2016 Domaine Verset A & E Cornas, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Ruby in color, mostly clear and bright with some purple swirls. The nose has black raspberries, black cherries, roasted meats and slight black pepper. Full bodied. Medium tannins. Good balance. On the palate, this seems open and ready to go. Black cherries, some black raspberries with minerality and some char. Nice finish. A nice middleweight Cornas that is nice on its own but better with food. A good match would be Indian cuisine. Drink over the next five to eight years.

Grade:

A-

Score:

Vintage:

2016

Rhone Valley & Spanish Rhone-style Wines Tasted at the 2008 Hospice du Rhone Events

The Rhone Report: About Rhone and Rhone-Style Wines and Winemakers is part of an ongoing series. Last month we reported on American Rhone-style wines we tasted at the 16th annual Hospice du Rhone events in Paso Robles, California from May 1 to 3, 2008. We noted that this event was an opportunity to consider Rhone-style wines from a fresh perspective because, unlike most tasting opportunities, these events included Rhone-style wines from the Rhone Valley itself (51 wineries), elsewhere in France (4 wineries) as well as from Spain (4 wineries), Australia (17 wineries), South Africa (6 wineries), Chile (2 wineries), Argentina (1 winery) and the United States. While this was a California-dominated event, and while many of the Rhone Valley’s best producers weren’t represented, there was still sufficient European and other entries to make for interesting comparisons and contrasts.

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Northern Rhone Red: The Original Syrah

It’s summer, which means that for three months we say goodbye to rich, heavy red wines and welcome into our repertoire zippy whites and crisp roses to sip on the porch while soaking in the sun. That’s what most of the country does, at least. But not here. I live in the San Francisco Bay Area, whose summer comes in the fall and spring, whose spring comes in the winter, and whose winter comes in the summer (and whose fall never comes).

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2008 Hospice du Rhone Events: Highs & Lows of American Rhone-style Wines Tasted

The Rhone Report: About Rhone and Rhone-Style Wines and Winemakers is part of an ongoing series. The 16th annual Hospice du Rhone events in Paso Robles, California from May 1 to 3, 2008 was an opportunity to consider Rhone-style wines from a fresh perspective. Unlike most tasting opportunities, these events included Rhone-style wines from the Rhone Valley itself (51 wineries), elsewhere in France (4 wineries) as well as from Spain (4 wineries), Australia (17 wineries), South Africa (6 wineries), Chile (2 wineries), Argentina (1 winery) and the United States. The American wines were mostly from California (144 wineries), but a few examples from Arizona (2 wineries) and Washington State (5 wineries) were also included. While this is a California-dominated event, and while many of the Rhone Valley’s best producers aren’t represented, there is still sufficient European and other entries to make for interesting comparisons and contrasts. The events included two general tastings and a series of focused seminars.

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2017 Domaine Verset A & E Cornas, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage:

2017

Score:

Grade:

Current Price:

$48.00USD

This is made from 100% Syrah in the Northern Rhone. Purple in color with a ruby rim, opaque and bright. The nose is nice if a bit reticent at first. Boysenberries with slight sandalwood and a bit of floral qualities and char. Full bodied. Light tannins. On the palate, this is understated but quite good. Boysenberries with some char and spice. Deep. Good balance. Long finish. This is nice on its own and better with hearty food. It went well with Roasted Peppers and Root Vegetables. Drink over the next eight to twelve years.

2015 Domaine de Fauterie Cornas, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage:

2015

Score:

Grade:

A-

This was quite tight. Opened and tried over three nights and on the third night it finally started to show something. That is, of course, not unusual for a traditional Cornas. Purple in color, opaque and moderately bright. The nose has boysenberries, slight bacon fat, black olives and slight pepper. On the palate, this is medium bodied and very concentrated. Nice texture which is probably the best clue that there is a nice wine lurking in there once it opens. Enough boysenberry fruit to satisfy but this is more about minerality and earthiness. It is quite tasty too. If opening now,

2016 Domaine Verset A & E Cornas, France, Rhone, Wine Review

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Rhone Valley & Spanish Rhone-style Wines Tasted at the 2008 Hospice du Rhone Events

Northern Rhone Red: The Original Syrah

2008 Hospice du Rhone Events: Highs & Lows of American Rhone-style Wines Tasted

2017 Domaine Verset A & E Cornas, France, Rhone, Wine Review

2015 Domaine de Fauterie Cornas, France, Rhone, Wine Review