On his trip through France in 1787 Thomas Jefferson visited Vidal-Fleury, today considered one of the most consistent producers in the Rhone Valley. This 2009 Cotes-du-Rhone was a great vintage year and a value at the same time. What a great price and value?!? and shipping was free.

We had a quick tour de France I was looking for an example of a Rhone that would fit within our budget. opted for this 2009 Cotes du Rhone from Domaine de Ferrand, a small producer in Chateauneuf-du-Pape. To poll at 90 percent is unheard of in a democracy. wine picks

For 'old world' wines I have always enjoyed those from Italy and Spain and paid little attention to wines from France. There have been some I have enjoyed, like Beaujolais, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Côtes du Rhône and some Bordeaux and one in particular that I had a few years ago, a Gigondas. Aromas were awesome. Gigondas French

2010 Guigal Cotes Du Rhone * pale yellow gold color. stars France USA 2009 NV Chablis 2010 1 star Paso Robles Champagne Cotes du Rhone 4 starsNV Aubry Champagne * (from Andronicos). Deep dull straw color, almost gold. Hay, dried nuts and tart peaches on the nose. Very mild effervescence. 2009 Dom.

2010 Vidal-Fleury Cotes Du Rhone Rosé. Founded in 1781, Vidal Fleury is the Rhône Valley’s oldest continuously operating winery, and actually hosted President Thomas Jefferson in 1787 when visited France to learn about winemaking. Columns News 2010 Vidal-Fleury Cotes Du Rhone Rosé 2010 Xavier Flourent Nationale 7

The room is full of Rhone wine fans from around the world! Christophe began by explaining the popularity of Rhone style wines - they are food friendly delicious, and increasingly many producers are organic/biodynamic. note: from my travels in France, this is actually a familiar story!). 100% Syrah.

Domain de Mourchon Seguret Loubie (Rose) 2007 Having a Cote du Rhone designation, this Loubie Rose blend of Cinsault, Grenache and Syrah comes from 40 year old estate grown vines. Flavor: broad and fresh; the characteristic fruity aromas of the bouquet come through with complexity and end with a clean finish.

The lineup includes about six wines, red, white and rosé, all from France. My favorite wine of the lineup was Domaine Le Garrigon , a 2008 Cotes du Rhone. Wine in a box? Try wine in a crate. They are priced at about $40 for a three-liter box. Search for the wines at retail.). Are you gellin’?

Likewise, Paul Jaboulet Aine's Cotes du Rhone Parallele 45 2006 ** is brick-ish purple with briar patch and blackberry notes and whole, crunchy blank peppercorns underneath. Monpertuis Cotes du Rhone Vignoble de la Ramiere 2007 * is a lighter styled, more elegant Cotes du Rhone than those above.

The Domaine du Closel Jalousie Savennieres? Southern Rhone grenaches. My standby is the Eric Texier Cotes du Rhone. Loire Valley Cabernet Franc --dont get too fancy but if you can find Bonaventure, works like a charm with lime pickle and kerala (bitter melon). The Domaine du Closel Jalousie Savennieres?

Second was from France and called Cote du Rhone Belleruche, Chapoutier, Rhone, 2006. Tags: Cotes Du Rhone Piedmont Barbera Danny Brown Wine Bar Zinfandel First was a Barbera D’Asti “Le Orme” 2005 Michele Chiarlo , Piedmont Italy.

Cotes du Rhone (about $40; find this wine ). Darling Hills, Ovation, South Africa (about $20 for 3L; find this wine ): a 50-50 blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cinsault, the workhorse grape originally from the South of France. “Merry Christmas!&# “Here’s 24 liters of wine!&# Season’s greetings!

They are all pretty much blends of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cab Franc and Petit Verdot. These wines are some of the most affordable wine in all of France and are delicious blends with all kinds of comfy flavors that all kinds of people are going to like. Ah, the Holidays. Speaking of the perfect gift what about wine. promise.

Chapoutier "Belleruche" Cotes-du-Rhone * Tasted last at the City Winery. Mexico is a difficult place to find a good bottle of wine. Those were a Seavey cabernet and a Hansell chardonnay I purchased at Scotto's Wine Cellar nearby before we left. I've listed what we tasted, below, in no particular order. drink beer.  2006 M.

Cru Des Cotes Du Rhone. This blend from France is made from 45% Grenache , 45% Syrah and 10% Mourvedre , it has a deep ruby color with initial aromas of black pepper and ripe plum. this is a nice replacement for an expensive Châteauneuf-du-Pape. At $14.99

From Rhone, France comes this blend of 60% Grenache and 40% Syrah produced by Marianne & Marc Fues, whom I met at the Alsace & Rhone Valley Wine Expo earlier this week in NYC. Marc told me the oak the wine is aged in (for 12 months) comes from many different regions, giving it an interesting character.

Here are some thoughts on the other other wines I tasted: I love the 2006 Cassagnoles wine from the southwest of France, a rich, zesty, and well balanced blend of Gros Manseng, Ugni Blanc, and Colombard. The D'Estezargues Cotes du Rhone is a lovely wine. This might sound simple, and fine, maybe it is. And it costs $10.

If you're in France, for example, and you exchange $100, you walk away with only 65 Euro, and that's before commissions and fees. 2006 D'Estezargues Cotes du Rhone Les Grandes Vignes, $13, Jenny & Francois Selections (100% Cinsault!). 2005 Domaine D'Aupilhac Coteaux du Languedoc Montpeyroux, $13, Kermit Lynch Imports.

Moving to the Rhone valley in France I tried some wines from Eric Texier. Next to Texier was Domaine Franck Peillot from the Bugey region of France (a place I had never previously heard of). wine I really loved and found quite unique was the 2005 Domaine de Roally Vire'-Clesse' from the Macconnais, France. don't know.

Put me at a table with this dish and a bottle of Pont de Crillon 2005 Pont de Crillon Les Chais de Pont de Crillon Cote Du Rhone and I am a happy wine geek. This beautiful Syrah is one of the most subtle and integrated Rhones I have had yet. It is a blend of Cabernet Franc and Tannat. Lamb, Baby! OOOHHHH WEEEE!

Rhone Valley 2003 Domaine Pierre Usseglio Chateauneuf-du-Pape , $40 (Chambers Street Wines). I'm a fish out of water in the Rhone Valley. This wine did not bring me closer to a Rhone epiphany. 2005 Domaine Monpertuis Cote du Rhone Vignoble de la Ramiere , $14 (Chambers Street Wines). Good acidity.

Also, the vignerons poured not only their entry level wines, but their top wines, and this provided the opportunity to taste a $62 Cote Rotie without actually buying it, which is much appreciated if you are in my tax bracket and you want to sample the wares before investing. 2005 Clos Roche Blanche Touraine Cabernet Franc , $13.

It didn't look like a dark syrupy shiraz from Australia and it didn't have the clear vibrancy of a Rhone. saw that Alex and Dave had a 2003 Guigal Cote du Rhone and suggested that we compare it with the 2003 Cali wine. The body of the Rhone was a bit smoother and color was more vibrant and less opaque. Cheers