E. Guigal Côtes du Rhône Rouge (Red) 2010: Made in Northern Rhône style with 49% syrah, 48% grenache, and 3% mourvedre and other grapes; dense ruby-purple color; intense flavors of smoky dark cherry, raspberry, olive, plum, pinch of pepper; supple but noticeable tannin, a bit of fruity sweetness and black currant bite on mid-palate and finish. E. Guigal sets the standards in the Côte-Rôtie and Côtes du Rhône; the Côte du Rhône is the entry-level effort, but it still is made with the best grapes in class, aged in stainless steel and foudres (large wooden casks) for 18 months to provide a different palate experience than French and America oak barrels, then held for two years of bottle aging. That’s how you earn the praise of Robert Parker, Josh Raynolds, Steven Tanzer, Wine Spectator and others year after year. This distinctive wine has both rustic, woodsy elements and sophisticated balance. For serious red wine drinkers, a seriously good buy. $19
