1 | Wine | Red Rhone Blend, $10 to $20, 2009

"Complex aromas of red and dark berries, Indian spices and violet, with slow-building smokiness. Taut and focused on the palate, offering lively bitter cherry and black raspberry flavors that pick up weight with air. Juicy and nicely concentrated Cotes du Rhone with strong finishing punch and lingering spiciness."

"Modern and very suave. Ripe and distinguished, with a beautiful beam of linzer torte and macerated red currant fruit supported by graphite and licorice notes. The long finish lets the fruit hang on while staying fresh and racy."

"The dark ruby-colored 2009 Cotes du Rhone reveals dusty, loamy soil notes intermixed with kirsch, garrigue, pepper, and spice." Reviewed by Robert Parker.

"Asian spices, incense, mineral, and a confiture of black fruits inform the nose of this juicy, incipiently complex red. Plush, friendly, and nicely proportioned, it can be enjoyed over the next 6 years, It is an outstanding value in pleasure-bent Montsant."

"From tank, the l'Oustal Blanc 2009 Minervois Giocoso - incorporating some Cinsault along with its usual Grenache, Syrah, and Carignan - is redolent of incense, freshly-baked ginger cookies, and confitured cherry and black raspberry. Thickly and seamlessly rich, it displays, surprisingly, no greater sense of superficial sweetness than the corresponding 2008 (the leavening or fluxing effect of the Cinsault perhaps decisive in this regard). For all of its high-alcohol richness this also evinces an uncanny sense of finishing buoyancy of a sort that growers are quick to attribute to the magic of chalk and clay. There is terrific grip and lingering spice here yet without any objectionable heat, while a sustained sense of salinity serves for saliva inducement. This ought to superbly for at least 6-8 years."

"Complex, heady scents of dark berry liqueur, Asian spices, potpourri and minerals. Stains the palate with intense blackberry and cherry flavors accented by white pepper and allspice. Finishes sappy and incisive, with outstanding clarity and persistence."