AOC and Banyuls Grand Cru AOC!

Answer 6

Both cover the same area. (Eastern end of the Pyrenees)

Banyuls: min. 50% Grenache
Small amount of white VDN is also made

Banyuls Grand Cru: only aged red VDN with min. 75% Grenache Noir
min. maturation: 30 months (longer aged can be qualified as Rancio or Hors d’âge

Question 7

Describe Vin Doux Naturel Rasteau as follows:
a. colour (min. grape %)
b. allowed styles (their characters)
c. vineyard location (its consequence)
d. alcohol range of the wines (how is it classify among fortified wines)

Answer 7

a. Red (mostly) or rosé (rosé is made with saignée and fortified off the skins) or white (tiny)
i. Red: min. 75% Grenace Noir, Grenache Gris, Grenache Blanc
b. Unaged or oxidative style
i. Unaged: ripe cherries, plums
ii. Oxidative: dried fruit, nuttiness
c. On gentle S-facing slopes = some protection from Mistral
d. 16-18% alcohol = low to medium for a fortified wine

Question 8

Describe Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise as follows:
a. colour (min. grape %)
b. allowed styles (their characters)
c. vineyard location (its consequence)
d. Body, acidity, alcohol (how is it classify among fortified wines), aromas

Answer 8

a. Mostly white based on Muscat Blanc á Petits Grains / Muscat á Petit Grains Rouge (red-skinned mutation) is allowed for red and rosé
b. Always unaged, fresher style
c. Terraced on SE-facing slopes = shelter from the Mistral and aids ripening
i. Medium-bodied, medium acidity, 15% alcohol (low alcohol), primary notes (blossom, grape, peach, honey)