I thought I liked Roussanne, maybe not. Drank majority of this on day 2 as I figured it needed to open up. Interesting waxy mouthfeel. Nose and flavors hard to pin down. Not bad at all, I just thought it would be something different.
Excellent. This needs air! Similar to my last TN in early 2021, on PnP and during the first night I'd say "a little hollow in the middle". A very good wine with impeccable balance, showing nice honey and spice and apricot, medium finish. Not an unctuous example, but still with some texture. Half the bottle kept overnight was even better the second night, filling out, gaining depth and adding complexity and becoming seamless from entry through the medium finish. This is aging well and has years to go. It does not seem to have the stuffing to become a notably rich and deep aged wine, but does have the potential to continue to integrate and gain depth.
12.4% abv
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Ripe stone fruit, chalky, baked apple and honeyed almond notes on the nose. Rich and oily, if a little flabby. Quite full on the mid palate but a little short on the finish. Interesting as an example of the type, though I’m not entirely sure I see the point of it.
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Medium gold color in the glass. Subtle aromas of apricot, peach and orange blossom. The palate brings orange peel, mango, banana and marzipan, with a soft, rich mouthfeel. Acidity is medium high, and the wine finishes at medium length. It is refreshing and pleasant to drink, but comes across as in a bit of a dumb phase between youthfulness and maturity.
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Excellent. One of the best Roussanes I've had. Nutty, honey aroma. Medium bodied. Smooth, slightly beeswaxy mouthfeel. Pear, apple, citrus, with just a hint of caramel-vanilla flavor. Should age nicely, but I tend to prefer them young. 92
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Similar to June 2020 TN, shows lychee, almond, some apricot, spice at the end and finish, some marzipan. A little hollow in the middle this time, so not quite as impressed as the last bottle, but this will age well, I think. Very good+
This is a more elegant style of Roussanne. Those looking for an unctuous glycerin-textured wine should find another bottle.
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This Roussane, which is the backbone to many southern Rhone style white blends, was fun to drink as a single varietal. As others have mentioned, it needs a little time to open up and we regret not decanting this ahead of time. Has a beautiful rich mouth feel with flavors of honey, stone fruit, almonds, white flower and soft minerality. The soft acidity is pleasant that leads to an interesting finish with a little grapefruit peel bitterness and soft tannins. Paired with our leftover turkeys vegetable soup.
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A relatively restrained Roussanne (only 12.4% ABV), but still delightful. Honey gold color, and the n a lightly honeyed pear, green apple, lilt of lemon profile.
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If you drink it now you may be sorely disappointed.
Everyone had this as their least favorite. Many commented it was overly extracted and not acidic enough to balance the richness. Some went as far to call it Rombauer in disguise.
I found it was mildly scented with honey and pears. Gorgeous color in the glass. Flavour wise, it had this peculiar bitterness, definitely low acidity, we decided to put it in a decanter and only after about 6 or so hours did it start showing a little more complexity that I’d describe as white Chateauneuf-y. More citrus, green apple, herbs. I felt it was growing a sort of spine.
I forgot I left the decanter out overnight (did I mention only three others revisted after an initial pour?) and the scents are even more pronounced. More honey, more peaches and now some flowers. It’s a bit more flavorful as well with those same notes.
I feel this wine deserves at least 4-6 years to shed off the awkwardness. Right now it’s really discombobulated, weird and out of place. In a few years it should resemble Beaucastel.
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An excellent showing. Honey, marzipan, tropical fruits, apricot, spices - clove, and hints of key lime, lemon, and sweet freshly harvested hay (and even something like ripe cooked grapefruit; odd, I know, but I noted it).
Not the deepest or richest or most complex Roussanne, but it is an excellent wine. (If anyone knows of other U.S. producers nailing Roussanne, I'd love to hear about it out of curiosity and to compare.)
Though not a mountain Roussanne style this is far from a heavy or cloying rendition. It does not show noteworthy cut or acid, but it has enough and shows a finesse that is often missing in the varietal. Label abv is a surprisingly low 12.4%.
Drank over two nights and though this certainly is built with aging potential in mind, the first night drank better at this stage, while the ~1/3 bottle left over night in the bottle closed, but exposed to air (not suctioned or gassed), was a somewhat muted.
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4/14/2024 - wchrisw wrote:
I thought I liked Roussanne, maybe not. Drank majority of this on day 2 as I figured it needed to open up. Interesting waxy mouthfeel. Nose and flavors hard to pin down. Not bad at all, I just thought it would be something different.
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5/26/2023 - tward Likes this wine: 90 Points
Excellent. This needs air! Similar to my last TN in early 2021, on PnP and during the first night I'd say "a little hollow in the middle". A very good wine with impeccable balance, showing nice honey and spice and apricot, medium finish. Not an unctuous example, but still with some texture. Half the bottle kept overnight was even better the second night, filling out, gaining depth and adding complexity and becoming seamless from entry through the medium finish. This is aging well and has years to go. It does not seem to have the stuffing to become a notably rich and deep aged wine, but does have the potential to continue to integrate and gain depth.
12.4% abv
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5/16/2023 - mrgarreth wrote: 86 Points
Ripe stone fruit, chalky, baked apple and honeyed almond notes on the nose. Rich and oily, if a little flabby. Quite full on the mid palate but a little short on the finish. Interesting as an example of the type, though I’m not entirely sure I see the point of it.
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1/3/2023 - yaki wrote: 89 Points
Medium gold color in the glass. Subtle aromas of apricot, peach and orange blossom. The palate brings orange peel, mango, banana and marzipan, with a soft, rich mouthfeel. Acidity is medium high, and the wine finishes at medium length. It is refreshing and pleasant to drink, but comes across as in a bit of a dumb phase between youthfulness and maturity.
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1/9/2022 - wine4ever Likes this wine:
Excellent. One of the best Roussanes I've had. Nutty, honey aroma. Medium bodied. Smooth, slightly beeswaxy mouthfeel. Pear, apple, citrus, with just a hint of caramel-vanilla flavor. Should age nicely, but I tend to prefer them young. 92
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7/17/2021 - BL44 wrote:
Loved in 2021, but hold for many more years to get caramel deeper flavors
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6/1/2021 - AlphaMikeFoxtrot wrote: 88 Points
Tasted at the winery
Bananas, pineapples, yellow apple, pear, dry honey and autolytic yeast notes. Full bodied. I like this style for American Roussane more than others.
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5/27/2021 - mayakacz wrote:
Slightly waxy mouthfeel, medium+ body, oak really comes through in finish.
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2/25/2021 - tward Likes this wine: 89 Points
Similar to June 2020 TN, shows lychee, almond, some apricot, spice at the end and finish, some marzipan. A little hollow in the middle this time, so not quite as impressed as the last bottle, but this will age well, I think. Very good+
This is a more elegant style of Roussanne. Those looking for an unctuous glycerin-textured wine should find another bottle.
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11/30/2020 - Bob in NC Likes this wine: 90 Points
This Roussane, which is the backbone to many southern Rhone style white blends, was fun to drink as a single varietal. As others have mentioned, it needs a little time to open up and we regret not decanting this ahead of time. Has a beautiful rich mouth feel with flavors of honey, stone fruit, almonds, white flower and soft minerality. The soft acidity is pleasant that leads to an interesting finish with a little grapefruit peel bitterness and soft tannins. Paired with our leftover turkeys vegetable soup.
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11/13/2020 - BobMilton Likes this wine: 92 Points
Excellent Rhone white. Stone fruit with floral hints.
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11/3/2020 - yatchisin Likes this wine: 91 Points
A relatively restrained Roussanne (only 12.4% ABV), but still delightful. Honey gold color, and the n a lightly honeyed pear, green apple, lilt of lemon profile.
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6/20/2020 - Order66 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Wait a few years.
If you drink it now you may be sorely disappointed.
Everyone had this as their least favorite. Many commented it was overly extracted and not acidic enough to balance the richness. Some went as far to call it Rombauer in disguise.
I found it was mildly scented with honey and pears. Gorgeous color in the glass. Flavour wise, it had this peculiar bitterness, definitely low acidity, we decided to put it in a decanter and only after about 6 or so hours did it start showing a little more complexity that I’d describe as white Chateauneuf-y. More citrus, green apple, herbs. I felt it was growing a sort of spine.
I forgot I left the decanter out overnight (did I mention only three others revisted after an initial pour?) and the scents are even more pronounced. More honey, more peaches and now some flowers. It’s a bit more flavorful as well with those same notes.
I feel this wine deserves at least 4-6 years to shed off the awkwardness. Right now it’s really discombobulated, weird and out of place. In a few years it should resemble Beaucastel.
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6/6/2020 - tward Likes this wine: 91 Points
An excellent showing. Honey, marzipan, tropical fruits, apricot, spices - clove, and hints of key lime, lemon, and sweet freshly harvested hay (and even something like ripe cooked grapefruit; odd, I know, but I noted it).
Not the deepest or richest or most complex Roussanne, but it is an excellent wine. (If anyone knows of other U.S. producers nailing Roussanne, I'd love to hear about it out of curiosity and to compare.)
Though not a mountain Roussanne style this is far from a heavy or cloying rendition. It does not show noteworthy cut or acid, but it has enough and shows a finesse that is often missing in the varietal. Label abv is a surprisingly low 12.4%.
Drank over two nights and though this certainly is built with aging potential in mind, the first night drank better at this stage, while the ~1/3 bottle left over night in the bottle closed, but exposed to air (not suctioned or gassed), was a somewhat muted.
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