Take 41 Rhone-centric wineries, put them in one room and you have a stampede....of the Rhone Rangers. Seattle was blessed with this charge of French vines and American winemakers last month. Each presented vintages from the 22 permitted grape varieties, including the best known Syrah and Viognier, the up and coming Mourvedre, Grenache and Roussanne and the way out there Counoise, Bourboulene and Piepoul.

The grapes, wine makers and winery representatives all play so nicely together.

The standouts: (photo above) Jason Haas pours Tablas Creek Vineyard's (Paso Robles) Esprit de Beaucastel '06. The wineries signature red is a blend of Mourvedre, Grenache, Syrah and Counoise. Other presentations included Rose '08, Cotes de Tablas '07 and Cotes de Tablas Blanc '08.

Christina Hug of Dayton, Oregon's Domaine Serene offered up Rockblock Syrah '05.

A relative new comer, Maison Bleue Winery in Prosser, Wash. opened in 2008, presented a Rhone-centric line up worth coming back for more - Viognier and Roussanne.

Bryan Cass of Cass Vineyard & Winery showcased a beautiful '08 Oasis Rose plus a remarkable '08 Viognier and a '08 Roussanne.

Another Paso Robles winery, Katin, presented quite palatable offerings of Viognier and Grenache.