Full Review

Golden Rule Vineyards

Golden Rule Vineyards
2016 Commonwealth Rhone Blend, Willcox

Pair this wine with:
Lamb Pork

Category: Rhône Red Varietal Blend

Date Tasted:
Country: USA
Alcohol: 14.9%
92 Points
Gold Medal
Exceptional
$29
2020 Best Willcox Red Wine, 2020 Grower's Cup

Golden Rule Vineyards
2016 Commonwealth Rhone Blend, Willcox

Pair this wine with:
Lamb Pork

Category: Rhône Red Varietal Blend

Date Tasted:
Country: USA
Alcohol: 14.9%
Deep purple color. Aromas and flavors of strawberry-rhubarb pie, baked plums, marzipan, goji berry, cured meats, and dark chocolate with a slightly chewy, crisp, fruity medium-to-full body and a warming, compelling, medium-long finish manifesting accents of licorice and black pepper with light oak flavor. A bold and chewy Rhone varietal blend with finesse.

Tasting Info

Wine Glass Style: Fruity, Juicy & Smooth, Rich & Full & Spicy & Complex
Aroma Aroma: strawberry-rhubarb pie, baked plums, marzipan, goji berry, cured meats, and dark chocolate
Taste Flavor: Same as aromas with accents of licorice and black pepper
Sweetness Sweetness: Fruity
Enjoy Enjoy: Now with food and on its own
Recipes Pairing: Peking Duck, Lamb Tagine, Souvlaki
Bottom Line Bottom Line: A bold and chewy Rhone varietal blend with finesse.

The Producer

Golden Rule Vineyards

The Producer
3525 N Golden Rule Rd
Cochise, AZ 85606
USA
1 520-507-3310

Rhone Red Varietal Blend

Wine Glass Zinfandel.jpg
Serve in a Zinfandel Wine Glass
A Rhone varietal blend can be made up from any number of varieties found in France's Rhone Valley. This can be either white or red (some red Rhone blends even contain a small percentage of white grapes) and can be a true Rhone wine or one made in another country, such as the US or Australia.

While most red Rhone blends contain four or five varieties, such as Syrah, Cinsault and Grenache, one famous Rhone blend, Châteauneuf-du-Pape can contain as many as thirteen different varieties! White Rhone blends contain varieties such as Marsanne, Viognier and Roussanne.

Producers in several regions of California, such as Paso Robles, Santa Barbara and Sonoma Counties produce excellent Rhone blends (especially white blends in Santa Barbara), while New York State, Washington State and Virginia are also home to vintners that make Rhone blends.

Pair red Rhone blends with spicy, hearty foods such as game and roasts, while the white tend to work best with sushi/sashimi and fusion cuisine.