Rhone (Rhône)

• Châteauneuf-du-Pape
• Cornas
• Crozes-Hermitage
• Gigondas
• Hermitage
• Lirac
• Saint Joseph

The grapes for this wine come principally from the Mollard lieu-dit (65%) with the rest coming from Font-Jean, Viallière, and La Landonne.  It is a blend of Syrah 93%, and Viognier 7%.  Just a stunning wine, and for Cote Rotie, a great value.  Purple in color with a slight ruby rim, opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, smoke, slight bacon fat, and slight violets.  Full bodied.  Good acidity. Great glycerin driven texture.  On the palate, black raspberries and black pepper.  Firm tannins.    Long finish.  This needs a bit more time and then should drink well for the next twent

This is the first ever vintage of this wine.  Made from a massal (various clones growing together) selection of 65 year old vines at the top of the hill.  The Syrah is Serines which is a particular clone of Syrah that is native to the northern Rhone.  Some people think it is a distinct varietal but that is yet to be proven.  Purple in color with ruby swirls, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, black cherries, violets and char.  A wonderful velvety texture.  Medium tannins.  Great balance.  Delicious.  On the palate, black raspberries, smoke, and great minerality.  Tig

This is 100% Syrah.  Purple in color with ruby swirls, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is great with black raspberries, smoked meat, slight graphite and spices.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  Nice acidity.  On the palate, black raspberries with underlying minerality.  Great, lush texture.  Long finish.  Delicious.  This could use a few more years, but is drinking well already.  It should drink well for the next twenty to twenty-five years.  Great on its own, this will work well with hearty stews or other big foods.  Is should improve with cellar time.  

Very nice expression of a northern Rhone Viognier.  Deep golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is perfumed with floral notes as well as peach, slight hay, and slight golden raisin.  Full bodied.  Viscous, slightly oily texture.  On the palate, some waxiness with some pear, slight orange and just a hint of floral notes.  Good acidity.  Dry.  Long finish.  This probably should be drunk in the next few years to enjoy the freshness.  Nice on its own, this would work well with lighter foods but would be nice s well with lobster.  

This is a dessert wine made from Muscat a Petit Grains in the southern Rhone.  Vidal Fleury is now owned by the Guigal family, but the winery is the oldest in the Rhone.  Thomas Jefferson visited in the 1700's.  This is an excellent value in dessert wine.  Golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is pretty with apricot and blood orange and a slight honey note.  Medium bodied.  Good acidity.  Sweet, not cloying.  On the palate, oranges and slight honey notes.  Long finish.  A nice way to top off an evening.  This is nice on its own and would work well with a less sweet cake or cookie.  

The trio of Guigal La La Cote Rotie's are legendary as some of the greatest wines in the world.  Any time one gets to try a bottle is a rare occasion.  Now, 2002 was not a great or even good vintage, but this bottle had been purchased for an affordable price on release and well stored waiting for the right time to open.  At age 20, it was drinking quite well if not at the level of some better vintages.  This is 95% Syrah and 5% Viognier which was less than usual due to the botrytis that came from the wet conditions.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is pretty with black ra

This is the basic Cote Rotie from purchased fruit.  It is 96% Syrah with 4% Viognier that saw 36 months in barrel, half of that new oak.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is very nice with black raspberries, black pepper, black olives and slight smoke.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, black raspberries with underlying char.  Plenty of depth.  Long finish.  This is delicious on its own and should be very food friendly.  It would be perfect with a steak.  Drink over the next ten to twelve years.  

This is 100% Syrah from older vines in the northern Rhone.  Guigal bought the vineyards from Jean-Louis Grippat upon his retirement: The granite based soil held in place by a series of terraces. The wine is fermented in stainless-steel tanks, followed by 30 months in new oak barrels.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with black raspberries, black cherries, black olives and spice.  Full bodied.   Medium tannins.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Ripe black raspberries, some black cherries with underlying char and spice.

This is the basic Saint Joseph from Guigal.  It is 100% Syrah.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is very nice with black raspberries, char, black olives, spice and black pepper.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, black raspberries, spice, and slight coffee grounds.  Delicious.  Nice finish.  A definite step up from the Crozes-Hermitage.  It drinks well on its own and will work very well with food.  Of course a burger, but this will work well with Indian food, too.  Drink over the next eight to ten years.  

This is 100% Syrah from the northern Rhone.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with black raspberries, smoke, slight gamey meat and black olives.  Medium to full bodied.  Light tannins.  Good balance.  Lovely jammy texture.  On the palate, loads of ripe black raspberries with some char and black pepper.  Long finish.  This is great on its own and will work well with foods.  Grilled meats would be a nice choice.  Drink over the next eight to ten years.