4 | Wine | Red Blend, 86 to 90, 2011

"Notes of blackberry and black cherry are accented by tobacco and spice in this concentrated red, which is fresh and lively, with a firm finish."

"Copious amounts of rich raspberry, black cherry and currant fruit. Medium-bodied and ripe with good glycerin, purity, texture and balance, it should drink nicely for 2-3 years." -Robert Parker

"The 2011 Cotes du Rhone Belleruche exhibits classic framboise notes, a light, vibrant, florescent pink color, excellent texture and a dry finish." -Robert Parker

"Bright red. Perfumed aromas of red berries and violet, complicated by cinnamon and almond flower. Juicy and bright on the palate, with precise strawberry and redcurrant flavors lifted by lively acidity. Finishes long and fresh, with ripe tannins and lingering floral perfume. Not the last word in complexity or concentration, but an absolutely delicious wine, one of the best Rossos by Avignonesi in some time."

"Scavino’s 2011 Rosso da Tavola, a kitchen sink blend of numerous red varieties, is an attractive entry-level offering. This supple, generous wine is sure to find many admirers among consumers looking for a friendly, every day Piedmont red."

"Distinctive, offering accents of loamy earth and green olive around a gentle core of blackberry. Shows presence and relatively light weight."

"Bright purple. Youthful dark berries and cherry on the nose and palate, with a peppery quality building in the glass. Tangy and slow to open, picking up a floral nuance with air and finishing tangy and long. This wine is a baby and needs some bottle age."

"Dark purple. Intense, spice-accented aromas and flavors of cherry compote and cassis, with cola nuance building with air. Sappy, penetrating and extremely young, but promising, with strong finishing cut and silky tannins."

"Bright ruby. A wild, pungent bouquet presents dark berries, anise,and a peppery overtone. Sappy cassis and blackberry flavors have depth and grip. Finishes spicy, with good cut, leaving a bitter cherry note behind. I suspect that I caught this wine a few months early."

"Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, the 2011 Three Gardens SMG shows aromas of red currants, red plums and cassis with nuances of black pepper, tree bark, orange peel, and Provence herb. Medium to full bodied, it is very spicy in the mouth with plenty of red and black fruit framed by refreshing acid, a medium level of velvety tannins and a long finish."