Perrin Reserve

I've enjoyed sipping this Côtes du Rhône over the last week.

Beautiful deep red colour; swirling in the glass shows 'good legs.' I can smell a fair bit of spice and taste some pepper and red cherry. Fairly long finish. A bit acidic (which to me means it would be great with dinner... something on the light side, like grilled chicken).

I checked it out online, and apparently the New York Times called the 2004 vintage of this Côtes du Rhône its #1 red wine under $10 in 2006. Here in Ontario,of course, it is a bit pricier, but at $14.95 it's still a good buy.

Côtes du Rhône are the basic AOC wines of the Rhône region, and exist as red, white and rosé wines, generally dominated by Grenache. This particular wine is made from Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre and Cinsault grapes by the Perrin brothers of Chateau de Beaucastel. According to the Wine Doctor, their winery is considered by many as one of the top estates, if not "the" top estate of Chateauneuf du Pape, in the southern Rhône region.

The winery vinifies 13 different varieties, this is priced in the mid-range. Cheaper still is the La Vieille Ferme, which the NYT recommends you "buy in magnums for parties."

(I have to agree, I sampled more than a few glasses at Christmas celebrations this year and it's yummy.)