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

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.

Grade:

B+

Score:

Vintage:

2020

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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2007 Domaine les Pallières Gigondas Les Racines, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage:

2007

Score:

Grade:

A-

From the excellent 2007 vintage, this winery consistently makes some of the better Gigondas wines. Ruby/brown in color, clear and bright. The nose is nice with cherries, black raspberries, black pepper and slight dried flower note. Medium to full bodied. Light tannins. On the palate, black raspberries, some cherries, spice and some earthiness. Good finish. This seems to be at peak, but will probably start declining soon, so, drink up. A nice wine with braised lamb of beef.

2018 Cellier des Dauphins Côtes du Rhône Les Dauphins Cuvée Spéciale, France, Wine Review

Vintage:

2018

Score:

Grade:

A-

Current Price:

$11.00USD

Cotes du Rhones offer up some excellent values. Add to that the Rhone Valley (especially in the Southern Rhone) seems to have eight or nine good to great vintages a decade, and it can be a go to source of outstanding values. This wine is certainly one. It appears to be a Grenache/Syrah blend but the exact blend is unknown. The bottle is attractively packaged with an unusual shape and a colorful "Old-timey" label. Deep ruby in color, mostly clear and bright. The nose has black cherries, roasted meats, slight cinnamon and nutmeg with a slight earthiness. Medium bodied. There is a nice

2016 Domaine les Pallières Gigondas Les Racines, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage:

2016

Score:

Grade:

A-

Current Price:

$39.00USD

Given the outstanding vintage and pedigree of this wine, perhaps it was a bit shut down, but it under performed expectations in a recent tasting. That said, it was still excellent especially given the pricing of Gigondas. Purple in color with ruby swirls. The nose has black cherries, black pepper, spice and dust. Medium bodied. On the palate, slightly bitter black cherries. Clean. Tight. This didn't budge over the couple of hours it sat in the glass. It probably needs at least three to five more years to open and then should drink well for five to seven after that. If drinking soo

2020 Domaine de Châteaumar Côtes du Rhône Cuvée Vincent, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage:

2020

Score:

Grade:

A-

Current Price:

$19.00USD

One of my go value wines. Just about every vintage in the southern Rhone is good these days, so this is usually good, too. Certainly 2020 fits right in with prior vintages. Purple in color with some ruby swirls. The nose is nice with black cherries, char, spice and slight floral notes. Medium to full bodied. Nice texture. This drinks easily with lots of black cherry fruit and underlying char. Nice finish. I suppose it will age for five to seven years, but I usually just drink mine right away. Nice on its own, this is great with chili, or stew.

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

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