NV Cotes du Rhone S.M.

The NV Côtes du Rhône S.M. is thrilling stuff. Made from equal parts Grenache and Syrah and aged half in concrete and half in barrel, it offers a full-bodied, voluptuous and decadent style to go with overflowing notes of plum and darker fruits, licorice and violets. Gorgeous on all counts, it’s a shockingly good Côtes du Rhône to drink over the coming 4-6 years, although I wouldn’t be surprised to see it last even longer. This is another impressive lineup from oenolgist Xavier Vignon, who works with the likes of Raymond Usseglio, Le Nerthe, Marcoux and Grand Veneur, to name a few. These are all negociant wines, but they obviously have access to some serious vineyard, and the winemaking is impeccable. Looking at these latest releases, his 2013s buck the vintage stereotype with their ripe, textured profiles, and his 2012s are certainly up with some of the top wines of the vintage as well. In addition, prices remain more than reasonable here. If you haven’t yet discovered these wines, now is a great time. As a side note, I’m halfway through a case of his 2007 Châteauneuf du Pape, with every wine showing brilliantly. These can drink nicely in their youth, yet age beautifully as well. Oct 2014, www.erobertparker.com, Drink: 2015-2021