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

Grape Expectations
QOTD: I visited several Paso Robles wineries a year ago and several of them are making wines from the traditional Rhone varietals. My favorite was Tablas Creek. They partner with Chateau de Beaucastel which has a little experience, I believe, making Rhone wine. It’s also interesting that they actually brought over French vines (which had to spend 3 or so years in quarantine at UC Davis before they could be planted). I especially liked the Esprit de Beaucastel. And they do a nice Roussanne.
September 5, 2007

lenny
QOTD:

Never had a Rhone wine that I know of.
September 5, 2007

Your downunder friend
Hey Gary,

Do you think that the olive oil component in the second wine was coming from the viognier? I have often found them to be oily and fat (not that that is a bad thing).
September 5, 2007

E-Rock
Barrel 27… Good Stuff…
September 5, 2007

PASO LURKER
GARY V I’M FINALLY COMING OUT OF THE LURKER STATUS. JUST WANT TO SAY YOU’RE DOIN A GREAT JOB!! LOVE THE SHOW AND CAN’T GET ENOUGH.

-QOTD:I ENJOY THE DOUBLE R’S AND MY FAVORITE RIGHT NOW IS DENNER GRENACHE.(82% Grenache, 9% Syrah, 9% Cinsaut)-SO DELICIOUS!!! OH YEAH IT’S SO GOOD IT MADE MY ARM HAIR STAND ON END. GET SOME.
September 5, 2007

JOEinLA
Thanks for bashing the fruit bomb. Why do they continue that?

QOTD: One RR that i enjoy is Le Mistral from Joseph Phelps. Especially the 01.
September 5, 2007

HC
Loveg the episode g-man .I have never had a Rhone wine ,but thanks to you it has just madt the list .

Keep up the great job !!

HC
September 5, 2007

SoCal
QOTD: TWISTED OAK! YUMM
September 5, 2007

Suzanne
I don’t think I’ve ever had a Rhone Ranger. (And it took me the full episode today to realize that that was a picture of the Lone Ranger’s eye mask on the whiteboard, and not a peek-a-boo bra. Duh.)
September 5, 2007

J Crazy
Bonny Doon Le Cigare Volant (forget the vintage), 2004 DEWN Cigare Alternative C were the first Rhone Rangers I had and their distinct taste and that experience still stick in my mind. I had them at the tasting room in Santa Cruz, surrounded by the hippies and “vegetal” aromas that permeate that costa town. I was pleased with the Volant but I was more impressed by the Alternative C at their price points. I bought some of C and have been sharing it with my friends and colleagues. Everyone over here was pleased as well. I’m sure there are different or better ones out there but with Bonny Doon it’s the wine, crazy Randall (said affectionately of course) and the beautiful drive to the winery that makes tasting their wines at the tasting room a unique experience.
Damn, I freakin’ sound like a g.d. ad piece for them.
September 5, 2007

Bill V.
QOTD: This was my introduction to the Rhone Rangers — that wild bunch needs a posse!
I probably should go for the dirty rocks/raisins/pine-tar/leafy/olive oil experience of the Beckmen, which was your fave; but I’m more intrigued by the “toxic New Jersey armpit action” of the Garretson — at least they were merciful enough to give it zero finish!
And I must tell “William” about the Michael Austin Bad Habit over-the-top fruit bomb — for 36 bones!! He’ll remind you that Manischewitz Extra Heavy Malaga gets the same job done for less than $10 — and that’s pure sugar — no Splenda!

BV
September 5, 2007

Joe
Totally into the Rhone Rangers! Alban my all time favorite – whites and reds. Alban Viognier changed my life in 1999. Now I love their Reds too (Reva especially).

Also long time fan of Paso Rangers Beckman adn Eberle (although my favorite wines form Eberle are his cabs which improve over 30 years in the bottle)

Joe
September 5, 2007

Andy
Great ep G… we all need to try more Rhone Rangers .. Great wine with a lot of different foods. Meat on the grill is superb. We like the blends from the Dry Creek Valley in Cali.. You can’t go wrong there.
September 5, 2007

JonE
QOTD: So here’s my problem with “Rhone Rangers”, do we include straight Cali or Oregon syrahs? Or are we talking strictly blends? I’m in the business and I don’t think there’s anything definitive about the term. That being said I really enjoy the Syrahs from RockBlock, and all the stuff Wells Guthrie is doing with Copain. I’m still a big fan of Treana white, but the signature label stuff from Austin Hope really rocks.
September 5, 2007

hiliner
rhone haiku: rhone ranger why not?
red from chateau ste michelle
beautiful syrah
September 5, 2007

amgryger
QOTD: I’ve actually only had one, which was the Edmunds St. John 2004 “Rocks and Gravel,” a GSM blend. I loved it. Based on a recommendation from Florida Jim in the forums, I bought some to watch it age too. And it was only 15 bones, which is great.

So after trying the “Rocks and Gravel,” I also tried a 2002 syrah from this producer called “The Shadow,” which was also quite good and am looking forward to trying other wines from this producer if/when I come across them. I agree with Aktormedic, if you get a chance to, you should put some Edmunds St John wines on the show.
September 5, 2007

yowens
GV- Passionate as always. Love it. QOTD: I dont think so. Maybe. Probably not.
September 5, 2007

Susan
Gary-Home sick today and NEEDED a good laugh!!! No it does not BODDER me any at all!!!!
LOL!!!!
September 5, 2007

italianwinelover
Very nice show! Enjoy your holiday!!

QOTD: Never tried a “Rhone Ranger”, but will look for the Beckman to start!
September 5, 2007

Cam
QOTD: Never had a “Rhone Ranger,” but will be on the lookout. I did just add our first Super Tuscan to the wine rack tonight. Really excited about trying that!
September 5, 2007

hermitaged
QOTD: I’m not always sure what we mean by “Rhone Rangers” anymore, as the term has kind of come to be used for any producer making wine from grapes you can find in the Rhone – kind of like “garage wines” or worse yet “cult wines,” the term is applied more and more. I mean does making a Shiraz make you a Rhone Ranger? With that said (sorry for the stupid rant) I have always enjoyed some of the unique and affordable stuff from Qupe, and Treana used to do a really interesting Marsanne/Rousanne/Viognier type of thing that could be pretty interesting. I haven’t had that one in a while, but it used to be pretty cgood stuff. Ojai makes some Rhone-like stuff as well that I am usually really into.

Ok so here is my question of the day: what is with cork.com and does WLTV own it? I have been posting informally over there for a while – kind of an easy way to keep track of what I have been sipping on – but now it is weird because I am ‘ iowinos ‘ at corkd but ‘ hermitaged ‘ over here. Does anybody know how to combine them or something?
September 5, 2007

Jon B.
Thanks again for the pre tape. Another good one today.Hope your not reading this but instead enjoying your vacation.Qotd haven’t had any “Rhone Rangers” however oddly enough I’m drinking a Shiraz-Viognier blend from Australia right now though, so a rhone ranger from down under.Domaine Terlato & Chapoutier 2004 Shiraz 95% Viognier 5% Beautiful nose and a nice finish just a little thin not bad though 87pts. Thanks Gary and WLTV crew.
September 5, 2007

Gator Lurker
Gary

Saw the “Uncorked with Billy Merritt” episode on MOJO Channel…great job! You’re a natural. Is the fat guy really as stupid as he seems?

Thanks
Chris
September 5, 2007

John Farrin
I liked the abbreviated review of the G when you forgot to pour the actual glass best. The beauty of the show is that you can have fun with the f-ups. Think of how mortified 7/8 of the world’s critics would have been in a similar situation and it gets even better.

QOTD: Probably like the Frick Syrahs and Cinsaults from Dry Creek Valley as much as any I’ve had. Maybe I’m biased because Frick is a tiny 5-acre vineyard run by Bill Frick. And when I say run I mean run. Bill does everything from growing the grapes to making the wine to manning the weekend tasting room. He used to sell a good proportion of his wines to Pacific Union in NYC when Rocco DeSpirito ran it. I’m not sure if he still does but outside of a little merlot the only thing that he makes are Rhone Rangers.
September 5, 2007

chenrys
Very interesting.

QOTD: Never had a “Rhone Ranger.” We’re pretty new to learning about wines…newer than I thought. We’ll have to look for some to try.