E. Gugal Cotes du Rhone

E. Gugal 

Rhone blend (mostly grenache) - 2007

Appellation Controlee Cotes du Rhone, France

I know, I know, another Rhone blend! Shut it, I like them and it is a good summer wine. And as I have said before, they're all very different. This is a happy medium, like if the Schild GMS and the St. Cosme had a baby wine.

While the varietals in the blend are not listed, the ruby color and juicy finish scream grenache. It is a light, fruity, soft, medium-bodied wine with hardly a hint of tannin. A perfect sipping wine, best served a little cooler than room temperature.

This is a tasty blend brimming with red cherries, soft wood, and subtle pepper on the mid-palate. The pepper is more pronounced as it warms, but never reaches overwhelming since it enhances the fruit and gives depth as opposed to competing with it.

My favorite Rhone thus far. One of my regulars who was a timid pinot noir only drinker loves this and has excitedly begun a quest to out drink me in Rhone blends (not gonna happen sister), a great "try something new/different" wine and great for the summer since it isn't too heavy and chills nicely without losing it's oomph.

Schild Estate "GMS"

Schild Estate "GMS"

Rhone blend (Grenache, Mourvedre, Shiraz) - 2009

Barossa Valley, South Australia

I like Rhone blends. I like the juicy meets peppery melding of grenache and syrah/shiraz. Of course the ratio of each, combined with the old vs new world winemaking style, you never quite know what to expect with these wines, you could get a pepper bomb like the St. Cosme or you could get this GMS...

This blend is possibly the grapiest wine I have ever had. It almost finishes like those grape gummy fruit snacks, great for my inner kid, but very surprising to my palate. Yes, wine is made from grapes, but rarely do you find such a pronounced statement of that flavor in wine.

On the nose I get currants and cherries. It is an easy drinking wine, showing excellent juiciness and the fact it is unoaked allows for the fruit to finish smoothly and linger.

The long pleasant finish makes it a great choice for solo drinkability, but I would take it to a cookout, plunge it in the beer ice bucket for a short spell and enjoy the juiciness opening up as it warmed up (plus it's a screw top, good for the casual outdoor gathering).

This is a great wine for Pinot Noir drinkers wanting to branch out, or heavier red drinkers in the summer. Also as a Rhone lover it is a refreshing break from the traditional French peppery blends.

Chateau St. Cosme

Chateau St. Cosme

"Les Deux Albion" - 2008

Rhone Blend (predominantly Syrah)

Cotes du Rhone, France

Pepper explosion! I am almost unable to taste anything but the white pepper! Now I have been known to enjoy a nice peppery wine, but this is too much. I get a nice nose of red berries, but the potential of a spicy juicy blend is lost by the overwhelming finish. The lightness of the grenache is lost in the overbearing old world syrah.

I wouldn't drink this alone but with a heavy gamey meat, the sweetness of lamb could help balance the finish.