Another good value is the 2009 Vacqueyras Seigneur de Fontible, a classic Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre blend that is vinified with carbonic maceration and aged totally in tank prior to bottling. The result is a front end-loaded, richly fruity Vacqueyras offering oodles of peppery garrigue notes intermixed with black cherry and strawberry fruit. Ripe and dense with no hard edges, this fruit-bomb is meant to be consumed during its first 3-4 years of life. Consumers will find it to be irresistible. (Not yet released) This is a well-run large cooperative in Vacqueyras that admirably displays the talent involved. I tasted a dozen separate cuvees from this operation and six of them were potentially outstanding. Most of the others were competent, correct wines. This huge cooperative controls over 1,100 acres in Vacqueyras, and the wines are realistically priced for such high quality. The following six wines should change the mind of anyone with an anti-cooperative prejudice. Importers: Fruit of the Vines, Long Island City, NY; tel. (718) 392-5640; and Vintner Select, Cincinnati, OH; tel. (800) 597-1491