2007 Château de Montfaucon Côtes du Rhône

This is a ridiculous deal- a serious rhone red for just over 10 bucks! The wine has a deep mid palate of dark cherry and cassis, with cedar spices and firm tannins. Wines of this complexity are definitely rare in this price range.

A great wine to enjoy over this holiday season with its bright juicy fruit and earth driven smoky undertones that lend itself into a long suple finish. Notice how it develops more fully in the glass as you drink it over the evening. It is a great medium bodied elegant wine with lots of room to play around with food pairings such as poultry, vegetable dishes, and pastas.

We have been directly importing the outstanding Rhone Valley wines of Chateau de Montfaucon since 1995 and, although many of you know our story of this property, I think that it is still appropriate to repeat. This 85+ acre estate lies across the Rhone River from the village of Chateauneuf-Du-Pape and its red and white wine grape make-up are similar to what goes into making CDPs. The problem, however, is that the river is the appellation line and Montfaucon, therefore, cannot be called CDP, and is relegated to a general Cotes-Du-Rhone classification. My attitude is that if it smells and tastes like CDP, than treat it like CDP. With that out of the way, I can tell you that the 2007 Cotes-Du-Rhones from Montfaucon are the best that I have tasted from this estate since we have been importing them. This regular Cotes-Du-Rhone Rouge, which is a make-up of 50% grenache, 20% syrah, 15% cinsault, and 15% carignan, is medium-deep ruby in color, the nose surges with aromas of blueberry, black cherry, and anise, with just a hint of game and limestone minerality. In the mouth, this Gem is impeccably balanced and fruit focused, with well integrated tannins, superb structure and depth, and a long, distinctive finish. This is one of those wines that demand that you have another glass, and another… Anderson has informed me that this beautifully drinking Rhone will be one of our house reds for however long it is around. (Jim Barr)

Another great value in a Cotes du Rhone from the 2007 vintage. One of our direct imports, and a favorite of our staff and customers for over ten years. On the nose, violets, blueberry, and a suggestion of tar as the Syrah makes its presence known. Rich plum and tart blueberry fruits in the mouth. Soft tannins frame the finish. A lush, generous effort typical of the vintage but with enough structure to age well over the short term.