Still raving about the white Rhone varietals!

[Bob Parsons Alberta]

Ever since I can remember, I have been a big fan of S France whites. The other day, I had a chance to taste some Garretson wines here in Edmonton and Mat will be in town Wed/Thurs. Here is a terrific Rhone-Ranger forumites!

Today, I was out and about and found 3 of his whites at a local wine store. I also came across an interesting white from Seppelt, Victoria. The`04 Bellfield Marsanne/Rousanne, Glenlofty Vineyard Pyrenees. Should be an interesting wine eh.

Hope this place will work! I am gonna push for a WT 101 here, you all know that.

[Robin Garr]

I am gonna push for a WT 101 here, you all know that.

We might give it a different name, Bob, but the concept will certainly live, and I think we can bridge both forums with it.

[Otto]

Ever since I can remember, I have been a big fan of S France whites. The other day, I had a chance to taste some Garretson wines here in Edmonton and Mat will be in town Wed/Thurs. Here is a terrific Rhone-Ranger forumites!

Today, I was out and about and found 3 of his whites at a local wine store. I also came across an interesting white from Seppelt, Victoria. The`04 Bellfield Marsanne/Rousanne, Glenlofty Vineyard Pyrenees. Should be an interesting wine eh.

Hope this place will work! I am gonna push for a WT 101 here, you all know that.

White Rhones rock! I don't know why I like them though. They have little acidity and lots of fruit - both attributes which usually turn me off. I suppose it's the astounding minerality and complexity that the best examples can have. The Chave Hermitage Blanc 2001 tasted exactly a week ago still brings a smile to my face!

The Garretsons do freak me out a bit based on the descriptions I've read of them. I would of course like to try them, but forgive me for being a bit wary. I know it's a topic much discussed before and one which divides people, but I have to mention the high alcohols. I understand that some say that balance is all and that these wines are balanced. But from the paradigm upon which I base my appreciation, balance and freshness are all. Balance alone does not do the trick for me. I accept that many (most, in fact) will not ascribe to my paradigm, so I hope others - those most vocal in talking up high alc wines - will accept that I do not ascribe to theirs. So far I have not had a single table wine which is both balanced and fresh which was over 14,5%. But I will admit that the Rhone varietals tend to take high alcohol better than most other varietals, so I'm keeping my mind open despite the 16%+ that these wines have.

Otto

[Bill Buitenhuys]

Today, I was out and about and found 3 of his whites at a local wine store. I also came across an interesting white from Seppelt, Victoria. The`04 Bellfield Marsanne/Rousanne, Glenlofty Vineyard Pyrenees. Should be an interesting wine eh..

What Garretson wines did you find, Bob? I see his reds around from time to time but nary a white.

[Doug Surplus]

Interesting that I find this new location and this topic just after I opened my first Rhone white - a Rousanne from Colibri in SE Arizona. I don't know if it's typical for the variety, but it's darn good. Low acidity as Bob mentions, but some tannins, with a nose and flavor profile more akin to a red wine.

[Jenise]

White Rhones rock! I don't know why I like them though. They have little acidity and lots of fruit ...Otto

It's the low acidity that always gets to me, too, so when these wines show up I tend to take a very small pour and leave the wines for the people who enjoy them most. But a few weeks a friend brought over a '94 southern white rhone that had all kinds of acid and profundity. I would have loved to have dragged it into a corner and drunk the whole thing myself. We paired it with little puff pastry bundles stuffed with sauteed raddichio, tellegio cheese and truffle slices--a damned good match. But that was an unusual bottle--typically, I take a tiny sip and leave the majority for those who really appreciate that style.

[Bob Parsons Alberta]

Its good to hear from you Otto. Today I picked up a Viognier from Ch Pesquie, think this winery is S Rhone altho label reads Vins de Pays Portes de Mediterrannee.

Question? How does one highlight a quote here? I would have liked to highlight a few lines fron Ottos posting!

[Robin Garr]

Question? How does one highlight a quote here? I would have liked to highlight a few lines fron Ottos posting!

Bob, the easy way is to reply to a post by hitting the QUOTE button on the upper right quadrant of that post. This gives you a reply page with the entire post to which you are replying quoted. Then if you don't want to include it all in the "backquote," just delete the parts you don't want.

Clear? If not, ask, and we'll try some more.