2020 Delas Freres Ventoux, France, Rhone, Wine Review

This is an 80/20 blend of Grenache and Syrah from the Rhone region of France on the border with Provence. Deep garnet in color with some ruby swirls, mostly opaque and bright. The nose is very nice with black cherries, black raspberries, black pepper, spice and slight lavender notes. Full bodied. Light tannins. Good balance. On the palate, black cherries and black raspberries with some minerality. Nice finish. This drinks well on its own and is food friendly. It will work well with stew or cold cuts. Drink over the next five years. Great value.

Grade:

A-

Score:

Vintage:

2020

Current Price:

$13.00USD

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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2015 Marrenon Capella Ventoux, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage:

2015

Score:

Grade:

A-

Current Price:

$15.00USD

For those looking for value in their red wines, the southern Rhone is still a great place once you get outside Chateauneuf and perhaps Gigondas. This is one of those wines that is a great wine to stock up on in great vintages. Purple/ruby in color, mostly opaque and bright. The nose is very nice with black cherries, plums, slight spice and slight floral notes. Medium bodied. On the palate, this has some depth to it. Black cherry fruit with underlying spice. Good acidity. This should drink well for the next five to seven years. A nice match with a veggies burger (or even a meat burg

2016 Domaine Pierre Usseglio & Fils Châteauneuf-du-Pape Réserve des Deux Frères

Vintage:

2016

Score:

100

Grade:

A+

Wow. Incredible wine. Served from Magnum, this is still young but with some air was singing. 100% Grenache. Purple in color, opaque and bright. The nose has cassis, black cherries, spices, floral qualities but also a bit or roasted meats and herbs. Full bodied. Light tannins. On the palate, this is concentrated, intense and delicious. Cassis, lavender, slight black cherry with underlying char and minerality. Voluptuous texture. Great balance. Long finish. This is great on its own and went very well with Mushroom Agnolotti. Still young, especially from Magnum, this will make gr

2018 La Bastide Saint-Dominique Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Secrets de Pignan, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage:

2019

Score:

Grade:

Current Price:

$60.00USD

This is 100% Grenache from organic grapes grown in Pignan. Purple in color with ruby swirls, mostly opaque and bright. The nose has black cherries and spice/garrigue. Full bodied. On the palate, black cherries and some plums with underlying spice and char. Nice energy and balance. Long finish. This needs more time to mature and open and surely will improve with five to seven more years. It drinks well now though and will continue to do so for another twelve to fifteen years. It will work well with lamb stew and other slow cooked, savory dishes.

2020 Domaine de Grangeneuve L'Initiale H, France, Rhone, Grignan-les-Adhémar, Wine Review

Vintage:

2020

Score:

Grade:

B+

This is from the northernmost AOC in the southern Rhone Valley in France. It is a blend of 65% Grenache and 35% Syrah. Purple in color, opaque and bright. The nose has black cherries and black raspberries with spice and slight floral note. Full bodied. Nice balance. On the palate, lots of deep black cherry fruit. A bit chunky in a rustic sort of way. Good finish. This is a nice value wine that will work well with a pizza or or burger. Drink over the next few years.

2020 Delas Freres Ventoux, France, Rhone, Wine Review

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

2015 Marrenon Capella Ventoux, France, Rhone, Wine Review

2016 Domaine Pierre Usseglio & Fils Châteauneuf-du-Pape Réserve des Deux Frères

2018 La Bastide Saint-Dominique Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Secrets de Pignan, France, Rhone, Wine Review

2020 Domaine de Grangeneuve L'Initiale H, France, Rhone, Grignan-les-Adhémar, Wine Review