Possessing excellent ripeness, the 2012 Cotes du Rhone Villages Rasteau exhibits plenty of blackberry, black cherry, ground herbs and the classic, dusty minerality that’s so common from this appeallation. Made from 80% Grenache and 10% each of Syrah and Mouvedre, completely destemmed and aged 12 months in older 500-Liter barrels, it’s medium-bodied, has juicy acidity and some grippy tannin that emerge on the palate. It’s a solid effort to drink over the coming 4-5 years.