A blend of Carignan, Grenache and Syrah from the underappreciated Rousillon region. This wine saw zero contact with oak, so what you taste is pure unadulterated South France. Dark berry fruit, herbs, and earth, with no "holes" in the palate as one might expect from such an inexpensive wine. Keeps drawing me back for another taste. A wine of considerable character, and one of the best values I have tasted this year. I'm going back for more.

Time has served this beauty well, super smooth, touch of smokiness, fine tannins and long finish

Strong fruit (raspberry) balanced by spiciness, sandalwood, and dried herbs. Would have guessed it had seen some oak. Dry, medium tannins, good palate following the nose, good finish. Great value.

Fantastic Value

This light bodied, fruity wine has aromas of strawberry, black cherry and Earth. It is tannic with dusty tannins (decant for more than 1 hr - the longer you do, the more enjoyable it will be) and has a medium, uneventful and a bit metallic finish. It can be drunk now or can age for 5 or more years. When it comes to evolution, I don't expect it to evolve well as the fruit aromas are already quite light and once the overwhelming tannins (and I am a fan of tannins) mellow out, there will be no fruit left. The wine was not aged in oak to "preserve" the fruit flavours, so I would not expect any floral, spicy or animal notes to come forth. I am not surprised this wine is $14 (cheap for France), but I am surprised that several critics gave it such a high review. My impression: NOTHING SPECIAL to NICE. I only gave it 87 pts due to my rounding up rule. Tasted May/10.

If you would like to see wines I recommend and that are still available at the LCBO, please visit this link (listed in my profile):

http://www.winealign.com/wino/dantrcka/recomended-wines-you-can-still-buy

(88?) - A very good value for a food friendly wine. On its own, taste like many similar entry-level wines from the area. It's a medium body wine. Very clean and pleasant, but doesn't leave any special impression. Nice flavors of berries and herbs. The finish is relatively short.
I had it with barbequed chicken with smoky paprika, provence herbs and virgin olive oil as well as with snapper fillet with pesto and mayo sauce and it was great with both meals.

This one may benefit from a years in the cellar. Tannins leave the mouth dry. Tannins are a bit too harsh right now, it will be interestin to see what happens when they soften.

Complexity is good in this wine. . blackberry, toasted oak, smoky flavours,

Just a bit too tannic right now to really enjoy.