2010 Perrin Reserve (White Rhone)

"During one of my treks through Afghanistan, we lost our corkscrew. We were compelled to live on food and water for several days."  Cuthbert J. Twillie (W.C.Fields) in My Little Chickadee (1940)
The words Rhone and Red are often thought of in the same wine breath and for good reason.  Red wines from the Rhone in France are not only delicious, they offer terrific value. These reds are wonderful to enjoy with the meaty dishes of fall. But if you’re not eager for fall’s announcement that winter is soon coming, taste the whites from the Cotes du Rhone.  These too are value wines. And when approached as simple, enjoyable whites, they offer an opportunity to experience new grapes.
My most recent taste of a white Rhone was 2010 Perrin Reserve. This blended white is 50% Grenache Blanc, 20% Viognier, and then the standard marriage of Marsanne and Rousanne (15% each).  It all adds up to 100% enjoyable and an opportunity to experience in symphony how these grapes play together.  The wine is almost translucent. Hold your glass against a piece of white paper and watch the wine disappear.  The nose is a summer wine scent of apple, honeydew melon and floral scents. But don’t drink it yet. Swirl the wine in the glass and enjoy the nose as it becomes more pronounced.
Having worked so hard, It’s now time for a taste:  tart green apple, and as the wine airs, a taste of green pepper. There’s a slight white peppery taste to the finish.  This is not complex wine with multi-layered tastes. It is a summer wine to enjoy on the patio with mild cheeses. Better yet, pair it against a meal of saffron spiced seafood. The wine has a lush mouth feel and its quaffable character is refreshing on warm days. And it’s dry enough yet light enough to appeal to a mixed crowd.  At an average retail of $9, it is certainly worth trying.
A Votre Sante
……………………………. Jim
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