A blend of 50% tank-aged Grenache and 30% Syrah and 20% Mourvedre aged in barrel, the 2012 Cotes du Ventoux Fayard (which was the only 2012 I tasted out of bottle) is a gorgeous effort that gives up impressive notes of black raspberry, flowers, violets and pepper. Perfumed, complex and with the hallmark purity of the fruit that all of this estate’s wines show, this medium-bodied, elegant and lively effort has good acidity and a clean finish. Enjoy it over the coming 4-5 years. Another reference point in the Ventoux, Domaine de Fondreche is run by the driven and passionate Sebastien Vincenti and Nanou Barthelemy. Located on a plateau on the eastern side of the Cotes du Ventoux region, this domaine has a unique terroir and produces a bevy of high-quality wines that emphasize purity and freshness, without ever skimping on fruit or texture. Importer: Robert Kacher Selections, New York, NY; tel. (212) 239-1275

A blend of 50% Grenache and the rest Syrah, Mourvedre and Carignan, the 2009 Cotes du Ventoux Fayard is outstanding. A gorgeous perfume of spring flowers, blue and red fruits and kirsch liqueur is followed by an elegant, dense, deep ruby/purple-colored wine with medium to full body, abundant fruit, good underlying acidity and a cool climate style. It should drink nicely for 4-5 years. The leading reference point estate in the Cotes du Ventoux region, Domaine de Fondreche is run with extraordinary passion and impeccable attention to detail by Sebastian Vincenti and Manou Barthelemy. This large estate of just under 100 acres is biodynamically farmed and all the red wines are bottled unfined and unfiltered. Additionally, the Cuvee Nature was produced without any SO2 .Importer: Robert Kacher Selections, Washington, DC; tel. (202) 832-9083

The 50% Grenache, 40% Syrah and 10% Mourvedre blend, the 2008 Fayard (which includes de-classified Nadal in 2008, as that wine was not made) is a firmer wine with good minerality, hints of sweet and sour cherries, raspberries, and blacker fruits, with some spicy wood in the background. The wine has good weight, elegance, and freshness, and is best drunk over the next 2-3 years. One of the consistently superb estates in the Cotes du Ventoux, Domaine de Fondreche offers very high quality and reasonable prices. The creation of Sebastian Vincenti and Manou Barthelemy, these wines are bursting with fruit and have loads of minerality and aromatics. They are beautiful efforts representing the best of what a young generation of French producers can do. The estate is just under 100 acres in size and is now 100% biodynamically farmed. As Sebastian Vincenti told me, 2008 was a very strong vintage for the whites but presented many challenges with the reds.Importer: Robert Kacher Selections, Washington, DC; tel. (202) 832-9083