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

The Languedoc, located in the south of France, borders the Mediterranean between the Pyrenees and the Rhone Valley. Christian Seely just posted a video of blending at Mas Belles Eaux. you can see it here. had been a guest at the property as a result of a scholarship I achieved in accordance with the Master of Wine program. The Winery.

For 'old world' wines I have always enjoyed those from Italy and Spain and paid little attention to wines from France. The region, once a Cotes-du-Rhone village, earned its own appellation in 1971. I very rarely buy, order or drink French wines. nice dark garnet red color filled the glass. Aromas were awesome. This wine was delicious.

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. Light yellow gold. Good value.

Nederburg is also famous for its auction, conceived as a platform for rare and specialty South African and today one of the top four wine auctions internationally, along with Germany’s Kloster Eberbach, France’s Hospice de Beaune and California’s Napa Valley Vintners auction. The 49 hectare winery dates back to 1791 by Phillipus Wolvaart.

Today the French insurance company AXA owns several wineries which produce the world’s most exquisite wine, such as Chateau Pichon Longueville, Chateau Suduiraut, Chateau Petit-Village, Chateau Belles Eaux, and two other properties outside France, Disznoko in Tokai and Quinta do Noval in Portugal. “A French insurance company owns a Chateau?”

First she travels to France to meet with pioneer Nicolas Joly, whom she calls the ‘Deepak Chopra” of wine dynamics. Naked Wine by Alice Feiring. Reviewed by Marisa D'Vari. Most people think that like buying the freshest produce in a greenmarket, the more natural the wine, the better. So what is natural wine, anyway? have a business to run!”.

Of the chefs, I had the pleasure of dining at Maison Pic in Valence when I went on the "discover Rhone" tour held every two years. Fabulous opening dinner at Haut-Brion last night for the press. Haut-Brion was the host Chateaux, with each table hosted by the members of the Grand Cru Classes de 1855 of Medoc and Sauternes.

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

Jean-Roger Calvet from Domaine Thunevin-Calvet in Mary, France is next. The next panelist is Herve Bizeul from Le Clos des Fees, in Vingrau, France which has 400 habitants. Patrick Comiskey, journalist for Wine and Spirits magazine moderated this palel featuring several producers from Roussanne. The horse is working, enjoying the sea."

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.

This medley of five grapes is a cross blend of Bordeaux and Rhone varieties that includes 82% Merlot, 9% Petit Verdot, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Shiraz and aged for six months in oak. All round this is a very good value at $19.95 retail per bottle

From the Chateauneuf-du-Pape appellation of the Rhone Valley, France, made from a blend of 50% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 20% Mourvedre and 10% Cinsault. Deep ruby in color, on the nose red cherries, leather and funk, and animal notes. Dry with medium acidity and tannins and supported by flavors of red fruits, pepper and sour cherry.

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 Languedoc, located in the south of France, borders the Mediterranean between the Pyrenees and the Rhone Valley. Visiting Mas Belles Eaux. Though Tokaji was the official end to the AXA most generous trip, we had the option of going on to other AXA properties around the world. The Winery. The Vineyards. mas grapes. bunches remain.

Today the French insurance company AXA owns several wineries which produce the world’s most exquisite wine, such as Chateau Pichon Longueville, Chateau Suduiraut, Chateau Petit-Village, Chateau Belles Eaux, and two other properties outside France, Disznoko in Tokai and Quinta do Noval in Portugal. Sunday: Dinner in a Chateau. The Lunch.

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’? For Wineberry box, the answer is yes.

Or a 1978 Ridge Geyserville Zinfandel that seemed more akin to a gorgeous northern Rhone than a brawny, young zinfandel. Riesling, top Muscadet, cabernet franc from the Loire, top chenin blanc, some variations of Nebbiolo all are affordable yet age-worthy. Is mature wine relevant? Drinking mature wines has many inherent risks.

She installed her first machine in June 2009 at the Cora supermarket in Dunkirk and now has them installed in eight supermarkets in France. The wines vary; one is a 2009 from the Rhone, technically a vin de pays méditerranée. Bring your own resealable bottles, Poland Spring containers, jerrycans, whatever. Print receipt.

need a hotel recommendation for the Northern Rhone!” I hadn’t planned on visiting the Northern Rhone, yet when I had a change of plans during a trip to Provence, I went to the Stephen Tanzer forum (International Wine Cellar) to get some helpful advice, along with eRobertParker.com. rue de Beau-Rivage, 69420 Condrieu, France [link].

Vin de table lies at the bottom of the administrative heap in France: it’s derided, dirt cheap and sold in supermarkets by the flagon. Paradoxically, however, producers who dare to do something different are all-too-often ending up in this undifferentiated tier. in the one I tasted last week.

Winemaker Notes: We initially created this blend as an auction lot for the Hospice du Rhone held in Paso Robles each year. One of the great things about social networking is that you often get in contact with friends and classmates from a time when all was great, life was fun and we were all going to live forever. Here's what I learned.

was roasting in the Rhone, looking upward, wondering just how hot it was going to get in an hour. I'd come to France to work on several wine stories. The one in the Northern Rhone was about syrah. How did this happen without me seeing it? First posted December 12, 2004, and I refer to the cataclysmic summer that had just past.

Winemakers Notes: Syrah has found an ideal home in the Finger Lakes , where our climate mimics France's Rhone Valley, where the grape produces some of the finest wines in the world. Syrah has always been one to those wines I could take or leave it. Almost all that I had ever tasted were the Shiraz from Australia.

From the Columbia and Walla Walla Valley in Oregon comes this tasty blend made from 35% Cabernet Franc, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and 14% Syrah. The climate east of the Cascade Mountains is far more hospitable to the Bordeaux and Rhone varietals. It is aged for 9 months in French oak barrels before blending.

So grab a glass of wine, throw another log on the fire, grab a sandwich, channel your inner wine geek, and listen to John opine on the topics of natural wines, zero dosage champagne, some pitfalls of collecting, 2007 vintage for Port and in the Rhone, the nobility of chenin blanc, the Piedmont producer Produttori del Barbaresco and more!

There we were, toes deep in snow and grooving to cabernet franc and meanwhile he was cooking up an idea. The fantasy was delicious, approachable wine from the United States, made from a distinctly Loire Valley Blend, cabernet franc and gamay! Someone who was associated with Rhone blends Shocking. classic combo. In America?

here are extensive winemaker notes: DELAS FRERES Wines from Côtes du Rhône, France Côtes-du-Ventoux 2006 The appellation of Côtes-du-Ventoux sits on the East bank of the Rhône river at the foot of the Ventoux mountain range. CHARACTERISTICS: This wine comes from a blend of wines from the heart of the Cote du-Ventoux appellations.

A red wine from the Gigondas Appellation in the Rhone region of France, and made from 100% Grenache grapes, this rich Gigondas opened very nicely as the evening went on. All these elements successfully make "the whole greater than the sum of the parts" resulting in a finish that is complex and thoroughly satisfying

Difficult to compare to recent vintages (which have all included at least some cabernet franc or petit verdot) this is less flamboyant than the 2006 and 2007, and will benefit from extended cellaring. These Rhone wines need time to evolve. Wooden crosses line the road, where, I presume, luckless travelers have fallen. All are superb.

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. It's cold. Finally, Dom.

But here are three reds from the South of France! This blend of 50% Grenache - 30% Syrah - 20% Cinsault comes from a couple in the Southern Rhone who make their wines biodynamically. Everybody always wants a good wine under $10. And that’s never been more true than now. This particular cuvee is fermented in cement (!) tanks.

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). But when in doubt, Get the Rhone and call it day. My standby is the Eric Texier Cotes du Rhone.

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. With aromas of cherries, mineral tones accented by petrol woven into a metallic backdrop.

1991 Cote de Rhone La Tache? havent flown Air France since. Oh, yes, lets go back to France and go to Caves de Saumur. 1991 Cote de Rhone La Tache? havent flown Air France since. actually remember being shocked to see that La Tache at the airport store a few years back. might give them another shot.) Who knows.

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! Standing tall.

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.  2004 Mouton Cadet Bordeaux.

After tasting the OLIVIER RIVERE Rioja barrel samples for two years in France I got to taste it in bottle right on Lafayette Street. After tasting the OLIVIER RIVERE Rioja barrel samples for two years in France I got to taste it in bottle right on Lafayette Street. But right now Im an an Alsatian Pinot Gris roll. FINALLY! And now.we

Deep color, almost opaque. Tightly wound nose of wild flowers and wood. This is a very good, wintery bistro wine from an outstanding vintage. According to fellow blogger Dave Treiger , this Lirac was, "Made from 45% Grenache , 45% Syrah and 10% Mourvedre." Dave liked its, "deep ruby color with initial aromas of black pepper and ripe plum."

went for the Bubbles, the Beaujolais, the Cab Franc, and the Chenin Blanc. Fresh and pure with beautiful fruit and floral aromas, and great texture - voluptuous without that viscosity that find distracting in white Rhone wines. There was simply no way to taste everything, even if this were the only tasting of the day. And under $25.

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. It's big on the palate combining a fragrant spice with a nice barnyard kick and a fairly high alcohol content of 14.5%. At $14.99

This, in my opinion, is the strongest part of the portfolio - the selections from southern France, country wines from the Rhône, Languedoc-Roussillan, and Provence. Jenny & François' tasting is something that I have come to look forward to. On top of that, they're a lovely group of people, very friendly and eager to discuss their wines.

Coeur D'Alene Cellars focuses mostly on the Rhone varietals Syrah and Viognier along with Cabernet Franc and the of course the usual suspects Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. Often wines forms The United States seem unapproachable in price. They look enticing and compel us to splurge. Idaho? Yes, Idaho. It gives me everything I need.

Daniel mentioned the comparable latitude between the Walla Walla Valley and France's famous Rhone Valley, contributing as she puts it " roughly the same quantity and quality of sunlight ". Finally, I have heard many people compare the Mediterranean climate of Israel to that of the Southern Rhone Valley.

France. but produced with half of the grapes from the Northern Rhone (for the spicy kick and fresh acidity) and half from Languedoc (for the jammy, ripe fruitiness). Note: Chamarré is the first brand to take advantage of the new French wine appellation, "Vin de Pays Vignobles de France" which allows blending across regions.

Another new French wine from the Chamarré brand is this white which is made from 100% Viognier grapes, half from the northern Rhone and half from the Languedoc appellation. The grapes from the northern Rhone come from the AOC Condrieu where Viognier may have originated. It is aged 6 months in oak.

What sets Rhone apart from the other winemaking regions of France? think Rhone is not different from other great French terroirs. Why has the poularity of the wines of The Rhone increased in comparison to Bordeaux ? In the Rhone, the climate is set to produce ripe grapes nearly every year. at least.

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. think that the most important element at this price point is balance.

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!). For several months now the Euro is comfortably in the 1.5 range. Yup, it costs over $1.50

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.

In my effort to better understand the reds from the 2005 vintage in France and the wines from the Rhône Valley in general, I recently tasted Guigal's 2005 Cotes du Rhône * and Tardieu -Laurent's 2005 Vacqueyras */** and Chateauneuf du Pape **. The acidity was a little strong. the red fruits dominated by spice. just not as deep.

We don't drink a whole lot of wine from southern France, as those we've tasted are too big and roasted, a bit hot, and they don't drink easily with food (or at all). I was very much impressed with the Jenny & Francois portfolio , so much so that I decided to buy a few and taste them at home with dinner. You know what this means?

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! No pressure.

Rather it was a 2004 (I think) Recanati Reserve Cabernet Franc. Cab Franc is one of the 5 Bordeaux varietals (grapes which can be used to make French Bordeaux wine - others being Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec & Petit Verdot), and it is usually used as a complementary grape as opposed to a primary grape in Bordeaux.

2- 2005 Fontedicto Pirouette #5 $15 Grapes: Carignan Languedoc, France (for some reason, this one, which was rich and sunny and fruit forward wasnt a smash hit. 4-2005 Catherine & Pierre Breton Nuits dIvresse $24 Grapes: Cabernet Franc Bourgeuil, Loire (love this, was overheard. Joseph Rhone (and the winner is.what a showcase wine.

But there are a couple of other general areas of France that make great wine and are a bit off the radar.for now. The two most affordable wine regions you will see in a shop are from the Rhone Valley and Languedoc-Roussillon. This wonderful appellation is situated in the south of France along the Mediterranean Sea. Can you tell?

And we were surprised to find that our first vintage, grenache/mourvedre, is delicious and very old-world, like a simple ctes du Rhone. home : wine recommendations : wine girl for hire : bio : articles : contact « Come to a Reading? Main | Hearty Burgundy at Sanford? Do check it out. None of it traditional, just post WWII innovations.

First we tasted one Pinot and one Cabernet Franc, both by Hargrave , the founding winery in Long Island. The Cabernet Franc was not as impressive, but I liked it a lot, probably more than anyone else at the table. It reminded me of some grenache-based wines from the southern Rhone. The back roads of Pernand-Vergelesses?

don't know much about viognier other than it is native to the Rhone area of France and became popular for a minute in the US and then dropped off a bit. I have been away for a bit. Sorry ‘bout that. hope they have had their coffee and decent commuter traffic that day so we can wow them with the hard work we have done. Pretty cool.

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). An incredible value, I would assert.

He has gone above and beyond the call of duty in providing lots of information regarding his chosen theme: wines from the Languedoc-Roussillon region of France that are priced between $15-30. This is hot weather France where hardy grapes thrive, like Grenache and Mourvedre, Cinsault and Carignan, and of course, Syrah.

My 5's 2004 Eric Texier Cote-Rotie , $62 - This Northern Rhone Syrah was lighter than his other reds, incredibly intense nose of roasted meat and herbs, olives and soil. NV Renerdat-Fache Bugey Cerdon Demi-sec Petillant , $16 - this is a low alcohol (~7.5%) effervescent rose colored wine from Bugey in eastern France. Just yummy.

Almost all of the Rhone grape varietals are used in the Languedoc-Roussillon - there are similarities in climate. Mas is the word for 'farmhouse' in southern France, hence the reason you see Mas in the names of so many producers. She told me about this red dessert wine called Banyuls. It's not Port, it's French wine. Red dessert wine?

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. And more often than not.or

There are well chosen wines from the Loire Valley, Burgundy, the Rhone, Bordeaux, Italy, Spain, New Zealand, Australia, and of course America. The Cabernet Franc is my favorite, there is also the Cot (known elsewhere as Malbec), and the Cuvee Granit, a blend of Cabernet Franc and Merlot, I think. At reasonable prices too.

decided to stay in the Rhone Valley because I wanted to see what the other appellations had to offer in this price range. gazed pass the Languedoc and headed straight for the Rhone. The Rhone just keeps me coming back. This is my second stab at the Rhone and I am one happy wine geek. then scanned the label again.again.

France. know France on the surface and have always been under the impression that I wouldn't be able to find a good deal because you really need to know your producers and if you are not careful you could spend a pretty penny on something less than stellar. So I stayed away from France for a while. It is time for me to re focus.

This grape originated in Spain and was later made famous in the Rhone valley of France. Well it was time to branch out. was in a wine shop the other day looking for a good deal. Trying to find that wine or those wines that are reasonably priced and good in quality. went to the Union Square Wine shop's new location. digress. Good move.

wanted me some Rhone. ordered the Rhone on the list and she suggested one of the wines on special for the evening. Vacqueyras is an appellation in the southern Rhone Valley that was established in 1990 so it is a fairly young appellation considering. love this part of France and these are some of my favorite grapes.