The National Tasting Project – The Rhone Rangers
A resounding success!
Our thanks to Barb
Johns (and her faithful companion Jeff Wagner) for the presentation, which
included a myriad of scent and aroma samples for those in attendance to
sample. The expertise, enthusiasm, and
insights that Barb provided were fantastic.
We also want to thank Kevin and Bob Dering (The Dering Duo)
for hosting and providing the wonderful accompaniments for the wines. The beef stew recipe will be posted on the
recipe tab soon! Our compliments to our
co-vice-chair humans, Tim and Brittany for the purchase of the wines, and to
our club “bootleggers” Wendell and Ellen Barner. Discretion prevents us from being any more
specific.
Next month:
Drink
Pink – A tasting for the benefit of Breast Cancer Awareness.
The Wines
Cass “Marsanne” White 2014 $26
The color
captivates your eyes with a light, straw color and subtle hues of lime green.
Your nose is enticed by aromas of spiced nectarine, crushed citrus blossoms and
hints of rock melon. A unique rich mid-palate, zesty acidity and spritely
minerality makes this a red wine drinkers' white. Flavors of cashews and agave
nectar lead to a long, lively finish accented with lingering notes of Bosc pear
and finger lime notes.
Cass “Rockin' One” White 2013 $32
Stewed black
cherry, cracked black pepper, star anise, and subtle hints of vanilla bean
emanate from this seamless blend. The mid-palate showcases ripe dark fruit,
roasted hazelnuts, black licorice and traces of campfire smoke. Nuances of
toffee, aged leather, cinnamon spice and sweet spearmint complete this blend's
long finish. Enjoy now until 2020
Bonnie Doon “Le Cigare Volant” Red 2011 $45
Black
pepper, boysenberry and a tiny bit of barnyard funk on the nose. It's dark and
brooding, with flavors of black pepper, leather and black fruits on the palate,
but rather light and lean in texture, with a solid amount of tannic grip.
Kukkula "Aatto"
Counoise Red Blend 2013 $40
Counoise and
Mourvedre, with small amounts of Grenache. Lighter in color, it has an almost
Old World Pinot aromatic and flavor, laced with cinnamon and spice, and really
finishes with amazing length and volume.
Kukkula "Pas de Deux"
Grenache Red Blend 2012 $45
Grenache and Syrah. Purple red with a nose of warm clay and dry
herbs. It tasted round with lots of fruit and caramel, with hints of coffee and
a long warm finish.
Pax “Griffin’s
Lair” Syrah 2013 $64
This southwest-facing hillside is covered
in coarse sand & gravel which allows these vines to dig deeply and hang on
tight to this extremely windy slope. Traditional winemaking techniques, such as
utilizing indigenous yeasts, foot crushing 100% whole cluster, judicious
extraction during fermentation and aging in neutral French Oak Barrels ensure
that this wine is a pure expression of Sonoma Coast Syrah.
Guyomar “Monsignor” Petit Syrah Red
Blend 2012 $52
Inky ruby
color. Lush cherry, cassis and violet scents on the deeply perfumed nose and
palate. Supple and broad, with spice and mineral elements adding back-end cut
and lift. Finishes sweet, velvety and very long, with excellent clarity and
smooth, easygoing tannins. Drink 2019-20
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