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Roussanne: Floral aromas and barrel lot selection
We also learn about Roussanne, which can be blended with Marsanne, from single-varietal wines. Using producer materials from California, we distinguish between the proportion of varieties and the proportion of barrel-aged lots.
Questions for this course
Even in a single-varietal white, are multiple lots combined?
Before you start reading, briefly jot down your thoughts. You will rephrase them at the end.
To applied practice using the material ↓
To explanation task notes ↓Roussanne / Learn by grape
Update date: 2026-09-24
Aromatic whites with floral notes from the Rhône
Roussanne is a white variety from the Northern Rhône, and is often blended with Marsanne, but is also cultivated in the Southern Rhône. Inter Rhône introduces aromas reminiscent of honeysuckle and iris, and with aging, notes of dried fruit and honey. By separating youthful fruit and floral notes from the changes brought by aging, you can also consider differences in drinking windows.
Grape variety characteristics as considered from viticulture.
Roussanne is a variety that requires attention to powdery mildew and grey rot. Inter Rhône lists warm, well-drained, stony soils as suitable regions. Knowing not just the names of aromas but also how vineyard drainage and disease management are handled helps you understand what conditions producers require for cultivation.
Selecting lots within a single-varietal.
The 2023 Tablas Creek Roussanne is 100% of this variety. The producer explains that about 60% comes from 132-gallon puncheons and about 40% from 60-gallon barriques. Even when combining lots aged in different vessels, it remains a single-variety wine if the base grape is the same. The term “combine” alone does not indicate a blend of varieties.
What to align and what to compare.
Aroma
- Conditions to standardize
- Roussanne, a white variety
- Conditions for comparison.
- Fragrances of young flowers and impressions after aging
- Additional points to confirm
- Check the vintage year and storage conditions
Vineyard
- Conditions to standardize
- Warm with good drainage conditions
- Conditions for comparison.
- Responses to soil and disease.
- Additional points to confirm
- Connect the grape variety's characteristics to cultivation as well.
Lot
- Conditions to standardize
- Roussanne 100%
- Conditions for comparison.
- Choose from barrels of different volumes.
- Additional points to confirm
- Keep blend ratio and lot ratio separate.
Order of reading and key points to consider in each article
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France
Rhône
Read about the use of white grape varieties in the north and south.
- 2↗
United States
Central Coast: Cool Air Through East–West Valleys
Learn about Paso Robles and the conditions of the coast and inland areas.
- 3↗
United States
Label exercise: What do the 75%, 85%, and 95% figures represent?
Distinguishing grape variety, AVA, and blend information.
READ · HYPOTHESIZE · RECONSIDER
Roussanne reading comprehension: floral aromas and barrel lot selection
In the 2023 technical sheet for Tablas Creek’s Roussanne, distinguish between the two proportions.
This summarizes the publicly available product information for Tablas Creek '2023 Roussanne.' Specifications may differ for other vintages.
| Item | Entry | What can be discerned |
|---|---|---|
| Grapes | Roussanne 100% | Single variety |
| The selected lot | About 60%: 132-gallon puncheons | Vessel and batch composition |
| The selected lot | About 40%: 60-gallon barriques | Vessel and batch composition |
| Regions | Adelaida District Paso Robles | California region labeling |
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Read the explanation for each question
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What is the varietal composition of this wine?
The 60% and 40% shown in the documentation refer to the barrel-origin blend, not the grape variety proportion. The grape section lists 100% Roussanne. Even if there are multiple percentages in the same product documentation, explain after confirming what each figure refers to.
How do you record lot composition?
The producer gives an approximate ratio for the lots. Preserve the precision of 'about 60%' and 'about 40%' rather than rewriting them as strict analytical figures. The presence of two types of vessels and their capacities or an equal distribution of wine are separate issues.
Why can it still be called a single-variety wine even after blending multiple lots?
The expression "single variety" provides information about the grape composition. In this example, different lots made from the same Roussanne are selected and blended. Read both the variety and lot information to explain without contradiction, rather than by origin or number of barrels.
Basis and sources for the exercise
Practice exercises in comparison
In the 2023 technical sheet for Tablas Creek’s Roussanne, distinguish between the two proportions.
Read examples of organizing comparisons
| Conditions for Comparison | Grape variety percentage | Proportion of lots with oak-derived characteristics. |
|---|---|---|
| Documentation for the 2023 vintage | Roussanne 100% | About 60% punchon / about 40% barrique |
| What is indicated | Grape varieties used | Lot composition of the selected wine |
| Conditions for Comparison | Single variety or blend of several varieties | Capacity, age, and maturation conditions of container |
This is an organized study tool based on the designated articles for this course. You can check specific facts and sources in each article.
Explain in your own words
Explain the grape blend and the lot composition in a sentence each, and write the reason why it is still considered a single variety even if multiple barrels are used.
Check after writing
- Did you distinguish between blend ratio and lot ratio?
- Was the accuracy of 'about' maintained?
- Was this explained as a 2023 vintage specification?
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