The fantastic, annual Rhône Rangers tasting did not disappoint but was strangely empty this year. Both the trade and consumer portions seemed to have poor turnout. What a shame.
As a result there was lots of great wine leftover for those of us who were there. Tablas Creek's Roussanne always stuns, but I got a chance to taste a couple of new wines from proven favorites and less familiar faces. Clavo Cellars makes a fantastic Bordeaux blend out of Paso, and their 2008 Viognier is also intense, floral and delightful. At $15 it is also pretty reasonably priced.
Most of the ladies love the L'Aventure Côte a Côte, Stephan Asseo's Rhône blend. It's lush, opulent and impressive (with a price tag to match). Strangely men don't seem to be as entranced, so does gender come with wine preferences? That aside, the 2008 Roussanne seems to please both sexes at the tasting. Yes, it is another one of those vivid, food-friendly whites with just enough oxidation to be balanced and over the moon. See my recent coverage of sommeliers' obsessions with strangely oxidized wines.
Qupé's 2009 Verdad rosé was also beautiful, divine and balanced. It reminded me a bit of those amazing Loire Valley French rosés like those from Anjou.
Cheers,
Liza the Wine Chick
What I am drinking and liking:
The McDermaid Family Vineyard 2007 Malbec from Reds Hills in Lake County is nicely structured with solid tannins and very nice fruit. It is somewhat reminiscent, in quite a nice way, of Argentine Malbecs.
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