Normally I’m wary of tastings limited to just one winery because as we’ve discovered on our wine trips, sometimes you just don’t like anything from a particular place. Luckily the featured vineyard, Del Rio Vineyards and Winery, located in Rogue Valley, Oregon, had a good range of wines, several of which were very nice.
2007 Chardonnay:
Flowery nose with mild citrus on the palate and a mineral finish.
Rating: Very Good
2007 Pinot Gris:
Peach nose, lots of mineral on the palate, but a somewhat harsh alcohol finish.
Rating: Good
2006 Viognier: 96% Viognier, 4% Chardonnay
In spite of the blending, this one was a rather basic Viognier. It didn’t have much on the nose and was a little bitter on the finish.
Rating: Okay
2007 Rose Jolee:
Slightly sparkling. The nose is very sweet with notes of summer flowers. It was floral with strawberry on the palate. The tasters generally rated this as being slightly more sophisticated than Cold Duck. I thought it was a fun pink wine and hit that sweet spot between too dry and too sweet.
Rating: Good/Very Good
2005 Syrah:
The nose is a subtle blend of grape and dark fruit. It’s smooth with dark fruit and butter. The final finish at the back of the palate was a little bitter. It probably wants food.
Rating: Good
2005 Claret: 41% Merlot, 36% Cabernet Franc, 14% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 9% Malbec
This was the favorite of the evening, at least for me and Hubby. It has a nice nose that promises a lot, and then delivers with dark berry, cedar, and butter. Plus, who doesn’t feel sophisticated when drinking a wine called Claret, even if it turns your teeth purple?