1 | Wine | Red Rhone Blend, $10 to $20 | Page 2

"Potentially outstanding, the 2010 Cotes du Rhone-Villages comes primarily from Grand Prebois as well as other vineyards in St.-Gervais, especially the Syrah component...it exhibits a dense ruby/purple hue along with deep blackberry and black cherry fruit intertwined with notions of licorice, garrigue and underbrush. Medium to full-bodied with good acidity, freshness and precision." -Robert Parker

"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."

"Two outstanding values from the Rhone include the basic, delicious 2010 Cotes du Rhone. It offers lots of black cherry fruit intermixed with garrigue, earth, lavender and pepper notes. Medium-bodied and surprisingly elegant with a supple texture, it is composed of generic Cotes du Rhone blended with declassified parcels owned by Saint-Gayan in both Sablet and Seguret. It should be consumed over the next 2-3 years." -Robert Parker

"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."

"A mouthfilling core of plum sauce and blackberry paste is backed by charcoal and anise on the finish. Solid, direct, pure and driven."