1 | Wine | Red Rhone Blend, Central Coast, 750 ml

"With more Syrah than the previous vintage, this wine’s deeper indigo color hints at its ripe blackberry aromas and core flavor of dark fruits accentuated by spicy undercurrents. A sip reveals a balance of strong acidity and drying tannins supported by undertones of pepper and blueberries. The dry finish leaves the slightest hint of vanilla on the palate."

"In this vintage, the 2010 Esprit de Beaucastel is decidedly huge. An exciting array of dark red fruit, black cherries, incense and tar come together beautifully. At first large-scaled and sweeping in personality, the wine finds more refined registers on the finish, where floral notes add a measure of lift and finesse. Today, the 2010 is a baby, though."

"The 2009 Esprit de Beaucastel, tasted from foudre, is very, very young. The wine literally explodes on the palate with a rush of dark fruit enshrouded within a wall of muscular tannin. The 2009 is a dark inward Esprit that will require patience, but when the wine opens up it will be a jewel. Actually, it already is. In 2009 the blend is 40% Mourvedre, 28% Syrah, 27% Grenache and 5% Counoise. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2024."