2006 HOSPICE DU RHÔNE - PASO ROBLES, CA -

Notes and brief impressions from the Syrah Shootout Rhône tasting held at the Thirteenth annual Hospice du Rhône on Friday & Saturday, May 12 & 13, 2006, in Paso Robles, CA. This annual event draws Rhône wine producers and wine enthusiasts from around the world to see, hear and taste what's new in Syrah, Grenache, and twenty other Rhône varietals.

I did something a little different this year. I skipped the Grand Tasting -- well, not so much skipped it, as just missed it entirely. The GrapeRadio crew was asked to participate in a Casting Call for a new reality show, 'So you want to be a Winemaker,' which is being proffered to PBS. As it turned out, the timing of the Casting Call coincided exactly with that of the Grand Tasting, and viola - I missed the tasting. But, all was not lost.

A 'Syrah Shootout' was held on Thursday. This was a head-to-head competition between winemakers, with winemakers/producers participating in a blind tasting to select the best three Syrahs in the lineup. The prize - bragging rights until next year's even...oh, and a plaid (some might say gauche) sportcoat, as well as a pseudo-trophy in the form of a small wooden barrel with a plaque. As a bonus, winners are apparently allowed to decorate the coat as they see fit, resulting in various "unique" additions over the years.

Meanwhile, on with the show. The tasting included 50 bottles of various Syrahs, all bagged, numbered and set out at 6-7 different tasting stations in Villa Creek restaurant (closed for this special event). Winemaker and producers were asked to taste through the wines, pick their top three and turn in their scoring to HdR personnel. Scoring amounted to 5 points for our 1st choice, 3 points for our 2nd choice, and 1 point for our 3rd choice. Points were tallied and the first place winner took all. A delicious lunch (courtesy of Villa Creek) followed, along with disclosure of the final winners.

Overall impressions: this was an illuminating tasting (blind tastings can be quite...uh, sobering). I liked the vast majority of the wines, and only found a few to be either odd or just not to my liking. There were also a number of wines here I really liked. My notes below are followed by the name of the wine (this is where it gets sobering), and I must say there were some major surprises for me. The disclosure of what wines were in which bags was furnished to me, so I don't have any vintage information. However, some of the wines I liked, I'd never heard of before; and some of the wines I wasn't too fond of, I had previously considered some of the best examples of Syrah. Ah well, so it goes with the subjectivity of wine tasting.

When the results were finally announced, most people were shocked - not so much at who placed #1, #2, and #3, but that Jeff Cohen hadn't walked away with yet another win! On the other hand, he did indirectly get a wine in the top three. Jeff is also winemaker for Rosenblum, so while his JC Cellars didn't grab top honors, he at least gets an honorable mention.

Wine #1. Initially lots of blue and blackberry in the nose, followed by a big hit of funk. More enjoyable in the mouth, with nicely ripened fruit.
Aroma score: B Taste score: B+
Wine: Novy, Gary's Vineyard.

Wine #2. Bright, with slightly higher acids in both nose and mouth. Suspected a younger vineyard or earlier pick.
Aroma score: B Taste score: B
Wine: Adelaida Cellars, Glenrose Vnyd

Wine #3 . Dark fruit, with some nice clove elements in the nose, with a very good balance throughout.
Aroma score: B+ Taste score: B+
Wine: Anglim Winery, Best Barrel Blend.

Wine #4. Nice nose of dark fruit with a bit of tarry asphalt, and a bit of funk. Very spicy mouthfeel
Aroma score: B+ Taste score: B+
Wine: Cline Cellars, Los Carneros.

Wine #5. Light gamey scent, with a touch of espresso in the nose. A bit sweet, with nice cake spices.
Aroma score: B+ Taste score: B+
Wine: McCrea Cellars, Boushey Grande Cote Vineyard.

Wine #6. Very wild and feral in the nose, with a touch of stink. Tar and asphalt accents to the dark fruit flavors, but a bit too acidic.
Aroma score: B Taste score: B
Wine: Big Basin Vineyards, Rattlesnake Rock.

Wine #7. withdrawn

Wine #8. High-toned nose of red and black fruit. Even brighter on the palate; too distracting.
Aroma score: B+ Taste score: B
Wine: Seven Hills Winery, Walla Walla Valley.

Wine #9. Decent typical nose of dark fruit. Nice balance of fruit and acid, a bit tannic.
Aroma score: B Taste score: B+
Wine: Justin, Reserve.

Wine #10. Nice nose of black fruit, with just a hint of tar/licorice. Nice balance, a bit restrained in flavors, but seems correct.
Aroma score: B+ Taste score: B+
Wine: La Filice, Paso Robles.

Wine #11. Lovely nose of tar-laced dark fruit. Quite juicy in mouthfeel, deliciousl throughout.
Aroma score: A- Taste score: A-
Wine: JC Cellars, Rockpile Vineyard.

Wine #12. Seemed very similar to #11 in nose, with just a bit less juiciness in the mouth.
Aroma score: A- Taste score: B+
Wine: Hartenberg Estate, "The Stork".

Wine #13. Nice sweet ripe nose - maybe too sweet. Warm climate? Decent mouthfeel and flavors, bit less ripe than the nose foretold.
Aroma score: B Taste score: B+
Wine: HALiFAX.

Wine #14. Nice..really nice! Dark fruit, excellent spice and pepper in the nose. Juicy mouthfeel, lots of fruit, very nice balance and finish.
Aroma score: A- Taste score: B+
Wine: Hug Cellars, Rena Block.

Wine #15. Spicy and smooth dark fruit in both nose and mouth - think velvet. Juicy mouthfel, excellent balance and finish.
Aroma score: A- Taste score: A-
Wine: IO, Upper Bench.

Wine #16. Quite restrained in the nose, nice, but there was something odd and undefinable. Excellent balance, with nice mouthfeel and textures.
Aroma score: B+ Taste score: A-
Wine: Eberle Winery.

Wine #17. Lovely, lightly spiced dark fruit in the nose. Decent mouthfeel, nothing distinctive, good balance and finish.
Aroma score: B+ Taste score: B
Wine: Cline, California.

Wine #18. Really nice nose - light spices, pepper, and tar scents. Delicious, well-balanced, and nice fruit. I was stunned to find out what this was!
Aroma score: A- Taste score: A-
Wine: Baileyana, Grand Firepeak Cuvee.

Wine #19. Somewhat simple and a bit light in aromas. Much too sweet in mouthfeel, almost candied or late harvest in style.
Aroma score: B- Taste score: B-
Wine: Bridlewood, Reserve.

Wine #20. As with #19, this wine just came across as underfilled and simple, though not quite as sweet in mouthfeel.
Aroma score: B- Taste score: B-
Wine: Robert Hall Winery, Reserve, Hall Ranch.

Wine #21. withdrawn

Wine #22. Nice dark fruit, with a touch of red raspberry. Nice flavors and mouthfeel, excellent balance and finish. Wonder what this is.
Aroma score: A- Taste score: A-
Wine: Rosenblum Cellars, Holbrook Mitchell Vineyard.

Wine #23. Nice fruit-driven nose. Good balance, a bit sweet, and also a bit soft on the back end.
Aroma score: B+ Taste score: B+
Wine: JC Cellars, Pourquoi Pas.

Wine #24. Nice and juicy, good fruit, very good balance and finish.
Aroma score: B+ Taste score: B+
Wine: York Mountain, Clone 877.

Wine #25. Hot and spicy nose and cloyingly sweet mouthfeel.
Aroma score: B- Taste score: B-
Wine: Cline, Cool Climate.

Wine #26. Lovely tar and anise-infused blackberry nose. Excellent balance, beautiful fruit and finish.
Aroma score: A- Taste score: A-
Wine: Rhys Vineyards, Alesia, Sonoma Coast.

Wine #27. Seemed similar to #26 in profile, but a little less exciting in the nose.
Aroma score: A- Taste score: B+
Wine: Adelaida Cellars, Viking Estate Reserve.

Wine #28. Fascinating nose of herbed dark berry and some sort of bark-like smell. Nice flavors and mouthfeel, a little shutdown on the back end.
Aroma score: B+ Taste score: B+
Wine: Twisted Oak Winery, Tanner Vineyard.

Wine #29. Did not taste. My notes indicate that this was either not available or MIA, or withdrawn.
Wine: Villa Creek.

Wine #30. Very Grenache-like nose of mostly red fruit. Lots of fruit throughout, good balance and flavors, nice finish. Though a little untypical, I liked this wine.
Aroma score: B+ Taste score: B+
Wine: Vina Robles.

Wine #31. Dark fruit, some spice. Good mouthfeel and flavors. Nice enough and correct enough, but not very inspiring.
Aroma score: B+ Taste score: B+
Wine: Wild Horse.

Wine #32. Slight aroma of peach or apricot made me think this was co-fermented with Voignier. Very nice nose and mouthfeel, delicious, nicely-balanced and yummy!
Aroma score: A- Taste score: B+
Wine: Tassajara.

Wine #33. Very nice, deep and dark, slightly sweet nose. Juicy mouthfeel with good balance and finish.
Aroma score: B+ Taste score: B+
Wine: Zaca Mesa.

Wine #34. Nice - just a touch of reductive quality in the nose. Nice mouthfeel, good fruit. Good mouthfeel and flavors, nice drinking, but not a standout.
Aroma score: A- Taste score: B+
Wine: William James Cellars, Santa Barbara County.

Wine #35. Light game and funk on the nose, seems to have garrigue/terroir going for it. Light tar, herb and spice meld nicely, long smooth finish. Very nice!
Aroma score: A- Taste score: A-
Wine: McCrea Cellars, Ciel du Cheval Vineyard.

Wine #36. withdrawn

Wine #37. Wow! Seemingly perfect nose of so many elements, it's hard to break down. Complex little innuendos of just about everything -fruit, herbs, spice, toast. Lovely balance of flavors, excellent acidity, long finish. Tastes French!
Aroma score: A Taste score: A
Wine: Clautiere Vineyard, Estate.

Wine #38. Nice chalk and mineral in both nose and mouth. Sweet mouthfeel initially, but seems to pick up something bitter on the back end.
Aroma score: B+ Taste score: B+
Wine: Bridlewood, Estate.

Wine #39. Nice funk and espresso notes in the dark fruit nose. Even better in mouthfeel, with lovely fruit, balance and finish.
Aroma score: B+ Taste score: A-
Wine: Wild Wood Winery, Sheri's Vineyard.

Wine #40. Seemed to be an overriding sweetness here in the nose. less sweet in mouthfeel and flavors, very good balance and finish.
Aroma score: B Taste score: B++
Wine: Shadow Canyon Cellars, York Mountain.

Wine #41. Lovely nose of dark fruit, interesting spice, and a touch of herb. Good flavors, but it seems a bit pinched on the palate, a little tight right now.
Aroma score: A- Taste score: B+
Wine: Basel Cellars, Walla Walla Valley.

Wine #42. Bright aromas in the nose, mostly dark fruit and some spice. Wants to be a contender, but seems a little tight and wanting more fruit.
Aroma score: B+ Taste score: B
Wine: Miner Family Winery, Napa Valley.

Wine #43. Nice nose of dark fruit, with light tarry scents. Decent mouthfeel, good balance, but somewhat underfilled and has a short finish.
Aroma score: B+ Taste score: B
Wine: Ortman Family Vineyards.

Wine #44. Very nice, lots of fruit, good complex background notes, Slightly chewy mouthfeel, very nice dark fruit, smooth long finish.
Aroma score: A- Taste score: A-
Wine: Travieso Winery, Comanero Ciego.

Wine #45. Very nice - almost a junior version of #44, with good weight and balance, and nice fruit.
Aroma score: B+ Taste score: B+
Wine: Calcareous Vineyards, Paso Robles.

Wine #46. Nose of dark fruit and some unyielding terroir. Dark and dense, a bit briary, with lightly herbed flavors.
Aroma score: B+ Taste score: B+
Wine: L'Aventure, Estate.

Wine #47. Lots of depth to the nose - the fruit seemed to pick up additional notes with each sniff. A bit short on fruit, but otherwise very correct.
Aroma score: B+ Taste score: B+
Wine: Laetitia, Estate.

Wine #48. Nose of blackberry and a light mineral scent. Nice flavor profile, but seems underfilled,and a bit brief on finish.
Aroma score: B+ Taste score: B
Wine: Travieso Winery, Amaranta.

Wine #49. Very nice meld of dark fruit, spice, and a touch of floral/herb. Nice mouthfeel, very good fruit, lovely balance and finish.
Aroma score: B+ Taste score: B+
Wine: Halter Ranch.