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

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

Are there any kosher ones? Gary, send back the bobble head. Tell them that you want one that looks like you!

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.”

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.

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!

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.

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.

Who’s a Rhone Ranger?

I can send you my thesis if you want it.

QODT: Yup. Sean Thackery makes “rhone” styles in CA and they’re great.

Hold up, I think I have had a Rhone Ranger. 2004 Arrowood Côte 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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?