"Even better is the sensational 2009 Cotes du Rhone, a blend of 60% Grenache, 20% Mourvedre, 10% Carignan and 10% Syrah. Again, the practice of Xavier Vignon is to age all the Grenache and Carignan in tank and the Mourvedre, and occasionally Syrah, in small oak. The classic Cotes du Rhone offers wonderful peppery, black currant, black cherry, tobacco leaf, licorice and spice characteristics, abundant flavor, more body and density than most wines with this humble pedigree, as well as terrific puri...