by Dr. Bob Ouellette

Commentary on 98 Southern Rhone Wines-

Our first tasting of the reputed 98 vintage in Southern France took place last Saturday night with 14 tasters attending. We omitted the great Chateau-Neufs from this line up to concentrate on the lesser known wines which also carry a lower price tag. For the most part these wines range below the $15 level and in some cases even below $10. Therefore, one would expect these wines to be good, not great and easy to find. Our findings confirmed what was expected. The scores plainly fixed the wines in the middle 80’s with a trio reaching into the 90’s.

All the wines were food wines that exhibited a good ruby color with a bouquet quite expressive of cherry fruit. The main components, Grenache and syrah, lent a spicy, chocolate overtones to the palate. The body in general was light to medium and the finish quite pleasing. These were wines that presented for enjoyment now with some potential to last a year or two.

More could be said about the trio from Languedoc and Lira. Chateau Saint Martin de la Garrigue has been consistently praised for its wine and certainly, we favored and approved its status among wine writers. True, the price is a little higher. But the wine merits its accolade. Wild berries, great raspberry nose, big tannin balanced with compensating acid, spice, tobacco, complex, full body, all of this blended together         for a long warm finish  that forecasted a long life. Much could be said also for the wines from Lira.

In general, this was a wonderful prelude to the Chateau-Neufs that would be coming in a future tasting. Wines such as these can be found in most good wine stores at very reasonable prices as mention above. They make good last minute selections to a hearty meal providing that you keep a few bottles in the cellar.

A tasting of 1998 Southern Rhone Wines

Wine # 1-            Domaine de la Garrigue- CDR                               87

 Wine #2-            Domaine d’Andezon-CDR                                    84

 Wine #3-            La Vieille Ferme-  CDR                                        84

 Wine #4-            Parallele 45-CDR                                                 85

 Wine #5-            Chateau Paraza-Minervois                                    86

 Wine #6-            Chateau de Jau-Cotes du Rossillon                       83

 Wine #7-            Chateau du Cedre- Cahors                                   87

 Wine #8-            Chateau d’Oupia- Minervois                                85

 Wine #9-            Chateau St.Martin de la Garrigue-Languedoc       90

 Wine #10-            Chapelle de Maillac-Dom. R. Sabon-Lirac         89

 Wine #11-            Chateau de Segries- Lirac                                  91

 Wine #12-            Les Garrigues-Dom. Clavel-Languedoc              91

drbob@oxfordwineroom.com