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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Rosenblum Cellars, Lodi, Ripkin Ranch, Late Harvest Viognier, Lot 34 This is peaches in a glass with a thick mouthfeel, a little heat and the low acidity that often marks Viognier. The fruit was botritised and harvested at 36 brix. The final RS is 10%. P&B in Alameda 14% $14.49 for a 375ml bottle at [...]

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Zaca Mesa, Santa Ynez Valley, Estate Grown and Bottled, Viognier 2007 This wine is peaches on steroids all the way through with a rich, very viscous mouthfeel that emphasizes fruit rather than oak or butter, as is seen in some of the heavier-handed approaches to this variety. And there is no hint of the whopping [...]

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Domaine de Triennes, Vin de Pays du Var, Sainte Fleur, Viognier 2006 The ‘05 was a bit alcoholic, though that is often tolerated in Viognier. This bottle, the ‘06 has some sense of that in the mouth but more than enough vivacious fruit to offset it. The apricot and pineapple flavors go on and on. [...]

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Zaca Mesa Santa Ynez Valley Viognier 2007
This wine has been spot on over time from a winery that took up the cause of Rhone grapes before many others dared to in California. Fermented in stainless and finished in neutral French oak for 3 months. Winemaker Clay Brock. Estate Grown and Bottled in Los Olivos 15% [...]

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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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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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Yalumba Eden Valley Viognier 2005
Aged in neutral French oak. Produced in Angaston 14.5% $12.99 at Bottle Barn Yalumba

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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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