Transplanted Frenchman, Stephan Asseo's Bandol-styled rose, the 2007 Cote a Cote Rose, is a blend of 47% Mourvedre, 38% Grenache, and 15% Syrah. It offers a light pink color as well as a crisp, elegant perfume of framboise and crushed strawberries, lovely fruit, and a dry, medium-bodied, nearly austere personality that is loaded with character. This is a seriously-endowed rose to drink over the next 8-12 months.Tel. (805) 227-1588; Fax (805) 227-6988

Just as good, the 2007 Cote a Cote starts out tight and reserved, but blossoms with time in the glass, showing incredibly pure creme de cassis, black cherry, licorice and spice-driven aromas and flavors. These all flow to a full-bodied, deep, rich and layered profile on the palate that carries beautiful concentration, excellent overall purity and freshness, and a blockbuster finish. Still youthful and vibrant, with obvious structure, I think there’s some upside here, and when all is said and done, it will have upward of two decades or more of total longevity. Tel. (805) 227-1588; www.aventurewine.com

A ripe, racy style, pushing the flavors to the edge of raspberry balsamic, yet this is still fresh, vibrant and lively, with excellent acidity and range of flavors, extending from mineral to dried berry, black tea, black licorice and crushed rock. Grenache, Mourvedre and Syrah. Best from 2011 through 2019. 800 cases made. -JL