Things get more serious with the 2010 Cotes du Rhone, a blend of 80% Grenache and the rest Carignan and Mourvedre from 45 year old vines. It offers a dense ruby/purple color along with strawberry and raspberry fruit, good acidity, lots of earth, pepper and spice, and a medium-bodied mouthfeel. This elegant cuvee tastes as if it were a good-sized Pinot Noir given its crunchy acids. Enjoy it over the next 3-4 years. In 1999, I discovered one of the finest estates in the southern Rhone, the Domaine Les Aphillanthes owned by Daniel Boulle. His oenologist is none other than Philippe Cambie and his commitment to quality is evidenced by the fact that he refused to bottle any 2008s. Following that troublesome year, Boulle has produced some impressive 2009s and 2010s. This is a certified organically managed vineyard with practices increasingly moving toward biodynamic.Importer: Peter Weygandt, Weygandt-Metzler, Unionville, PA; tel. (610) 486-0800