The Rhone Rangers hosted a seminar yesterday featuring wines that pay homage to the grapes made famous in France’s Rhone Valley. The seminar was not bound by geography; there were wines from both sides of the Atlantic. The seminar was also not bound by tradition as we tasted blends based on combining Syrah and Cabernet [...]

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Bonterra, Lake County, Bartolucci Vineyard, Muscat 2004 This wine has been well-made since the good old days when the you could taste it at the beautiful Valley Oaks facility. There are the compelling floral notes associated with Muscat plus some pastry-like complexity with the age of this wine. Unfortunately, one of two bottles was off. [...]

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Rombauer, California, Zinfandel 2006 This has always been on the very rich end of Zin styles with perceptible residual sugar - nonetheless a crowd-pleaser. This vintage follows the same path. The fruit is 59% Amador, 24% Napa, 11% lake and 6% El Dorado Counties. V&B in St. Helena 15.5% $27.99 at Traverso’s Rombauer
Van Ruiten, Lodi, [...]

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Clarendon Hills Clarendon Brookman Merlot 2005
Roman Bratasiuk pulls no punches with his opulent wines. This Merlot features ripe fruit and the cigar box characters we often associate with Bordeaux. The texture is oh so plush. P&B in Blewitt Springs 14.5% $60 suggested retail in the United States Clarendon Hills
Geyser Peak Alexander Valley Reserve Alexandre Meritage [...]

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Bonterra 73% Mendocino 27% Lake Counties Viognier 2006
This has been a consistently fresh, aromatic wine across the vintages. The flowers and peaches are in full bloom followed by a lowish-acid fresh mouthfeel. All certified organically grown grapes from a brand that has long championed organic, despite being owned by the Neanderthal Brown Forman. Winemaker Robert [...]

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This flight features 4 wines to showcase the breadth of flavors found in California wine.
Guenoc Lake County Sauvignon Blanc 2006
Clean, light-bodied and straightforward value in Sauvignon from the home front. P&B in Middletown, up above Calistoga in the new star zone for Sauvignon Blanc 13.5% $10 at the Wine Emporium langtryestate.com
Savannah-Chanelle Vineyards Russian River Valley [...]

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Wild Hog Vineyard Lake County Nova Vineyards Zinfandel 2003
Dried fruits, good acidity, some creaminess and a little warmth. Organically grown grapes. P&B in Cazadero 15.5% $24 at Traverso’s Wild Hog
Groom Barossa Valley Bush Block Zinfandel 2006
Intense smells of eucalyptus and the taste of black fruits with a tannic backbone. Sourced from an 8 acre vineyard [...]

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