19 THE NORTHERN RHONE

Climate in north Rhône?

Moderate continental

How are vines in north Rhône supported in the vineyards?

By stake or tepee like arrangement

How are the vineyards planted in north Rhône?

Close to the river where the best sites have steep slopes with south facing aspect

How are the vines protected from the mistral in north Rhône?
The vineyards lie in lateral valleys

name the key grapes in north Rhône?

White
Viognier
Marsanne
Roussanne

Red
Syrah

Which black grape in northern Rhône is the only permitted grape?

Syrah

The style of syrah in northern Rhône?

Deep colour
Medium to high tannins
Black fruit
Black pepper
Floral aromas
Oak depends on winemaker

What does Viognier adds to a blend with syrah?

Extra aromatic intensity to the wine.
In general white wine will stabilise the colour extraction.
The style of Viognier in northern Rhône?
Full bodied
Low acidity
High alcohol
New oak can be used
Blossom
Perfumes aromas
Apricot
Stone fruit
It gets signature aromas very late in the season since they need to reach fully sugar ripeness

Can be made in an off-dry style from late-harvested grapes

What is marsanne often blended with in northern Rhône?

Roussanne

What does marsanne and roussanne bring to a blend?

Marsanne richness and weight

Roussanne
Acidity
Perfumed fruit characters

Can develop complex hazelnut aromas together

Can Côtes du Rhône come from northern Rhône?

Yes but it will mainly come from crus

Which crus in northern Rhône cover a significant area?

Saint-Joseph and Crozes-hermitage

Name the most Northern region in northern Rhône?

Côte Rôtie

What does Côte Rôtie mean?

Roasted slope

How must Viognier is allowed in Côte Rôtie?

Up to 20% can be added. not that common

Explain the style of a wine from Côte Rôtie?

Deep colour
Full bodied
Spicy
Aromatic
Floral freshness
More elegant compared to hermitage
What is only allowed grape in condrieu?
Viognier

Where does the best wines from saint-Joseph come from?

Terraced vineyards in tournon
They can have a flavour intensity and structure like those from hermitage

Where is also excellent wines from saint-Joseph produced?

South of condrieu

Where does the large volume wine from saint Joseph come from. And how is it made?
Carbonic maceration
From area that is more fertile and flatter

Which wine styles are produced in hermitage ?

Red and white

How much roussanne and marsanne can be added to syrah in hermitage?

15%. But is rarely done

What is named sites called in hermitage?

Lieux-dits. Not part of the appellation system

Which red wine in northern Rhône is the most full bodied

Those from hermitage

Which wines are produced in crozes hermitage?

Red and white

How much marsanne and rousanne can be added to syrah in crozes hermitage?
15%

Where is the flatter sites in crozes hermitage?

In the south
Lighter wines

Where does the more concentrated and tannic wine from crozes hermitage come from?
From the steeper slopes in the northern part of crozes hermitage

The warmest cru in northern Rhône?

Cornas

Key factors explaining the vineyards in cornas?

Sheltered
Well exposed to sun
South facing slopes
Many lateral valleys

What must cornas be made of?

100% syrah
Wine style in cornas?
Deep colour
Full bodied
Same quality as in hermitage.