Winemaker Notes
A New World version of the French classic “Rhone Blend.” Grenache acts to soften the more tannic Syrah, while Mourvèdre adds backbone and a unique “gamey ness.” This is a versatile wine capable of accompaniment to many different dishes. Spicy aromas with notes of clove, black pepper and currant.
Blend: 39% Grenache, 32% Syrah, 29% Mourvedre
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre unite to fashion a medium-bodied wine with mouth-drying tannins and a lot of character. Boysenberry and bacon fat aromas mingle with violets and a sweet herbaceous quality similar to tansy. A seductive note of maple-cured bacon graces the wine's dark raspberry and blueberry flavors.
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James Suckling
Grilled plums, cherries, cinnamon stick and roasted rosemary on the nose. Fleshy and juicy with full body, soft tannins and a ripe, spicy finish.
With bold fruit flavors and accents of sweet spice, Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre form the base of the classic Rhône Red Blend, while Carignan, Cinsault and Counoise often come in to play. Though they originated from France’s southern Rhône Valley, with some creative interpretation, Rhône blends have also become popular in other countries. Somm Secret—Putting their own local spin on the Rhône Red Blend, those from Priorat often include Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. In California, it is not uncommon to see Petite Sirah make an appearance.
As the the largest region in the greater Southern Oregon AVA, bordering California, the Rogue Valley AVA grows the most diverse array of grape varieties compared to any other Oregon appellation.
The Rogue Valley AVA is actually made up of three adjacent river valleys—not just one as its name suggests—Bear Creek, Applegate and Illinois. These valleys extend from the foothills of the Siskiyou Mountains, a coastal sub range of the Klamath Mountains. Most Rogue Valley vineyards are planted on hillsides at elevations of 1,200 to 2,000 feet where soils are metamorphic, sedimentary and volcanic.
On one end Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Tempranillo, Syrah and Sauvignon Blanc benefit from a warm and dry climate. To the west end of the Rogue Valley, cool-climate grapes like Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Riesling, Muscat and Gewürztraminer do best. Dolcetto, Grenache and Zinfandel also grow in the Rogue Valley AVA.
Early European settlers first started growing grapes here in the 1840s, the most famous of whom was a pioneer named, Peter Britt. He also opened Oregon’s first official winery (which later closed in 1907). Today, besides its great wines, the region is known for the Britt Music & Arts festival, which inhabits Peter Britt’s former hillside estate, and the Ashland, Oregon Shakespeare Festival.