Syrah
Geographic Areas
The Most popular wines are made in France and California. For the purposes of this web page we will be mainly focusing on wines from these two regions. We will however be touching on wines from all over the globe.
In France, the most important geographical regions are:
Bordeaux:
This region produces the world's greatest red wines. Red grapes used are blends of mostly Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot and some others. It is important to know that Bordeaux reds are made from blends of grapes rather than from one single varietal grape. The white wines of Bordeaux are made with the Sauvignon Blanc and are characteristically dry and light.
Burgundy:
This region produces the world's greatest white wines and also world-class reds. The whites are all made from the Chardonnay grape and are delicate and exquisitely-textured and flavorful wines. The red burgundies are also world renown. They are made from the Pinot Noir grape and are characteristically soft and smooth and dry but fruity. Lighter red wines from this region are from the Beaujolais section and are made from the Gamay grape; these are refreshing "village" wines and are best when drunk young.
Cotes du Rhone:
This region produces flavorful and exciting red wines and easy- drinking "village white wines. Grapes used in this region are mostly Grenache and Syrah.
Loire Valley and Alsace:
This region produces a wide range if interesting and easy-to-drink dry white wines. The Loire river basically extends from the Atlantic Ocean to the Alps; consequently the Loire Valley wines are aromatic, some light and pleasant and others complex. Alsace is close to the Loire and borders Germany; wines produced here are uniquely aromatic and although dry, are close in style to German wines. The main grapes used in the Loire are Chenin Blanc. Fume Blanc, (aka, Sauvignon Blanc) and Muscadet. The main grapes used in Alsace are Riesling, Pinot Gris (Pinot Grigio) and Gewurztraminer.
In California, the most important geographical regions are:
Napa Valley:
The most notorious with famous Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay; also produces excellent Pinot Noir and the other California grape varieties.
Sonoma:
Just west of Napa, gaining in reputation for Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay; also has wonderful Zinfandel and Fume Blanc as well as Merlot.
Other significant regions are Mendocino and Central Coast/Monterey.
A brief description of some of the most famous wines from each region
White Bordeaux
The best white wine from Bordeaux comes from the Graves region. Other Bordeaux white are light, lean and really not very good. The grape used in all white Bordeaux is the Sauvignon Blanc.
Chateau Goelane: Light, dry, inexpensive
Mouton Cadet: Very large, reputable wine conglomerate in Bordeaux. This white is light, dry, but also overpriced. It's popularity is purely because of name recognition.
Rothschild Graves: Better than Mouton Cadet, but still light, dry and a little overpriced.
White Burgundy
The white wines from Burgundy region of France are widely considered the best white wines in the world. All whites from this region are made with Chardonnay grapes. they have wonderful fruit, are very dry, have lots of subtle flavors and textures, and they are made with a finesse that gives them a soft and delicate but still a long-lasting taste. The only drawback is that they are expensive.
Drouhin Macon Villages: Drouhin is the shipping company. Macon means it is in the Maconnais region of the Bourgognon . Villages means this wine represents the best of Macon available. The Macon is the best value of the white Burgundies. It is light and approachable and fruity yet still dry.
Duboeuf Saint-Veran: Dubeouf is the shipper; Saint-Veran is a region of the Maconnais. The Saint-Veran can be thought of as a better-quality Macon.
Albert Pic Chablis: Albert Pic is the shipping company. Chablis is not a grape (like Gallo "Chablis" which is a blend of cheap California grapes). The Chablis region produces wonderful white wines and the prices are not exorbitant. This particular Chablis is made with 100% Chardonnay Grapes.
Louis Latour Pouilly-Fuisse: Louis Latour is the shipper; Pouilly-Fuisse is a region within the Maconnais of Burgundy. This is perhaps the most popular white burgundy sold in America; so many buyers are familiar with it. It is very good, dry, refreshing, etc., but it is a little pricey. I would recommend the Pic Chablis over this.
Louis Latour Meursault: Louis Latour is the shipper; Mersault is a village in the northern section of Burgundy. This is a smooth and subtle but powerful, focused white wine that has a long " finish" (lingering aftertaste). I think this is the best white Burgundy.
St. Aubin Chassagne Montrachet: St Aubin is the shipper; Chassagne Montrachet is also a village in the northern end of Burgundy. Although white Burgundies are characteristically delicate, the Chassagne Montrachet is a powerful, muscular wine with lots of subtle and lingering flavors. It has one of the longest aging potentials of white wines, meaning it usually tastes better after about five years in the bottle. This is an expensive and fabulous wine.
Loire-Alsace
This region is known for good quality, moderately priced dry, light and in some cases particularly aromatic wines. Therefore, they are a very good value for French whites.
Wildman Vouvray: Wildman is the name of the shipping company. Vouvray is a region in the middle-Loire Valley. The grape is Chenin Blanc. This is a light-styled dry acidic and pleasant, easy-drinking wine. It has no particular aroma therefore its a versatile wine that agrees with any food combination.
Michel Redde Sancerre: Michel Redde is the shipper. This is a Loire wine using the Chenin Blanc grape. This is a very nice wine in that it is light and dry but smooth and subtly aromatic as opposed to other very forward-tasting Chenins. This is an upscale wine at a reasonable price for those who appreciate the Loire style but also want high quality.
Paul Figeat Pouilly Fume: Figeat is the shipping company; the grape is Sauvignon Blanc; the region is the upper Loire Valley. This is a powerful and aromatic - "smoky' - wine, and it also has a smooth refreshing aftertaste.
Trimbach Riesling: Trimbach is a well-respected negociant in the Alsace region. This is a Riesling grape from Alsace, which borders Germany. An Alsation Riesling is different from a German Riesling in that it is completely dry (i.e. no residual sugar) and particularly firm and "tight". This is a classic Alsatian Riesling, focused and well-structured, but a bit pricey.
Dopff and Irion Gewurztraminer: Dopff and Irion is a well-established shipping company; the grape is Gewurztraminer; the region is Alsace. The best Gewurztraminer in the world comes from Alsace, and this is a very good one. It is difficult to recommend it because it is unusual and hard to pronounce!( It's Geh-wurz-tra-meener) The wine has a bite, and is characteristically spicy, smoky and highly aromatic. A perfect Summer wine.
Germany
Buyers of German wines are usually looking for a light, almost-sweet wine. The grape variety is almost always a Riesling, and the German style is overtly fruity and sweet.
Deinhard Piesporter Michelsberg: Deinhard is the shipping company. Michelsberg is a large region of the Mosel area of Germany called the Piesport which produces pleasant and easy-drinking sweet wines. This is a classic Piesporter.
Sohne Piesporter Goldtropfchen: Sohne is the shipper, very well known in Germany. Goldtropfchen is the best quality wine in the Piesport region. This Riesling is a little drier than the Michelsberg.
CALIFORNIA WHITE
California wines are labeled by grape variety and winery name. I will review three basic varieties: Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, and Chardonnay.
Chenin Blanc
This grape typically produces a dry, crisp, acidic, light-styled wine, It is also sometimes made in a slightly sweet style. It is the least popular of the three main Clifornia varietals. Chenin Blanc is an excellent recommendation for summer drinking and for light refreshing wines. Both of the Following Chenin Blancs are dry.
Beringer: consistently good quality and value.
Dry Creek: among the top-rated of all California Chenins.
Sauvignon Blanc
This grape is also called Fumé Blanc. It produces a dry, medium-bodied wine, sometimes with a characteristically smoky, grassy or herbaceous aroma. Recent trends in winemaking have produced Sauvignon Blancs which are smoother, less herbaceous, almost middle-of-the-road, easy-on-the-palate. It is increasingly popular as the alternative to Chardonnay.
Fetzer:Light-style, well-made, good value.
Morgan: in the traditional "grassy" style and very dry.
Dry Creek: This winery was the first in California to initiate the so-called Fumé Blanc from Sauvignon Blanc. This is consistently well-made, dry but with a subtle fruity aftertaste.
Grgich-Hills: Many wine critics consider this the best Fumé Blanc in California. This is powerful for a Sauvignon Blanc; a very smooth, long-lasting wine.
Clos Du Bois: This one my personal favorites. A medium bodied well made wine from a first class winery.
Chardonnay
This is the most popular grape variety. It makes the highest quality white wine. Chardonnay has more distinctive flavors and subtle characteristics than any other grape. It has aging potential of 3-8 years or so as opposed to other whites which generally do not. It is made in two styles: 1) aged in stainless steel tanks -- this gives the wine a lighter character and is made to be consumed young --it is dry, easy-to-drink and refreshing; 2) aged in oak barrels, or partly in oak -- this gives the wine a richer, almost creamy or "buttery" character -- it is complex, age-worthy, full-bodied.
Fetzer Sundial: Light, popular.
Round Hill: Consistently a terrific value. Round Hill is famous for good quality at low prices. This wine is always a great choice.
Beaulieu Vineyards: This is a good choice because BV is a well-known respected winery which produces the full-range from light table wines to world famous private reserves. This Chardonnay is a medium-quality, light-styled but upscale wine for people who want to pay a moderate price but still get a good bottle of wine.
Murphy-Goode: Very good, dry but medium-bodied Alexander Valley Chardonnay with lots of refreshing fruit but also with a nice subtle "finish" (aftertaste).
Girard: A small but top-quality winery in Napa Valley which always gets among the highest Chardonnay scores among wine critics. This is a solid, full-bodied, well-balanced (which means that the different flavors come together well), and very smooth wine.
Calera: A great Chardonnay for those who like lots of oak in the wine. This is made in the lesser-known Central Coast area of California where the temperatures are milder which means the wine is "approachable" (easy-to-drink) and packed with solid fruit; but since this is made in a full-bodied style the result is a complex but refreshing wine.
Mount Eden: A well known name among wine people. This is a Chardonnay from Edna Valley. It has more finish than nose which means the flavors linger for quite awhile.
Grgich Hill: Worth every penny!!!
ROSE/BLUSH WINES
These are red wines which have just a little contact with the skins of the red grapes. Years ago they were called ros‚ wines; now it is more fashionable to call them blush wines.
Bel Arbors White Zinfandel: Decent quality, medium-dry, uses Zinfandel grapes.
Amador Foothill White Zinfandel: A little more forward-tasting than the Fetzer. Very refreshing, medium-dry, with a little spritz.
Beringer White Zinfandel:A little on the sweet side, however very enjoyable (if you like that sort of thing). A great choice for a party wine.
Bonny Doon Vin Gris de Cigare: Bonny Doon is an innovative winery in Monterey. Vin Gris is a very excellent ros‚ (the winemaker calls it a pink wine), completely dry, using a blend of grapes: Mourvedre, Cinsault, and Grenache.
Red Bordeaux
Red wines of Bordeaux are considered to be the finest in the world. They are made with a blend of red grapes: mostly Cabernet Sauvignon, also Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. The villages and chateaux within Bordeaux are important to buyers because each plate has a unique characteristic.
Michel Lynch: More or less a good "table wine." This is a blend of "house grapes" with no special Bordeaux traits except that it is from Bordeaux. However it is an inexpensive and pleasant red.
Chateau Greysac, Medoc: An inexpensive good wine from the Medoc region. This is an easy-drinking wine from a good wine maker. This wine always benefits from a period of aging.It is a good low risk bet for anyone who wants a moderately-priced decent red Bordeaux.
J.P. Mouiex, St. Emilion: J.P. Mouiex is the shipping company, St. Emilion is the region within Bordeaux. Notice there is no Chateau. This means Mouiex brought together lots of small vineyards and blended them, but all from the same area. This keeps costs down, but this is not a cheap wine. Consider it an upscale blended St. Emilion.
Chateau Langoa-Barton, St. Julien: From the St. Julien Village (an area known for excellent value), this is the sister-chateau of Léoville-Barton. Quoting the wine spectator, it "has an extremely impressive velvety mouth-feel, with rich chocolate, berry and cedar aromas..." The 1989 vintage was superior throughout Bordeaux; this wine is relatively high-priced but excellent; it would probably be the best choice from the Bordeaux. Buy it if you can afford it.
Chateau Léoville-Barton, St. Julien: Also known for excellent value from St. Julien, it is generally more highly-regarded than Langoa which it owns. Quoting the Wine Spectator, "... a luscious wine, with full, round tannins and rich tobacco, blackberry and chocolate flavors." [FYI-these flowery descriptions are what wine critics say about their tasting of wine. It does not mean anything tangible, i.e., do not get the wrong impression that tobacco and blackberry and chocolate are put in to the wines! It is just that these aromas are sort of sensed on the palate when tasting, as if the elements of the soil produce grapes and wine with these characteristics. These are good descriptions, and they give potential buyers a good idea of what to expect, and they help buyers make selections without tasting the wine. But you can not guarantee descriptions.]
Chateau Clos des Jacobins, St. Emilion: A wine with great heritage from the St. Emilion area with a characteristic "earthy" texture. The 1989 is from a good vintage. This is a strong wine, earthy and tannic.
Chateau Talbot, St. Julien: This is a well-made wine from a very reputable vineyard. It is widely recognized as top quality with a reasonable price. The 1986 vintage produced a wine that is very tannic, but 10 years' aging it has softened and is now very nice to drink. [FYI-- Tannin is a natural by-product that exists in the skins and stems of grapes; in red wines, where the juice is in contact with the skins and stems, tannins are very much present. Tannins are an important requirement for a wine to age. In a young full-bodied red wine, tannins soften, creating a smooth, harmonious, elegant wine. Sometimes wines are called "tannic" when the tannins are evident to the taste. A tannic wine is good, but the wine should be a few years old before drinking it. ]
Chateau Meyney, St. Estephe: A huge wine, tasting powerful and tannic. This is also a tremendous value for Bordeaux. Quoting the Wine Spectator, "this beautifully-balanced Bordeaux has rich berry, plum and spice flavors and silky tannins on the finish."
Chateau Chasse-Spleen, Moulis: From the Moulis region, this chateau is consistently good and a good value but does not receive the notoriety it deserves. The 1989 is rated 95 by the Wine Spectator, "luscious, with all the gorgeous raspberry and berry flavors you could want. Shows lovely, rich, ripe fruit. Perhaps the best wine ever produced at this underrated estate. A superb value." This is an excellent recommendation from these wine writers; even though it is expensive, it should be well worth it.
Red Burgundy
Reds from the Burgundy region (Bourgogne) are generally regarded as softer, fruitier and smoother than the reds from Bordeaux. The lighter Burgundies are usually from vineyards with in the Beaujolais region and use Gamay grapes. The "world class," top-quality Burgundies are wonderfully complex and smooth wines using usually Pinot Noir grapes.
Beaujolais, Jos Drouhin: Drouhin is the shipping company; Beaujolais is the region; Gamay is the grape. This is the most popular and affordable type of "Beaujolais." It is light and fruity. It is meant to drink young.
Brouilly, Georges Duboeuf, Chateau de Nervers: Duboeuf is the shipping company; Brouilly is the region within Beaujolais; Chateau de Nervers is the specific Chateau. The 1991 is a terrific wine. Quoting noted wine critic Robert Parker, "this is the finest brouilly I have ever tasted..." consider this an upscale Beaujolais, very soft and fruity. And because Brouilly is not a big seller, it has been held to a very reasonable price.
Moulin-a-Vent, Georges Duboeuf: The region of Moulin-a-Vent is supposedly the top quality region within the Beaujolais. Moulin-a-Vent is the one Beaujolais with aging potential, which means it gets better (to a point) with a few years in the bottle. This also means it has more substance and character than the lighter Beaujolais.
Gevrey-Chambertin, Jos. Drouhin: Gevrey-Chambertin is in the Cote de Nuits section in the heart of Burgundy. Joseph Drouhin is the shipper; Pinot Noir is the grape. 1990 was a top vintage for fine-quality red Burgundy; this wine can be considered top quality. Quoting the Wine Spectator, " very attractive and seductive, with almost sweet flavors. Shows good intensity of berry, cherry and earth flavors that develop into a focused beam on the finish." Sounds nice!
RED RHONE
Like the Loire whites, the Rhone reds provide customers with the best value and quality for the price. The Rhone is characterized by two regions: The northern Rhone uses Syrah grapes and produces big, tannic wines. The southern Rhone uses a blend of several grapes, with a high percentage of Grenache, and produces a wide range of wine-styles.
Guigal Cotes du Rhone: A great table wine for a good price. Guigal is probably the most respected winery in the Rhone. This is a southern Rhone wine using a blend of several grapes. It has a very forward and earthy character.
B&G Chateauneuf-du-Pape: Chateauneuf du Pape is the most important region in the Southern Rhone. B&G is the shipping company. Chateauneuf-du-Pape uses mostly Grenache grapes and is typically vivacious, forward-tasting and also full-bodied. It is usually a good recommendation; the drawback is that there is a wide range in styles and quality. B&G is moderate with a medium-bodied, fresh, fruity style.
Beaucastel Chateauneuf-du-Pape: Beaucastel makes consistently the best Chateauneuf-du-Pape. It also uses mostly Grenache grapes with a healthy blend of Syrah to give it some power. One year, 1989, it was rated as the best wine in the world. The 1988 vintage is top quality. Even though it is expensive, buyers who like this type of wine recognize it as being excellent.
Guigal Hermitage: Hermitage is the star wine of the northern Rhone. It produces gripping, powerful, Syrah-grape wines, and usually requires several years to approach drinkability. The 1985 vintage was particularly good, receiving a 95 rating from the Wine Spectator.
CALIFORNIA RED
California has not reached the quality of French reds. Quality in the last 10-15 years however has dramatically improved . Now California reds are considered to be almost as good. Because they are closer to home and are more reasonably priced, American buyers prefer them over French reds which are known for being expensive. As with whites, reds from California are named for the vineyard and the specific grape used. The best quality grape is Cabernet Sauvignon. Also popular are Merlot, Zinfandel, Pinot Noir and Syrah.
Merlot
Round Hill: Like its Chardonnay, Round Hill is known for exceptional value. This Merlot is soft and medium-bodied.
Clos du Bois: Clos du Bois makes the classic Merlot: soft, full-bodied, forward-tasting with a pleasant finish.
Merryvale: Top-quality wine, very popular in spite of the price. This wine explodes with fruit and has a nice round finish.
Pinot Noir
Mountain View: A light-styled easy-to-drink Pinot Noir. This is a good recommendation to a buyer who wants a light red that is better than "house wine" but does not have a big price.
Robert Mondavi: Pinot Noir has been difficult to make well in California. Robert Mondavi has always produced a good one.
Saintsbury: Saintsbury has the reputation of producing the best Pinot Noir in California. It has wonderful soft ripe fruit, very smooth, nice aromas and a long, pleasant finish.
Zinfandel
Seghesio: Zinfandel is a grape unique to California. Typically, it has a big, jammy fruit. Some are made in the light Beaujolais-style, others are traditionally heavy and powerful. Seghesio's is light and fruity, with a big nose and light aftertaste. That makes it a sort of fun recommendation because it can appeal to those who like wine and blush wines because it has enough round red fruity aroma to appeal to a red wine drinker. It also offers a nice price.
Dry Creek "Old Vines": This is made in the traditional style using old vines, meaning this particular wine was from grape vines which have been yielding Zinfandel grapes for many years. This has lots of tannins and powerful fruit.
Rafanelli: Rafanelli is known for producing excellent Zins. This is wonderful: it is full-bodied but has lots of subtle flavors and complex aromas and long, soft finish . Very highly recommended to buyers wanting a great California red that is an alternative to Cabernet Sauvignon.
Syrah
Preston: This is a fabulous and very interesting but seldom saught after wine. California Syrah, unlike the reputable Rhone grape, does not have a large following. In California it is usually poorly-made. The Preston is distinctive. It is full-bodied, powerful, with jam-like fruit and complex aromas -- a very good quality Syrah.
Cabernet Sauvignon
Belvedere Grove Street: This is light, easy - to-drink Cabernet. It does not have heavy tannins or a big aftertaste, but it is pleasant. An easy recommendation.
Canterbury: East-to-drink, medium bodied that for the price is well structured. Canterbury is not very well known but it makes a good Cabernet at an affordable price.
Fetzer Barrel Select: Fetzer makes 2 styles of Cabernet: one a light, forward-flavored wine, and the other, "Barrel Select," which is more substantive. Still it is not a particularly full-bodied wine. This used to be a bargain Cabernet, however it's popularity is leadind it's price sky-high.
B V "Rutherford": Beaulieu Vineyard is famous for Cabernet Sauvignon. It is usually easy to recommend not only because B V is one of the oldest wineries but also because their wines are consistently good quality. The problem is that B V produces too many styles of Cabernet and buyers often do not know what they are getting. The "Rutherford" Cabernet is in the mid range; medium priced, medium bodied wine. The bonus is that all the grapes are Rutherford, the section of Napa that produces excellent Cabernet grapes. This wine is an excellent recommendation for good quality and moderate price.
Field Stone: Field Stone is not well known outside California but is gaining in popularity. Their Cabernet is medium bodied and particularly fruity. It tastes sort of like a heavy Beaujolais. It is not wine you could recommend to everyone, but it fits well in the medium price range.
Simi: Simi is another winery of long standing and excellent reputation. This is typical of what a good Cabernet should be -- full-bodied, complex aromas, long finish. A fine recommendation.
Clos du Bois: Clos du Bois is well known for high quality wines, especially Merlot and varieties of Cabernet Sauvignon. This is similar in style to Simi -- complex and full-bodied, but also smooth and approachable. An excellent medium priced Cabernet that can be easily recommended.
Corison: This is a very excellent wine by little known winemaker Cathy Corison. It is a full bodied style with a rich, dense texture. The wine is broad-structured and complex; she will use only grapes grown in the famous Rutherford Bench section of Napa.
Mount Eden Another high quality wine described by the Wine Spectator, " Firm and focused, with a tight core of chuncky currant, anise, cherry and oak flavors that are all neatly wound and balanced."
Grgich Hills The best. Full bodied, balanced, lots of good aromas and oak, nice long aftertaste -- everything you could want in a Cabernet Sauvignon. Grich is widely known as one of the best producers of Cabernet Sauvignon in California. Usually a recommendation is not necessary since many who know the name are immediately assured of its consistency and will buy knowing it turns a good dinner into a memorable one.
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