2018 Domaine des Gravennes, Cotes du Rhône, France (750ml)

It has been a long while since we’ve found such a complete wine from the Côtes du Rhône appellation. The blend of 50% Grenache and 50% Syrah shows vibrant fruit, great balancing acidity, a lush, velvety texture, classic southern Rhône garrigue and northern Rhône white pepper. The fragrant nose highlights pretty violet aromas along with notes of black cherry and that wonderful garrigue of lavender, rosemary and sage. The medium-bodied palate continues with dense and juicy dark red fruit flavors and a little tinge of dried black olive. The wine finishes with appropriately dry but not terribly grippy tannins. This is a sexy, succulent wine that doesn’t really need any food, although herb-encrusted rack of lamb certainly wouldn’t ruin it!

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