This small château is located near the town of Saint-Gilles just west of the Rhône River some 5 miles from the Mediterranean Sea. It is owned an operated by the Cornut family — Sylvia is the oenologist, with her husband François and their two sons tending to the vineyards. The rocky soils here are reminiscent of Châteauneuf-du-Pape and the fruit is always picked late, ensuring deep and profound wines with soft tannins. François is meticulous in his viticultural practices and is a believer in sustainable agriculture, using no synthetic herbicides, pesticides or fertilizers on any of his vineyards or crops. Sylvia and the boys take over in the winery (the boys work a lot) where she ferments all fruit separately in stainless steel tanks by varietal and by vineyard site. This 2011 Mas de Guiot is a blend of hand-harvested Grenache and Syrah fruit; very primary aromas of fleshy ripe grapes and grape pomace (imagine that!), with suggestion of blue plum, kirsch and a good healthy winegrowing earth; just full and fruity and round on the tongue with nice crisp bright acids and supple tannins lending the gentlest astringency and keeping things refreshing and vibrant to the long and flavorful finish. At its ultra-attractive price, this is real value for those of us hard-working central Texans who enjoy really good wine but who may, from time to time, need their wine dollars to stretch on out a bit.

The home of André Brunel is also the site of the vineyard from which is produced his Côtes-du-Rhône Cuvée Sommelongue. The property is about 10 kilomètres north of Châteauneuf-du-Pape near the village of Orange. The name of the wine, Cuvée Sommelongue, refers to the long, thin 9-hectare parcel of vineyard from which the fruit is sourced. This contiguous piece of vineyard is planted to about 90% Grenache, 5% Syrah and 5% Mourvèdre and is well exposed to the sun. The fruit is picked very late after achieving a high potential degree of natural alcohol, then destemmed and vinified completely in tank, read no interference from oak. Alluring aromas of ripe cherry and berry fruit with subtle hints of Provençal spice; juicy and just plain delectable on the tongue with supple textures and soft chalky tannins that well distribute bursting spicy berry flavors long to the finish. Cuvée Sommelongue is some kind of favorite among the myriad delicious southern Côtes-du-Rhône reds we are pleased to offer to our discerning clientèle. While supplies last:

One of my favorite Gigondas estates is proprietor Joel Saurel’s Saint-Damien (now one of the appellation’s superstars). Saurel also produces several Cotes du Rhone cuvees that are nearly as good as his superb Gigondas. The 2011 Cotes du Rhones, which were bottled early to preserve their fruit, are about as good as Cotes du Rhone can be in this vintage... a blend of 80% Grenache and the rest Mourvedre, Syrah and Carignan from 50- to 60-year-old vines planted on the famous Plan de Dieu. Dense, full-bodied and impressively rich, it exhibits kirsch, incense, licorice, bouquet garni and roasted herb characteristics. Enjoy it over the next 2-4 years. Rated 91. ‑ Robert M. Parker, Jr.'s The Wine Advocate Issue 203, October 2012

The 2010 Cotes du Rhone‑Villages Cairanne Vieilles Vignes is composed of ⅔ Grenache and the rest mostly Syrah with a tiny amount of old vine Carignan. It also is aged in tank and bottled unfiltered. A superb sleeper of the vintage, it boasts a dense ruby/purple color as well as copious notes of black currants, black cherries, earth, pepper, spice box and a hint of mountain laurel. This full-throttle 2010 possesses sweet tannin as well as an intriguing texture. It should drink nicely for 4-6 years. Rated 91. ‑ Robert Parker, Robert M. Parker, Jr.'s The Wine Advocate Issue 203, October 2012

The star of this line-up in terms of value is the 2010 Cotes du Rhone Mon Coeur, a blend of Syrah and Grenache primarily from the southern Rhone (i.e., Vinsobres, Rasteau and Cairanne). This dense ruby/purple-colored, rich 2010 reveals kirsch and black currant fruit intermixed with notions of spice box, pepper and meat. Luscious and round, it is ideal for drinking over the next 5-6 years. Drink: 2011-2017. Rated (88-90). ‑ Robert M. Parker, Jr.'s The Wine Advocate Issue 198, December 2012

Vivid ruby. High-pitched aromas of red fruits, rose, lavender and Asian spices. Juicy and focused on entry, then deeper and broader across the mid-palate, displaying intense black raspberry and cherry compote flavors. Shows impressive energy on the spicy finish, which features a sexy floral quality. Rated (90-92). ‑ Josh Raynolds, Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar May, 2012

Interestingly enough, even though many of the 2010 Perrin et Fils selections from the southern Rhone were scheduled to be bottled right after my visit, the 2010 Beaucastel had already been put in bottle. This is a gorgeous wine, a classic blend of 30% Grenache, 30% Mourvedre, 10% Syrah, 10% Counoise and the balance the other permitted varietals in the appellation. Deep purple, with loads of bouquet garni, beef blood, blackberry, kirsch, smoke and truffle, this wine is full-bodied, rich and showing even better than it did last year. I still think it needs 3-5 years of cellaring, and it should last for 25-30 years, as most of the top vintages of Beaucastel do. Drink: 2015-2045. Rated 95. ‑ Robert Parker, Robert M. Parker, Jr.'s The Wine Advocate Issue 203, October, 2012

(roughly 30% each of grenache and mourvedre, with 10% each of counoise and syrah and the balance "everything else"): Vivid ruby. Fresh raspberry and cherry on the intensely perfumed nose. Sappy and sweet, with deep red fruit preserve flavors and hints of succulent herbs and rose pastille. Packs a punch but also shows impressive energy and balance. The raspberry note carries through on the finish, which also features a suave, slow-building note of star anise. Rated (92-94). ‑ Josh Raynolds, Steven Tanzer's International Wine Cellar January/February, 2012

From the Perrin family of Château de Beaucastel in Châteauneuf‑du‑Pape, La Vieille Ferme is produce of Grenache Blanc, Ugni Blanc and Vermentino fruit grown in the cool vineyards of the Côtes du Luberon. This is essentially the same quality of wine one might reasonably expect from a good southern Côtes‑du‑Rhône white: aromatically inviting; cool, clean, refreshingly fruity, wholly gulpable, then crisp and dry on the finish. We lovingly call it our "chicken wine" on account of the chickens on the label (La Vieille Ferme translates to "The Old Farm"). Best jug wine we know of either side of the Atlantic. And, at its very modest price, its a darn good choice for budget recovery wine, too! Regularly $11.99 the jug, on sale now at:

Produce of 50% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 15% Carignan and 15% Cinsault from vines planted on the slopes of Mont Ventoux in the southern Rhône Valley. Aromas redolent of berries and spice; full‑bodied and fruity, with soft rounded tannins and a lasting flavor. Priced for everyday consumption, but delivering a good deal more than everyday quality. Noted wine critic Robert Parker has recently called it a "terrific bargain." Well, yeah! Regularly $11.99 the jug, on sale now at: