"Value" Rhones

I include the parentheses since inexpensive wines that are not that good don't really provide value.

• 2007 François Villard Viognier Les Contours de DePoncins

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Collines Rhodaniennes

  Light. Spicy nose, not nearly as floral as most Viognier. Light texture, good acidity, candied citrus fruit. Very pleasant.

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• 2005 Château Pesquié Ventoux Quintessence

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Ventoux

  Medium ruby. Light bodied. Good acidity, not quite enough dark fruit.

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• 2005 Domaine de Cristia Rasteau Cristia Collection

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Rasteau

  Standard issue Cotes du Rhone. Forgettable.

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• 2007 Andre Andrieux & Fils Gigondas

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Gigondas

  Light, red fruit driven Grenache. Little complexity. Too sweet.

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• 2007 Domaine les Aphillanthes Côtes du Rhône

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône

  The cheapest wine and the sleeper of the flight to me. Light, spicy, lively and not too alcoholic. Delightful and worth $13. A good example of "less is more" from this big vintage.

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• 2007 Domaine du Vieux Lazaret Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  Thin and hot on the finish. No balance.

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• 2007 Saint Cosme Saint-Joseph

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Saint-Joseph

  Dark color. Oak and blackberry on the nose. Fat, lush, sweet dark fruit, round tannins. This could easily be mistaken for California Syrah, and I don't say this admiringly.

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• 2006 Cuvée du Vatican Châteauneuf-du-Pape Réserve Sixtine

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  Deep and extracted looking. Unfocused, sweet caramel candy, low acid, and some heat on the finish. It just sits there ponderously. I really dislike this style, and the best I can say about it is that it was not quite as imbalanced as the '07 version.

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• 2007 Domaine Paul Autard Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée La Cote Ronde

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  Medium ruby. Some oak here. Modern, clean fruit, little spice, tar and licorice on the finish. Avoids overripeness and alcoholic heat. Good.

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• 2007 Emmanuel Darnaud Crozes-Hermitage Mise en bouche

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Crozes-Hermitage

  Medium depth. Much leaner feel and more tannic than the southern wines. Good blackberry Syrah fruit without weediness, and finally, some soil. Good.

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