2020 Cotes du Rhone Bouquet des Garrigues

Still maturing in a mix of foudres and wooden cuves at the time of my visit, the 2020 Cotes du Rhone Le Bouquet des Garrigues—a blend of 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah and the rest Cinsault, Counoise and Mourvèdre—boasts vibrant aromas of lavender and ripe red raspberries. Medium to full-bodied, smooth, silky and complex, it's a beauty that should retail for less than $30.

Eighty percent Grenache, with the balance Syrah, Mourvèdre, and Carignan, the 2020 Côtes Du Rhône Bouquet des Garrigues saw 20% stems and was brought up in foudre and demi-muids, with a tiny percentage in tank. Its deep ruby hue is followed by a rounded, medium to full-bodied, beautifully textured Côtes Du Rhône with lots of red and blue fruits as well as peppery herbs, violets, and Provençal spice notes. The 2019s from Le Clos du Caillou showed brilliantly, and this is clearly a great vintage for the estate, with the wines equaling what was produced in 2016, 2010, 2007, 2005, and 2001. These are silky, elegant, yet also concentrated wines across the board, and despite the multitude of cuvées, they all have singular, distinct personalities. These are brilliant wines readers will love to have in their cellars.