2016 is a great vintage in the southern Rhone which makes it a really great vintage to stock up on Cotes du Rhone. This is a white wine but should last for at least five years despite its $15 retail price tag. Light green gold in color. The nose has nice grapefruit with minerals. On the palate, there is a nice tart acidity. More peach than citrus. Long finish. Very food friendly. Great value.
A very pretty white wine from the Rhone. This is a big, round wine that is unique and outstanding. Grenache Blanc, Bourboulenc, Clairette and Roussanne. Golden in color. The nose is gorgeous with peaches, minerals, slight lime, toast and a slight waxy/floral quality (not unlike my late Aunt's apartment). On the palate, this is round with a slightly oily texture. very nice acidity. Long finish. In a very good way, this is somewhat like a white Burgundy with a peach candle melted in. Delicious. It would go great with food especially vegetarian grain dishes (couscous, quinoa, etc.).
White Rhone wines can be so finicky, so when a friend opened this for his birthday, it was nice to see this was firing on all cylinders. Earlier in the day while reading a book about the White House and Wine, it mentioned that Thomas Jefferson referred to White Hermitage as France's greatest white wine, and this bottle gave that some credence. These wines are so unique when on that they are not for everyone. It doesn't seem fair to group with Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc as they drink more like a red in that they are not crisp or refreshing or tart. This one is golden in color, clear a
Brézème actually sits between the Northern and Southern Rhone Appellations and is the only Cotes-du-Rhone appellation with its own AOC. This is their white coming from a biodynamically farmed vineyard. The wine is made in a natural way with little sulfur and from vines planted in 2009. Golden in color, clear and bright. The nose is interesting as it shows a persistent vanilla streak. I don't think the wine sees any oak as it aged on its lees in concrete. There is also a white raisin note and slight citrus (tangerine). Medium bodied. On the palate, there is a slight cider/oxidized no
A very nice northern Rhone white, perhaps a bit lighter in style, but in a good way. It is a blend of 95% Marsanne, and 5% Roussanne. Light yellow/gold in color, clear and bright. The nose is nice with vanilla, peach, pears and spice. Medium bodied. Crisp acidity. On the palate, tangerine with slight lemon peel and the oak/spice continues thru to the finish. A bit of grapefruit on the finish as well. This is very nice on its own but even better with food. It went well with a vegetarian cassoulet. Drink over the next three to five years.
