HWG Price Book May-Aug 2017

The Henry Wine Group

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The Southern Rhône Val ley BY PETER NEPTUNE, MS, AIWS, CWE, FWS Senior Vice President, Corporate Training & Wine Education for The Henry Wine Group

they meet a higher criteria set out in the regulations of the AC. Here, for example, the minimum alcohol is 12.5% instead of 11%, and the maximum yield is 42 hl/ha, instead of 52 hl/ha. When wine from a number of these villages is blended, its AOC is simply Cotes-du-Rhone-Villages. There are 20 villages that can append their name to the Appellation if the wine comes exclusively from that stated village, such as Côtes- du-Rhône-Villages Sablet AC (see below for full list). Compared to generic Côtes-du-Rhône, these wines generally have better depth, character and quality. The reds are generally excellent, from a minimum of 50% Grenache, plus a minimum of 20% Syrah and/or Mourvedre, and up to 20% Carignan and Cinsault. Whites are improving, made from a minimum of 80% Clairette, Roussanne, and Bourboulenc, with up to 20% of others. There are excellent rosés from Grenache, Carignan, and Cinsault with others. The list of the 20 villages of the Côtes-du-Rhône-Villages (all must be preceded by Côtes-du-Rhône- Villages): Cairanne, Chusclan, Gadagne, Laudun, Massif d'Uchaux, Plan de Dieu, Puyméras, Roaix, Rochegude, Rousset-les-Vignes, Sablet, St. Cecile, St.-Gervais, St.-Maurice- sur-Eygues, St.-Pantaleon-les-Vignes, Séguret, Signargues, Suze-la-Ruisse, Valreas, Vaison la Romaine, and Visan. VINSOBRES AOC: This former Côtes-du-Rhône village was justifiably upgraded to AOC status in February 2006. Located in the Drôme department (the same as Hermitage), Vinsobres is the most Northern- Rhône style Southern-Rhône wine, and is one of the best places to grow Syrah in the Southern Rhône valley, because in this climate the syrah keeps the finesse and elegance that it can lose in other places of the Southern Rhône (due to altitude and also cooled by the valley of the Aigues river and

The mighty Rhône river begins high in the Alps, south of the Swiss city of Lucerne, and flows west through the vineyards of the Valais, then northeast into Lake Geneva. From there it flows south through the vineyards of Savoie, then west to join the Saône River at Lyons. There it turns due south and flows through a steep river gorge as it makes its way to the Mediterranean Sea west of Marseilles. Although the Rhône is considered to be one region, it is effectively divided into two distinct parts: the Syrah-dominated north (Rhône septentrionale) and the Grenache- influenced south (Rhône méridionale) . The climates are different, as are the soils. The northern Rhône vineyards lie between Vienne and Valence, a distance of approximately 40 miles. Then there is a gap of around 35 miles, before the southern Rhône vineyards begin again just south of the town of Montélimar. This article will take a look at the Southern Rhône. The AC structure is three-tiered. First is the generic AC of Côtes du Rhône, from vineyards anywhere in the region. Second is the Côtes du Rhône -Villages AC, reserved for certain villages in the south only. Finally, at the commune level, are the crus , villages with individual AC status. As the Rhône makes its way south the valley begins to spread out around Montelimar, losing its steep slopes and giving way to pockets of sandy soil amidst the garrigue, the wild herbs that dot the scrubland. The climate changes from continental to Mediterranean, with hotter summers and milder winters. With nothing to shelter the vineyards from the Mistral, windbreaks of trees have to be planted. Instead of Syrah dominating the plantings, this is a blender’s appellation, with more than 13 different varietals cultivated in varying

numbers. Grenache is the most important, with a natural high sugar content that results in wines of high alcohol. Cinsault and Mourvedre are also significant, the former is low in tannin, with high acid fruitiness, and the latter is deep-colored and tannic, adding a meaty weight to the blend. Carignan is also used in a red blend, along with others. For the whites, Marsanne and Roussanne are joined by Clairette, Ugni Blanc, Rolle, and others. Muscat blanc a petits grains is also cultivated, to be used in the production of vins doux naturels . All vines are pruned low, to resist the fierce wind and to maximize the reflected heat of the soil. Syrah is often wire trained to the Guyot single system, while the others are bush-pruned. THE TOP APPELLATIONS OF THE SOUTHERN RHÔNE CÔTES-DU-RHÔNE AOC: this is a generic AC that covers the entire Rhône region, with the vast majority produced in the Southern Rhône (over 90%). The quality and character varies widely, with a number of high-quality wines being made, representing tremendous value. Reds, whites and rosé wines are from Grenache, Clairette, Syrah, Mourvedre, Picpoul, Terret noir, Picardin, Cinsault, Roussanne, Marsanne, Bourboulenc, Viognier, with up to 30% Carignan, and a maximum 30% of (in total) Counoise, Muscardin, Vaccarese, Pinot blanc, Mauzac, Pascal blanc, Calitor, Camarese, etc. Nearly every top Rhône producer has a Côtes-du- Rhône in their stable. CÔTES-DU-RHÔNE-VILLAGES AOC: within the southern Rhône there are a number of villages entitled to call their reds (and some rosés) Côtes-du-Rhône-Villages, if

its east-west Le Pontias wind). The blend is a minimum 50%

Grenache and an additional minimum 25% Syrah and/or Mourvedre, with the wines showing an appealing peppery/lavender, blue and red fruit

May–August 2017

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