CH19

Question 1

describe Cornas

Answer 1

N Rhone cru- furthest south/ warmest

• vineyards lie on sheltered well exposed South face slopes
• 100 syrah
• deep color, full body, style and quality, similar to hermitage

Question 2

describe Croze Hermitage

Answer 2

N Rhone most important in terms of volume

• lie on mixed terrain
• N of Hermitage, terrain on slopes, concentrated complex, tannic,
• S of Hermitage, flat terrain, lighter, higher yield
• Syrah; can have up to 15 percent Marsanne or Roussanne

Question 3

describe the best Croze Hermitage

Answer 3

best aged in oak

over all not as high rep as Hermitage and Cote Rotie

Question 4

describe Hermitage

Answer 4

N Rhone cru

• town of Train -l’Hermitage
• steep S face slopes
• Red is generally the fullest bodied and age well
• 15 percent Roussanne and Marsanne may be fermented with Syrah
• white is 20 percent of production in region
• best are blends of different sites

Question 5

describe Saint- Joseph

Answer 5

N Rhone, S of Condrieu, N of Tournon

• vast majority is syrah
• some Marsanne and Roussan
• large volume, lt bodied
• -is often use carbonic maceration
• fertile, flatter sites on valley floor/ with plateau above
• expresses pepper perfumed
• best come terraced vineyards near Tournon which can have intensity and structure similar to Hermitage

Question 6

describe Condrieu

Answer 6

N Rhone Cru (2nd one south)

• made solely from Viognier
• best come from low yielding old vines
• steep slopes
• well exposed
• terraced vineyards
• Chateau grillet, single property appellation

Question 7

describe cote Rotie

Answer 7

N Rhone cru, most N region
-town of Ampuis = translated as roasted slope
-up to 20 percent viognier can be added
-deep color, full body, spicy
Best have floral, texture elegance

Question 8

what are important regions of N Rhone (n to s)

Answer 8

Cote Rotie
Condrieu
* Saint Joseph
Hermitage
* Crozes Hermitage
Cornas
most wine come from Cru appellation and are tiny w/ exception of "*" ones

Question 9

how are Marsanne and Rousanne used in N Rhone?

Answer 9

usually blended together
-adds richness and weight
-adds acidity and perfumed fruit
neither is as big as viognier
-both can develop complex hazelnut

Question 10

describe Viognier in N Rhone

Answer 10

aromas of blossom, apricots
-develop late in season
-full bodied
flavors of stone fruits
low acid
high alcohol
can have oily character if not handled well
new oak increasingly used but careful

Question 11

describe Syrah in N Rhone

Answer 11

it is at the Northern limit of growth
-b/c latitude and Mistral (cold N wind), best have S exposure and steep slopes
deep color
med to high tannin
black fruit, black pepper, floral
sometimes oaked, sometimes white added

Question 12

major grapes varieties that grow in N Rhone

Answer 12

SYRAH - only black grape grown
VIOGNIER -helps stabalize color extraction from black grapes
-add aromatic intensity
MARSANNE and ROISSANNE: to a lessor amount grown

Question 13

vineyards practices in N Rhone

Answer 13

• valley is quite steep and narrow
• vineyards planted on steep slopes S facing, close to river
• Sites lie in lateral valley
• valley protect vines from Mistral (cold N wind)
• vines are supported by Tepee like stakes

Question 14

what is climate like in N Rhone?

Answer 14

the climate here is Moderate and Continental

• noticeably cooler than points south
• there is cold north wine call Mistral