"The great white grape of France's Rh?ne Valley was first planted in Eastern Washington in the late 90s, so it's not surprising that most people are still unaware of its existence. That's too bad, because Roussanne is already proving itself to be well-suited to the Columbia Valley's warm, dry climate."
"Sourced from Ciel du Cheval, Alder Ridge, and Lonesome Springs, my 2006 was fermented slowly in neutral French oak, remaining on the lees until bottling in July of 2007. The nose reveals scents of flowers, honey, minerals and stone fruits, while the palate is rich, structured, and somehow elegant all at once. It can be drunk now and over the next two or three years. Serve it with rich, complex dishes-scallops and Dungeness crab are ideal."
Detailed Info, Previous Vintage Notes, Reviews:
Yumm! A hit! Don't miss this bigger than big white from the wonderful Andrew Rich.
Roussanne is one of four white grape varietals permitted in Ch?teauneuf-du-Pape. The varietal takes its name from "roux", the French word for "russet" - an apt description of the grapes' reddish gold skins at harvest. Wines made from Roussanne are rich and complex, with distinct honey, floral and apricot flavors. Unlike most white wines, Roussanne ages very well due to its unusual combination of richness and crisp acids.
Wine Advocate 89 points for 2004 vintage.
Seattle Times, 10-06: "Highlight of the fall releases...Roussanne, a white Rhone grape that is still rare in Washington, gives you creamy, rich flavors without becoming syrupy or overripe. Fresh, leesy, palate-cleaning acids keep it lively and lifted through the finish."
Avalon's choice for "Big White" of the season, this is an incredibly full-bodied white wine brimming with flavors. Rousanne is rare in the US and Andrew has produced a delicious and different white with this wine. Honeysuckle, cream, white peach, and clean fresh spring water are flavors that come to mind when drinking this wine.
2004 vintage Wine Advocate rating 89 points: "Sporting a gorgeous nose of honeyed minerals, this wine is aromatically reminiscent of a top vintage of Domaine de la Grange des Peres's white. Its broad, silky textured character reveals impressive depth of fruit, concentration, and length. This medium to full-bodied wine offers flavors of pears, almonds, hazelnut cream, and honey. A WONDEFUL VALUE. It should be drunk over the next two years."
Note from Andrew on the 2002 vintage: "The 2002 is my first Roussanne, not counting the ones I made at Bonny Doon. Indeed, the vineyards from which I sourced the fruit were all bearing for the first time in 2002. (The fruit was sourced primarily from Ciel du Cheval and Alder Ridge vineyards, and the plant material came from Tablas Creek, so it's the Beaucastel clone.
The grapes were picked at near surmaturite, and pressed very gently. After a day of settling, the juice was racked to barrel--mostly neutral; the youngest were two years old--where it fermented cool and very slowly for several months. The wine remained on the lees until July, and was bottled (screwcap!) in early August. I feel it is just now, in mid-October, coming back into its own.
This is a big white wine, though not blowsy as Viognier can sometimes be. Rather, it is rich and structured, with a subtle but alluring nose of honeysuckle, white peach, and wet stones. It has great weight on the palate, yet keeps its balance, and the finish is long and mouthfilling.
Certainly, this is a white that needs food, and I would recommend rich and complex fish or chicken dishes, preferably including some heavy cream.
