2008 HOSPICE DU RHÔNE - PASO ROBLES, CA -

Notes and brief impressions from the Syrah Shootout Rhône tasting held at the 16th annual Hospice du Rhône on Friday & Saturday, May 2 & 3, 2008, in Paso Robles, CA. This annual event draws Rhône wine producers and wine enthusiasts from around the world to see, hear and taste what's new in Syrah, Grenache, and twenty other Rhône varietals.

A 'Syrah Shootout' was held on Thursday. This was a head-to-head competition between winemakers, with winemakers/producers participating in a blind tasting to select the best three Syrahs in the lineup. The prize - bragging rights until next year's even...oh, and a plaid (some might say gauche) sportcoat, as well as a pseudo-trophy in the form of a small wooden barrel with a plaque. As a bonus, winners are apparently allowed to decorate the coat as they see fit, resulting in various "unique" additions over the years.

Meanwhile, on with the show. The tasting included forty-something bottles of 2006 Syrahs, all bagged, numbered and set out at 6-7 different tasting stations in the Villa Creek restaurant (closed for this special event). Winemaker and producers were asked to taste through the wines, pick their top three and turn in their scoring to HdR personnel. Scoring amounted to 5 points for our 1st choice, 3 points for our 2nd choice, and 1 point for our 3rd choice. Points were tallied and the first place winner took all. A delicious lunch (courtesy of Villa Creek) followed, along with disclosure of the final winners.

Overall impression: this was an illuminating tasting (blind tastings can be quite...uh, sobering). I liked the vast majority of the wines, and only found a few to be either odd or just not to my liking. There were also a number of wines here I really liked. My notes below are followed by the name of the wine (this is where it gets sobering), and I must say there were some major surprises for me. Unfortunately, the list of wines given to me did not have any vintage information. However, some of the wines I liked, I'd never heard of before; and some of the wines I wasn't too fond of, I had previously considered some of the best examples of Syrah. Ah well, so it goes with the subjectivity of wine tasting.

When the results were finally announced, most people were shocked. Stillman Brown's Red Zeppelin pulled down the most votes and walked away with the Coat du Rhone.

Wine #1. Smooth, but very pedestrian. Better in nose than mouthfeel.
Aroma score: B Taste score: B
Wine: Sarah's Vineyard, Santa Clara.

Wine #2. Nice nose, good flavors, but a bit weak on the finish.
Aroma score: B+ Taste score: B
Wine: Truchard Vnyds, Napa Valley

Wine #3 . Thin throughout, weak on nose and mouthfeel.
Aroma score: B- Taste score: B-
Wine: Robert Hall, Paso Robles

Wine #4. Huge wine, lots of tannins and grip. Trace of heat on finish..
Aroma score: B Taste score: B+
Wine: Summerwood, Paso Robles

Wine #5. Nice aromas and flavors, good balance and finish.
Aroma score: B+ Taste score: B+
Wine: Hug Cellars, Bassetti, SLO County

Wine #6. Very nice, big and rich in nose and mouth, with nice complex notes of toast, spice and dark fruit. Smooth on the palate, long seamless finish.
Aroma score: A- Taste score: A-
Wine: Fess Parker, Rodney's Vineyard, Santa Ynez

Wine #7. Nice nose, but a bit grainy in mouthfeel and finish.
Aroma score: B+ Taste score: B+
Wine: Kenneth Volk Vineyards, Paso Robles

Wine #8. Surprisingly perfumed nose - maybe co-ferm with Viognier. Good mouthfeel and finish.
Aroma score: B+ Taste score: B+
Wine: Grey Wolf, Paso Robles

Wine #9. Nice nose - somewhat less so in mouthfeel.
Aroma score: B+ Taste score: B
Wine: Anglim, Paso Robles

Wine #10. Ripe and shoe polishy in nose, with a nice toasty flavor.
Aroma score: B+ Taste score: B+
Wine: Blair Fox, Central Coast

Wine #11. Okay nose, thin mouthfeel, slight heat on back end.
Aroma score: B Taste score: B-
Wine: Adelaida, Paso Robles

Wine #12. Good varietal qualities, medium body and finish.
Aroma score: B+ Taste score: B+
Wine: Buoncristiani, Napa

Wine #13. Good nose and flavors, nice finish.
Aroma score: B Taste score: B
Wine: Novy, Sonoma County

Wine #14. Decent nose, but washed-out thin mouthfeel and finish.
Aroma score: B Taste score: B-
Wine: Baileyana, Central Coast

Wine #15. Nicely ripened nose, good flavors, balance and finish.
Aroma score: A- Taste score: A-
Wine: JC Cellars, Rockpile

Wine #16. Very nice nose and mouthfeel, almost chalky tannins and finish.
Aroma score: B+ Taste score: B+
Wine: Vina Robles, Paso Robles

Wine #17. Okay nose, but a bit watery in mourhfeel.
Aroma score: B Taste score: B-
Wine: Taz, Santa Maria Valley

Wine #18. Decent nose, but seems a bit astringent in mouthfeel, with slightly bitter finish.
Aroma score: B Taste score: B-
Wine: Kaleidos, Paso Robles

Wine #19. Nice slightly floral nose, good flavors and finish.
Aroma score: B+ Taste score: B+
Wine: Miner, Napa

Wine #20. Bit skunky in the nose, with a monolithic structure.
Aroma score: B Taste score: B
Wine: VIE, Sonoma County

Wine #21. Nose of VA/EA bordering on paint thinner. Didn't put it in my mouth.
Aroma score: C Taste score: C
Wine: Calcareous, Paso Robles

Wine #22. Big, rich, burley nose and mouthfeel, good flavors and finish.
Aroma score: A- Taste score: B+
Wine: Herman Story, Larner Vineyard

Wine #23. Really nice! Bright and juicy nose and mouthfeel.
Aroma score: A- Taste score: A-
Wine: Malloy-O'Neill, Paso Robles

Wine #24. Rich, ripe and spicy nose; less so mouthfeel.
Aroma score: B Taste score: B
Wine: Villa Creek, Paso Robles

Wine #25. Bit of weedy stink and funk in the nose, with a slightly bitter oak-infused mouthfeel.
Aroma score: B- Taste score: B-
Wine: Alere Vineyards, Santa Barbara Co.

Wine #26. Nose of smoky oak, with a nice balance of flavors on the palate.
Aroma score: A- Taste score: B+
Wine: Dry Stack Cellars, Bennett Valley

Wine #27. Good licorice nose, with above average flavors and mouthfeel.
Aroma score: B+ Taste score: B+
Wine: Red Zeppelin, Contra Costa Co.

Wine #28. Good nose, nice flavor profile, bit short on finish.
Aroma score: B+ Taste score: B
Wine: Zaca Mesa, Santa Ynez Valley

Wine #29. Open for business in nose and through mid-palate, but gets a bit pinched on finish.
Aroma score: B+ Taste score: B
Wine: Broc Cellars, Bennett Valley

Wine #30. Very nice nose Somewhat sweet mouthfeel.
Aroma score: B+ Taste score: B+
Wine: Edward Sellars, Paso Robles

Wine #31. Decent Syrah profile in the nose. Fairy weak mouthfeel; seems underfilled.
Aroma score: B Taste score: B
Wine: Ventana, Monterey Co.

Wine #32. Good syrah-like nose, but amazingly bright and somewhat acidic in mouthfeel.
Aroma score: B Taste score: B-
Wine: Michaud, Chalone

Wine #33. A bit of a lightweight, both in nose and mouthfeel.
Aroma score: B Taste score: B
Wine: Rosenblum, Contra Costa

Wine #34. Nice enough nose, okay in mouthfeel, if just a bit thin at the finish.
Aroma score: B Taste score: B
Wine: Domaine Alfred, Edna Valley

Wine #35. Ugly nose. Really, really ugly flavors and mouthfeel.
Aroma score: C- Taste score: C-
Wine: Arroyo Robles, Paso Robles

Wine #36. Decent nose; bit weak and watery in mouthfeel.
Aroma score: B Taste score: B-
Wine: Justin, Paso Robles

Wine #37. Nice all around, just not a standout in anything.
Aroma score: B Taste score: B
Wine: Ortman Family, Paso Robles

Wine #38. Bit herbaceous in nose, with an acidic bent to the mouthfeel.
Aroma score: B Taste score: B
Wine: Eberle, Paso Robles

Wine #39. Nice and tasty throughout, good balance and finish.
Aroma score: B+ Taste score: B+
Wine: Treana & Austin Hope, Paso Robles

Wine #40. Seems a bit overripe in the nose, though the mouthfeel seems to bring things around.
Aroma score: B Taste score: B+
Wine: Point Conception, Santa Barbara Co.

Wine #41. Nice profile in nose, with some nice chalky tannins in mouthfeel, and good flavors.
Aroma score: B Taste score: B+
Wine: Epiphany Cellars, Camp 4

Wine #42. Seems to ooze a bit of alcohol throughout, and maybe some VA?
Aroma score: B- Taste score: B-
Wine: Jaffurs, Santa Ynez

Wine #43. Nice nose, somewhat weak mouthfeel.
Aroma score: B+ Taste score: B
Wine: Halter Ranch, Paso Robles

Wine #44. Weak and indistinguishable nose, and in contrast a very nice mouthfeel.
Aroma score: B Taste score: B+
Wine: Stanger Vnyds, Paso Robles

Wine #45. Very nice. Lots of fruit in nose and mouth, with tasty flavors and finish.
Aroma score: A- Taste score: A-
Wine: McCrea Cellars, WA