Going to the Rhône

Gård Vintners 2011 Lawrence Vineyards Vaucluse, Columbia Valley, $33

The Lawrence family of the Frenchman Hills near Royal City, Wash., named this Rhône blend for the governmental region in southern France along the Rhône River and across from the Gard region. Aryn Morell chose to lead it with Syrah (63%), followed by Grenache (33%) and Viognier (4%), creating aromas of dusty minerality, blackberry, black cherry, blueberry and black olive. The pour fills the mouth with more blackberry and black pepper amid a bold structure with boysenberry seed tannin and plenty of acidity.

Rating: Outstanding!

Production: 160 cases

Alcohol: 15.2%

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