One of the finest values in inexpensive, quaffing/bistro-styled wines is the 2010 Le Pigoulet de Brunier, a vin de pays from the Vaucluse area. Perhaps the best example of this cuvee the Brunier brothers have produced to date, it is made from a kitchen sink blend of Grenache, Syrah and other permitted varietals. The wine reveals a medium ruby color along with copious raspberry and cherry notes intermixed with a hint of olive/tapenade, crisp acidity and a medium-bodied, zesty mouthfeel. Drink it over the next year. Importer: Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant, Berkeley, CA; tel. (510) 524-1524

The 2008 and 2009 Le Pigoulet de Brunier are cut from the same mold, with the 2009 being slightly deeper, with riper fruit. This 5,000 case cuvee offers considerable value.Bistros, brasseries and consumers looking for an easygoing, quaffing wine should check out the Bruniers- Le Pigoulet, which Daniel Brunier calls a -retro- style of wine (meaning that in the age of power and generosity, this is a lighter, more elegant, fruity, earthy effort meant for immediate consumption).Importer: Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant, Berkeley, CA; tel. (510) 524-1524

The 2008 and 2009 Le Pigoulet de Brunier are cut from the same mold, with the 2009 being slightly deeper, with riper fruit. This 5,000 case cuvee offers considerable value.Bistros, brasseries and consumers looking for an easygoing, quaffing wine should check out the Bruniers- Le Pigoulet, which Daniel Brunier calls a -retro- style of wine (meaning that in the age of power and generosity, this is a lighter, more elegant, fruity, earthy effort meant for immediate consumption).Importer: Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant, Berkeley, CA; tel. (510) 524-1524

The 2007 Le Pigoulet de Brunier red may be the finest example of this cuvee they have yet produced. Offering copious quantities of strawberry, framboise, and sweet kirsch, soft tannins, a sweet, plush mouthfeel, it is a Provencal-styled red to enjoy over the next several years. It represents a heck of a bargain. This venerable estate, long run by the Brunier family, is a consistent source for fabulous wines.Importer: Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant, Berkeley, CA; tel. (510) 524-1524

Shrewd consumers seeking good value can always count on Le Pigoulet de Brunier. The 2006, a blend of 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah, Carignan, and a few other varietals, comes mostly from the Cotes de Ventoux. It is a fruity, medium-bodied, bistro-styled red meant for immediate consumption. Enjoy it over the next 1-2 years.Importer: Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant, Berkeley, CA; tel. (510) 524-1524