Rhone Rangers – Episode #308

September 5, 2007

Gary Vaynerchuk focuses on the wines that are making Rhone style wines in California!

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Comments on this episode(171) Leave a comment ›

“Sad Gary? Sad Gary is no good. This is no good! I always hate it ( …” by Dessert Wine Nerd
“Cline Cashmere is a nice Rhone Ranger for $15……” by NateO
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Wines tasted in this episode:

2003 Garretson “g”Other California Rhone Blends
2005 Beckmen Cuvee Le BecOther California Rhone Blends
2005 Michael Austin Bad HabitOther California Rhone Blends

171 Responses

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September 5, 2007

Jon Martinez
First of all, you don’t have to be only from California to be a Rhone Ranger. If people would like to check out more information about this group, go to http://www.rhonerangers.org. One of my favorite Rhone Rangers, and someone who inspired me about rhone varietals from an American view point is McCrea Cellars out of Washington State. The one that was most memorable was a 2003 Counoise. Beautiful wine.
September 5, 2007

Bacchus
Great episode.

QOTD: I like the dense, leathery, chocolaty ones like Alban Reva, L’Aventure Cote a Cote, and Linne Calodo Nemesis. Also, the Tablas Creek Esprit de Beaucastels are really well-made, both red and white. Had both 2003 vintages with Labor Day barbecue. Bridlewood’s “English Pleasure” is pretty good, as are the small production Beckman’s from Purisima.

The QPR is a bit off on these wines at the moment — the $60-$75 that you pay for some of these high-end Rhone Rangers buys you a lot of quality out of Hermitage, Cote Rotie or Gigondas.
September 5, 2007

Tommy Vernieri
Hold up, I think I have had a Rhone Ranger. 2004 Arrowood CÃ´te de Lune Blanc, Saralee’s Vineyard. We really liked it at the tasting room and bought two bottles. I hated the first one, I think I had it with either pasta primavera or shrimp scampi and only chilled it for about 30 minutes in the fridge.

I loved the second one. I think we had it on it’s own and very chilled (I felt like the first bottle improved as we chilled it more). It was still different, but I liked it; I got lots of almonds and it paired really well with rich chocolate brownies, somehow the combination created a strawberry flavor.
September 5, 2007

cumpari
QODT: Yup. Sean Thackery makes “rhone” styles in CA and they’re great.
September 5, 2007

Tommy Vernieri
Who’s a Rhone Ranger?

I can send you my thesis if you want it.
September 5, 2007

ScoTT from Salt Lake
QOTD: I like what Bob Lindquist does at Qupe: The 2005 Bien Nacido Cuvee is an unbelievable find (50% Vio/50% Chard). Red Cars Shake Rattle & Roll is mind blowing and can go head to head with ANY Cote Rotie. Andrew Murray and Ojai are both making some good swill.
September 5, 2007

Orion Slayer
You’re going to get tired of hearing this, but great show! There was NFL, bobble-head worship, wine, a little bit of Gary, and Rhone Rangers. What more could anyone want?

QOTD:

I visited the Fair Play appellation back in July and tasted at several Rhone Ranger wineries. Two of the ones I really liked were:

Cedarville: http://tinyurl.com/2ofthn (Grenache, Petite Sirah, Syrah, Viognier )

Mt Aukum: http://tinyurl.com/2jkdny (Marsanne, Mourvedre, Petite Sirah, Syrah, Viognier )

I wish I could afford to buy more of the wines I tried at these two places. Most of them were made in a different style than I had tried before. They were less fruit-forward, more complex and flavorful. I don’t know if it was the type of grapes or the terroir of the Sierra foothills, but these wines were more interesting than the fruitbombs I ususally enjoy. They remind me of the wines I had at a Rhone tasting last year (go figure.)

One Rhone Ranger I didn’t enjoy was:

Perry Creek: http://tinyurl.com/2v3o4e

The wines here were not as interesting or tasty as the other two wineries. I’m not knowelegable enough to describe the difference, but these wines were unimpressive.
September 5, 2007

GrapeStuff
QOTD: Have had the Beckmen Cuve Le Bec and would agree, its a pretty fantastic wine, esp. at that price point. In fact, this episode caused me to go and buy a 3-pack. Cheers, GV!
September 5, 2007

Orion Slayer
You’re going to get tired of this, but great show! There was some NFL, some wine, some bobble-head worship, and a little bit of Gary. What more could you ask for?

QOTD: I visited the Fair-Play appellation in the California El Dorado hills back in July. I visited several Rhone Rangers that day. My two favorite were:

Cedarville: http://tinyurl.com/2ofthn

Mt Aukum: http://tinyurl.com/2jkdny

I wish I could have afforded to by a bottle of each of the wines I sampled at these two wineries. They had great syrahs, mourvedres, viogniers and blends. These wines were sublte (not fruit bombs at all.) I experienced a different style of wine than I’m used to and enjoyed them. I don’t know if these wines were expressing the terroir of the Fair Play area or just made in a less fruit bomb style and therefore the characteristic of the grape came out. These wines compared to some of the wines I had at a Rhone wine tasting last year.

I was not at all impressed with this Rhone Ranger:

Perry Creek: http://tinyurl.com/2v3o4e

The wines from this place were less intricate and good tasting.
September 5, 2007

LT
I’m just gonna throw this out there – i like radishes. Beckmen radish scent intrigues me…plus my friend identified a photo of David Beckham as “dave beckmen,” therefore, i will seek this wine out and gift it for sure!!!

QOTD: I really enjoy Real Rhones, but i’m not sure i’ve had a Rhone Ranger, or would know how to ID it. Will ask the over-anxious owner in neighborhood store when i get a chance…he’s ALWAYS eager to “help.”
September 5, 2007

Lynne
No,Kemosabe, I’ve had no Rhone Rangers, knowingly. I did order the Beckmen to try.
September 5, 2007

Martin
I had a cali petite syrah once at a steak house. I can’t remember what it was, but it was okay. I’ll agree that I like the “real” Rhone wines, but I should give the “Rhone Rangers” more of a chance.
September 5, 2007

E
Very much so … grew up on Curtis (which unfortunately I can’t get around here anymore), loved the Cuvee le Bec before it was cool (’04 not so much as ‘03), the not-exactly-Rhone-like-by-any-definition-but-still-compelling Davis Family syrah, and I agree that if there’s a more interesting wine in the United States for the price than Edmunds St. John, damned if I know what it is.
September 5, 2007

Palmer
QOTD: I just recently had the Sierra Vista Fleur de Montagne, a Chateauneuf-du-Pape like blend of Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre and Cinsault.

I thought it was pretty interesting with a very floral nose and some nice light red fruit flavors. The “wine expert” who tasted it with us thought it was a little fakey and lacked backbone, but what does he know? I’m certainly going to try some more Rhone Rangers, especially those from the Sierra Foothills.
September 5, 2007

Louisiana George
QOTD: Yes – 2004 Bonny Doon Vineyard Grenache Clos de Gilroy on 12/15/2006
Tasting notes: Little bouquet, some red fruits. Lighter style with good, long finish, but bitter tannins on 30 second finish – 86 points
September 5, 2007

DrEdwardo
I’ve had some (Cline, Tablas Creek). Quite enjoyed the Esprit de Beaucastel (Tablas) but find that the Rhone Rangers are in general, like most Californian wine, overpriced compared to comparable quality from France or Australia.

As Gary so eloquently put it “why would I spend $30 dollars for something that I can get every day for $14?”

There are *plenty* of Cotes du Rhones, Cotes du Ventoux, etc. in France never mind Australia that deliver.

My $0.02 worth.

Edwardo
September 5, 2007

Neil
Qotd: Rhone Rangers from Cali that I enjoy: Arrowood, L. Preston, Quivira, Hop Kiln, Qupe, Alban……That’s about all I can recall. Over Labor Day we visited Dry Creek Valley and I appreciated the L Preston. On Sundays Preston also open up the back and people can taste their Guadagni 2005 field blend which (although 50% Zin) contains quite a few of the Rhone varietals. If you like it, you can take home a 3 litre jug which they pour for you on the spot.
September 5, 2007

rafi schutzer http://www.KosherCuvee.com
Are there any kosher ones? Gary, send back the bobble head. Tell them that you want one that looks like you!
September 5, 2007

Elliot Essman
No Rhone rangers as of yet, but California Syrah, Viognier and Roussanne are in my cabinet, and you have prompted me to visit them.
September 5, 2007

Karl Laczko
Nice sedate episode, just what I needed after a hard day at work (12 hours today, god I’m knackered).

QOTD – Haven’t had any Rhone Ranger, haven’t had many Rhone Originals either, but I do like Spanish, Australian and Lebanese wines with Grenache, Mourverdre & Carignan in the mix.
September 5, 2007

Susan
Gary-Super episode!!! No Rhone wines yet………………………
September 5, 2007

Brandon M
Is Michael Austin even a Rhone Ranger? I don’t think this winery is one of the “Verified” wineries.
September 5, 2007

Greg B.
Big G, Nice Job, I’m not boddered by that at all…LOL. I’m looking forward to trying the Beckman.

QOTD: Never had one, but love me some Rhone Wines.
September 5, 2007

Dusty
you are pimpin gary! “cause i can get it all day for half price.” i’m gonna try to use that line sometime this week. QOTD: haven’t really had too many rhone rangers. had been eyeballin the G for a while, so we’ll see.
September 5, 2007

Sassodoro
QOTD: I haven’t had many Rhone Rangers. I have had Beckmen and liked it, but I tend to look to Southern Rhone, Languedoc-Roussillon, and sometimes Spain, for less expensive red Rhone varietals, and to Northern Rhone and Sicily (believe it or not) for more expensive Syrah-dominant wines. You did turn me on to South Africa for a less expensive source of that bacon smell than Cote Rotie.

I would love to find a source of good, not-too-expensive white Rhone varietals. Nothing tastes like Condrieu, but I have liked some California Viogniers. Similarly, I haven’t found anything that matches the minerality and spiciness of white Chateauneuf du Pape (or even white Cotes du Rhone). A few years ago I compared a Beckmen Marsanne to a Beckmen Roussanne. Prior to that I had only had the two grapes blended together, so it was very interesting to taste them separately. Maybe you could follow up this episode with one on white Rhone Rangers.