2018 Domaine de la Côte Sainte-Epine St. Joseph Blanc Vieilles Vignes, France, Rhone, Wine Review

This is a Marsanne/Roussanne blend from the northern Rhone were less than 10% of production is in white grapes. Light golden in color, clear and bright. The nose is all about minerality with a slight waxy/apple note as well. Medium bodied. On the palate, the minerality is joined by some vibrant acidity. This is an exciting wine that really works better with food. It wakes up the palate as each sip make one want another. Good finish. White Rhones can be tricky to time but this should drink well for another ten years or so. It would work quite well with chicken in a cream sauce (or chicken pot pie).

Grade:

A-

Score:

Vintage:

2018

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America's Best Rhone Style White Wines: 11th Annual Rhone Rangers Tasting Reviewed

The Rhone Report: About Rhone and Rhone-Style Wines and Winemakers is part of an ongoing series. Like many lovers of Rhone style wines from America, we have just returned from the 2008 edition of the annual Rhone Rangers tasting event at Fort Mason in San Francisco (March 18). This was the 11th year that the Rhone Rangers , a group of about 200 American producers of wines using 22 varietals traditional to France’s Rhone Valley, have shown off their wines at this public tasting event. This year, about 138 wineries presented approximately 520 wines. During the tasting, we enthusiastically tasted as many wines as we could within the 5 hours (3 public and 2 trade/media) the event was open. We tasted 30 white wines first, and then we tasted 50 reds. We skipped the rosés, not because we don’t love them, but because we didn’t have time. Kudos to Rhone Rangers for providing eco-friendly paper spit cups instead of the plastic cups so common at other tastings. We divided our attention between wines and producers we have known previously, producers new to us, and specific bottlings we didn’t already know. While we found many wines to admire, we are sure we missed other gems.

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2017 Domaine de la Côte Sainte-Epine St. Joseph Blanc Vieilles Vignes, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage:

2017

Score:

Grade:

A-

Current Price:

$26.97USD

On a cold winter Sunday, after making a pot of Lentil Soup, this was opened and it was a perfect match. St. Joseph Blancs are not all that common but this one is worth searching out (so are this producer's reds)! Light golden in color. The nose is nice with a bit of wax, but nice peach and slight tropical fruit. Very clean. On the palate, this comes across with a lot of acidity until the finish where it get's really turned up. Nice creamy texture. Some peach and slight bees wax. Depth For around $25, this was a great match.

2017 Domaine Yves Cuilleron Marsanne Les Vignes d'à Côté, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage:

2017

Score:

Grade:

A-

Current Price:

$20.00USD

Although it doesn't carry the designation, the Marsanne grapes come from Condrieu. This is an entry level wine that provides nice value. Light golden in color. The nose is a bit waxy with pears and slight white peaches. Tight. On the palate, this has nice acidity. Vanilla, pears and slight peach. also a bit of dill which is somewhat distracting. Nevertheless, it is crisp enough and tasty enough to work with lighter foods or drink on its own. Probably should be drunk in the next few years.

2016 Rotem & Mounir Saouma Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc Magis, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage:

2016

Score:

Grade:

Current Price:

$110.00USD

A very pretty white wine from the Rhone. This is a big, round wine that is unique and outstanding. Grenache Blanc, Bourboulenc, Clairette and Roussanne. Golden in color. The nose is gorgeous with peaches, minerals, slight lime, toast and a slight waxy/floral quality (not unlike my late Aunt's apartment). On the palate, this is round with a slightly oily texture. very nice acidity. Long finish. In a very good way, this is somewhat like a white Burgundy with a peach candle melted in. Delicious. It would go great with food especially vegetarian grain dishes (couscous, quinoa, etc.).

2016 Domaine des Miquettes St. Joseph Madloba, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage:

2016

Score:

Grade:

A-

Current Price:

$56.00USD

This is what is sometimes referred to as an "orange" wine. What that means is that it is fermented on its skins. The extended skin contact transfers some color to what is otherwise a white wine. It has other effects on the wines depending on the wine making process. Though this style of winemaking has been around for a long time, a small subsection or wine lovers and commentators discovered these wines about ten years ago and became enthralled with them. Like anything however, just because a wine is made in this style doesn't make them good or bad. This one, however, is very good. Th

2018 Domaine de la Côte Sainte-Epine St. Joseph Blanc Vieilles Vignes, France, Rhone, Wine Review

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