France - Roussillon

Question 1

Geographic boundaries of the Languedoc Rousillon?

Answer 1

• Nimes to the NE
• Carcassonne to the W
• Montagne Noire and Cevennes Mtns to the N
• Pyreenees Mtns to the S

Languedoc (Mediterranean climate) acocunts for 90% of the Production, Rousillon (Pyranees provide more microclimates) is only 10%.

This is the largest area in France for organic and biodynamic wines

Rousillon is always windy - 8 different winds affect the region

Question 2

What are the winds of Roussillon?

Answer 2

8 winds in total

Tramontane

Marin

Cers

Scirocco

Autan

(the other 3 are minor and incosequential)

Question 3

Describe the Tramontane Wind.

Answer 3

• *Tramontane = Trans Mountains**
• (comes down from the Pyrenees)*

• North-westerly wind
• Has a cooling and drying affect on the region.
• Very similar to the Mistral. It just follows a different path, and is the local, gentler version
• It is a dry, and pretty violent wind that is cold, almost bitter in winter but very welcome in the summer.

Question 4

Describe the Marin Wind.

Answer 4

• South-Easterly warm wind that blows in from the Mediterranean.
• It tends to raise the general ambiant temperature, but brings with it banks of low humid clouds.
• Causes heavy rain in coastal areas in the winter and in summer tends to dissipate.
• Leaves the area smelling of the sea and your skin tasting of salt.

Question 5

Describe the Autan Wind.

Answer 5

• South-Easterly wind.
• Called “The Devil’s Wind”, and “Wind of Death” locally.
• Often brings in bad weather that can settle in for 3-9 days at a time.

(Autan is spelled like Satan)

Question 6

Describe the Scirocco Wind.

Answer 6

• Southerly wind from Africa.
• This wind blows rarely, and then only for a few hours,
• Leaves everything covered in a fine film of sand carried over the Mediterranean Sea from the Sahara Desert.

Question 7

Describe the Cers Wind.

Answer 7

• Westerly or South-Westerly wind.
• A dry wind which is generally cold in winter, and warm in summer.
• Often heralds sunny warm weather, by blowing the clouds away and bringing bright blue skies and sunshine, even though temperatures are cooler.

(Cers clears bad weather)

Question 8

AOP of

Roussillon

Answer 8

• *Rivesaltes AOP**
• (VdN Only!)*
• *Muscat de Rivesaltes AOP**
• (VdN Blanc Only!)*
• *Maury AOP**
• (Rd, VdN)*
• *Colliure AOP**
• (Rd, W, Rs)*
• *Banyuls AOP**
• (VdN Only!)*
• *Banyuls Grand Cru AOP**
• (VdN Only!)*

Cotes de Roussillon AOP
(Rd, W, Rs)
(has 1 Sub-Zone: Les Apres)

Cotes de Roussillon Villages AOP
(Red Only!)
(4 Sub-Zones)

• *Grand Roussillon AOP**
• (VdN Only!)*

Question 9

Sub-Zone(s) of

Cotes de Roussillon-Villages AOP

[west-east]

Answer 9

LC-LT

Lesquerde

Caramany

Latour-de-France

Tautavel

Question 10

Sub-zone(s) of

Cotes de Roussillon?

Answer 10

• *Les Aspres**
• Red Only!*

Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, Carignan
(must be 3; no 2 can equal >90%)

~45 hl/ha~
~12.5% min ABV~

*released 10/1 year after harvest

became an AOP in 2003

Question 11

Rivesaltes AOP

(VdN!)

Means “High Rivers”

Answer 11

Vin doux Naturel Only!!
Grenat - Rose - Ambre - Tuile
Hors d’Age - Rancio

~30 hl/ha~
~21.5% min ABV~
{15% actual}

252 g/l min Must Weight
45 g/l min RS

Grenat
100% Grenache Noir

*aged in a “reductive environment”
until at least 5/1
**3 months min in bottle
**Must be bottled by 6/30 on 2nd year after harvest

Rose
80% min combined:
Grenache (all), Tourbat, Macabeu

*Must be bottled by 12/1 year after harvest

Ambre
Same varietals as Rose

*aged in a “reductive environment”
until at least 3/1
on 3rd year after harvest

Tuile
Same varietals as Rose & Ambre
Grenache Noir MUST be a part

*same aging as Ambre

Rancio
-Must be Tuile or Ambre-
*(???)

Hors d’Age
-Must be Tuile or Ambre-
*aged until 9/1 on 5th year after harvest

Question 12

Style(s) of

Rivesaltes AOP

Answer 12

• *Grenat**
• 100% Grenache Noir*

Rose
80% min combined:
Grenache (all), Tourbat, Macabeu

Ambre
(same varietals as Rose)
can be Rancio or Hors d’Age

• *Tuile**
• can be Rancio or Hors d’Age*
• *Rancio**
• must be Ambre or Tuile*
• *Hors d’Age**
• must be Ambre or Tuile*

Question 13

What are the aging requirements of

Rivesaltes-Grenat AOP?

Answer 13

*aged in a “reductive environment”
until at least 5/1

*3 months min in bottle

*Must be bottled by 6/30 on 2nd year after harvest

Question 14

What are the aging requirements of

Rivesaltes-Ambre AOP?

Answer 14

2 years min aging from 3/1 after harvest

*must be aged in a “reductive environment”

Question 15

What are the aging requirements of

Rivesaltes-Hors d’Age AOP?

Answer 15

*5 years min aging from 9/1 on year of harvest

-Must be Tuile or Ambre-

Question 16

Muscat de Rivesaltes AOP

(VDN!)

Answer 16

Vin Doux Naturel Only
White Only!!

Muscat Blancs a Petite Grains &
Muscat d’Alexandrie - used exclusively in the Rousillon

~30 hl/ha~
~21.5% min ABV~
~{15% actual}

252 g/l min Must Weight
100 g/l min RS

• *Muscat de Noel - must be bottled by 12/1 on year if harvest
  
  • A nouveau style of Muscat VDN produced in Muscat de Lunel AOP and Muscat de Rivesaltes AOP.

(*also make a Muscat de Noel)

Question 17

Grand Roussillon AOP

(VDN!)

Answer 17

• *Vin Doux Naturel Only!!**
• Blanc - Rose - Rouge - Rancio*

80% min combined:
Grenache (all), Tourbat, Macabeu

~30 hl/ha~
~21.5% min ABV~
~{15% actual}~

*released 9/1 on 3rd year after harvest

252 g/l min Must Weight
45 g/l min RS

Question 18

Maury AOP

(Rd, VDN)

Black Schist Soil

Answer 18

Dry Red - Vin Doux Naturel

Dry Red
60-80% Grenache

plus+
Syrah, Mourvedre, Carignan

~40 hl/ha~
~12.5% min ABV~

*released 3/1

Vin Doux Naturel
Blanc - Ambre - Grenat - Tuile
Rancio - Hors d’Age

~30 hl/ha~
~21.5% min ABV~
{15% actual}

252 g/l min Must Weight
45 g/l min RS

Blanc
80% min combined:
Grenache Blanc, Grenache Gris,
Tourbot, Macabeu

*released 5/1
*must be bottled by 6/30 on 2nd year after harvest

*must be vintage dated

Ambre
Same varietals as Blanc

*aged in glass or sealed containers
*released 3/1 on 3rd year after harvest

Grenat
75-100% min Grenache

*released 5/1
*bottled by 6/30 on 2nd year after harvest

**must be vintage dated

Tuile
Same varietals as Grenat

*aged in glass or sealed containers
**released 3/1 on 3rd year after harvest

Rancio
(???)

Hors d’Age
*aged in glass or sealed containers
**released 9/1 on 5th year after harvest

Question 19

Maury (rouge) AOP

Answer 19

Dry Red
60-80% Grenache

plus+
Syrah, Mourvedre, Carignan

~40 hl/ha~
~12.5% min ABV~

*released 3/1

Question 20

Cotes de Roussillon AOP

(Rd, W, Rs)

Answer 20

Red - White - Rose
“Les Aspres“
Dry

White
50% min combined:
Grenache Blanc, Macabeu, Tourbot
(none more than 80%)

~50 hl/ha~
~11% min ABV~

(can be Priemeur)

Red - Rose
80% min combined:
Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre,
Carignan
(none more than 80%)

~50 hl/ha~
~12% min ABV~

(can be Primeur)

Les Aspres (sub-zone)
Red Only!!
Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre
plus+ Carignan
(must be 3; no 2 can equal >90%)

~45 hl/ha~
~12.5% min ABV~

*released 10/1 year after harvest

Question 21

Cotes de Roussillon Villages AOP

(Rd!)

Answer 21

• *Dry Red Only!!**
• All wines must be blends*

80% min combined:
Grenache (70% Max)
Carignan (60% Max)

Syrah + Mourvedre
(70% Max each; 30% min combined)

~45 hl/ha (42 with sub)~
~12.5% min ABV~

*released 2/15

4 villages can append:

• Caramany
• Latour-de-France
• Lesquerde
• Tautavel

Question 22

Collioure AOP

(Rd, W, Rs)

Answer 22

• *Red - White - Rose**
• Dry*

~40 hl/ha~

White
Grenache Blanc, Grenache Gris,
Marsanne, Roussanne, Vermentino
Macabeu, Tourbat
(can be single varietal)

~12% min ABV~

Rose
Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre,
Carignan, Grenache Gris

plus+
Cinsault, Counoise
(must be min 2 varietals)

~11.5% min ABV~

Red
Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre,
Carignan

plus+
Cinsault, Counoise
(must be min 2 varietals)

~12% min ABV~

*released 6/1

Question 23

Banyuls AOP

(VDN!)

Grey Schist Soil

Answer 23

• *Vin Doux Naturel Only!!**
• Blanc - Ambre - Rose*
• Rimage - Traditionnel - Hors d’Age*

~30 hl/ha~
~21.5% min ABV~
~{15% actual}~

252 g/l min Must Weight
45 g/l min RS

Blanc
80% min combined:
Grenache Blanc, Grenache Gris,
Macabeu, Tourbat

*released 5/1

Ambre
Same varietals as Blanc

*released 3/1 on 3rd year after harvest

Rose
80% min combined:
Grenache (all), Macabeu, Tourbat

Rimage
Vintage dated Red
90% min Grenache

*released 5/1

Traditionnel
Red
90% min combined:
Grenache (50% min) + Grenache Gris

*released 3/1 on 3rd year after harvest

Hors d’Age
released 9/1 on 5th year after harvest

Question 24

Banyuls Grand Cru AOP

(VDN!)

Answer 24

• *Red Vin doux Naturel Only!!**
• AOP - Rancio - Hors d’Age*

75% min Grenache

~30 hl/ha~
~21.5% min ABV~
~{15% actual}~

252 g/l min Must Weight
45 g/l min RS
(can be Sec - 54 g/l Max RS)

AOP
*released 6/1 on 3rd year after harvest
**30 months min in barrel

Rancio
(???)

Hors d’Age
*released 9/1 on 5th year after harvest
*30 months min in barrel

Question 25

Aging requirement of Banyuls Grand Cru Hors d'Age AOP?

Answer 25

**\*released 9/1 on _5th year after harvest_** **\*30 months min in barrel** ========== _AOP_ \*released 3/1 on 3rd year after harvest \*30 months min in barrel

Question 26

What is the aging requirements of Banyuls Grand Cru AOP?

Answer 26

**\*released 6/1 on _3rd year after harvest_** **\*30 months min in barrel** ========== _Hors d'Age_ \*released 9/1 on 5th year after harvest \*30 months min in barrel