Chateau Cabrieres “Le Petit Cabrieres”

There are different versions of the blend of this wine; some say it’s 50%-50% Grenache-Cinsault, others indicate the inclusion of Syrah.

But it really doesn’t matter; what matters is the succulent, silky, sunny Southern Rhone-ness of the finished product.

It’s a deep, nearly opaque garnet in the glass, sending up a wave of dark, plummy fruit and savory herb aromas as you swirl and sniff.

Scents of ripe wild strawberry, juicy cherry, cassis, violet, lavender, licorice, dusty earth, and garrigue carry over to the full-bodied palate, but it comes with a caveat: This qualifies as a “full-bodied” wine, but in the context of the Southern Rhone Valley reds, its freshness, aromatic lift, and relatively modest alcohol area ll noteworthy.

Decant this wine about 15 minutes before serving in large Bordeaux stems at 55-60 degrees and you’ve got a plush, fragrant crowd-pleaser on your hands: It will pair with Old School and New School dishes alike, so consider stocking up – values this good don’t come along very often.