Burghound: This offers a small step up in aromatic complexity with a layered nose of a variety of red berry fruits plus lovely violet hints that serve as a relatively refined introductio...

Wine Enthusiast: One of the best vintages of Rubicon to date, and for the price it's a fantastic value that's great for building up your cellar. Right now, the wine is still young and tight, w...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: In total contrast, the 2009 Cotes du Rhone Coudoulet red represents the essence of Provence in its notes of ground pepper, new saddle leather, lavender, kirsch, garrigue, and ...

Bob Campbell, MW: Dense, bright and vibrant wine with cassis, plum and black cherry flavours. Quite oaky but long and with good layering on the finish.

Stephen Tanzer's IWC: Vivid ruby. Pungent aromas of red and dark berry skin, lavender and anise, with a spicy overtone. Blackberry and bitter cherry flavors show good depth and energy, with no ro...

Wine Spectator: An extrovert, with enticing plum, anise and blackberry fruit and a long, supple finish. There's plenty of stuffing and grip, but this is velvety and nicely assimilated, with p...

Stephen Tanzer's IWC: Good full red. Black cherry, minerals, mocha and smoke on the nose. Earthy, sweet and supple, with a lush palate feel to the flavors of raspberry, minerals, iron and rare st...

Wine Enthusiast: Distinctly Sonoma Coast in the forest berry fruits and feral, earthy notes of anise, balsam and Dr. Pepper cola. Fine and silky in the mouth, with modest alcohol and a burst o...

Wine Spectator: Tangy and rich, with lovely, ripe strawberry and blackberry flavors supported by zingy acidity, all of it lasting nicely on the generous finish. Drink now through 2009. 6,000 ...

Wine Spectator: This delivers the ripe, plum, boysenberry and blueberry fruit profile of the vintage, with good underlying sweet toast and spice notes. Slightly raisiny on the finish, but the...

About this Wine: Savigny-lès-Beaune 1er Cru Les Narbantons reds have an intense colour which is more vivid than that of the "Villages" appellations. Their bouquet is elegant and powerful, domi...

About this Wine: Soil: clay and chalk, with characteristically rounded, huge stones.

Blend: Grenache is the dominant grape, followed by Syrah and Cinsault.

Stephen Tanzer's IWC: ($35) Deep red. Pungent, mineral-driven aromas of raspberry, blackcurrant, potpourri and cured meat. Sweet and supple on the palate, offering vivid red and dark berry flavors,...

Burghound: A slightly more elegant nose that is a bit less obviously earthy and rustic possesses notes of red raspberry and cherry fruit that complements the attractively fresh and punch...

Wine Spectator: Tightly wound, with firm, earthy tannins and a supple mix of earthy currant, loamy earth, anise, sage and cedar notes. Drink now through 2009.

Wine Spectator: A broad, earthy style, offering mulled cherry and dark spice notes mingling with a hint of briar that lengthens the slightly edgy finish. For fans of the old school. Drink now...

About this Wine: Syrah (40%) and Grenache (60%)
Average age of vines: 20 - 35 years old

Wine Spectator: Kirsch and dark plum fruit is succulent, and offset nicely by brisk, chalky minerality, which gives a good driven feel to the finish.-J.M.

Wine Spectator: Dense with both cherry and currant flavors and dusty tannins, this red is awkward now. There seems to be the requisite fruit to match its firm tannins, but needs time. Best fr...

Wine Spectator: A taut, tangy style, with damson plum, bitter cherry, iron and rosemary notes. Still quite tight, but with good mouthwatering cut on the finish. Should flesh out nicely. -J.M.