Favorite California Rhone Blends

AD_Northup · January 22, 2018, 5:55pm

Sounds like I may need to expand on my numbers and budget

T_Fletcher1 · January 22, 2018, 6:30pm

Campesino
Bedrock
Ledge
Tercero
Two Shepherds

Jason_Oliver · January 22, 2018, 7:20pm

Prospect 772

Billy_Norris · January 22, 2018, 7:34pm

One of my favorites is a little-known Dry Creek producer called Trattore Farms. Estate fruit (their Grenache is particularly compelling), great people, and interesting, immediately drinkable wines. Their Rhône whites are really fabulous—single varietal marssane, roussane, viognier, and a blend called mR. I suggest you give them a look.

Jay_Miller · January 22, 2018, 7:57pm

Those youngsters with their fancy schmancy new ideas…

Art_R · January 22, 2018, 8:19pm

Another shout out for Two Shepherds

Tom_DeBiase · January 22, 2018, 8:42pm

Jolie-Laide Grenache/Syrah blend is one of my top wines every vintage. Love what Scott Schultz is doing with reds and whites.

Tom

lleichtman · January 22, 2018, 9:17pm

Casa Dumetz makes an excellent GSM from Santa Ynez area.

AD_Northup · January 22, 2018, 9:49pm

Thanks everyone! Just ordered some of the Edmunds St. John and Dirty & Rowdy as a start. Will be keeping this thread saved as a reference over the near future.

jnbrown · January 23, 2018, 3:56am

larry schaffer:

The GREAT thing about these types of blends is that, in general, you do not need to break the bank in order to get your hands on them!

The Tablas suggestions are wonderful, and you can even go with their Patelin level wines (using grapes from neighbor vineyards planted to their clones) for wines that are usually sub-$25 and worth every penny.

Sans Liege makes some killer QPR rhone blends using grapes from both SB and SLO counties - good stuff.

Herman Story and McPrice Myers continue to make some great stuff - albeit usually a bit more ‘turned up’ structure and alcohol-wise.

Zaca Mesa’s Z Cuvee usually over-delivers and Eric Mohseni is somewhat of a ‘below the radar’ kind of winemaker in our area who really is doing a nice job with those grapes.

Jaffurs High Tide is another great purchase, and along with their SBC Syrah, killer QPRs.

And I agree that you should look at Andrew Murray’s offering as well - good stuff.

In all honesty, if I were you, I might just wait until Berserkerday and wait to see what will be offered from some of us working with rhone varieties here in CA, OR and WA (hint hint) … .

Cheers!

Larry,

Are you forgetting one of your neighbors? Cuvee Le Bec.
Have not had it lately but tempted.

larry_schaffer · January 23, 2018, 4:06am

Joel,

Good call - Beckmen usually over delivers on that one for the price. Give it a shot.

Another one to get your hands on is Kunin’s Pape Star - though Seth may not be with us anymore, that wine lives on, and his wife will be carrying on with the label . . .

David_K_o_l_i_n · January 23, 2018, 4:43am

For straight Syrah, Cabot

Sean_Devaney · January 23, 2018, 6:37am

Great call here. Really nice wines at a great price plus some of the nicest people you will meet.

dougwilder · January 23, 2018, 6:57am

Nicora + 1 (my 2017 Winery of the Year)

Brian_G_r_a_f_s_t_r_o_m · January 23, 2018, 7:06am

There are plenty worth mentioning, but the one that immediately came to my mind was Tablas Creek.

Drew_Goin · January 23, 2018, 9:34am

I am thoroughly enjoying this thread.

I would be very appreciative if anyone cared to share whether a blend mentioned was Syrah-, Grenache-based, or Mourvedre-dominant. My humble opinion is that that makes a world of difference in the final product’s style.

Walt_Hoehler · January 23, 2018, 3:38pm

+1

Jason_Hagen · January 23, 2018, 6:57pm

Why only California? Just wondering. If it is a Cali profile, disregard my reco.

Matello Fools Journey (Oregon) is around $30.

Jason