Organized by Grant Crandall, on April 20, 2024, the Cellar Group met at the home of Al Guber in Bristow, Virginia. Al had selected "Rhône-style Wines Not from France" as theme of the tasting. As usual, everybody brought a bottle of wine and a corresponding dish. There were 14 wines plus 2 bonus wines.
The length of the valley means that Rhône wines are the product of a wide variety of soil types and mesoclimates. The region's wine-producing areas cover such a distance that there is a widely accepted division between its northern and southern parts. Rather neatly, they are separated by a gap of 25 miles (40 km) between the towns of Valance and Montelimar, in which almost no vines are grown.
This division is reflected not only in geography and preferred grape varieties, but also in the quality and quantity of wines produced. The smaller, more quality-driven northern section focuses almost entirely on Syrah for red wines and Viognier, Marsanne and Roussanne for whites, while the larger and more prolific south employs a much longer list of varieties.
The most notable of these are the red varieties Grenache and Mourvèdre, which are combined with Syrah to produce the 'GSM' blend so characteristic of the southern Rhone. While the granite-blessed slopes of the north are paired with a continental climate, the rocky, sandy soils of the flatter south enjoy the warmer winters of a Mediterranean climate.
Prestige is also a key differentiator between the northern and southern areas of the Rhone. The north boasts old and highly respected names, such as Hermitage and Côte Rôtie, but it accounts for only five percent of the valley's total wine production.
The remaining 95 percent is made in the south under often less-prestigious and less region-specific names. The south is not entirely lacking in prestige, however, as it is here that the Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation is located.
Arriving
Social Wines
The Wines we Tasted
14 Rhône-style Wines Not from France
Karen Stokes 2020 Skinner Grenache Blanc, El Dorado, CA
White bean salad
Stephanie Castelli 2021 Tablas Creek Vineyard, Esprit Blanc de Tablas, Paso Robles
Cheese
Grant Crandall 2020 Acquiesce Roussanne Lodi
Chicken liver mousse
Deb Fiola 2017 Vindemia Winery Reggatta de Blanc (Santa Ynez Viognier Roussanne)
Mushroom/truffle oil 4cheese crostini
Angela Crandall 2020 Straight Out of Paso Rose (44 Syrah, 30 Grenache and 26 Carignan)
Caponata
Brian Castelli 2022 Tablas Creek Vineyard, Patelin de Tablas, Paso Robles
Mushroom and leek galette
Rex Bambling 2016 Epoch Estate Blend 58% Syrah, 19% Mourvèdre, 17% Grenache, 6% Tempranillo (Paso Robles)
Mini beef sausage wellington bite
Al Guber 2021 Linnie Calodo Sticks & Stones 75% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 10% Mouvedre (Paso)
BBQ Burnt Ends
Joe Fiola 2013 Cline Cashmere (53% Mourvedre, 25% Syrah, 22% Grenache)
Dry-Rub Pulled Pork
Christian Schiller 2018 McGah Family Vineyards Scarlett Petite Sirah Rutherford Napa Valley
Root Vegetable Pasta
Jennifer Crafts 2018 Saxum James Berry Vineyard 64% Grenache, 15% Mataro, 14% Syrah, 6% Carignan (Paso Robles Willow Creek District)
Roasted turkey with sun-dried tomatoes and olives
Dave Barber 2022 Magic Box from Spain, which is 90% Syrah and 10% Grenache
Turkey, Juniper and Peppercorn Terrine
Annette Schiller 2015 Cass Backbone Syrah Paso Robles Geneseo District
Mousse au Chocolat
Al Guber 2019 Efeste Knight Commander Ciel-du-Cheval (Washington)
Dark Chocolate
Bonus Wines
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