A blend of 70% Grenache, 20% Cinsault and 10% Syrah, the 2018 Cotes du Rhone offers up some attractive floral notes to go with ripe cherries and raspberries. It's medium to full-bodied and silky-textured, with a bit more concentration and richness than Brunel's Vin de Pays Grenache.

A knock-out value, the 2001 Cotes du Rhone (2,000 cases) exhibits aromas of sweet kirsch, licorice, and pepper. Medium to full-bodied and supple-textured, it is, as the French say, a vin de plaisir. It merits purchasing by the case. Importers: Dan Kravitz, Hand Picked Selections, Warrenton, VA; tel. (540) 347-9400; Martine's Wines, Novato, CA; tel. (415) 883-0400; and J & R Selections, Mt. Pleasant, MI; tel. (517) 772-3695

For an inexpensive introduction to the style of Andre Brunel (who physically resembles the superb actor, William Hurt), there is his 1990 Cotes du Rhone Domaine Andre Brunel. This robust, richly fruity, deeply colored wine offers a big, peppery, spicy, black fruit-scented nose, lusciously soft, yet structured flavors, and plenty of guts and flesh in its long finish. It should provide delicious drinking over the next 4-5 years. Importer: Robert Kacher Selections, Washington, DC.