Rhone (Rhône)

• Châteauneuf-du-Pape
• Cornas
• Crozes-Hermitage
• Gigondas
• Hermitage
• Lirac
• Saint Joseph

This cuvee is 100% Syrah from fifty year old vines.  It is also one of my go to budget wines.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, slight bacon fat, black pepper and spice.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  great texture and mouthfeel.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Flavors of black raaspberries with some meatiness and spice.  Nice finish.  This drinks well on its own and will work well with many foods.  It would be a nice choice with Indian foods.  Drink over the next seven to ten years.

This is a blend of 40% Marsanne, 30% Ugni blanc, 25% Clairette, and 5% Bourboulenc from Southeast France.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  A very nice nose of peaches with slight tangerine and a hint of minerality.  Light to Medium bodied.  Good acidity.  On the palate, the peaches come thru with a bit more minerality.  Long finish.  This is a nice, slightly light white but still has some stuffing and seriousness.  Very nice on its own, this will work well with lighter foods or most seafood.  Drink over the next few years but it will probably go longer.  

This is open and drinking very nicely now.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, black pepper, black olives, minerality and slight vanilla.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Great balance.  On the palate, this has a juicy acidity.  Flavors of black raspberries, black olives and minerality.  Long finish.  This should drink well for another fifteen to twenty years.  It is lovely on its own and will work well with hearty foods.  It would go well with a Pepper Steak Stir Fry.  

Purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is complex with black raspberries, soy sauce, black olives, black pepper and char.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Good acidity.  On the palate, this seems to be just entering its maturity window.  It unwinds nicely in the glass to show layers of black raspberries, black olives, spice and char.  Long finish.  This is great on its own and will work well with bigger foods.  It should work well with a spicy curry.  Drink over the next twenty to thirty years.