Rhône Blends
MARCH 2024
My inspiration for this club is opportunity! My Tranche rep offered me a crazy deal on the Tranche 2020 Pape Rouge (a Washington wine that I think is killer but is normally too expensive for the club), and so Julie & I built a wine club theme around it: Grenache-Syrah-Mourvèdre+, the classic grape constellation from France's Southern Rhône Valley, known as GSM or Rhône blends. Your club contains a GSM blend from Walla Walla (the Tranche wine), Victoria (Australia), and a terrific, high-end Côtes-du-Rhône from a famous Châteauneuf-du-Pape producer. Enjoy!
2-BOTTLE CLUB
Tranche Estate
Walla Walla Valley
Anyone who has been to Walla Walla will tell you that the location of the Tranche Estate, snuggled into the base of the Blue Mountains east of Walla Walla, is magnificent. Its Blue Mountain Vineyard (pictured below) reaches an elevation of 1265 feet above sea level and produces the grapes that go into your club wine. Tranche, owned by the Corliss family, focuses on estate grown Rhône varietals. Your club wine is named Pape Rouge as it uses the wines of the famous Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cru in France's Southern Rhône Valley as its inspiration.
Tranche 2020 Pape Rouge
Walla Walla Valley, Washington // Reg $45.99 | WINE CLUB $32.99 | Mixed Case $26.39
Single vineyard (Blue Mountain) blend of Grenache 59%, Syrah 27%, Cinsault 10%, Mourvèdre 4%. The varietals are vinified individually then blended and aged for 22 months in oak.
Super inviting nose. Licorice. Note of fresh herbs. Blue and black fruit. Dark raspberries and black cherries. Blackberries add in on the palate. Wonderful, soft, earthy notes. Super well-balanced. Fruit, acidity, tannins are in sync. Medium- to fuller-bodied. Smooth. Beautifully managed oak. European style. The oak integrates the wine, but you don’t notice it. Drink in the next few months. Absolutely delicious. We’re not sure it will get better than this. The winery suggests wood-fired truffle pizza as a pairing.
Tahbilk Winery
Victoria, Australia
Tahbilk is the oldest family owned winery and vineyard in Victoria. The original winery was founded in 1860. The Purbrick family purchased the farm and the winery in 1925 and continues running it today. As a quick note, I visited this winery in 2011 (while on a Wine Australia sponsored trip to Victoria promoting wines from region) and had the honor of meeting with Neil Larson, one of three winemakers (still) employed by the Purbrick family.
The property is located about 2 hours north of Melbourne in a sub-region of the Goulburn Valley (northcentral region in purple on the map) called the Nagambie Lakes. This small area has a special microclimate whereby the lakes mitigate the heat of the inland area, allowing for a longer, slower, steadier ripening season.
The winery oversees 200 hectares of vines with over 80 hectares of old vines, including some of the world's oldest productive Shiraz plantings dating back to 1860.
Tahbilk 2018 Grenache-Syrah-Mourvèdre
Victoria, Australia // Reg $25.99 | Mixed Case $20.79
A blend of 42% Grenache, 36% Shiraz, 22% Mourvèdre. The varietals spend 12-18 months in a mix of neutral & new French & American oak. Nose of black raspberries, black cherries, licorice, with a scruffy herbal component reminiscent of Southern Rhône (which makes this wine!). Add in plummy notes on the palate. Acidity is fantastic. Absolutely delicious wine. This vintage is 2018, and it still can age! It just plays with you on the palate. Complex but fresh. Spicy notes on the finish. You're gonna be wowed. The winery suggests pairing this wine with a chargrilled Angus Eye Fillet Steak (below).
3-BOTTLE CLUB
Domaine Grand Veneur
Châteauneuf-du-Pape, France
Domaine Grand Veneur is one of four Rhône estates owned and run by the Alain Jaume family. The others are in Lirac, Vacqueyras, and Côtes du Rhône. The Grand Veneur property is comprised mainly of Châteauneuf vineyards on the northern side of the appellation with one neighboring Côtes du Rhône vineyard "Les Champauvins" sharing the border to the north. Vineyard pictured below.
The Jaume family has been making wine in this region since 1826. All of their wines are certified biodynamic.
Domaine Grand Veneur 2020 Côtes du Rhône "Les Champauvins"
Southern Rhône, France // Reg $29.99 | Mixed Case $23.99
Blend of Grenache Noir, Syrah, Cinsault, Mourvèdre grown in limestone, sand & clay soils which gives this wine "an extraordinary richness and complexity with a Mediterranean style". Bottled after 10-12 months in oak.
Nose of crushed black farmers market raspberries and red & black orchard-fresh cherries. Garrigue, herbs, earth. Flavors of blue & blackberry yoghurt. Lots of fruit & spices. Nice, dry finish. Drink now (with a couple hours open) to 5 years. You've got time. If you're inclined, put this one down and see how it tastes in a couple years. If you don't wait, it will still be delicious. This wine is way more powerful that your average Côtes du Rhône. Enjoy with richer cuts of meat including grilled lamb.
We hope to see you at your wine club pickup tasting (always the 2nd Saturday of the month - so, for this month: March 9 (12-3pm) to taste and learn about your club wines.
You will also be able to taste the Portalis EXPLORES club wines featuring 2 reds from Southeast Spain – a Monastrell from Alicante & a Monastrell blend from Almansa. Hope you can make it. Fun wines this month!
Cheers,
Jens Strecker, Owner
Portalis Wine Shop