American Roussanne

[Yaqo Homo]

Tonight, I opened bottle of Santa Ynez-grown Roussane, and it was a revelation.

It was from the producer Renard (never heard of them); I noted big, ripe, assertive, blossomy, yet food-friendly flavors with nary a hint of sweetness or overpowering oak.

Please list some of your favorite California producers of Roussanne (or other white Rhone vareitals). I'd like to experience more wines like this....

[Chicago Mike]

J.C. Cellars has a good line...

IMO these are vintage-specific varietals. One year very fruity and complex, the next year very thin and austere... I'm curious... which year was the Roussanne you had ??

[chickstein]

Rosenblum makes a very good Rousanne. I think Garretson also makes one that is very tasty.

[carswell]

Tablas Creek, a joint venture involving the people behind Beaucastel, makes lovely Rhône varietals and blends. www.tablascreek.com

Terre Rouge's Enigma (Marsanne, Viognier and Roussanne) is a perennial favourite. Have never had the opportunity to try their white varietals. www.terrerougewines.com

If Viognier is on your list, look for Calera's Mount Harlan offering. www.calerawine.com

[Robert Lauriston]

I have yet to taste a California Roussanne that was anywhere near as good as some of the Rhones I've had.

[zin1953]

Agreed, but Terre Rouge, Tablas Creek AND Edmunds St. John are probably the Top Three, IMHO.

[Yaqo Homo]

Then feel free to recommend your favorite Rhone whites in this thread!

To be honest, the main reason (besides the very pleasant California bottle I had last night) for specifically requesting American producers is it's very hard for me to remember names of French wines.

[Robert Lauriston]

Beaucastel's Chateauneuf du Pape Roussanne vieilles vignes is the ultimate. One of the best dry white wines I've ever tasted.

JL Chave's Hermitage blanc is a marsanne-roussanne blend but also great. Should have some age before drinking.

[Yaqo Homo]

Thanks, I'll add them to the "to try" list I keep; that way I won't have to remember their names.

[zin1953]

The magnum of 1983 Chave Hermitage Blanc I had in 2003 was stunning. THAT was the best dry white I've had this century! ;^)

But I've had many bottles of Beaucastel CdP VV -- it is indeed wonderful wine.

[Robert Lauriston]

Which 1983 Hermitage blanc? JL Chave?

[zin1953]

Yes. Sorry. Thought that was obvious from context, but I edited my post.

[austx03]

I agree with you about the Beaucastel. it is spectacular.
as a side note, most of the other wines from the Perrin family are worth a try. some of their lower priced wines under their name are well worth the price

[rosielucchesini]

I second, or is it third, the comments regarding Terre Rouge. Another solid Amador County producer is Sobon Estate; they have a nice and minerally Rousanne. www.sobonwine.com

[Pei]

(&#@!*, I just gave away my bottle of Sobon Roussane. Maybe I can hint to my cousin that we should open it with dinner this weekend...

[Luwak]

Some excellent Roussannes are produced in the State of Washington, by such wineries as McCrea Cellars, Syncline and DeLille Cellar's "Doyenne."

[nagrom]

I am partial to the Andrew Rich Roussanne, which is made in OR, from Columbia Valley fruit. Oak fermented so just enough oak to make it interesting.

[zin1953]

Though not 100% Roussanne (it's close enough), it's fun to compare the McCrea and the DeLille (which is 100%), as both come from the same vineyard source.

[Work4Tips]

I have recently enjoyed a wine from Demetria Estates in Santa Ynez called Papau (or Papou - I believe it's Greek for Grandfather). It is a blend of 50% Viognier and 50% Roussanne. I thought it was excellent. Sounds like it might be to your liking.
I am also very fond of the Tablas Creek wines and of the Roussanne bottled by Jaffurs.
What a great thread. I look forward to trying some of the wines listed. Thank you.

[whiner]

Qupe Roussane Bien Nacido

[SteveTimko]

I like Tablas Creek as well. Garretson has some nice Rhone blends, but his reds are probably better.
http://www.garretsonwines.com/id20.htm
Copain is a nice high end producer.
http://www.copainwines.com/Wines/inde...
Sine Qua Non is another high end producer, but I've never had any of those wines.
Several people make nice viognier, including Cedarville, Sierra Vista, Alban, Melville and Arger-Martucci.
Give Jewel Viognier a try. It's $10 a bottle. They use a shortcut in making their wine that leaves a tell-tale chemical taste to their wine. I can't remember the exact process. But for $10, who's complaining?

[Ruby Louise]

Haven't tried it in a couple of vintages but have previously enjoyed the Zaca Mesa Santa Ynez Roussanne, as well as their Viognier.

[Bill Hunt]

You've got a lot of recs. and most (with exception of the Rhones), I've not tried. Gotta' get busy!

For a domestic producer of Rhone (known more for other things), I like the Marsanne and Viognier by Joseph Phelps, Napa. Both are very good examples of a "domestic" Rhone varietal wine.

Another great domestic Viognier is Gregory Graham, Napa. Hard to find, but worth the effort.

Hunt

[JimN]

L'Aventure, out of Paso Robles, CA, makes a great Roussanne. Sells out pretty quickly, though. And I agree with Whiner's recommendation for the Qupe Bien Nacido.

[zin1953]

Keep in mind that much of the "Roussanne" originally planted in California -- from cuttings obtained by and through Randall Grahm -- turned out NOT to be Roussanne. (This wasn't discovered until less than 10 years ago. For one account of this, check out the article here: http://www.jancisrobinson.com/article...

)

There IS Roussanne in California, but -- like Pinot Blanc -- much of it turned out not to be what people thought.

[JimN]

I'm familiar with this story, not to imply that it's not true. I'm also a big fan of Rhone varietals, particularly ones produced in the Central Coast and Paso Robles regions of California. To my tastebuds, Viognier and Roussanne wines produced by wineries that I like taste very different. I have little doubt that I could differentiate between the two in a blind tasting. The article that you referenced states the Roussanne usually has much less body than Viognier. I find this very interesting because I think that Roussanne, or what I've come to know as Rousanne, definitely has more body than Viognier.

[zin1953]

Again, broad generalization BUT . . .

To me, in their youth, a well-made Viognier is definitely fuller bodied and more aromatic than Roussanne. Roussanne will put on some added weight with age; indeed, it will not only improve with age, it often needs it. In contrast, Viognier is -- IMHO -- best in its youth.

[Junie D]

Preston in Dry Creek Valley http://www.prestonvineyards.com/b1i.html