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Roussanne |
One of a half-dozen principal white vine varieties of the Rhône Valley, Roussanne is the only one which figures in red and white appellations of both the northern and southern Rhône. It is more prevalently planted than the elusive Viognier but less so than the reliable Marsanne, with which it is blended in the white wines of Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage, St.-Joseph and St-Péray; and with Syrah and Roussanne in the red wines of the first three.
Roussanne is a warm climate, late-ripening, delicate vine which requires shelter to avoid coulure, or the dropping of the flowers before berries have had a chance to form. Best suited to the mid sections of steep slopes, it irregularly produces low yields of bunches and is prone to grey rot, mildew and oxidation. The vine bears moderately large, rough, toothy, five-lobed leaves with downy undersides and tight, conical bunches of small white-gold to pink-gold, moderately thick skinned berries.
The fruit is of firm, balanced acidity and potentially high alcohol with delicate floral aromas and excellent extract and structure. Roussanne may have the potential to equal Viognier in quality and character, and producers who have taken an interest in it have focused on recent clones which avoid some of its cultivation problems.
When conscientiously produced as a stand-alone varietal, Roussanne yields elegant, complex wines of considerable finesse, with good acidic balance and flavors of melon, sweet white fruit, pears, tree blossoms and herbs. Examples capable of aging develop impressions of honey, coffee, flowers and almonds. Also grown in California, Italy and Australia. |
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Alternate Names: Bergeron, Barbin, Rebelot, Greffou, Picotin Blanc; confused in California with Viognier |
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See Also: Bourboulenc Cinsault Clairette Grenache Blanc Grenache Noir Marsanne Mourvèdre Syrah |
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