Domaine Hauvette, Vin de Pays des Alpilles, Blanc de Blancs 2006 The nose features sweet floral notes with peaches, nectarines and a bit of poire eau-de-vie. In the mouth it is soft, lowish in acidity and very lush with a hint of the poire’s warmth in the background.
The grapes at the domain are grown biodynamically [...]

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Cline, Carneros, 85% Marsanne 15% Roussanne 2007 The stone fruits come through in the nose with a dusting of minerality. In the mouth the acidity shines against the backdrop of stones, making this a leaner, almost Old World approach; there’s ample concentration and great length – very nice.
The Marsanne is sourced from the family’s estate [...]

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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 wine, almost unctous and lowish in acidity. The grapes are 80% Marsanne and 20% Roussanne [...]

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Domaine Jean-Louiis Denois, Vin de Pays d’Oc, Les Oliviers, Roussanne 2006 Unfortunately this wine is exhibiting some very strong rotten egg aromas at first opening. With time the fruit comes through and the funk blows off but will everyone wait? Many in the class gave up on this and rightly so. Yes there are funky [...]

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Line Shack, San Antonio Valley California, Roussanne 2006 There are faint smells of stone fruit and some perfume. This is a light-bodied wine, a bit thin but not offensive with lowish acidity. C&B in Santa Maria 13.5% $18 at the winery but sold out Line Shack

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Yangarra McLaren Vale Single Vineyard Roussanne 2007
Pretty floral notes with bits of herbs. The mouth is full of citrus with a light body and some refreshing acidity. V&B in McLaren Vale 13% import sample
Yangarra McLaren Vale Single Vineyard Viognier 2007
A stunning example of the exotic peaches that Viognier can convey with an oily and rich [...]

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Verget du Sud Vin de Pays du Vaucluse Roussanne 2006 Jean-Marie Guffens’ impressive work with the grapes of Burgundy continues with grapes sourced further south, in this case from the Vaucluse, a department on the east side of the river Rhone which encompasses the great town of Avignon. In April ‘08 a bottle was off [...]

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