Wine Dojo - Rhone Rangers
Annette's House
Tasted Monday, January 21, 2019 by Heynetty with 127 views
Introduction
There comes a time in everyone's week when one simply has to slap on one's Stetson, adjust one's chaps , stride to the fridge and liberate that special Rhone blend you were saving just for a Monday like this one. Admittedly, my Stetson is gathering dust and i am not the only one who has been having trouble identifying grenache blends or Rhone Viogniers. Well, NO MORE! This week, we visit both the Northern and Southern Rhone and their well known vairieties. We shall visit both white and red Rhone varietals, signature blends and perhaps a few Red Herrings (Rhone varietals or those with a similar flavor profile grown in regions outside the Rhone). Lets move 'em on, head 'em up and whip those key aromatic and structural markers into shape. Rhone Rangers, say it with me....ViognYAYYYYYYYYYYY!
2014 Kitchak Cellars Vivace Ermitage Blanc 90 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
A: Pale lemon-green
N: Medium (+) nose. CINNAMON, NUTMEG, vanilla, lilies, ripe peach, apricot, lemon peel, lemon curd, pineapple and a drop of wet stone.
P: Dry, high acid, little bitterness, high alcohol, full unctuous body, pronounced intensity and long finish.
C: BLIC? Very good quality wine. could do with a bit more complexity and that will come with a little more age. I thought this was GLORIOUS and couldn't believe this was gifted to me by my lovely neighbors. It was sold out on the website. New owners and therefore wine being sold off for $15/bottle. WTH?
47% Marsanne, 48% Rousanne, 5% Chardonnay. Aged on the lees in French oak for 17 months. 66% new oak.
Guesses:
I brought this and so thought I knew where this was in the tasting lineup. I didn't. I thought it was from the old world and from a warm year but nope. Thought maybe it was Marsanne/Rousanne St. Joseph.
Mistakes:
THe color. We expected a NW usurper but the color looked like this was from a cooler climate and with the wet stone, I thought OW.
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2015 Domaine Louis Cheze St. Joseph Blanc Cuvée Ro-Rée 87 Points
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, St. Joseph
Tasted Blind
A: Medium gold
N: Medium (+) nose. Grilled nectarine, vanilla, almond, honeysuckle, jasmine, chamomile, pineapple, mango liqueur
P: Dry, medium (+) acid, medium (+) alcohol, full body (almost oily), medium intensity and medium finish
C: BLIC? The alcohol felt far too hot and out of kilter. Half marks for L and I and none for complexity. Acceptable Quality but not wildly interesting. Drink now, little potential for ageing here. More fruit intensity needed. 60% Marsanne, 40% Roussanne (aged 9 months in French Oak barrels).
Guesses:
yes, I brought this one too. It cost about $30 at Party Pantry and was in no way worth it. Most thought that this was an overcropped New World version of Marsanne/Rousanne and that was because of the color and alcohol burn (ie. warm New World) and lack of intensity and complexity (ie. overcropped).
Mistakes:
Colour threw everyone.
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2015 J. Denuzière Condrieu Cuvée Aphrodite 85 Points
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Condrieu
Tasted Blind
A: Pale lemon green
N: Medium intensity. Peach, fennel, cinnamon, green herbs, lemon and yellow flowers
P:Dry, medium acid, full oily body, high alcohol perceived but only medium at 13%, medium intensity and finish. Some bitterness.
C: This seems very closed at the moment and the acid is not going to be high enough to really support ageing it. BLIC? burns quite.a bit and is not particularly well integrated alcohol. Half marks for complexity and length and intensity, however. Good Quality wine but for the $54 price tag, I really expect better. I just didn't like it much. Poor showing!
Guesses:
I guessed this was from the Old World from the peach and herb and stone component. Condrieu is usually peach salad to me and so guessed this one.
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