Style Heavy red Old World Country France Price $13
Vintage tasted 2008 Grapes Syrah, Grenache, Cinsault, Carignan
Website www.francoislurton.com

Overview Our blind tasters fell in love with quite a few of these types of Rhône blends this year, and it’s a style that is now being made more elegantly than previously in the inexpensive wine market. Syrah, with its herbal, meaty flavors, makes the perfect yin to Grenache’s fruity, approachable yang. This wine is a stellar example, with an impressive balance of earthiness and fruit. It’s a great reminder of why we blend wines to begin with.

Nose Pepper and earth from the Syrah side; blackberry jam from the Grenache. Like we said, it’s a tempting mélange.

Mouth There are some berries here, along with rough tannins from the Syrah. It’s more of a food wine than a porch sipper.