Tasting notes: Rhone-ish, Oct. 27, 2018

Pine Ridge Chenin Blanc/Viognier, California 2017

Regular price: $17.99

Sale Price: $13.99

This a bright and crisp blend that really shows the fresh flavors of Chenin Blanc (floral, pear, honeysuckle) with the riper Viognier there to provide weight and aromatics. Fermented and aged in stainless, the wine is clean and brisk, great as an aperitif or with light foods.

Berthet-Rayne Cotes du Rhone Blanc 2017

Regular Price $16.99

Sale price $12.99

A blend of equal parts Roussanne, Marsanne, Clairette, and Bourboulenc, this is a wine of deep flavors and complex aromas. Weighty and rich, yet balanced and crisp, this will work well with pork, poultry or fish dishes.

Rasa Vineyards ‘Occam’s Razor’, Columbia Valley 2014

Regular price: $17.99

Sale Price: $13.99

Some months back, when we first brought in this wine, I described it as the best value wine that was made in the US. I still believe that to be true. Bold and fresh, this field blend of Syrah, sangiovese, merlot and cab, over delivers with flavor while maintaining balance.

Domaine de Fondreche, Ventoux 2016

Regular Price $24.99

Sale price $19.99

This blend of classic Rhone varietals (Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre) is ripe and full but not without nuance. Lurking behind the dense fruit flavors are secondary herbal and woods-ey aromas and nuances that adds to the allure of the wine. Bull and structured, it’s a lot of wine for the money.

Ramey Syrah, Sonoma Coast 2014

Regular Price $44.99

Sale price $35.99

I think California Syrah has always suffered through an identity crisis…should it be big and brooding? Bright and cheerful? Ripe and jammy? Cloaked in new oak? Lean and mean? David Ramey makes this one a bit classically…allowing the Syrah from cool-ish climate Sonoma Coast to ripen slowly and co-fermenting with a bit of Viognier. Using only French oak (41% new) keeps the entire effort moderate and very good.

Alain Graillot Crozes-Hermitage 2016

Regular Price $49.99

Sale price $39.99

In the right hands, Syrah can be compelling, and Alain Graillot has the right hands. Powerful and full but not ponderous or one-note, this wine is deep and aromatic, structured but lithe. This wine is drinking pretty good right now but certainly has some aging potential if that’s the direction that you want to go.