Can you name the native grapes of the Rhone Valley? There are the north and south ends of the valley and different varieties. The main varieties of the north end are Syrah, Viognier, Marsanne, and Roussanne. The northern Rhone is cooler and the valley has steep hillsides while in the southern Rhone, the climate is more Mediterranean and the terrain is more spread out.
When you think of Rhone wines, what comes to your mind? Probably Syrah from the northern Rhone. Hermitage, and Chateauneuf-du-Pape blends are in the southern Rhone.
Did you know that Viognier is sometimes co-fermented with Syrah in the northern Rhone to extract more colour from the Syrah grape and to add a floral component to the wine? The Rhone makes excellent wines, but now these grapes have migrated around the world, and have made comfortable homes in many New World countries, like Canada, Chile, and South Africa. I have three northern Rhone-style wines from these three countries to start you on your Rhone Valley grape adventure. Let me tell you about them.
My Wine Tasting Notes
Cono Sur Bicicleta Reserva Viognier 2020, Chile (BC $10.99 on sale till Oct 1/22 at BCLS)
Appearance: A bright, medium-plus intensity lemon colour.
Nose: Medium intensity aromas of lemon, pineapple and ripe apple, plus touches of petrol, lanolin, and toast. More stone fruit and peach aromas with decanting. I also picked up a touch of marmalade. There was no lanolin aroma after decanting.
Palate: Dryish, round with medium-plus body. Medium acidic prickle on your tongue. Fuller, thicker mouthfeel. Citrus, stone fruit flavours with lesser pineapple and apple. Pepper on the mid-palate to the finish. More stone fruit flavour with decanting plus the wine had a smoother mouthfeel, and there was now a touch of marmalade. The other fruit flavours and round mouth-feel persisted.
Finish: Medium-plus length finishing with some drying tannins, light pepper, pineapple, peach, citrus and pith flavours. No change on the finish after decanting.
Rating: 
A deeper, bright lemon colour. Medium intensity aromas of lemon, pineapple, and ripe apple, plus touches of petrol and lanolin. Add marmalade with decanting. Dryish with medium-plus body and a thick mouthfeel. A mix of citrus and stone fruit flavours with lesser pineapple and apple. Medium-plus length with peach, pineapple, and citrus flavours, plus light pepperiness and some drying tannins.
Stag’s Hollow Winery Syrah 2020, BC (BC $30)
Syrah grapes from the Amalia Vineyard. Co-fermented with 8.3% Viognier from Upland Vineyard. A vegan-friendly wine.
Appearance: Deep, almost 90% opaque ruby with a touch of garnet colour in the glass.
Nose: Medium intensity sweet aromas of red fruit, red berries, red cherries, cinnamon and other sweet spices. With decanting these beautiful aromas continue plus I now detected plums, cedar, and black fruit more than red fruit.
Palate: Dry, soft and plush with medium-plus body and flavour intensity. Round but not mouth-filling. Medium acidity and light tannins. A mix of red and black fruit, raspberries, red cherries, plums, and light oak. Floral/violets with air. Candied red cherries toward the finish. The wine became more mouth-filling with decanting. Still soft and plush. Lots of plums and other fruit flavours plus the floral component, and now some cedar added.
Finish: Medium-plus length finishing with light tannins and pepperiness. Red fruit, candied cherries, sweet spices and a touch of toastiness. The wine had the same finish with decanting.
This is a beautiful wine, full of red and black fruit aromas and flavours. Decanted or not, this wine is excellent.
Rating: 
– 
Deeper, mostly ruby colour, almost opaque at the core. Medium intensity sweet aromas of red fruit, red berries, strong cinnamon and other sweet spices. Add plums and black fruit with decanting. Dry, soft and plush, but not quite mouth-filling. Red fruit, raspberries, red cherries, plums and candied cherries on the palate. Floral with air. A medium-plus length finishing with red fruit, candied cherries, a touch of toast, sweet spices, and pepperiness. Light tannins.
Boekenhoutskloof The Wolftrap 2020, South Africa (BC $15.49)
Boekenhoutskloof was established in 1776. It is classified as New World even though it has been making wine for longer than some regions in Europe. It is located in the furthest corner of the Franschhoek Valley. This wine is a blend of 80% Syrah, 19% Mourvèdre (a southern Rhone Valley grape) and 1% Viognier. A vegan-friendly wine.
The Wolftrap is a tribute to the pioneers who in the early days ventured into the Cape wilderness and erected a wolf trap on Boekenhoutskloof. To date, no wolf either real or mystical has been seen in the valley.
Appearance: A deep, dull garnet colour.
Nose: Lighter aromas of smoke and toast, red fruit, and touches of tomato and black pepper. No change to the aromas with decanting.
Palate: Off-dry, medium-plus body and flavour intensity, round, but not quite mouth-filling. Bright acidity and light oak. Floral, red fruit, candied red cherries and some tart red fruit to start, then add black fruit on the mid-palate to the finish. Touches of mace, tarriness, and coffee with some air. This wine tastes drier, less acidity, and has a lighter body with decanting. Oak and leather are now more prominent. You also get blackberries and a touch of tarriness. The mace spice and candied red cherry flavours go away.
Finish: Medium length finishing peppery, and a mix of black and tart red fruit, plus some tarriness. Light oak and tannins. Black fruit and black pepper on the finish with decanting.
I think the undecanted wine is nicer with a greater variety of flavours on the palate.
Rating: 
A deeper garnet colour. Lighter aromas of smoke and toast plus red fruits, and touches of tomato and black pepper. Off-dry, medium-plus body, round but not mouth-filling. Red fruit, raspberries and candied red cherries to start. Add black fruit on the mid-palate. Light oak, mace, and coffee with air. Medium length with red and black fruit, light oak and tannins and some pepperiness.
If you would like to learn more about Rhone wines and other wineries making wine with Rhone grape varieties, here is a link to my past articles.
Where Can I Buy These Wines?
BC Liquor Stores carry The Wolftrap and Cono Sur Viognier wines. The Wolftrap is available at Everything Wine. The Cono Sur Viognier is available at Everything Wine and at JAK’s.
