Syrah is, and has always been the star of the Rhone, so it is not surprising that it reigned supreme at this past weekend’s Rhone Rangers wine tasting, but there are dozens of other interesting Rhone varietals that are slowly being figured out by California winegrowers, many of which are excellent wines and often phenomenal values.

This past Sunday, along with 800 or so of my closest friends I tasted my way through the wines on offer at the annual tasting offered by the organization devoted to promoting Rhone style wines in the Western United States. For any of you unfamiliar with Rhone-style wines, these are wines made from one (or often several) varietals common to that region of France:

WHITE: Viognier, Roussanne, Marsanne, Grenache Blanc, Picpoul, Bourboulenc, and several other lesser known varietals.

RED: Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, Carignane, Cinsault, Cunoise, Petite Sirah, and several others.

One of the most diverse and exciting groups of varietals, Rhone style wines are among some of the most food friendly in the world, and have a special place in my heart.

So it is with pleasure and anticipation every year that I sample another vintage of California’s continuing exploration and evolution of these wines.

My impressions this year are not unlike many from previous years. On the red front, It’s clear we’ve figured out how to grow Syrah and grow it well. There are a huge number of both regional and individual styles developing for Syrah, from peppery to the lean and mineral, to the lush and fruit driven wines that can sport some serious alcohol levels. Apart from Syrah, it’s clear to me that there is enormous potential for Grenache in the state, but not enough people are taking it seriously as a varietal. An increasing number of people are making excellent Mourvedre, and those who are making red blends from the main varieties, as well as some of the lesser known, are delivering some of the best value wines in California, in my opinion.

When it comes to white wines, however, it’s clear that only a select few winemakers have really figured out how to grow and make good single varietal whites or the classic white blends in the Rhone style. Those who do it well can do it spectacularly, but there is a lot of mediocre and even downright bad single-varietal Marsanne and Roussane wines out there. It seems to me that most winemakers would be better served making white blends with these varietals. Perhaps one way of expressing my sense of things might be to say that most of the time I’m just as happy to drink a really good California Syrah as I am one from the Northern Rhone, but given the choice between a California Viognier and any white wine from the Rhone, I’m gonna go with the French wine every time.

In any case, there are many excellent wines to be had out there for those of us who love this style. Here are my notes from the tasting.

WHITE WINES WITH A SCORE OF 9.5
2005 Peay Vineyards Viognier, Sonoma Coast. $35
2005 Renard Viognier, Sonoma. $22 Where to Buy?

RED WINES WITH A SCORE OF 9.5
2004 J.C. Cellars Syrah, Rockpile Vineyard. $50 Where to Buy?
2002 Kathryn Kennedy Winery Reserve Syrah, Maridon Vyd., Santa Cruz Mountains. $85
2003 L’Aventure Winery Estate Syrah, Paso Robles. $50 Where to Buy?
2005 Outpost Wines Grenache, Howell Mountain (barrel sample). $40
2004 Outpost Wines Petite Sirah, “The Other” Howell Mountain. $50 Where to Buy?
2004 Peay Vineyards “La Bruma” Syrah, Sonoma Coast. $45 Where to Buy?
2004 Peay Vineyards “Les Titans” Syrah, Sonoma Coast. $45 Where to Buy?
2005 Rosenblum Cellars Petite Sirah, Pickett Road, Napa Valley. $35. Where to Buy?
2002 Saddleback Cellars Syrah, Rutherford. $n/a
2004 Tablas Creek Vineyard Mourvedre. $35. Where to Buy?
2005 Venge Vineyards Syrah, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma (barrel Sample). $48

WHITE WINES SCORING BETWEEN 9 and 9.5
2005 McCrea Cellars Roussanne, Ciel du Cheval Vyd, Red Mountain. $20
2005 Peay Vineyards Marsanne/Rousanne Blend, Sonoma Coast. $35
2005 Renard Roussanne, Santa Ynez Valley. $22
2005 Tablas Creek Vineyard “Esprit de Beaucastel Blanc” White Blend. $28
2005 Twisted Oak Winery “*%#&@!” White Blend (Roussanne/Marsanne), El Dorado County. $24
2005 Vinum Cellars Viognier, Vista Verde Vineyard, San Benito County. $25

RED WINES SCORING BETWEEN 9 and 9.5
2004 Arger Martucci Petite Sirah. $60
2002 Ballentine Vineyards Old Vines Estate Grown Syrah, Napa. $25
2003 Ballentine Vineyards Betty’s Vineyard Estate Grown Syrah, Napa. $22
2004 Cline Cellars Small Berry Mourvedre, Contra Costa County. $36
2003 Clos Saron Syrah, “Sacré Bleu” Red Blend, Sierra Foothills. $35
2005 Copain Wine Cellars Syrah, Thompson Vineyard, Santa Barbara County. $??
2005 Copain Wine Cellars Syrah, McDowell Vineyard, McDowell Valley. $??
2005 Copain Wine Cellars Syrah, Hawkes Butte Vineyard, Yorkville Highlands. $??
2003 L’Aventure Winery “Cote a Cote” Red Blend, Paso Robles. $50
2003 Michel-Schlumberger Estate Syrah, Dry Creek Valley. $??
2005 Olson Ogden Wines Unti Vineyard Syrah, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma. $35
2005 Peay Vineyards “La Bruma” Syrah, Sonoma Coast. $45 2005 Peay Vineyards “Les Titans” Syrah, Sonoma Coast. $45
2005 Renard Unti Vineyard Grenache, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma. $35
2004 Rosenblum Cellars “Kick Reserve” Syrah, Sonoma County. $25
2004 Rosenblum Cellars “hillside Vineyards” Syrah, Sonoma County. $25
2005 Rosenblum Cellars “Rominger Vineyard” Syrah, Yolo County. $25
2004 Rosenblum Cellars Syrah, Santa Barbara County. $18
2004 Spicerack Vineyards “Rack & Roll” Single Vineyard Syrah, Paso Robles “East Side”. $25
2004 Tablas Creek Vineyard “Esprit de Beaucastel” Red Blend. $45
2004 Tablas Creek Vineyard Syrah. $28 2005 Tallulah Wines “Shake Ridge Vineyard” Syrah, Amador County. $30
2005 Tallulah Wines “Les Trois Voix” Shake Ridge Vineyard Red Blend, Amador County. $30
2005 Terry Hoage Vineyards “The Hedge-Estate” Syrah. $45
2005 Terry Hoage Vineyards “The 46” Red Blend (50% Grenache-50% Syrah). $40
2005 Venge Vineyards Syrah, Napa Valley (barrel sample). $40

WHITE WINES WITH A SCORE OF 9
2005 McCrea Cellars “Ciel du Cheval Vyd” Viognier, Red Mountain. $21
2005 Michaud Marsanne, Chalone. $38
2005 Tablas Creek Vineyard Roussanne. $22
2005 Saddleback Cellars “Clarksburg” Viognier. $23
2005 Tablas Creek Vineyard Grenache Blanc. $27 2006 Terry Hoage Vineyards Dry Grenache Rose. $20
2006 Unti Vineyards Winery Estate Rose, Dry Creek Valley Sonoma. $18

RED WINES WITH A SCORE OF 9
2005 A Donkey and Goat “Three Thirteen” Red Blend. $37
2004 Ballentine Vineyards Estate Petite Sirah Field Blend, Napa. $35
2004 Beckmen Vineyards Syrah, Purisima Mountain. $40
2004 Cedarville Vineyard Estate Syrah. $25
2004 Cline Cellars Ancient Vines Carignan, Contra Costa County. $18
2003 Clos Saron “Holy Moly!” Red Blend, Sierra Foothills. $35
2005 Copain Wine Cellars Garys’ Vineyard Syrah, Santa Lucia Highlands. $??
2004 CORE “Hardcore” Red Blend, Santa Barbara County. $29
2005 CORE Alta Mesa Vineyard Grenache, Santa Barbara County. $38
2005 Eaglepoint Ranch Grenache, Mendocino County. $28
2004 Edmunds St. John “Rocks And Gravel” Red Blend. $18
2001 Edmunds St. John “Wylie-Fenaughty” Syrah. $30
2004 G. Graham Wines Crimson Hill Vineyard Syrah, Red Hills. $20
2003 Kathryn Kennedy Winery Syrah, Santa Cruz Mountains. $32
2004 Landmark Vineyards “Steel Plow” Syrah, Sonoma Valley. $27
2004 Martinelli Winery “Terra Felice” Syrah, Sonoma. $45
2001 Michaud Syrah, Chalone. $38
2004 Michaud Syrah, Chalone. $38
2003 Morgan Winery “Tierra Mar” Syrah, Monterey County. $42
2005 Novy Family Winery Gary’s Vineyard Syrah, Santa Lucia Highlands. $33
2004 Provisor Syrah, Dry Creek Valley. $36
2003 Renard Syrah, Cappelli Ranch – El Dorado. $25
2003 Renard Syrah, Santa Rita Hills. $25
2003 Ridge Vineyards Lytton Estate Red Blend. $30
2002 Ridge Vineyards Lytton Estate Petite Sirah. $36
2003 Rockblock Cellars / Domaine Serene Syrah, Del Rio Vineyard, Rouge Valley. $40
2004 San Sakana Alta Mesa Vineyard Mourvedre, Santa Maria Valley. $??
2005 San Sakana White Hawk Syrah, Santa Barbara. $??
2004 Tallulah Wines Del Rio Vineyard Syrah, Oregon. $30
2004 Terlato Family Vineyards Syrah, Dry Creek Valley. $35
2003 Tin Barn Vineyards Syrah, Sonoma Coast. $32
2004 Tin Barn Vineyards Syrah, Sonoma Coast. $32
2005 Vinum Cellars “PETS” Petite Sirah, Wilson Vineyard, Clarksburg. $14
2002 Zefina “Serience Red” Red Blend, Alder Ridge Vyd. $30

WHITE WINES SCORING BETWEEN 8.5 and 9
2005 Twisted Oak Winery Viognier, Calaveras County. $22
2005 San Sakana “Catie’s Corner Vineyard” Viognier, Russian River Valley. $??
2005 Cline Cellars Marsanne, Sonoma County. $20
2006 Eaglepoint Ranch Albarino, Mendocino County (barrel sample). $20
2005 Edmunds St. John “Shell And Bone” White Blend, Paso Robles. $20
2005 Marilyn Remark Rose de Saignee. $22
2006 Rosenblum Cellars “Kathy’s Cuvee” Viognier. $18
2005 Rosenblum Cellars Roussanne, Santa Barbara County. $18
2006 A Donkey and Goat “Isabel’s Cuvee” Rose. $18
2006 Clos Saron “Carte Blanche” White Blend, Sierra Foothills. $20

RED WINES SCORING BETWEEN 8.5 and 9
2005 San Sakana Las Madres Vineyard Syrah, Carneros. $??
2004 Arger Martucci Syrah. $30
2005 Ballentine Vineyards Fig Tree Vineyard Petite Sirah, Napa. $35
2005 Beckmen Vineyards Grenache, Purisima Mountain. $40
2004 Beckmen Vineyards Syrah, Santa Ynez Valley. $22
2005 Cedarville Vineyard Estate Grenache. $25
2004 Cedarville Vineyard “Naylor Vineyard” Petite Sirah. $25
2004 Cline Cellars Syrah, Los Carneros. $32
2004 Cline Cellars Ancient Vines Mourvedre, Contra Costa County. $18
2005 L’Hiver (Copain) Syrah. $18
2004 CORE “Mister Morived” Mourvedre, Santa Barbara County. $42
2006 Eaglepoint Ranch Grenache, Mendocino County (barrel sample). $28
2004 Eaglepoint Ranch Syrah, Mendocino County. $20
2005 Eaglepoint Ranch Syrah, Mendocino County (barrel sample). $20
2004 Four Vines Winery “The Peasant” Red Rhone Blend. $30
2005 G. Graham Wines Crimson Hill Vineyard Syrah, Red Hills. $28
2004 Justin Vineyard & Winery “Savant,” Red Blend (Syrah/Cabernet). $40
2005 Kokomo Wines Petite Sirah, North Coast. $25
2005 Landmark Vineyards “Steel Plow” Syrah, Sonoma Valley. $27
2004 McCrea Cellars “Sirocco” Red Blend (Grenache,Mourvedre,Syrah,Counoise). $28
2004 McCrea Cellars “Ciel du Cheval” Syrah, Red Mountain. $48
2003 McCrea Cellars “Cuvee Orleans” Syrah, Yakima Valley, Washington. $48
2005 McCrea Cellars “Amerique” Syrah, Yakima Valley, Washington. $45
2002 Michaud Syrah, Chalone. $38
2003 Michaud Syrah, Chalone. $38
2003 Michel-Schlumberger Red Blend, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma. $18
2004 Morgan Winery “Cotes du Crow’s” Red Blend (Grenache/Syrah). $18
2005 Novy Family Winery “Judge Family Vineyard” Grenache, . $32
2005 Novy Family Winery Rosella’s Vineyard Syrah, Santa Lucia Highlands. $33
2005 Olson Ogden Wines Syrah, Sonoma County. $25
2003 Renard “Truchard Vineyard” Syrah, Carneros. $25
2005 Ridge Vineyards “Buchignani Ranch” Carignan. $26
2003 Rocca Family Vineyards Estate Syrah, Yountville, Napa Valley. $42
2004 Rocinante Syrah, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma. $35
2003 Rockblock Cellars / Domaine Serene Syrah, 7 Hills, Walla Walla, Washington. $40
2005 Rosenblum Cellars “Heritage Clones” Petite Sirah, San Francisco Bay. $18
2004 Tablas Creek Vineyard “Cotes de Tablas” Red Blend. $22
2006 Tablas Creek Vineyard Rose. $18
2004 Tallulah Wines Syrah, Sonoma Coast. $28
2005 Terry Hoage Vineyards “The Pick” Red Blend (50% Grenache, 25% Syrah, 17% Mourvedre, 8% Counoise). $38
2003 Twisted Oak Winery Syrah, Calaveras County. $24
2004 Twisted Oak Winery “Tanner Vineyard” Syrah, Calaveras County. $32
2005 Vie Winery “L’Imaginaire” (The Imaginary One) Grenache, Santa Barbara County. $39
2004 Vinum Cellars “Red Dirt Red” Red Blend (Syrah, Mourvedre, Grenache). $30

WHITE WINES WITH A SCORE OF 8.5 2005
Cedarville Vineyard Estate Viognier. $20
2005 G. Graham Wines Bartolucci Vineyard Viognier. $20
2005 Cline Cellars Viognier, California. $14
2006 Beckmen Vineyards Rose of Grenache. $16
2005 San Sakana “Broken Leg Vineyard” Viognier, Anderson Valley. $??
2005 Tablas Creek Vineyard “Cotes de Tablas Blanc” White Blend. $22
2005 Tablas Creek Vineyard Picpoul Blanc. $22
2005 Vie Winery “Round River Ranch” Roussanne, Lake County. $29
2005 CORE Rose, Santa Barbara County. $14

RED WINES WITH A SCORE OF 8.5
2005 A Donkey and Goat “Broken Leg Vineyard” Syrah, $42
2005 Beckmen Vineyards “Cuvee Le Bec” Red Blend. $16
2005 Cline Cellars “Cashmere” GSM Blend. $18
2005 CORE “Turchi” Syrah, Santa Barbara County. $14
2005 CORE Red Blend (Mourvedre, Grenache, Syrah), Santa Barbara County. $??
2004 Eaglepoint Ranch Petite Sirah, Mendocino County. $26
2004 Four Vines Winery “Anarchy” Rhone Blend. $30
2004 Four Vines Winery “Bailey Vineyard” Syrah. $30
2004 Four Vines Winery “Heretic” Petite Sirah. $30
2005 G. Graham Wines Syrah, Napa. $20
2005 Kokomo Wines “Green Pastures Vineyard” Syrah, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma. $22
2005 Marilyn Remark “Loma Pacific Vineyard” Marsanne, Monterey County. $30
2004 Marilyn Remark “Arroyo Loma Vineyard” Syrah, Monterey County. $36
2004 Marilyn Remark “Wild Horse Road Vineyard” Grenache, Monterey County. $45
2004 Marilyn Remark “Roads End Vineyard” Petite Sirah, Monterey County. $28
2005 McCrea Cellars “Ciel du Cheval” Mourvedre, Red Mountain. $28
2003 Morgan Winery Syrah, Monterey. $22
2005 Novy Family Winery Syrah, Sonoma County. $19
2003 Renard “Unti Vineyard Syrah”, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma. $25
2005 Twisted Oak Winery Grenache, Calaveras County. $24
2005 Twisted Oak Winery “*%#&@!” Red Blend (Mourvedre/Syrah/Grenache), Calaveras County. $24
2004 Unti Vineyards Winery Estate Syrah, Dry Creek Valley. $26
2005 Vie Winery Las Madres Vineyard Syrah, Carneros. $39
2005 Vie Winery “Les Amours” (Lovers) Syrah, Santa Barbara County. $39
2005 Vie Winery “L’Intruse” (The Intruder) Mourvedre, Santa Barbara County. $39
2005 Vie Winery “L’Etranger” (The Stranger) Red Blend, Sonoma County. $39

WHITE WINES SCORING BETWEEN 8 and 8.5
2005 Beckmen Vineyards “Le Bec Blanc” White Blend. $20
2006 Clos Saron “Tickled Pink” Rose, Sierra Foothills. $18
2005 CORE White Blend (Marsanne, Roussanne, Grenache Blanc), Santa Barbara County. $21
2005 Rockblock Cellars / Domaine Serene Viognier, Rouge Valley. $35
2005 Arrowood Vineyards & Winery “Cote de Lune Blanc” Saralee’s Vineyard White Blend, Russian River Valley. $??

RED WINES SCORING BETWEEN 8 and 8.5
2002 Edmunds St. John “The Shadow” Syrah. $12
2004 Four Vines Winery “The Phoenix” Syrah. $40
2004 Justin Vineyard & Winery Syrah, Paso Robles. $32
2005 McCrea Cellars Syrah, Washington State. $32
2003 Unti Vineyards Winery Estate Syrah, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma. $24
2004 Unti Vineyards Winery “Benchland Reserve” Syrah, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma. $42