I always say that it is important to have ways to compare and expand knowledge in the world of food and wine. Being that well over 90% of what I drink is produced in Ontario, and is VQA, I welcome opportunities to drink internationally produced wines, if no other reason than to have standards by which to compare and contrast what we produce in Ontario.

I was invited to a lunch tasting at The Pantages Hotel with our good friend Alexa, and we were given the opportunity to try some stunning wines produced in the Rhone Valley, of Southern France. The Rhone is the second largest wine producing region in France, and they export wine to over 140 countries worldwide. With over 6000 wineries with a total of 76,330 hectares, that sold 399 million bottles between 2008-2009, this is quite an impressive area. They have been producing wine in the Rhone since the Greeks and Etruscans planted vines here in 700 BCE.

The 2010 vintage for the Rhone was an interesting one, and the producers feel the quality of the reds is very high. The colours are deep and dense, with a high skin to juice ratio, the wines are very aromatic, clean and complex. Some of the wines we tasted were good now and will be better with some age, and some could use to sit for a while to mature. From a pricing perspective, the Rhone wines are affordable at the entry level. But for those who like to spend a little more there is definitely some quality there.

As usual, these are my opinions, and I am quite an amateur when it comes to tasting and commenting on while but here are my brief thoughts, for what they are worth.  Listing below is by: product name, vintage. Varietal. Appellation, price.

1. Louis Bernard Cotes du Rhone, 2007. Grenache (65%) Syrah (35%). Cotes du Rhone ($12.50)

Ageability in this versatile and inexpensive wine. Seems to pair well with sweet, seafood, and fatty meats.

2. Rasteau, 2009. Grenache (50%) Syrah (50%). Cotes du Rhone Villages ($18.45)

More fruit and depth evident in this one, with some jammy and floral tones and a nice spice.

3. Domaine Grand Venur, Les Champauvins, 2009. Grenache (70%) Syrah (20%) Mourvedre (10%). Cotes du Rhone ($18.95)

Tannic but drinkable, however could definitely use some time laid down.

4. Domaine Vincent Paris, 2009. Syrah (100%). Saint-Joseph ($27.95)

This was a favourite of mine, and the remains were sent home with me which was nice. This is your typical syrah, bright, spicy, juicy, and quite focused.

5. E. Guigal, 2009. Syrah(100%). Crozes-Hermitage ($24.95)

This is a deep ruby coloured wine and had quite the nose on it. Quite structured, it shows off the Rhone quite well with rhich flavours and tight tannins.

6. Domaine de Bonserine la Sarrasine, 2008. Syrah (97%) Voigner (3%). Cote-Rotie ($49.95)

One of the things our host said when we were drinking this was that this wine had “viscous implications”, or maybe it was something I thought I heard. Regardless, this was a beautiful wine, that was spicy, smoky, with a hint of vanilla. Definitely my kind of wine. 

For more information visit the Rhone Valley Wines website