Wine Spectator: A ripe, solid version, with mulled dark currant and fig fruit wrapped with toasted anise, ganache and pastis notes. There's a racy feel on the finish, with a twinge of chalk a...

Stephen Tanzer's IWC: Deep red. Complex, vaguely smoky aromas of black raspberry, cherry, black tea and sassafras. Youthfully taut on entry but turns suave and silky in the middle, showing good i...

About this Wine: fashioned by winemaker Kim Johnston from vineyards owned by the Longbottom family

Wine Enthusiast: This comes from one of the top ranges of wines produced by the giant Boisset family group. It is an attractively scented wine, with spice and smoky aromas. The taste is rich, ...

Burghound: A very fresh and rather woodsy nose of forest floor, floral and wild red berry aromas merges into relatively refined flavors that possess a detailed and earthy finish that is ...

Burghound: A moderately earthy nose also displays hints of stone and underbrush on the ripe dark berry fruit suffused aromas. There is good freshness and vibrancy to the solidly well-det...

Devon Magee: Garnet at the core, fading to a paler rim. Aromas of dried cranberry, dried flowers and baking spice highlight the nose. Juicy through the mid-palate, with rounded, chalky tan...

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

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

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...

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,...