Wine Regions & Grapes
Sampling of Wineries
Acorn Andrea Oberto Atlas Peak Benziger Beringer Blandy's Bodega Navarro Correas Burgans Cantina Terlano Chimney Rock Chronicle Domaine Carneros Domaine de la Mordoree Dow's Dr. Loosen Emilio Lustau Fonseca Foxen Gaston Riviere Glen Ellen Hess Collection Innocent Bystander Kendall-Jackson Korbel La Caudrina Luna Vineyards Madeira Wine Company Martin Codax Masi Merryvale Mulderbosch Navarro Vineyards Pahlmeyer Roederer Estate Ruggeri Sawyer Cellars Sbragia Six Sigma Winery St. James Steltzner Vineyards Trinchero Winery Trione V. Sattui Winery William Fevre Wilson Winery
Category Archives: Rhône
Vieux Telegraphe Telegramme 2007 and Tim Gaiser Wine Genius
Vieux Telegraphe, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Télégramme 2007 Tasted first at 11:15 on Friday morning, the nose featured cherries, strawberries, black pepper, sweet notes of vanilla and caramel as wells as the scent of the garrigue. In the mouth the wine showed medium … Continue reading
Posted in Chateauneuf-du-Pape, France, Grenache, Rhône
Tagged Tim Gaiser MS, Vieux Telegraphe
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Domaine Richaud L’Ebrescade 2004
Domaine Richaud, Cairanne Cotes du Rhone Villages, L’Ebrescade 2004 The nose features sweet black fruit, a bit of raisins, a light meaty character and a sense of the garrigue. In the mouth it is smooth and succulent, rich, with some … Continue reading
Posted in Cairanne, Cotes du Rhone, Cotes du Rhone Villages, France, Grenache, Rhône
Tagged Richaud
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Jaboulet Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise 2007
Paul Jaboulet Aine, Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise, Le Chant des Griolles 2007 The nose features the expected orange blossom of Muscat with the region’s typical spiritous character in the subtly in the background. In the mouth you’ll find oranges and cinnamon, … Continue reading
Posted in Fortified dessert, France, Late Harvest White, Muscat, Muscat Beaumes de Venise, Rhône, White Dessert
Tagged Jaboulet
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Mordoree Cotes-Du-Rhone 2008
Domaine de la Mordorée Côtes-Du-Rhône “La Dame Rousse” 2008 Give this some air to blow off the stink. Then with 15 minutes the black pepper and red fruits will emerge. In the mouth it is overtly fruity and quite structured, … Continue reading
Red Wine Stars of the Rhone
Coudoulet de Beaucastel, Cotes-du-Rhone Rouge, 2007 The fruit has both a fresh and dried character, combining cherries, plums and raisins. In the mouth it has an elegant profile, the structure is apparent yet restrained, not dominating the flavors – very … Continue reading
Posted in Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Cotes du Rhone, France, Grenache, Mourvedre, Rhône
Tagged Beaucastel, Chateau La Nerthe
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Alain Graillot Crozes Hermitage 2008
Alain Graillot, Crozes Hermitage 2008 This vintage features lots of black pepper and a structured palate, with long acidity and a commensurate amount of tannin. For some there will be too much of a memory of Band-Aids and the dentist … Continue reading
Rose 2009 from Mordoree and Ojai
This flight is a great comparison of two different approaches to rose, one with rapier-like acidity and the other with a broad and weighty mouthfeel. The Ojai Vineyard, California, Rose 2009 This rose shows an expression of citrus and cherries … Continue reading
Posted in California, Grenache, Rhône, Rosé, Syrah, Tavel
Tagged Domaine de la Mordoree, Ojai
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Rhone blends from California and Chateauneuf-du-Pape
Tablas Creek Vineyard, Paso Robles, Cotes de Tablas 2008 The fruit is fresh and lively in the nose, with floral notes and sweet spice. In the mouth it is medium-bodied, very fruity and structured, making it a winner with grilled … Continue reading
Posted in California, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Counoise, Grenache, Mourvedre, Paso Robles, Rhone Blend, Rhône, Syrah
Tagged Tablas Creek
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Perrin & Fils Cotes du Rhone Villages 2007
Perrin & Fils, Cotes du Rhone Villages 2007 The nose features sweet berries and black pepper. In the mouth it quite structured with medium weight; it’s crying out for red meat – nice value from the Rhone. This wine is … Continue reading
Posted in Cotes du Rhone, Cotes du Rhone Villages, France, Grenache, Rhône, Syrah
Tagged Perrin et Fils
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Vignerons de Tavel 2007
Les Vignerons de Tavel, Tavel, Prestige des Lauzeraies 2007 Sweet cherry fruit marks the nose and carries over on the palate. The mouth is broad and weighty, the acidity low, the fruit flavors are compelling and the body is big … Continue reading
Alain Graillot Crozes Hermitage 2007
Alain Graillot, Crozes Hermitage 2007 In the nose you sense the classic black pepper along with a meatiness and herbal character, perhaps hinting at rosemary and thyme. In the mouth this is a structured Syrah, acidic and tannic, delicious and … Continue reading
Posted in Crozes-Hermitage, France, Rhône, Syrah
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Mordoree Tavel Rose 2008
Domaine de la Mordoree, Tavel, “La Dame Rousse” 2008 The freshness of strawberries are evident in the nose and in the mouth that theme is over a rather big and slightly warm structure. The grapes behind this pink wine are … Continue reading
Perrin Vacqueyras 2006
Perrin & Fils, Vacqueyras, Les Christins 2006 Black pepper and red fruits combine with a sense of the garrigue when you smell this wine. In the mouth it is structured and ready to accompany a pepper steak; the acidity carries … Continue reading
Posted in France, Grenache, Rhône, Syrah, Vacqueyras
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#2 Beaucastel 2005
Coudoulet de Beaucastel, Cotes-du-Rhone Rouge, 2005 The black fruits are alight in the nose with a liquer-like character. In the mouth the fruit is very expressive with the structure you’d expect – a great combo. The grapes are sourced from … Continue reading
Posted in Cinsault, Cotes du Rhone, France, Grenache, Mourvedre, Rhône, Syrah
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Reds from the Northern Rhone
This flight features 3 wines from the Northern Rhone, all 100% Syrah. Domaine Eric et Joel Durand, Cornas, Empreintes 2005 In the nose there is tar, a sense of permanent solution, meat and black fruits. With more air the black … Continue reading
Posted in Cornas, Cote-Rotie, Hermitage, Rhône, Syrah
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Pierre Gonon Saint-Joseph “Les Oliviers 2006
Domaine Pierre Gonon, Saint-Joseph, “Les Oliviers” 2006 This bottle of white Saint-Joseph sports a toasty nose, with minerality and nuttiness. The mouth follows a similar line, with toasty, smoky essence and buttery richnss. This is a fat and weighty white … Continue reading
Posted in France, Marsanne, Rhône, Roussanne, Saint-Joseph
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Ogier Viognier 2006
Michel & Stéphane Ogier, Vin de Pays des Collines Rhodaniennes, Vigonier de Rosine 2006 You would swear this wine is from the New World when you stick your nose in the glass. The peachy fruit is just so vibrant. In … Continue reading
Vieux Telegraphe White Chateauneuf 2006
Domaine du Vieux Telegraphe, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, “La Crau” 2006 The wine today is Brunier’s white CDP. In the nose there is baking bread, straw and a subtle sense of stone fruits. In the mouth the wine is quite weighty, mineral driven … Continue reading
Posted in Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Clairette, France, Grenache Blanc, Rhône
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Chapoutier Les Coufis de Paille de l’Ardeche 2001
M. Chapoutier, Vin de Table de France, Doux, Les Coufis de Paille de l’Ardeche 2001 This wine is deeply golden, picking up hues of amber and a touch of khaki. The nose is a complex mix of orange and spice, … Continue reading
Posted in France, Rhône, Viognier, White Dessert
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Chateauneuf-du-Pape
Andre Brunel, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Les Cailloux 2005 The nose sports smoke and a healthy but appropriate dose of brett for this wine, accentuating a meatiness. The earthiness repeats in the mouth with an explosion of red fruits. The structure provides the … Continue reading
Posted in Chateauneuf-du-Pape, France, Grenache, Mourvedre, Rhône
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The Carpenters’ favourite
Domaine des Bernardins, Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise 2006 A complex mix of fresh peaches, flowers and alcohol, in check for the style. The RS is on the low side so it would be better to look to fresh fruit as a … Continue reading
Posted in France, Muscat Beaumes de Venise, Rhône, White Dessert
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Roaming for Rhone
Le Clos du Caillou Cotes du Rhone Vielles Vignes Cuvee Unique 2005 This is a solid wine, balanced in medium weight with ripe fruits and structure. The ripeness is such that there are liquer-like black fruits. The alcohol is showing … Continue reading
Posted in California, Crozes-Hermitage, France, Rhone Blend, Rhône, Santa Ynez Valley, Syrah
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Muscat Love?
Domaine des Bernardins Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise 2005 Quite complex with apparent alcohol. 100% Muscat Blanc a Petits Grains. Mis par Cave Castaud in Beaumes-de-Venise 15% $12.99 (375ml) at Bottle Barn
Posted in France, Muscat, Muscat Beaumes de Venise, Rhône
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Baby Beaucastel
Perrin & Fils Cotes du Rhone Villages 2004 Gamey with earthy notes and a fair amount of tannin. This wine is 50% Syrah and 50% Grenache. Mis in Orange 13% $9.69 at Bottle Barn
Posted in France, Rhône
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The Lighter Side of Rhone
Chateau La Canorgue Cotes du Luberon 2006 Unfortunately this wine is showing its alcohol quite overtly. The grapes for this wine are Clairette, Roussanne, Marsanne and Bourboulenc. La Canorgue farms its 30 hectares biodynamically. Mis au chateau par Jean-Pierre et … Continue reading
Posted in Coteaux-du-Tricastin, Cotes du Luberon, France, Rhône
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A Travel to Tavel
Domaine de la Mordoree Tavel La Dame Rousse 2006 Smells of strawberry and bisquits. There’s a broad mouthfeel with fruit to taste and added weight compared to other roses – very nice. The grapes behind this pink wine are 60% … Continue reading
Brunier’s Satellite
Domaine Les Pallieres Gigondas 2003 This has been a consistent performer at a more affordable price than the well-made Brunier wines from CDP. The last bottle tasted earlier in 2007 was good again, but the tannic astringency at that time … Continue reading
Posted in France, Gigondas, Grenache, Rhone Blend, Rhône
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Rhone Richaud
Domaine Richaud Cairanne Cotes du Rhone Villages 2005 When I visited with Marcel Richaud a few years ago, his red wines were concentrated and demonstrated the value in this appellation. Bottles tasted here at home from the 2003 vintage were … Continue reading
Posted in France, Grenache, Rhône
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Que Syrah – This Syrah
This flight features 3 Syrah from both sides of the Atlantic. Domaine des Entrefaux Crozes-Hermitage 2005 Black pepper and structure in a good value Northern Rhone Syrah. Charles & Francois Tardy a Chanos-Curson 12.5% $14.49 at Bottle Barn Lewis Cellars … Continue reading
Posted in California, Cote-Rotie, Crozes-Hermitage, France, Rhône, Sonoma County
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