Wset - the Northern Rhône Flashcards
(32 cards)
What’s the name of the cold north wind ?
mistral
What’s the climate in the Northern Rhone?
similar to that of Beaujolais, moderate and continental.
Which grape varieties can you find in the Northern Rhone?
It’s mostly associated with powerful red wines made from Syrah.
but you could also find Viognier
even a small amount of Marsanne and Rousanne
Where can you find the best sites for Syrah in the Northern Rhone?
On the very steep slopes, southerly exposed.
What’s the characteristics os a Syrah from the Northern Rhone?
deeply coloured
medium to high tannins, black fruit and sometimes black pepper or floral aromas.
Oak, depends on the winemaker, new or oald.
Why is it okay to ferment Syrah with a white variety?
it’s been traditionally practised in a number of the crus, but most wines are 100% Syrah.
Some find the addition of the white grapes can help to stabilise the colour extraction from the black grapes and that Viognier in particular can also add an extra aromatic intensity to the wine.
What’s the characteristics of Viognier from the Northern Rhone?
Makes a full-bodied white wines with perfumed aromas of blossom and apricots, and flavours of stone fruit.
low acidity, high alc.
Why does Viognier has to be carefully handled in the winery?
The winemaker has to be carful so that the wine doesn’t develop an overtly oily character that can overwhelm the varietal aromas.
New oak is getting more and more common, but it too has to be handeld carefully as oak flavours can easily overwhelm primary aromas.
Marsanne and Roussanne are usually blended together, what do they individually bring to a blend?
Marsanne har richness and weight
Roussanne offers acidity and a perfumes fruit characteristic
They age well and develop a complex hazelnut aromas.
Name the different cru appellations from north to south?
Côte Rotie
Condrieu
Saint-Joseph
Crosez-Hermitage
Hermitage
Cornas
What’s the town in Côte Rôtie called?
Ampuis
What’s the translation for Côte Rôtie?
Rosted Slopes.
What style of wine is produced in Côte Rôtie?
Only red wines are produced, although up to 20% viognier can be added.
These wines are deeply coloured, full-bodied, spicy and the best have an aromatic, floral freshness, and textural elegance that distinguishes them from Hermitage
cofermenting is ok. gives mitigate (soften) the extraction, adds complexity and elegance.
What style of wine is produced in Condrieu?
a white tine, made from the viognier grape.
How’s the area like in Condrieu?
the best wines come from low-yielding old vines, grown on steep, well-exposed, terraced vineyards.
Name a single property appellation within Condrieu.
Château-Grillet
Which grapes can you find in Saint-Joseph?
the vast majority of the wines here are reds made from Syrah.
Some white wines are made from Marsanne and Roussanne.
Where’s the best wines from in Saint-Joseph?
The best wines generally come from the terraced vineyards near Tournon, which can have a flavour intensity and structure similar to Hermitage
What can you expect from a wine from the flatter sides on the valley floor and the plateau above the slopes in Saint-Joseph.
a light-bodied wine, expressing the pepper-perfumes aspects of the Syrah grape.
What’s the town called to the south of Hermitage?
Tain-l’Hermitage
What’s the name for the named sites which are not part os the appellation system in Hermitage called?
lieux-dits.
How’s the topography of Hermitage?
steep south-facing slope.
Where’s the best Hermitage produced?
They’re usually a blend of wines from these different lieux-dits, but some producers have stared to release wines made from specific lieux-dits.
What’s the characteristics for a red hermitage?
it’s generallt the fullest-bodied od the Northern Rhône red wines and ages well.
