Lovely purple hue. Aroma of Maraschino cherries; and that red and black cherry character is dominant, enlivened by attractive hints of smoke, black olive and black pepper. Really soft but present tannins. Marked by a lively, spicy finish. Both robust and refined, a real find. Now-2012

Product Code: ESZ608

With every visit to this mini co-operative - hugely admired within France - in a small village in the Gard, just west of Avignon, we seem to add another of their wines. This year it’s Domaine de Pierredon’s Côtes du Rhône Villages, unusual (and strikingly classy) in that it is a blend of halves of Grenache and Mourvèdre. Buy this for drinking now and for keeping a year or two - it tastes much grander than its appellation implies.