I’ve mentioned before that one of my favorite bargain red wines is Rabbit Ridge Zinfandel. So when Jason’s Wine Blog wrote this review of the Rabbit Ridge 2008 Allure de Robles Rhone-style red wine, I started looking for Allure de Robles every time I went to my local Trader Joe’s. Alas, I never found it there.
But a couple weeks ago, I was in a different liquor store near our apartment looking for a six-pack of Blue Moon, and what should I see but the newly-released 2009 Allure de Robles!
Naturally, I snatched up a bottle, and a few nights later, Econo Man and I opened it.
The verdict? We liked it a lot, but pairing it with food takes some thought. Based on the description at JWB, I think the 2009 vintage is somewhat different in style from the 2008. This wine is full of lush fruits, almost jammy, with strong blackberry and cherry notes and some peppery spice in there too. Allure de Robles is a blend of Syrah, Grenache, and Mourvedre, and the Syrah really dominates the front palate in particular. We had this with pasta, which wasn’t quite rich enough to stand up to this wine, but I think it would have been perfect with a good pork or beef dish.
What store? located where?
Danny, I bought this at Mall Discount Liquors in Allston, MA. Their stock tends to be a bit inconsistent, though — you might call ahead to find out if they have your desired wine in stock before making the trip.