Cotes du Rhone

This cuvee is 100% Syrah from fifty year old vines.  It is also one of my go to budget wines.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, slight bacon fat, black pepper and spice.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  great texture and mouthfeel.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Flavors of black raaspberries with some meatiness and spice.  Nice finish.  This drinks well on its own and will work well with many foods.  It would be a nice choice with Indian foods.  Drink over the next seven to ten years.

This is a blend of 33% Marsanne, 33% Roussanne, and 33% Grenache blanc from the Rhone Valley.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose has vanila, lemons and peaches.  Full bodied.  Slightly oily texture.  On the palate, lemons and peach.  Easy drinking.  Nice finish.  This is a nice value in white wines and should continue to drink well for another three to five years.  It is nice on its own and will work well with many foods including Pork, Poultry and Seafood.  This would be a nice pairing with Roasted (or fried) Turkey.  

This is a blend of Roussanne 80%, Grenache Blanc 10%, and Ugni Blanc 10%.  Light/medium gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose has beeswax, golden raisins, and slight peach.  Medium bodied.  Slightly oily texture.  On the palate, red apples with slight peach notes.  Good finish.  This is an easy drinking CdR that is an excellent value.  It would make a nice summer sipper on the back patio.  This is good on its own and would  work well with lighter foods but would stand up to a burger off he grill as well.  Drink over the next few years.  

This is a Grenache/Syrah blend from the Rhone Valley in France.  Cotes du Rhone wines are often some of the best values in Red Wines and this one is included.  Ruby in color, clear and bright.  The nose is great with cherries, spice, anise, and slight floral (violets?) scents.  Medium to full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, cherries, black cherries, slight cherry candies and a  bit of mint on the long finish.  This is drinking great on its own and will work well with most foods (not seafood).  Blackened chicken would work well.  Drink over the next eight to ten years.  

This is a blend of Grenache and Syrah from the Southern Rhone.  Deep ruby in color, partially opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, cherries, wild herbs and slight floral notes.  Medium bodied.  Light tannins.  Good balance.  On the palate, this is easy and tasty to drink.  Flavors of cherries, black cherries, spice and char.  Good finish.  This is nice on its own but better with food.  A perfect choice for (veggie) Burgers off the grill.  Drink over the next five years.  

I was pleasantly surprised to see this was still drinking well.  Salmon/orange in color, light but clear and bright.  The nose has some watermelon and strawberries.  Light bodied.  Nice texture.  On the palate, there is still some fruit left but no off notes and very refreshing.  It should have been consumed a few years ago, but no reason not to drink up now.  Probably  better with some lighter appetizers.  

This Rosé is a blend of Grenache, Cinsault and Syrah from the Rhone Valley in France.  Light pink in color, clear and bright.  The nose has cherries, strawberries and raspberries.  Light bodied.  Good balance.  On the palate, this is accessible and drinking well.  Flavors of Strawberries and Raspberries with good acidity.  It is nice on its own but better with food.  It worked well with a white pizza with asparagus.  Drink over the next year or two.  Excellent value.

This is a 60/40 blend of Grenache/Syrah from the  Rhone Valley in France.  Ruby in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is dusty with black cherries, spice, roasted herbs and slight black raspberries.  Nice texture.  Medium tannins.  Moderate acidity.  On the palate, black cherries, anise and char.  Good finish.  A nice wine for casual drinking that won't break the bank.  It is nice on its own and will work well with most (not seafood) foods.  A nice choice with a pot of Chili on a fall afternoon.  Drink over the next five years.