2010 Pesquie - Les Terrasses Rhone Blend - France - Southern Rhone - Cotes du Ventoux - Red

well balanced, but muted spices and fruit

94 points it's not but there's some potential with a full bodied yet acidic profile that certainly lends itself to heavy food. It would have benefited from some additional air - but what was promising was that this was in no way weak. Fast, glass staining legs. Needs more time - low 90s for now.

The 2010 from Pesquie Terrasses, one of my all-time favorite producers in France, is a phenomenal bargain. This wine is absolutely stunning, and the best one they have made to date, and is a brilliant showcase for what looks to be another great vintage in the southern Rhone. A blend of 70% Grenache and 30% Syrah, with 65% aged in tank and the rest in old barrels and foudres, it is bottled unfined and unfiltered for the American market. It's just terrific, and the good news is that there are 7,000 cases, which is a rarity in this business ' finding something spectacular in quality, low in price, with excellent availability. Its stunning dense bluish/purple color offers up notes of sweet blueberries, black cherry liqueur, licorice, incense, and a hint of hot rocks (almost gravelly, in the Bordeaux sense), but the wine hits the palate with amazing texture, succulence, fabulous fruit intensity, vivid purity and a vigorous, long, fresh finish that goes on past 30 seconds. Amazing for a $15 wine, it can probably be found discounted at $12-13. Drink it over the next 3-4 years.

Robert Parker may have given this 94 points, but we didn't understand what the fuss was about. This was fairly bland and uninteresting, with a bitter and dry finish. Does it need more time in the bottle?

Parker, grilled meats best, tremendous bargain