by Ray Johnson | Dec 27, 2009 | Clairette, France, Marsanne, Provence, Roussanne, Vin de Pays des Alpilles
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...
by Ray Johnson | Nov 9, 2009 | Australia, Marsanne, McLaren Vale, Rhone Blend, South Australia, Viognier
d’Arenberg, McLaren Vale, The Hermit Crab 2008 The nose features a combo of the herbaceousness that we can find with Marsanne and the overt peaches that we often see with Viognier. The mouth shows us an oily richness overtop of peaches – thick and mouth-filling....
by Ray Johnson | Sep 15, 2009 | California, Carneros, Marsanne, Roussanne, Sonoma County
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...
by Ray Johnson | Dec 3, 2008 | France, Marsanne, Rhône, Roussanne, Saint-Joseph
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...
by Ray Johnson | Nov 10, 2008 | Cabernet Sauvignon, California, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Cotes du Rhone, Dry Creek Valley, Grenache, Lake County, Marsanne, Mendocino County, Mourvedre, Napa Valley, Rhone Blend, Russian River Valley, Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County, Syrah, Viognier
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...
by Ray Johnson | Nov 30, 2007 | Australia, Grenache, Marsanne, McLaren Vale, Rhone Blend, Rosé, Roussanne, Syrah, Viognier
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...