The Cotes du Rhone is that sizable expanse south of Burgundy in eastern France which is home to some of the best Syrah/Grenache blends on the planet AND some of the best values in everyday versions. As always, success breeds imitation and in the early 1980's several Paso Robles wineries came up with the Rhone Rangers name for their complementary efforts.
Today the Rhone Rangers moniker has been adopted by like-minded winemakers across the country. Our purpose here today is to introduce you to one of them, Beckmen Vineyards of Santa Ynez Valley in the southern Central Coast region of California. We very successfully featured them at our December wine tasting. Established as an AVA (American Viticultural Area) in 1983 during the Rhone Rangers early incarnation, Santa Ynez Valley is the largest AVA in Santa Barbara County and home to four smaller AVAs; Sta Rita Hills, Ballard Canyon, Los Olivos District and Happy Canyon.
Beckmen was established in 1994 and has vineyards in the Los Olivos District and Ballard Canyon. Both sites grow Syrah, Grenache and Mourvedre grapes. The twenty-five acre estate vineyard in Los Olivos also grows Cabernet Sauvignon and the 125 acre Purisma Mountain Ballard Canyon Vineyard also grows Counoise, another Rhone variety that adds acidity and pepperiness to a blend.
Sitting less than a hundred miles south of Paso Robles where the Rhone-style revolution began, Beckmen carries the torch very capably judging by our December 4th tasting results. Since Rhone grapes like warmer weather, the future looks especially bright for Beckmen in sunny Santa Ynez Valley.
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