Jaboulet's 2016 Ventoux les Traverses is a pretty typical 80-20 blend of Grenache and Syrah. Hints of clove and espresso mark the plum and black cherry fruit in this medium to full-bodied wine that's firm, crisp and long on the finish. It shows ample structure for a basic red, giving it the authority to stand up to grilled meats and the like.

A relatively light-bodied blend of 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah, the 2008 Les Traverses displays a touch of gaminess alongside notes of plum and earth that fade quickly on the finish. Drink up.——J.C.(12/15/2011)—— 84

——J.C.(12/15/2009)—— 89

The 2005 Cotes du Ventoux Les Traverses is a pleasant, fruity, bistro-styled red with more character and richness than many offerings from this appellation. It should be drunk over the next several years. Everything is changing at the Jaboulet firm now that it has been sold and is under control of the Frey family, also major investors in the Billecart-Salmon Champagne, and the proprietors of Bordeaux’s Chateau La Lagune. These 2005s were sourced and blended by the Jaboulet family, and finished by the new owners. I fully expect a rise in quality across the board at this estate, and I can’t wait to see what the new owners do with their first top vintage. The following cuvees will probably be discounted heavily to make room for the newer vintages.Importer: Frederick Wildman, New York, NY; tel. (212) 355-0700