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This year a blend of Grenache 56%, Mourvedre 12%, Syrah 24%, Cinsaut 6% and Other 2%. I have included a bottle image in the old “Classic” Winorama style - mainly because I’m getting way too lazy to take pictures and format them.

It smells of peanuts, red fruit, mineral, a faint whiff of pastis and it that a little bit of oak I can smell? In the mouth medium bodied and I like the very fine but firm tannins, perhaps a bit boozy but settles down well with extended aeration. Full flavours of red fruits, a bit of dried herb, meat and a stony character that’s probably hard to convey any other way. Nice supple wine with lots of charm and freshness. Looked much better after being open for a day - I think it still has a few tricks up its old Papal sleeve.

Other vintages: 2001, 2000

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Actually, the name of the wine is “Rhône by Roger Sabon”, with the appellation of Côtes-du-Rhône” in a much smaller font. It is a modern label. So it goes. The wine was served blind.

A clear red, with a touch of pink around the rim. A delicate nose, with pink florals, clean earth, red cherries and a touch of dried herbs. The palate is soft, with tangy red fruits in the mid-palate, liquorice and an underlying savouriness. It did seem a bit sweeter with time, but the tannins were consistently soft, which made it very easy drinking. Now Rhône has a reputation for brett, but this one is squeaky clean. One for immediate drinking.

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Red fruits, Provencal herbs, a bit of pepper and merde de ferme. The palate is quite dry, with raspberries, red cherries, dried herbs, dry leather, a bit of plums, and a fair lick of dry stones. Medium to lightly bodied, with reasonable length and a shake of pepper on the finish. A decant quaffer in quality, but certainly does not contain sufficient oomph for the appellation.

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The Rhône Valley had has a run of good vintages since 1998, excepting the aquatic 2002. And before Gary chips in it should be noted that 2003 was very hot and is likely to divide a room of Rhônistes. 2006 is looking good too, as long as the alcohol is held in check.

No big surprises on the nose, with fragrant red cherries, dried herbs, clean earth, red liquorice and iron filings. The palate starts out with red cherries and leathery herbs, and then is swept away in a wave of big savoury flavours, ripe and herby, all culminating in a dry finish. Medium bodied, with perhaps a bit more weight than the 2005. No heat and very good length. Remarkable for under $20.

Other vintages: 2005

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I struggle with the preamble, unlike Gary, who, for those that haven’t met him, can talk and talk and talk and seems to rattle off some introductory text effortlessly. Anyway, I did a quick Google in an attempt to find something interesting about this wine only to discover that David has already reviewed it, and that I paid 40 cents more than him. I feel ripped off.

Initially nothing, but then red fruits, sweat and a stinkiness, but then some black liquorice, leather and old river stones. The palate is medium bodied, with cherries, goat hide and dry dry spices. Inoffensive, and quite simple to be honest, with a thin and woody finish. It filled out with time but the length was unchanged. Not the best value; perhaps better to spend an extra $10 and get the Guigal Cotes-du-Rhone.

Other vintages: 2005

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A medium red colour. A balanced and alluring nose, sour cherries, kirsch, pepper, spice box and a touch of garrigue; nothing in excess, nuanced if you want. The palate is most excellent: red cherries, a touch of liqueur, beautiful fruit tannins, gravelly savoury notes, terrific length and a dry finish. The thing that strikes me most is the structure, so balanced, and so drinkable, not sweet or cloying. Looking good at 8 years of age, and still has plenty of time ahead of it. The alcohol might be teetering on the edge for some, but for me it is effortless drinking. And as an aside, I think this is a better wine than many of the Cuvee Prestige Châteauneuf-du-Papes, and it is interesting that Paul Avril doesn’t produce one himself - three cheers to him!

Other vintages: 2004, 2001, 1999

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Not La Crau…La Crau! That little addendum to the name often causes a bit of confusion as to whether there are two old telegraphs…but like the Highlander, there can be only one. There is a second wine now though, mind you, called Vieux Telegramme, and some say this is responsible for a bit of improvement in the more expensive offering. Not so sure of that. Also of note is that both my Vieux Telegraphe T-Shirts are now boot polishing rags after over ten years of trusty service. I bought them at the winery in 1997, one as a gift for a friend, which I decided to keep for myself because they fit me so well. I did tell him I bought one of them for him though. It’s the thought that counts after all.

It smells of raspberry and fresh blackberry, peanut shells, liquorice allsorts, spice and flowers. Beautiful and pure to smell. On the palate medium to full bodied with fresh acidity, firm dry tannins and great vigour. It has flavours of crushed berry, mineral, pepper and pushes through the mouth with great purpose and energy. Very long expansive finish. A great wine, and as usual with a young VT, the last glass is always the very best.

Other vintages : 2000, 1982

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I really liked the 2001 vintage of this wine so when I read a recent (glowing) 2005 vintage Decanter Mag Northern Rhone tasting I decided to grab a few bottles. Trouble was the importer I remembered (Vintage and Vine) no longer brings it in, so with a little help from my friends (in retail) we established that Randalls (Heart & Soil) is now the new (or sole) importer, and they promptly sorted me out with a bit of excellent service. Oh and FYI there’s no “Granit 60″ left (in 750ml) but there are a couple of magnums still available.

A distinctly bright and lurid imperial Roman purple colour (perhaps indicating a low Ph) then aromas of smoke, pepper and minerals over dark berries with an aniseed lift. It smells pretty and fresh. On the palate medium bodied with a distinctly fresh acid cut and plenty of fine dry (but ripe) tannin. A little sappy and edgy. It has flavours of berries, pepper, meat and mineral and very good length of flavour. Over the course of a couple of days all the pieces really started to fall into place, and like Nostradamus hunched over a fragrant peppery broth, I think I can predict the future for this wine. And unlike that gloomy old bastard I can tell you (and in less than four lines, preferring to simply signify with the sign of the +) that things are going to be very rosy indeed. A fine vintage, a good Cornas, all will be well.

Other vintages : 2004

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Just a quick note on this wine from some scribblings on a scrap of paper. Garrigue, in fact lots of garrigue, with some lavender florals, red fruits, a certain milkiness, and lots of dried herbs. The palate displayed a lovely richness without being overpowering, with red fruits and some drying savoury stones. Quite good length, and there is a touch of white pepper on the finish. I would have written more, but alas the bottle was gone; always a good sign in my books. A good Chateauneuf-du-Pape no doubts, but doesn’t scale any heights.

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A lovely nose, showing raspberries and herbs, garrigue, dried moss, blue florals and iron filings. The palate is medium bodied, with red fruits and red leather, minerals, and some acid and iron filings (again) that give the wine a certain dryness. There is some rusticity, but the fruit is tasty and savoury and the tannins almost chewy. The length is particularly good, and though there is a slight agricultural dryness on the finish, the wine has a lot of appeal; a style I particularly like.

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I had not heard of Domaine de la Chartreuse before, and we can thank the team at Hoddles Creek for importing this one. A good red in colour. River stones, dried herbs, iron filings, raspberries, red cherries, maybe light red plums and some red liquorice. A nice bit of a punch on the palate, though maybe more of a quick jab, red fruits, cherries, forward and fruity, but with a strong herby and stoney dryness. The tannins are soft and smooth. Good value at $17.

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The night of the great cellar clean up revealed some surprises. Many of us bought this wine back in the eighties and I was amazed to discover a bottle was still in a cellar. It has bright fruit aromas with cherry, cinnamon and something else that I couldn’t put my finger on. The palate was great, spicy flavours that were alive and fresh. Quite a complex mix of red berry, cinnamon and aged character that all up made a lovely package. I remember that it was not that expensive at the time and it was superb the other night.

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I saw this at the Wine Emporium on the weekend and it piqued my interest. It is a blend of Grenache Blanc, Roussanne, Clairette, Bourbolenc and Picpoul, which is interesting in itself, but moreso because it would seem that Marsanne isn’t a permissible grape variety in Chateauneuf-du-Pape. You learn something new every day.

The nose showed aromas of pear and apple, yellow fruits, glossy lemons, a little yeasty with a bit of spice. The palate is textured and relatively big, hard green fruits, lemons and some quite exotic flavours, finishing with sour fruits. It has the softest acid, excellent length and does seem a bit oxidative in style. A pleasant surprise - would make a great options wine. Don’t serve too warm.

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I feel very guilty reviewing this because I think its really a Linc style wine. The nose has lovely fruit and licorice. The palate is rich fruit with great concentration, earthy, hint of marzipan, maybe some unusual textural stuff with some nice oak weight. A complex earthy style of wine that is very different to the Australian Shiraz that I have been trying of late. It needs a little time to settle before one starts to look at it with serious intentions.

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A blend of Shiraz, Mataro and Cabernet listed as Vin de Pays d’Herault. The wine is bright in the glass with a bit of brown at edge. The nose is savoury with chocolate, mushroom and some sweet fruited plum. The palate has plum, a bit of mushroom, some licorice and good length. A nice wine but I wonder about its price point.

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Mainly Grenache, but I believe in the last few years some Syrah and Mourvèdre has snuck into the blend. Red currants and red cherries, spices and leather, minerals, and a little bit on the stinky side, like some mossy stones. The palate showed a lovely depth of sweet fruits, with a savoury and stoney edge that really does compliment the fruit well. Soft tannins, but seems to have the structure to cellar over the short term. By no means as polished as the Torbreck “Steading”, and though some might call it rustic it is damn good drinking at the price. Get a 6 pack and consume over the next 4 or 5 years.

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This one is a blend of 70% Grenache and 30% Mourvedre. Quite stinky on opening, like sweaty red leather boots, but it settled down to show savoury fruits, raspberries and red currants, minerals, lavender and some dried herbs. The palate is medium bodied, tangy dark cherries and savoury notes, sour but also displaying sweet fruits, a bit of gravel and dried meats. Fine but chewy fruit tannins, exemplary tannins really, with oak playing a minor role in this production. A bargain for what it is, and I wish the Langtons Exchange would stock up on stuff like this again.

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Lincoln reviewed this last month, and as per usual with all things Rhone, he is bang on the Euro. I picked this up because I had a hankering to drink something cheap and French…although something expensive and French would probably have been better.

Dark cherry, red berry, beef dripping, minerals, pepper and licorice. On the palate medium bodied with cherry, red berry, pan juices and spicy flavours. Nice and meaty with firm loose knit grainy tannins and balanced acidity. Finishes with a little grip and acid and meaty red berry flavours. A wise choice for a lovely weekday wine.

Other vintages reviewed : 2004, 2003

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A wine from our night of old wines found in the cellar. I remember trying Gigondas way back in the late seventies and thinking it needs time. Well John and Julie certa-gigondas-1980inly left this one to gather a bit of time. The region is part of the Rhone valley and usually has Grenache, Mourvedre and Shiraz. I remember this wine when young, showing a lot of drying tannin and little red fruits but plenty of licorice and dried herbs. At 27 years of age this was fine. The nose has a dusty/earthy character and a little tar, things that normally have my brett detector warming up but here, if present, I couldn’t spot it. The palate has a bit of matchstick, some licorice and earthy flavours that give little hint of its varietal origins. All this and it still has some drying tannins on the finish. Nice wine but it never really kicked in with fruit weight, just remaining as allusive as I remember twenty years ago.

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I have had this on the bench for while, and it’s number came up on the weekend. A blend of roughly 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah, and retails for about 5€ in Europe and sits at about $20 in Oz. Raspberry and minerals, a touch of earth, lavender and some roasted herbs. The palate is nicely weighed, juicy fruit juxtaposed with earthy animals, and more than a trace of youthful raspberry cordial. Soft tannins and good length. A great introduction to a cheap Southern Rhone, and certainly augurs well for the 2005 vintage.

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