Michel also brought a "GSM" - grenache, syrah, mouvedre (Chateau de Nages 2009 Costieres de Nimes, Chaeau de Nage Vielles Vignes, Rouge) with minimum oak yet a spicey nose of concentrated red grapes. Alberic Mazoyer from Domaine Alain Voge in Cornas spoke about his region in the North. 100% Syrah. MORE >>

Apparently, blending syrah from the Northern Rhone with Bordeaux was fairly common in the pre- appellation controllée era, particularly in weaker vintages, to result in a wine that had been “Hermitagé,&# so-called after the celebrated region that produces fine syrah. in the one I tasted last week. MORE >>

Gentaz is the revered traditionalist farmer and wine maker whose Côte-Rôties are considered by many Rhône cognoscenti as the greatest of all the Northern Rhône wines, the greatest Syrah in existence. The 1991 Noel Verset Cornas was not showing so well, there was volatile acidity. drank a Marius Gentaz Côte-Rôtie. Wow, what a night. MORE >>

John Gilman, author of the newsletter The View from the Cellar , joins us again for a Q&A. asked him six questions; he replied with over 10,000 words! Natural wines are growing in popularity. Are these wines forcibly better? But let’s look at each sector that you discussed separately, rather than painting with those broad brushstrokes. MORE >>

In honor of the terroir that must be saved in Cornas, M graciously ferried in a 2000 Lemencier Cornas, in its last two-three years of glory. Yet, he happily tasted the Cornas. He likes syrah and said to me, "You know shiraz and syrah are the same grape?" but makes the place even more charming. His eyes approved. MORE >>