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Rhone blends - France vs CA...

Posted by mkuller on June 22, 2018 at 11:17:05:

...five of us blind tasted 3 Rhone blends from France and 3 Rhone-style GSMs (grenache, syrah and mouvedre) from CA.
Score 1 pt for the one you like best and 6pts for the one you like least - low points wins.
6. 2011 Ortas Rasteau Appellation $20 - 28pts - 4 lasts - this one was a little flat and didn't stand out, one taster described a funky nose.
5. 2014 Sans Leige Trancendentalist Santa Maria (60% syrah, 15.2% alcohol) $35 (91pts WA) - 22pts - 1 last - this one was the biggest wine of the bunch but was described as a little rough and heavy. (I rated it #2.)
4. 2015 Mourchon Cote du Rhone $20 - 19pts, 1 first - this wine started out pretty good but lost some of its fruit and flavor over time.
3. 2012 La Ferme du Mont Le Ponnant $12 (normally $20 on sale at BevMo) - 18pts - (3 thirds) this wine was ok, one taster thought it a little "moldy tasting".
2. 2014 Crooked Path The Wanderer Paso Robles - $15 ($30 for 2 on BevMo $0.05 sale) - 10pts - 1 first (3 seconds - my 3rd)- fruity and rich.
1. 2015 Odonata Black Darter Santa Clara Valley $38 (80% grenache) - 8pts - 3 firsts (mine and my wine) - bright fruit with complex flavors but on the lighter side.
All of these wines had nice fruit, were complex, well balanced and very drinkable despite some of the tasting notes. I think if you picked any of these up without the comparisons you would be happy with it. Most didn't change that much over the hour or so of tasting. The French Rhones weren't as fruit forward and were pretty easy to pick out in comparison.
The bargain is the Crooked Path The Wanderer (notice the point drop) - recommended.