Rhone Character Guide: What’s Your Taste?

The following Rhone varietals are currently planted at David Girard Vineyards:

REDS

1. Grenache: (gra-nash)
            Big bodied, supple, rich / strawberry, raspberry, blackberry, black pepper

2. Syrah/Shiraz: (c-rah) (she-raz)
            Yes, they are the same thing.  Highly colored, firmly structured and aromatic / plum, raspberry, blueberry, blackcurrant, violet, roasted meats, smoke, chocolate, pepper, anise

3. Mourvedre: (more-ved)
            Tannic, deeply colored, aromatic / black currant, dark cherries, leather, smoke, earth

4. Counoise: (coon-wahz)
            Lively acidity, spice, richness / raspberry, cherry, cranberry

WHITES

5. Grenache Blanc: (gra-nash blan) 
            Big bodied, soft, delicate / peach, melon, pear

6.  Viognier: (vee-own-yea)
            Big bodied, very aromatic, complex / apricot, musk, peaches, grapefruit, lychee, papaya, mango, tropical flowers

7.  Roussanne: (roo-sahn)
            Firmly structured, powerful, very rich / apricot, honey, almond, nutmeg, honeysuckle, iris

8. Marsanne: (mar-san)
            Broad palette, soft & rich / peach, nectarine, stone fruits, tuberose, sweet nuts

9. Rolle: (rohl) Also known as Vermentino (vayr-men-tee-noh) in Italy. Spicy, bright, lively acidity, rich / lychee, lime, acacia, honey, minerals, peppered citrus, pear, green apple