The 2006 Cotes du Rhone is another bistro-style red, made mostly from Grenache, with good acidity, a dark ruby color, and superficial strawberry and black cherry fruit. Importers: Martin Scott Wines, Little Neck, NY; tel. (516) 327-0808 and Stacole Fine Wines, Boca Raton, FL; tel. (561) 998-0029

The 1995s have been given more exposure to new oak casks (ranging from 5-10% to as much as 50% new oak) than the 1994s. The wines reveal the riper, sweeter fruit of this vintage. The well-made 1995 Cotes du Rhone includes some Mourvedre in the blend, giving the wine structure and firmness. It possesses a deep ruby color, good spice, and an excellent finish. The 1995 is more firmly structured than the fleshier 1994. This wine was tasted between June 1 and June 16, 1996.None of the 1994 and 1995 wines reviewed in this section had yet been bottled, but since they are bottled barrel by barrel, with no fining or filtration, the notes should be relatively reflective of the different qualitative levels.