Wednesday, March 18, 2020 23 • 2017 L’Aventure Cote A Cote • 2017 Brecon Estate Syrah • 2015 Vigo Syrah For many years I have been I would guess they used some This Paso Robles winery was The Wine Corner impressed by the wines French- new oak in the barrel aging of new to me and I am glad to make man Stephan Asseo crafts in this wine as it sports a lovely va- its acquaintance. It has the love- Paso Robles. This blend of Gre- nilla scent on the nose. Inky pur- ly aroma of a fresh baked black- Best of the Rhone Rangers nache, Syrah and Mourvedre is ple in color it possesses excellent berry pie with jammy fruit and a By Pierre DuMont the Mourvedre. love the overall beautiful in every way, with loads blueberry fruit intermixed with luscious round mouthfeel. It pos- precision here and the big round of cherry, blueberry, spice and licorice and earth flavors. Mod- sesses sufficient acid to keep it They’re back in the saddle mouth-feel. The finish is long and flowers, it flows onto the palate erately tannic, full bodied and from being cloying and the finish again. The Rhone Rangers is a satisfying. The wine is delicious with a voluptuous, decadent tex- concentrated it should have many is clean and smooth. trade organization ofCalifor- now but will age for a decade. ture, fantastic purity and serious years ahead of it. nia wineries that feature wines length. It is absolutely delicious • 2018 Troon Cotes du Kubli made from the grapes of France’s now but I see no reason it wont • 2017 McKahn Family Cellars A real charmer made from a Rhone region –Syrah, Petite Sir- evolve gracefully for a decade. Syrah blend of Viognier, Marsanne and ah, Grenache, Carignan, Moue- This wine hails from the Roussanne. A honey yellow col- vedre for red wines Viognier, • 2017 Brecon Estate Syrah Spring Mountain district of Napa or it smells of honeysuckle and Marsanne,Roussanne, Grenache This Syrah has brilliantly Valley and only 50 cases were apricots. The Viognier gives it Blanc for whites. They used to pure blueberry, raspberry and produced. It has the finesse and a huge rich weight in the mouth put on a big tasting in the BayAr- herb aromas and flavors to go elegance of a cool-climate Syrah. and enormous body for a white ea but this year the event was held with a medium-bodied ripe and Blueberry, cherry and flowers wine. The grapes come from the in Paso Robles – home to many textured mouth-feel. Clean, bal- mixed with saddle leather and Applegate Valley in Oregon and of the best Rhone producers. anced and elegant it’s a beautiful- earth. The gorgeous perfumed the winery is located in Grant’s They gathered at the con- ly done Syrah meant for drinking nose is a dead ringer for a Cote Pass Oregon. vention center where nearly 80 over the next 7 to 8 years. Rotie at a third the price. Nice wineries poured over 300 dif- job. • 2018 Lindquist Syrah ferent wines. For those getting • 2016 Steinbeck Viognier Central Coast tired of Cabernet, Zinfandel and This wine is juicy and live- • 2017 Tooth and Nail “The Bob Lindquist in one of the Chardonnay, these wines are a ly with classic white flowers, Stand” pioneers of Rhone style wines treat. They are also often better peach and citrus qualities, this This Paso Robles wine is in California and the founder of values than California’s more fa- medium-bodied white shows the mostly Petite Sirah with a bit of Qupe Vineyards. His new ven- mous varietals. While so many inherent richness of the variety Syrah mixed in. It has vanilla and ture carries on the tradition of excellent wines were poured, at • 2016 Two Shepherds with full, round texture that fin- blueberry aromas, full-bodied making solid, beautifully craft- the end of the day, the following Grenache Blanc ishes nicely. This wine should dark fruit flavors and an exuber- ed Syrahs that remind one of wines were the most memorable Nice to see this relatively rare be consumed over the next two ant typically California personal- France’s Hermitage wines. This of the tasting. They represent the grape bottled on its own. Light years. ity with its up-front fruit and pre- has earth, leather and minerals cream of the crop of America’s gold in color it has fantastic aro- cociousness. It is well-balanced mixed in the dark berry fruit. It Rhone style wines. mas and flavors of tropical fruits, • 2016 Still Waters Syrah El and has the tannin for long term is beautifully structured and built spice box and mineral to go with Pomar District aging. Break out the BBQ and to last for decades. a medium-bodied, fresh and live- This wine boasts a dense ruby/ throw on some burgers. ly palate feel that builds in rich- purple color in addition to deep • 2017 Concur “Random ness through the mid palate and chewy blackberry fruit mixed • 2016 TH Vineyards “The Harvest” finish. A perfect aperitif. with flowers and earthy notes. Hedge” Syrah Reserve This wine is a “kitchen sink” Dense and supple with sweet Lots of toasty, sweet oak on blend of Cabernet, Grenache, • 2017 Cypher “Phoenix” tannin, it will provide delicious the nose with hints of cedar and Mourvedre, Syrah and Petite This is a blend of Syrah, Pe- drinking over the next 6-8 years. tobacco. Big full and powerful Sirah from Paso Robles. It offers tite Sirah and Mourvedre. It is berry fruit on the palate with a up a fantastic bouquet of black- a big rich effort that’s loaded • 2017 Summerwood Syrah firm solid structure and great berries, plum, and violets to go with black fruits, chocolate, lic- Reserve balance. This blockbuster wine with a sweetly fruity, supple and orice and leather. This flows to a This winery is a perennial should hold up well for well over decadently textured profile on the full-bodied, voluptuous wine that favorite of mine. The Reserve a decade. palate. Despite the upfront nature has solid mid-palate concentra- Syrah is an opaque, purple col- here it stays beautifully fresh and tion and outstanding length. This ored wine of tremendous intensi- • 2017 Paper Street “The focused on the finish. is built to last a long time. ty as well as a big, smoky, black- Narrator” berry scented nose with hints of This wine is produced in • 2014 Montemar Syrah • 2016 Kaleidos “Morpheus” anise and chocolate. Dense, opu- Paso Robles by J. Dusi Winery Just 51 cases of this wine were This is roughly two thirds lent and voluptuous, it is a hedo- owned by a long term family in made by this small winery based Syrah and one third Grenache. nistic Syrah that should last over the area. It has a sweet blackber- in Lompoc, CA. The Syrah shows • 2017 Kita Grenache Camp 4 It has an intense array of black a decade. ry, tar and licorice-dominated an elegant, perfumed profile with Vineyard fruits, mint, wild herbs and min- nose, full body, big tannins and plenty of black fruits, herbs and This lovely wine hails from erality all emerging from the • 2016 Four Lanterns “Shades” a tough-textured but rich finish. black pepper to go with a medi- the Santa Ynez Valley in south- glass. Full-bodied, rich and con- This wine is 100% Mourve- A blend of Grenache, Syrah and um-bodied, round, mouth filling ern California. It offers up beau- centrated with monster fruit bal- dre a distinctive varietal whose Mourvedre it is opulent and lay- texture on the palate. Clean, bal- tiful raspberry, flower, and lic- anced by excellent acidity. Serve native home is the Bandol region ered with a long, satisfying fin- anced and fresh it should last for orice aromas and flavors with this blockbuster with a grilled in southern France. I wish more ish. Would be great with a long- a decade. brilliant purity. It is a concentrat- butterflied leg of lamb. people bottled it by itself as it is braised lamb shoulder. ed, rich wine that has nothing out an attractive and distinctive va- • 2015 Epoch Estate Blend of place, beautiful acidity and a • 2016 Seven Oxen “Cassidy” rietal. This is medium bodied • 2015 Derby Syrah Vineyard The wine is crafted from great finish. Seventy percent Grenache and balanced with juicy acidity it Select Derby Vineyard Syrah, Mourvedre, Grenache, mixed with Mourvedre this blend shows black cherry fruit with an 50% new oak gives a lovely with a splash of Tempranillo and • 2016 Austin Hope Syrah/ shows a lot of finesse rather than earthy, musty underlying smell. sweet vanilla nose that is fol- Zinfandel. Lush and beautifully Mourvedre pure power. It has cherry and It has meaty, savory aromas and lowed by cherries and plums. fresh with plenty of plum, blue- The Hope family is one of cranberry aromas with lithe ber- flavors as well as solid richness Loads of berry/currant fruit with berry, mint and roses on the nose, Paso Robles finest producers ry fruit on the palate. It is an el- and length. I would not hold it in a touch of spice and earth. Big it flows onto the palate with a and a perennial favorite of mine. egant, focused wine that is sure the cellar for too long but it is de- body with good balance on the full-bodied, seamless and focused This has peat moss, earth, black to charm. licious now. palate and enough tannins for texture.