See below for what happened.........

WINES of the COTES DU RHONE and LANGUEDOC REGIONS

The Rhone River starts at Lake Geneva in Switzerland and flows thru France into the Mediterranean Sea. The lower 150 miles constitutes the Rhone Wine growing region with the majority of the wine being produced in the Southern part of the valley. With the declining popularity and increasing price of Bordeaux and Burgundy wines, Rhone wines have become of great interest. We will taste a few of them.

Aperitif

Goats do Roam,   2003  Red Wine from South Africa

The Wines

          Vignerons de Montagnac Picpoul de Pinet   2004  White   Languedoc

  E. Guigal  2003   White   Cotes du Rhone

  Paul Jaboulet Aine Parallel  “45”  2001   Red   Cotes du Rhone

  Vin Pays l’ Herault Les Heritiques   2004    Red   Languedoc

  Domaine le Couroulu, Vacqueyras  2001   Red    Cotes du Rhone

  Chateaux du Trignon, Gigondas   2003  Cotes du Rhone

         An appropriate selection of cheeses and bread will accompany the wines.

         Please bring your own glasses.   Coffee and desert will be served.

       Attendees recognize they will be consuming alcohol and assume that responsibility.

       Attendance will be limited to the first 32 respondents by January 16, 2006

Members  $18.00            Guests   $20.00

What Happened.........

This much enjoyed tasting was arranged and conducted by Ron and Marlene Hegland and Ed and Betty Lou Nelson. Ed introduced the wine regions, followed by Ron introducing the wines, providing information on their constituent grapes and wine chemistry.

The six wines were well chosen to demonstrate not only the variety of wines, but also the variation in the winemaker’s intent. The principal grapes from this region include the Rousanne and Marsanne for whites, but the first was made entirely from a lesser known grape, the Picpoul de Pinet, and it was a very pleasing light wine.

The reds were all principally from the Syrah and Grenache grapes, but the wines drew as well from many other varieties.  The Parallel 45 and the Les Heretiques represented the lighter reds. The Vacqueyras and the Gigondas were fuller and robust.

The most favored wines were the Gigondas, Vacqueyras and the Picpoul de Pinet in that order.

Very good French bread and French cheeses were served with the wines, Brie, Compte, and Port Salut.

The tasting concluded with coffee and home baked cookies by Betty Lou and Marlene.